Dress To Look Slimmer

The clothes you wear can either make you look slimmer or add pounds to you. Wearing baggy, loose clothes that are one or two sizes too big will make you look larger than you are. On the same note, trying to squeeze in to clothes that are a size too small will not be flattering.
 Work out your body shape.

There are 5 principal body shapes out there:1. Pear 2. Top Heavy (Inverted triangle) 3. Hourglass 4. Apple 5. Rectangle (straight up and down)

Once you know what shape you are then choose clothes that flatter your shape.

Department stores can help with buying and wearing the right clothes for your shape and size.

How To Be Body Confident Over 40

In today's society, having confidence in the way you look and feel can often be a struggle for most people. As you get older this can sometimes be more difficult as wrinkles start to appear, grey hair, sagging skin and loss of muscle tone.

Sounds pretty bleak. 

However, for a lot of over 40 year olds it has never been a better time for being the most confident you have been. You become more accepting of yourself and over the years have learnt to live and love what nature has given you (and make the best of it).

As you get older you are more aware of looking after your health and so exercise and eating healthier often becomes a priority.

If you feel this doesn't describe you but you would like to feel more confident, toned and healthier then fear not. Over the next few weeks I will be sharing some of my best tried and tested techniques for being the best, most confident you.

I will be showing you ladies:

• How to get glowing skin
• How to work from the inside out
• How to lose weight and tone up for FREE from the comfort of your home
• How to dress to impress
• How to look slimmer instantly
• Make-up and hair for over 40 year olds

Stayed tuned!!

The Mind Exercises That Can Help You Stay Slim

Every year we spend millions on diets and gym membership, but obesity specialists increasingly believe the problem doesn’t lie in what we eat or how much exercise we take, but how we think.

‘There is a non-stop communication between your mind and body, but the mind is the most important because it drives your behaviour,’ says nutrition and exercise specialist Janet Thomson, author of Think More, Eat Less.

She is convinced we become overweight as a result of confused messages from the brain sabotaging our attempts to slim

So, if we have been told we are ‘well-built’ or ‘chubby’ or that ‘dieting is a waste of time’, the messages can stick. Without even realising, our emotional link with food can become toxic and we will no longer eat only when hungry and stop when full.

However, she maintains this can be changed and has devised a programme of mind exercises that she believes can boost our chances of getting, and staying, slim.

• THINK about how you will look and feel a month after you have achieved your weight- loss goal — slim and healthy. Now, visualise yourself three months after that and six months later. Commit to spending one minute just before you go to sleep each night and one minute when you wake each morning (while you are in a sleepy, trance-like state) visualising yourself like this. Creating powerful positive emotions helps generate faith in your ability to succeed.
• WRITE down exactly what you want to achieve — to be comfortable in size 12 jeans? To run a marathon? — and what you are prepared to do to get there — ‘I will eat less’ or ‘I will stick to a training regime’. Read this mission statement out loud twice a day.
• IDENTIFY the thoughts and behaviour that may have kept you from achieving your goals in the past. Make a list of all the things that could have been making you fat (too many takeaways, too much wine), then write a list of alternative behaviours that you intend to do instead (planning meals, drinking alcohol only at weekends).
• KEEP a food diary: write down everything that passes your lips. Studies show that even if you don’t consciously restrict your food intake, a diary makes you more conscious of what you eat. Being aware is a step forward.
• SPEND time with like-minded people who have already achieved or have similar goals. Who you spend time with directly affects your attitude because your unconscious mind  will be continually processing their shared experiences as well as your own.
• FOLLOW two simple eating rules: never use food as a reward or treat — eat only because your body needs fuel, then give it the best quality fuel possible. Never ban yourself from eating something. This will only make you want it more.

Source:dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2108360/Yes-CAN-think-thinner-.html#ixzz4CzWU7xzr

Think Yourself Younger

ERASE THE YEARS

When we do young things; laughing, dancing and having sex, we send a message to our bodies that we are young and this slows down how we age. The younger you feel and act the more you lower your biological age. Our bodies get older on their own timetable. A runner aged 40 may have the heart and lungs of a 25 year old but the knees of a 55 year old. Your birth certificate age is the least important. How old you feel and act are far more important if you want to grow older without growing old.

In 2010 Harvard psychologist Dr Ellen Langer took a group of celebrities to a retreat for a BBC programme. It was furnished from 1980 – all the magazines, radio shows and TV programmes were from the 80s, and each person wore a badge of a photo of themselves from then. Before starting, the group underwent tests to determine their age including grip, vision, hearing, balance, hormones,muscle strength, and so on. They all spent a week living as if it was 30 years earlier. Everything going on around them was engineered to enable them to act as they had 30 years ago, subconsciously tricking themselves to believe they were younger. After seven days, they took the same tests again… and all had reversed their age by a minimum of between seven and ten years, and had a new lease of life. When asked to describe what had happened they reported forgetting they were older and as a result they physically grew younger.

