Need to Lose Water Weight?

Are you about to get your photos taken or need to slip into a dress that you had fitted about three months ago? Are you bloated and need a quick fix?


How to Lose Water Weight Quickly

By Karen Frazier
Nutrition Counselor
Reviewed by Terri Forehand RN


If you're retaining fluids, you may be wondering how to lose water weight quickly so that your clothes fit comfortably. For the average person, water comprises about 70 percent of total body weight. Muscle tissue contains about 75 percent water, while body fat holds around 50 percent water.

Retaining excess fluids can leave you feeling bloated and puffy. If this is the case for you, it might surprise you to learn that diet can contribute to considerable fluid retention. Factors contributing to the retention of fluids include the following:

Salt
Sugar
Inadequate protein
Insufficient amino acids or B-vitamins


If your doctor has ruled out a medical condition and you are looking for a safe, natural way to lose water weight quickly, there are natural foods and herbs which offer diuretic properties. However, even though these "remedies" to water weight gain are natural, you should always use them with caution and moderation.

Natural Diuretic Aids
Many natural substances can serve as diuretic aids. MayoClinic.com suggests reducing salt and eating more fruits and vegetables. According to Natural Diuretics, other natural diuretics include the following:

Apple cider vinegar (maintains potassium levels)
Celery
Celery seed
Cranberry juice
Dandelion
Green tea
Dandelion leaf tea (also helps in detoxification and urinary tract infections)
Fennel
Juniper berries
Nettle
Parsley

Diuretic Foods
Eating foods which have high water content is another way to increase the elimination of excess fluid retention. Other foods contain elements that boost kidney performance. You might want to try some of the following:

Artichokes
Asparagus
Brussels sprouts
Cabbage
Carrots
Cucumbers
Lettuce
Oats
Tomatoes (also aid metabolism)
Watermelon
Watercress
Along with these foods, garlic is another tasty solution if you're looking for how to lose water weight quickly. Animal studies show that it is not only to a natural diuretic food, but it also aids in the fat breakdown.


Diuretic Beverages
Several beverages also have a diuretic effect:

Coffee
Tea
Coke (While the caffeine works as a diuretic, Coke can also wreak havoc with your sugar levels and cause bloating.)
It is also important to note that some studies show a connections between caffeine and weight gain due to increased insulin resistance.

Diuretics for Edema

If your body tends to accumulate excess fluids, it's best to see your doctor to learn the cause. Diuretics are often prescribed to help those suffering from edema (accumulation of fluids in the body tissues).

Medical Reasons Contributing to Edema
A visit to your doctor can determine whether there is an underlying medical condition causing your edema. Although edema can be harmless, it is also a common symptom for the following medical conditions:

Filariasis
Glomerulonephritis
High blood pressure
Heart disease
Kidney conditions
Liver conditions including cirrhosis of the liver
Lymphedma
Nephrotic Syndrome
PMS symptoms such as bloating
Pregnancy
Thyroid condition
Taking a diuretic aids the body in getting rid of excess fluid retention. However, using diuretics indiscriminately when trying to lose weight can lead to other serious consequences like dehydration, electrolyte imabalances, and potassium deficiency. The overuse of natural diuretics and laxatives may also lead to an eating disorder.

Making a Plan to Lose Water Weight

If you suffer from PMS symptoms like bloating and headaches and want to lose water weight quickly while steering clear of prescribed diuretics, make a diet plan that follows these guidelines:

Avoid sugary food.
Avoid salt and high sodium foods.
Drink plenty of water.
Drink herbal teas.
Eat small amounts of starchy carbohydrates.
Include the foods and herbs listed above and eat fruits and vegetables.
Adding these herbs and foods to your diet can help alleviate water retention, but if you decide to take a diuretic supplement, it is important to understand that they should not be taken for more than a few days. This is because necessary minerals and nutrients may also be flushed from your system along with the unwanted water weight. Instead, make a healthy diet plan incorporating these foods and be sure to add exercise to your daily routine.