These experiments prove that your beliefs determine how you age. If you think and act old, you grow old prematurely, whereas when you think and act younger, you remain younger physically and mentally. That’s why people like Cliff Richard and Keith Richards have aged in a rather unique way, because they are singers, dancing on stage and doing something youthful for a living they are seen as eternally young. Cliff Richards is called Peter Pan and Keith who should have aged terribly because of his abusive lifestyle proves that doing young things and thinking young thoughts is powerful enough to overcome the ageing effect of bad habits. Women who are very girly like Lulu and Goldie Hawn grow older differently because giggling, laughing and doing younger things keeps you younger. Girly thoughts and actions make you stay more girly.

Nelson Mandella spent 30 years in jail with no access to good food or vitamins yet his passion for life kept him youthful alert and full of life. People in Japan with a different expectation of ageing age differently as do people who love exercise, embrace new technology and have an active life – they stay young for longer. Have you noticed those people who seem to love exercise, embrace new technology, love being with younger people and have an active social life are the people who tend to look young, vibrant and happy? That’s not acoincidence; it’s because they are doing the things they did when young. They get the added benefit of looking younger because that’s the way they feel (not the other way round).

If you don’t want to grow old badly don’t use ageing language. Don’t say “I’m too old to wear that,” or “I can’t do that at my age.” Instead of saying “I look old”, which is seen by the mind as permanent, change it to “I look tired.” Your mind accepts that tired is temporary and after sleep you’ll look younger. Using words like knackered, past it, gaga, at my time of life and at my age cause yourmind to accept that ageing and deteriorating are inevitable when that does not have to be the case. If you want to be part of the new old age, use words like youthful, vibrant, full of life and vitality. Your mind believes everything you tell it and acts on those words so if you say “I forgot, it must be my age,” or “I am so cranky and tired I cant stay up late at my age,” you are allowing yourself to believe it is beyond your influence, which is not true. Instead, remember that children forget things all the time and babies are cranky without enough sleep; it’s not your age so don’t attribute negative behaviours to your years. Changing the words you use to describe yourself changes how you look and feel.

Source: naturalhealthmagazine.co.uk/anti-ageing/think-yourself-younger

Think Yourself Younger

People who age fantastically well leave clues; I have spent 18 years studying those clues so you can replicate what they do in order to be they same. You can use your mind to trick your body into feeling and then becoming younger. We all have three ages. We have a chronological or birth certificate age, we have a biological one – the age of our organs, and we have a psychological one – the age we feel.

ERASE THE YEARS

When we do young things; laughing, dancing and having sex, we send a message to our bodies that we are young and this slows down how we age. The younger you feel and act the more you lower your biological age. Our bodies get older on their own timetable. A runner aged 40 may have the heart and lungs of a 25 year old but the knees of a 55 year old. Your birth certificate age is the least important. How old you feel and act are far more important if you want to grow older without growing old.

In 2010 Harvard psychologist Dr Ellen Langer took a group of celebrities to a retreat for a BBC programme. It was furnished from 1980 – all the magazines, radio shows and TV programmes were from the 80s, and each person wore a badge of a photo of themselves from then. Before starting, the group underwent tests to determine their age including grip, vision, hearing, balance, hormones,muscle strength, and so on. They all spent a week living as if it was 30 years earlier. Everything going on around them was engineered to enable them to act as they had 30 years ago, subconsciously tricking themselves to believe they were younger. After seven days, they took the same tests again… and all had reversed their age by a minimum of between seven and ten years, and had a new lease of life. When asked to describe what had happened they reported forgetting they were older and as a result they physically grew younger.

These experiments prove that your beliefs determine how you age. If you think and act old, you grow old prematurely, whereas when you think and act younger, you remain younger physically and mentally. That’s why people like Cliff Richard and Keith Richards have aged in a rather unique way, because they are singers, dancing on stage and doing something youthful for a living they are seen as eternally young. Cliff Richards is called Peter Pan and Keith who should have aged terribly because of his abusive lifestyle proves that doing young things and thinking young thoughts is powerful enough to overcome the ageing effect of bad habits. Women who are very girly like Lulu and Goldie Hawn grow older differently because giggling, laughing and doing younger things keeps you younger. Girly thoughts and actions make you stay more girly.
Nelson Mandella spent 30 years in jail with no access to good food or vitamins yet his passion for life kept him youthful alert and full of life. People in Japan with a different expectation of ageing age differently as do people who love exercise, embrace new technology and have an active life – they stay young for longer. Have you noticed those people who seem to love exercise, embrace new technology, love being with younger people and have an active social life are the people who tend to look young, vibrant and happy? That’s not acoincidence; it’s because they are doing the things they did when young. They get the added benefit of looking younger because that’s the way they feel (not the other way round).
If you don’t want to grow old badly don’t use ageing language. Don’t say “I’m too old to wear that,” or “I can’t do that at my age.” Instead of saying “I look old”, which is seen by the mind as permanent, change it to “I look tired.” Your mind accepts that tired is temporary and after sleep you’ll look younger. Using words like knackered, past it, gaga, at my time of life and at my age cause yourmind to accept that ageing and deteriorating are inevitable when that does not have to be the case. If you want to be part of the new old age, use words like youthful, vibrant, full of life and vitality. Your mind believes everything you tell it and acts on those words so if you say “I forgot, it must be my age,” or “I am so cranky and tired I cant stay up late at my age,” you are allowing yourself to believe it is beyond your influence, which is not true. Instead, remember that children forget things all the time and babies are cranky without enough sleep; it’s not your age so don’t attribute negative behaviours to your years. Changing the words you use to describe yourself changes how you look and feel.