Most Eco-Friendly Shampoos

Your brief guide for safe and eco-friendly shampoos.
A couple of years ago, EcoSalon’s Beauty Editor Kathie Butler posted the (much-read, oft-shared) piece Best Organic, Natural and Eco-Friendly Shampoos for All Hair Types. Who doesn’t want the scoop on better hair products? Well, we have an update for you, below. But first, a note on what has changed—and what hasn’t—in the world of “natural” shampoos.
“Sustainable” cosmetics are the fastest growing segment of the industry. But many companies are using claims like “natural,” “organic,” and “sustainable” without walking the walk. This is called greenwashing. Look for meaningful certifications as one way to back up eco-friendly claims.
And keep in mind that natural doesn’t necessarily equal safe. Personal care products are still the least regulated consumer products on the market. Many companies use harmful ingredients in shampoo and other products we use all the time. This is perfectly legal because of a seriously outdated cosmetics law (from 1938). Environmental health groups like the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics and the Environmental Working Group are educating consumers about toxic exposures, and increasingly, people are reading ingredient labels, using the Skin Deep database, and asking companies hard questions about what’s in the products they are putting on their bodies every day.  A lot of companies are responding—check out this list of Safe Cosmetics “Champion” and “Innovator” companies.
I encourage you to learn more about this issue and support the groups working for market and regulatory change. And now, the carefully complied list of some of the best safe, green, effective and enjoyable shampoos:
Best Overall
Acure
My colleagues in the safe and green cosmetics world are raving about Acure. The company is committed to using safe ingredients that are pro-customer and pro-planet. Acure uses revolutionary plant stem cell technology coupled with some of my favorite ingredients—avocado, lemongrass, quinoa protein, acai and argan oil.
$11 for 12 oz
John Masters
John Masters Organics’ Lavender Rosemary Shampoo is a “best of” list mainstay, and for good reason. This shampoo doesn’t have a lot of foam action, but the scent, the lightweight feel, and the high quality ingredients don’t leave anyone missing the lather.
$16 for 8oz
Desert Essence – Red Raspberry Shampoo
This is a great shampoo for people looking for the conventional shampoo elements (lather, fragrance, clarity), without the toxic chemicals.  You’re left with clean, shiny hair that has not been stripped of its own oils.
$9 for 8oz
Best Balancing
Hugo’s Naturals- Tea Tree & Lavender
This shampoo is a favorite of mine—it’s light, smells lovely, and really does help to balance. The company says they use “gentle ingredients that effectively cleanse the hair and scalp and reduce flakiness without stripping away natural moisture.” And that is just how it feels.
$10 for 12oz
Max Green Alchemy – Scalp Rescue Shampoo
Max Green Alchemy was founded on the principle that natural should really be natural, and that hair care products should be safe. This shampoo contains botanicals, vitamins and essential oils to soothe your scalp and reduce itchiness and dandruff. Everyone I know who has tired it, likes it.
$15 for 8.8oz
Best For Curly
Aubrey
My friends with waves and curls of all kinds recommend Aubrey Organics—Honeysuckle Rose is a favorite, and White Camellia Ultra-Smoothing Shampoo too. Check out their hair type matrix. Aubrey has an impressive list of certifications, including USDA Organic, NPA and BDIH.
$11 for 11oz
Best Luxury
Rare Elements – Pure Shampoo
Looking for a cleansing experience that is a “journey,” including visits from an African watermelon seed oil, nutrient-rich Black Seed and moisture boosting Marula oil? Then Rare Elements is for you. My makeup artist friend Christy Coleman loves it for her long, often dehydrated hair.
$34 for 8.5oz
Rahua – Voluminous Shampoo
This body-building shampoo contains lemongrass, green tea and rainforest oils. The company says “for centuries, women from the Quechua-Shuar tribes have traveled deep into the Amazon rainforest to prepare a highly potent, restorative oil they call Rahua (ra-wa) – believing it to be the secret to their thick, flowing, lustrous hair.”
Full disclosure: I have yet to try it, but the reviews from friends and hair product junkies are positively glowing.
$32 for 9.3 oz
Best All-in-One
Intelligent Nutrients – Certified Organic Total Body Cleanser
Intelligent Nutrients is the brainchild of the founder of Aveda (which sold to Estee Launder years ago). IN is whole-heartedly committed to making nontoxic, nutrient rich products that are a joy to use. When raw ingredients are not available through the organic certified system, they go the extra mile to materials verified to ensure good growing conditions and safety. This product does it all—cleans from head to toe, reducing shower clutter and packaging waste. (But note: it is not recommended for color-treated hair.)
$29 for 6.7oz
Best for Babies
Earth Mama Angel Baby – Top of Form
The base of this product is a gentle, real castile soap, with added calendula, zero toxins, and no artificial fragrance. A multitasking product for kids, and the whole family.
$10 5.3oz
Best Bar Shampoos
Herban Lifestyle
Interested in washing your hair with a shampoo bar? Then try this one. Herban Lifestyle is a small, woman-owned company doing the right thing. This shampoo contains seven ingredients, costs eight bucks, and will last you up to 60 washes.  Awesome.
$8 for 4oz bar
Best Dry Shampoo
LuLu Organics
An organic, talc-free hair powder to use between washes, or when you need a little refreshing. A favorite of hair product mavens.
$30 for 4oz
Be Green Bath & Body
A straight-forward, super simple product to extend time between washes (and thus prevent stripping hair of natural oils). This is a tiny company committed to safety, and to making affordable products.
$6 for 4 oz
Best DIY Tips
By now you’ve probably heard of people going “no poo,” and others whipping up hair products in their kitchens. Check out these DIY hair tips from makeup artist Todra Payne (including natural, nutrient-rich cleansers like Bentonite clay and coconut oil).
Happy cleansing!
Mia Davis is the former Organizing Director for the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, and is a founding member of the American Sustainable Business Council’s Workgroup for Women & Business. Mia recently joined a team of social entrepreneurs who will launch BeautyCounter, a company that will bring chic products and higher safety standards to the beauty industry, in Winter 2013.

Source: Ecosalon.com

Worst Fast Food Breakfast

Worst Fast Food Breakfast
Burger King BK Ultimate Breakfast Platter
1,310 calories
72 g fat (26 g saturated, 1 g trans)
2,490 mg sodium

Platters are meant to feed groups, not individuals. But serving size isn't the King's only flagrant foul. He hacks away at your arteries with buttered eggs, fried potatoes, gristly sausage, and a trans fat-filled biscuit. (And we're not even talking about the diabetic debacle that is the pile of pancakes and syrup.) You'd better have run 12 miles before queuing up for this breakfast at BK. That's what it would take for the average person to burn through this platter's 1,300 calories.

Source: Eat This, Not That

Get Perfect Skin

How to Get Perfect Skin: Don’t Sleep in Your Makeup

Your mom was right: You need to wash your face before bedtime! Aside from leaving your pillow mess-free, having clean skin while you sleep helps keep pores clear—meaning fewer pimples and blackheads. Feeling lazy? Cleansing wipes like Simple Kind to Skin Cleansing Facial Wipes, $6, make cleansing your face too easy to skip.

Source: Glamour

Vichy Shower

Skip Buying: the Vichy Shower
We’re not sure we can fully appreciate the novelty behind paying to take a powerful shower. Instead, why not upgrade your home with a tricked out, state-of-the-art, pulsating massaging showerhead that you can enjoy every single day?

Source: Glamour

Britney Spears' Newest Fragrance

Britney Spears launches her new fragrance named Island Fantasy in April 2013. The fragrance belongs to the popular line of sweet perfumes. The line includes the original Fantasy from 2005, Midnight Fantasy from 2006, Hidden Fantasy from 2008 and Circus Fantasy from 2009.

The scent is announced as a tropical island getaway, made of floral and fruity aromas. It opens with a cocktail of citruses, mandarin, clementine, red berries and watermelon. Flowers of jasmine, violet and freesia exceed the lower notes of musk and sugar cane.

Chinese Cure for Colds

Ginger is a popular cold remedy around the world, and it takes center stage in this hot and healing citrus drink. Cut a thumb-sized piece of fresh ginger into small pieces and mash them down with the side of a knife. In a saucepan, bring 1 cup (or more) of water to a low boil and add ginger pieces; simmer for 20 minutes. Now add the rind of 1 organic orange, chopped into pieces, and simmer for 10 more minutes. Remove from heat, strain and serve; if the taste is too strong, add a touch of honey to sweeten it up.

Source: Organic Authority

5 Hidden Acne Causes

You break out when you're swamped at work, but is that the cause? Could it be the extra junk food you've been eating as a result of the stress? Maybe you've been in the sun too much? The point is, there are a lot of myths surrounding pimples. We looked at the research and talked to experts to uncover these surprising reasons your skin may not be as smooth as it could be.

Dairy - A study published the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology found that boys who consumed two or more servings of milk a day were the most likely to have acne. The researchers believe this applies to older men, too. "Just one cup of milk can cause breakouts", says Adnan Nasir, M.D., Men's Health dermatology adviser. If you break out frequently, opt for almond milk. Try this for two months and see if it makes a difference.

Carbohydrates - Researchers gave men a face cleanser and assigned them one of two 12-week diets: one high in carbohydrates and one high in protein, vegetables, and whole grains. Both groups saw a decrease in the number of pimples, bu the high-protein dieters had double the drop. The researchers believe increased insulin can cause inflammation in the skin and lead to breakouts. Cut down on the sugar and switch to whole grains.

Not Enough Omega-3's - A 250-gram supplement of EPA (The omega-3 found in sardines) reduced the number of pimples in a study published in Lipids in Health and Disease. "Inflammatory chemicals increase the production of sebum. Omega-3s prevent these chemicals from making sebum, which is known to cause acne," says Alan Logan, N.D., an independent researcher.

Stress - Research shows that stress triggers the release of steroid hormones, like glucocorticoids and adrenal androgens, known to cause acne by activating the oil glands and clogging pores. A Standford University study even found that college students had more breakouts during exams, when they reported more stress.

Too Much Sun - Over several years, sun exposure may increase your skin's oil production. If you're fair skinned, five to ten years living in a sunny climate as an adult can make you more susceptible to acne. So, choose your sunscreen wisely. Try picking sunscreen that is dissolved in alcohol instead of plant oils. "The alcohol will evaporate and only the protection is left behind," says Dr. Nasir.

Source: Men's Health

Fat Loss Mistakes: Four Reasons You're Not Lean

I’ll be honest. I’m not a fat loss “expert.” I also don’t think most people need a fat loss expert. What they need is a straightforward, no-frills approach to fat loss. Check out the physiques of the folks inside your local Walmart or grocery store, even your gym. How many are so elite that they need strategies to get from 6% to 4% body fat? Compare that with the number that could benefit from simply dropping 20-30 pounds, or might be looking to get into single digit body fat for the first time in their life?

That’s what I thought.

This piece is about in the trenches, real world fat loss strategies. And while there’s nothing new about what I’m about to present, I’d implore you to focus on mastering these basic tools first, before worrying about the minutia.
To that end, here are the biggest reasons why you aren’t getting results from your current fat loss program, along with practical strategies you can use to start seeing a difference today!

A Quick Primer

When it comes to fat loss programs, I’m a huge advocate of alternating upper body and lower body exercises in a superset fashion. For example, do a set of squats (lower body), rest for an allotted period of time, and then do a set of chin-ups (upper body).

You can use any approach you like, but this example will be used throughout this article.

Reason #1 – Crappy exercise selection and lack of intensity

In the real world, great exercises are great exercises. Big exercises like squats, deadlifts, bench presses, overhead presses, push-ups, pull-ups, rows, and single-leg work are great regardless of your goals. So why is it when people want to lose fat, they spend more time wussing out on the big exercises?Look, fat loss programs flat out suck. Try doing a heavy set of 8-12 squats, resting 60-90 seconds, and then following that up with a big compound press or pull. Rest 60-90 more seconds, and then repeat that sequence 2-3 more times.

Feel like throwing up yet?

If you aren’t really uncomfortable in your fat loss efforts, you’re not working hard enough. And beyond just crappy exercise selection, most people trying to drop lard don’t work hard, period. They assume that since their reps are higher they don’t need to use as much load. While you definitely won’t be using as much weight as you would on say a 5-rep max, many take this to a wussifying extreme.

Regardless of whether your goal is strength, hypertrophy, fat loss, etc., you have to push the weights. In fat loss programs, if you’re supposed to be doing sets of 10 reps and you could’ve done 15 or 20 reps, you need to get your ass in gear and pile on some poundage.
The Fix:

The first two supersets of your workout should make you cringe.

I like to start every fat loss session off with two big supersets, something like this:

1A) Squat Variation
1B) Horizontal Pull
2A) Posterior Chain or Single-Leg Work
2B) Horizontal Press
Another workout could look like this:
1A) Deadlift Variation
1B) Vertical Pull
2A) Posterior Chain or Single-Leg Work
2B) Vertical Press

So big exercises, and pushing the weights are critical. This leads me right into my next point…

 
Reason #2 – Your rest periods are out of whack

When it comes to fat loss, we know that rest periods are important. But again, there’s a big difference between knowing they’re important, and actually sticking to them. I see two issues frequently – men take too much time between sets, while women take too little time. Guys are notorious for taking their sweet time when training. They’re supposed to rest 60 seconds, but then they have to get some water, load the bar, ogle the hot chick on the stretching mats, or a host of other things. Next thing you know, it’s been 2-3 minutes and they still haven’t started the second exercise in their superset yet! Is it any wonder they’re still fat? Women, on the other hand, are notorious for chasing the “burn,” and they look like perpetual motion machines gone wrong.

Instead of taking 30, 60 or even 90 seconds in between their sets, they’ll bounce from exercise to exercise, taking as little rest as possible. I’m all for training density – doing more work in less time. It can be a powerful tool. But not if you use it exclusively, or while ignoring other valuable training methods. Think about what happens if you never rest. What you’re doing is trading exercise intensity for training density.

The Fix:

Time your rest periods! Put your headphones on, take a stopwatch to the gym, and become militant about your rest periods. Guys, get serious about your routine and stop dicking around. It’s time to dial it in and do the work! For fat loss, rest intervals are as important a training parameter as the weight on the bar, so respect it as such. Ladies, rest is important. If you want to maximize your results, there comes a time and place to increase your intensity. Take the allotted amount of rest and push the weights.

Reason #3 – Your Diet is Garbage

The basics of diet aren’t that complicated. We’re not going to talk about macronutrient splits, nutrient timing, or any other complicated stuff. We’re going to look at the basics, and why most people fail miserably in their efforts to shed body weight and/or body fat. I can’t tell you how many times people have come to me muttering something along these lines:

“My diet is great but I just can’t lose weight.”

“I eat so clean – I think I must have a hormonal imbalance.”

“My mom and dad are overweight. I just have bad genetics.”

Sure, there are legitimate reasons why some people can’t lose body weight and/or body fat. Unfortunately, most just like to make excuses and play the victim rather than put in the work necessary to achieve their goals.

My new strategy is to have any clients who want to use an excuse perform two exercises first. If they do both of the following and still aren’t losing body fat, then we can explore deeper-seeded issues.

TAKE A 7 DAY DIET HISTORY

If you’re not willing to write down everything you eat and drink for at least 7 days, I’m not willing to accept your excuse that you can’t lose weight. Period. About a year ago, a female came into the gym to start training. She told me that she was eating pretty clean, and yet was still unable to lose weight. I gave her the challenge – write down everything you eat and drink for the next 5 days (I was nicer and less annoyed back then). The result? She became immediately more conscious of what she was eating and as a result she lost six pounds over five days by simply understanding all the garbage she was inhaling!

A diet history is a powerful tool. Unfortunately, our grasp of serving sizes these days is totally skewed. So if they do the diet history and we still can’t find any glaring issues, we add another wrinkle. Take a 7-Day Diet History, Weighing and Measuring ALL Foods

Do you have any idea what three ounces of chicken really looks like? What about two tablespoons of ranch dressing or peanut butter? Or how much a serving of pasta is?

Most people don’t, and it’s absolutely impeding their fat and weight loss goals.

Another client was in the midst of a 200-pound weight loss when he came to us. (Yes, this guy went from 400+ to just a little over 200 pounds over a five year period!) When he was with us, one of the biggest changes he made was consistently making better food choices. Instead of snacking on chips or pretzels, he moved to a healthier alternative: almonds. The issue was that almonds are incredibly calorie dense, and he had no clue how many he was actually eating. Instead of eating one serving, he was eating three, four, even five servings as a snack!

Once he reined this in and focused on weighing and measuring his foods, he broke through a plateau and saw some great changes in his scale weight.


The Fix:

Weigh and measure all your foods for a month. “A month? What? Mike you just said 7 days!”

Seven days is a great start, and it can shed some light on where you’re going wrong. But if you’re serious about your fat loss efforts, I want you to know exactly what you’re putting in your body on a daily basis. Is this a massive pain in the ass? Sure. But if being lean was easy, every bro would be sporting a six-pack and every gal would have the figure of a Victoria’s Secret model.

The people that get the best results do the things that others aren’t willing to do. So get to work!

Reason #4 – Your recovery sucks

Let’s say your diet is on point, you’re training your ass off with the right exercises, set/rep schemes, and rest periods, and you’re still not losing fat.

What gives?

Tell me if any (or all) of the below describes you:

• You rely on caffeine to get you through the day.
• Sleeping 6 hours is a thing of beauty.
• Your job, spouse/significant other/children/life are incredibly stressful and cause you anxiety.

Regardless, this list could go on and on. People keep pushing and pushing and wonder why their body isn’t responding.
I try to describe it like this: Your body is like soil. You need to take care of it so it has the potential to grow your garden (or your physique).

But if your soil never gets any fertilizer, you never water it, and it’s baking in the scorching hot sun all day, do you really think it’s going to have the foundation to grow anything of substance? Your body is no different.

If you’re doing all the hard things right, why not do the easy things that help you get over the weight and fat loss hump?

The Fix:

Start prioritizing recovery. This can be daunting for some, but start with the basics.

You need to get 7-8 hours of sleep minimum. I know there’s going to be one guy piping in on the LiveSpill about how he sleeps four hours per day and is 4% body fat, squats 1000, and benches 700, raw.

Good for you. The rest of us need more sleep to expedite recovery. Sleep 7 hours. If you can’t get in seven continuous hours, try getting as much as you can at night and then work in a nap or two throughout the day. Seriously, if you need to go out to your car on your lunch break and take a nap, do so.

You’ll be shocked at how refreshed you feel and how much more intense your workouts will become once your batteries are fully charged.

Improve sleep quality. Beyond quantity of sleep is quality. To enhance the quality of my sleep, I’ve been using BIOTEST’S EliteproTM Minerals and Z-12TM before bed. I’m pushing my training and with a five month old at home, I’m going to do whatever I can to maximize whatever sleep I do get.

Manage stress. You need to find quality stress management techniques that work for you. First, worrying about things you have no control over is worthless and totally dumb. If you can’t control it, don’t worry about it. Whatever happens will happen. Focus on the things you do have some control over and start to take your life back.

Relax. Consider employing some progressive relaxation techniques before bed. Simple things like diaphragmatic breathing, contracting and relaxing individual muscle groups, and simply unwinding for 5-10 minutes can greatly expedite how quickly you fall asleep.

Meditate. You don’t have to center your chi and chant “Om” until the cows come home, but meditation definitely has benefits. If nothing else, meditation can help clear your head and get you focused on what’s important (as well as what’s not).

Summary

Getting lean isn’t anywhere near as confusing as some would lead you to believe. Trust me, far too many people are making insane amounts of money by keeping you confused and having an “angle” on fat loss.

If you’re serious about getting lean once and for all, apply the four simple techniques and fixes I outlined above. I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised with the results!

Author: MIKE ROBERTSON

Can You Eat Late and Still Lose?

Lately we've heard the only thing that matters to you waistline is how much you eat. But there's a growing body of research that says when you eat really does make a difference in how much you weigh. "Your body is more prone to burn fat at certain times of day and store fat at other times," says Satchin Panda, Ph.D, associate professor in the Regulatory Biology Laboratory at the Salk Institute in La Jolla, CA. New studies reveal that to burn the most fat, you need to go 12 hours without eating, like from 8p to 8a.

To keep pounds off, don't eat after dark. Before electricity and all-night dinners, we humans used to spend a long stretch every night without food passing our lips. Staying up and eating late is a very recent phenomenon in human history. Our metabolisms are hardwired to expect a nightly fast, which is a key time for your body to burn fat.

During the day, your brain and muscles use some of the calories you eat for fuel, and the rest gets stored in the liver in the form of glycogen. At night, your body converts that glycogen into glucose and releases it into your bloodstream to keep your blood-sugar levels steady while you sleep. Once the stored glycogen is gone, your livers starts burning fat cells for energy. You burn fat while you sleep!

It takes a few hours to use up the day's glycogen stores. So if you snack until midnight and sit down to breakfast at 7a.m., your body may never get the opportunity to burn any fat before you start reloading your glycogen stores again. It doesn't help that you're also likely to overeat when you're up late. Night owls consume an average of 248 calories more per day than those who got to bed earlier, and most of those calories rack up after 8p.m.

Using this time method may mean that you can snack more and weigh less. In a study just published in Cell Metabolism, Panda's research team for that mice that ate a high-fat diet spread out over the day and night became obese and diabetic, while mice eating the same diet but only over an eight-hour period didn't gain any weight and remained healthy. "Fasting at night can even override most of the negative effects of an unhealthy diet, including weight gain," Panda says.

Source: Health Magazine

Pre-Oscar Beauty Treatments

Normal people can't afford these treatments or have the time for them, but I still thought it was interesting enough to post. ;-)

The Hair Facial: Madonna and her daughter Lourdes are only two of the many celebs who've indulged in a "Hair Facial" from Kinara stylist Shelee Maeda—who, for $85, will massage soy protein into your follicles, then moisturize and steam your hair cuticles open so your locks can absorb all those good nutrients. The treatment aims to soften your hair and give it more shine—making it easier to style for big red carpet events.

BioSlimming Active Wrap: After your hair facial, stick around at Kinara for a slimming wrap. When you see actresses in person, they're teeny-weeny. Those waists fit into the most miniscule of dresses during awards season—and one secret weapon they use to lose the last few inches is the BioSLimming Active Wrap ($180), which uses an infrared heated wrap and essential oils, active algae extracts and caffeine to fight cellulite, boost fat metabolism and most importantly, reduce the size of your waist.

The Ultimate Blow-Out: Blow-outs are one thing LA does well—and the competition is fierce. Getting a slot is almost like trying to gatecrash the Oscars. The head-honchos are Adam Campbell at Prive Salon, who does Angie, Nicole Kidman, Kate Hudson and Jennifer Garner; and Rossano Ferretti, who just opened his 20th salon and, at $1000 per hair-cut, is probably the priciest hairdresser in the world. His clients include Gaga, Salma Hayek and Sharon Stone.

The Red Carpet Facial: There have been many imitators, but the bona-fide, real-deal original "Red Carpet Facial" founder (she even has that name trademarked), is Tracie Martyn. A friend went to her recently and found herself right between Tilda Swinton and Kate Winslet’s appointments. Using a ‘Resculptor’ device, which emits an electric current, Tracie stimulates the skin. Then amber LED lights help erase fine lines. Tracie uses her own products to reduce puffiness, lift the eyes and cheekbones, and define the jawline. Its basically like having facelift, without having a facelift.

Reformer Pilates: Reformer pilates (the type done in a crazy-looking machine with ropes attached to it) is all the rage in Hollywood right now. Perhaps because you get abs super-quickly from it, or perhaps because you get to exercise lying down and therefore not ruin your makeup, but celebs like George Clooney hone their bodies at Zen Fitness.

Resultwear: Halle Berry, Ginnifer Goodwin, Sofia Vergara and Cate Blanchett keep their curves going in and out at the right places with Resultwear, the latest suck-it-all-in underwear brand. This line has a reversible one-shoulder seamless underwire-free bra top, and an all-in-one minidress with a tummy panel that flattens everything.

Juice Cleansing: A three-day juice cleanse prior to the Oscars is fairly standard amongst many actresses (and actors—I hear Jake Gyllenhaal is a fan), but finally there’s one that doesn’t taste disgusting. Pressed Juicery let’s you pick the yummiest combinations—like cucumber, pineapple, coconut and aloe vera (tastes like a healthy pina colada) and almond milk, dates, vanilla bean and sea salt (tastes like a vanilla milkshake)—and delivers them to your door. The company has developed a hydraulic press which manages to release more than four times more vitamins and minerals than regular juicers. So there.

And another thing—Aloe Gloe is the latest drink fad—only 35 calories!—to sweep LA. Aloe vera improves digestion and rehydrates—both important things for pre-carpet prep! "The Organic Aloe Vera in Aloe Gloe is great for Skin, Digestion, and Immunity," says Aloe Gloe co-founder Danny Stepper. "Many of our drinkers believe that Aloe Vera has a calming healing effect when consumed, which I can imagine would be helpful for celebrities on the Red Carpet."

St. Tropez Tanning: The crop of whiter-than-pale starlets rocking the red carpet lately (Rooney Mara, Carey Mulligan, Emma Stone) has truly split the Hollywood crowd when it comes to skin tone trends. The beach bunnies like Eva Longoria and Sofia Vergara will hit St. Tropez’s super plush tanning lounge at the Four Seasons Hotel, where they will be sprayed, contoured and polished with the new Make Me Glow treatment, using a gold skin illuminator, bronzing rocks and body polish. At the other end of the spectrum is Jessica Biel’s favourite spa, Carasoin, who has a new Skin Brightening treatment, which gives you that porcelain-doll effect—lightening skin and smoothing pigmentation using lactic acid and a kefir scrub.

Stylehaus' Styling Suite: Most actresses will hire a top stylist to source their dress, shoes, jewels and clutch bag, but this year anyone can experience the A-list treatment at Stylehaus, a pop-up suite set up at the Mondrian hotel on Sunset Boulevard. Pay a fee, and you’ll get dressed by a team of professional stylists, in designers such as Valentino, Versace and Karl Lagerfeld. Sarah Michelle Gellar, Christina Milian and Sharon Osbourne have all been in—what a cool idea!

Source: Glamour

Using Food Labels

Food labels are designed to help consumers make food choices based on the nutrients that are most important to good health. In addition to listing nutrient content by weight, the label puts the information in the context of a daily diet of 2000 calories that includes no more than 65 grams of fat (approximately 30% of total calories). For example, if a serving of a particular product has 13 grams of fat, the label will show that the serving represents 20% of the daily fat allowance. If your daily diet contains fewer or more than 2000 calories, you need to adjust these calculations accordingly.

Food labels contain uniform serving sizes. This means that if you look at different brands of salad dressing, for example, you can compare calories and fat content based on the serving amount. (Food label serving sizes may be larger or smaller than MyPyramid serving size equivalents, however.) Regulations also require that foods meet strict definitions if their packaging includes the terms light, low-fat, or high-fiber (see below). Health claims such as “good source of dietary fiber” or “low in saturated fat” on packages are signals that those products can wisely be included in your diet. Overall, the food label is an important tool to help you choose a diet that conforms to MyPyramid and the Dietary Guidelines.

Selected Nutrient Claims and What They Mean

Healthy A food that is low in fat, is low in saturated fat, has no more than 360–480 mg of sodium and 60 mg of cholesterol, and provides 10% or more of the Daily Value for vitamin A, vitamin C, protein, calcium, iron, or dietary fiber.
Light or lite One-third fewer calories or 50% less fat than a similar product.
Reduced or fewer At least 25% less of a nutrient than a similar product; can be applied to fat (“reduced fat”), saturated fat, cholesterol, sodium, and calories.
Extra or added 10% or more of the Daily Value per serving when compared to what a similar product has.
Good source 10–19% of the Daily Value for a particular nutrient per serving.
High, rich in, or excellent source of 20% or more of the Daily Value for a particular nutrient per serving.
Low calorie 40 calories or less per serving.
High fiber 5 g or more of fiber per serving.
Good source of fiber 2.5–4.9 g of fiber per serving.
Fat-free Less than 0.5 g of fat per serving.
Low-fat 3 g of fat or less per serving.
Saturated fat-free Less than 0.5 g of saturated fat and 0.5 g of trans fatty acids per serving.
Low saturated fat 1 g or less of saturated fat per serving and no more than 15% of total calories.
Cholesterol-free Less than 2 mg of cholesterol and 2 g or less of saturated fat per serving.
Low cholesterol 20 mg or less of cholesterol and 2 g or less of saturated fat per serving.
Low sodium 140 mg or less of sodium per serving.
Very low sodium 35 mg or less of sodium per serving.
Lean Cooked seafood, meat, or poultry with less than 10 g of fat, 4.5 g or less of saturated fat, and less than 95 mg of cholesterol per serving.
Extra lean Cooked seafood, meat, or poultry with less than 5 g of fat, 2 g of saturated fat, and 95 mg of cholesterol per serving.
Note: The FDA has not yet defined nutrient claims relating to carbohydrates, so foods labeled low- or reduced-carbohydrate do not conform to any approved standard.

Beta Carotene

Carotenoids, the colorful pigments that make veggies yellow, orange, or red, help shield skin from sun damage.  Beta carotene—a carotenoid that your liver converts into vitamin A—and flavonols—antioxidants found in plants—provide protection against sunburn and skin damage from exposure to the sun's ultraviolet (UV) rays, say German researchers report who analyzed multiple studies. However, beta carotene supplements can increase cancer risk, especially for smokers, so your best bet is to get your beta carotene from food sources.

Conditions: Sunburn
Recommendations: Dark green and yellow-orange vegetables such as spinach and sweet potatoes
Interactions & Side Effects: Fulfills vitamin A requirement, so don't take extra A

Lautner Abs: Hanging Leg Raises

Hanging Leg Raises
Grab a chinup bar with an overhand, shoulder-width grip (or use elbow supports, if available), and hang from the bar with your knees slightly bent and feet together. Simultaneously bend your knees, raise your hips, and curl your lower back underneath you as you lift your thighs toward your chest. Pause when the fronts of your thighs reach your chest, then slowly lower your legs back to the starting position. Do three to four sets of 8 to 12 reps.

Source: Men's Health

Taylor Swift's Preferred Covergirl Products

 With two platinum albums and millions of fans, Taylor Swift embodies the confidence, energy, and passion it takes to be a COVERGIRL. With 4 Grammys, 5 CMT Music Awards, 7 AMA Awards, and more, Taylor has taken the music world by storm, all before her 21st birthday.

Taylor's two top choices are the Natureluxe Silk Foundation

And Covergirl LipPerfection Lip Color