EMBRACE CHANGE

WATCH YOUR WORDS

We live in exciting times where being 50 means you are only halfway through your life. We don’t dread getting old, we dread losing our youth and vitality. You can grow older without growing old while adding years to your lifespan. Women like Jane Fonda, Mary Berry and Catherine Deneuve are showing us the new old age as they refuse to conform to what ageing is.
You can also trick your mind into staying young by continuing to learn new things throughout life. Doing new and different things keeps your brain elastic, sharp and finely-tuned. Professors in their 90s have brain neurons equal to those of 30. We only age when we stop doing new things, so embrace newness and change and you will stay mentally younger; this in turn keeps you physically younger. Our mind doesn’t age unless we stop using it. You can keep your memory and thinking sharp by reading your paper and doing crosswords on your iPad, use Skype, instagram and twitter as this will keep your mind in peak condition because anything new boosts your brainpower.

LEARN SOMETHING NEW

TRY THIS!

We make new brain neurons when we practice nuerobics. This simply means if you’re right handed, hold your toothbrush and your TV remote with your left hand, and go upstairs leading with your left leg. When you use the ‘wrong’ hand or leg this makes new neurons boosting brain power. These simple tricks give you tangible results so that you age in ways that make others envy you.

Source: naturalhealthmagazine.co.uk/anti-ageing/think-yourself-younger

Look Younger In 10 Minutes?

What do living legends like Martin Sheen,

and author John Gray ("Men Are From Mars")

know about this ancient health secret...

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A secret hidden deep inside a Himalayan

Monestary, so profound that it can restore

your natural hair color, remove wrinkles,

improve your memory, turbo-charge your energy

levels and even correct your eyesight?

A retired British Colonel stumbled upon this

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and discovered these five ancient rituals...

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Get Moving!

Winter makes us all feel like being lazy and staying indoors watching a movie. Then come spring it is a mad rush to get into shape for the holiday season.

I exercise ALL year whatever the weather. This helps to keep my body in shape and my weight steady. The longer you keep up the exercise routine, the more it becomes a daily habit.

I enjoy cycling but when the weather is cold, wet and dark I admit that jumping on my bike becomes less likely. So what do I do instead? I walk and walk and walk. If it's cold and raining, guess what? Yep I still walk (we have this amazing invention called a coat). I pull on my hat, gloves, scarf and coat and get out there. 

I vary my pace between walking at a steady rate to walking as fast as I can to the point that my legs ache. I know that this will make my heart, metabolism and muscles work at their best over a short space of time exercising (typically I walk between 20-40+ minutes at a time).

Even if you only have time for a quick 20 minute walk per day DO IT. Walk steady for a few minutes, fast for a few minutes and continue with that momentum. It will burn calories and tone your legs and butt. Use your arms to power you on, listen to music, do whatever it takes.

Sometimes I might even use the stairs in my house and walk/run up and down 10-20 times, but more often than not I will get outside.

If I am out shopping, I will park as far away from the shops as I can. I will use the stairs instead of lift or escalator. Every day has an opportunity to get moving.

Now I like to watch a bit of TV like the rest of us but even then I use this time to exercise. I use dumb bells - every other day - to tone my upper body mainly. Using weights and getting toned muscles will help your body burn fat quicker. It also protects against Osteoporosis as you age. 

I hope I have got my point across that exercise doesn't need to be an expensive trip to the gym, 4 hours of intense exercise or an excuse for not doing something.

Get in to a regular habit of doing something on a regular basis. You will have more energy, feel healthier, fitter and younger. What's not to like about that? ;)

See for yourself the calories you can burn off by even just doing half of the steps below.....

Parabens: What are they, and are they really that bad?

You may have noticed lately that “paraben free” labels have been popping up on some beauty products at the drugstore and elsewhere. Parabens are the most widely used preservatives in personal care products; they stop fungus, bacteria and other microbes from growing in your favourite creams and makeup, especially in the moist, warm environment of a bathroom.

Their names are a mouthful—methylparaben, ethylparaben, propylparaben, butylparaben and isobutylparaben. You’ll find them listed on thousands of personal care products such as shampoos, mascara, foundations and body lotions. But over the past few years, a debate has been building among scientists, product safety regulators and cosmetic manufacturers about whether these ubiquitous chemicals, used for almost 70 years, may actually be harmful to our health.

Some of the questions being asked: Is the rising incidence of breast cancer linked in part to the fact that parabens, which have a weak ability to mimic estrogen, have been found in breast cancer tumours and can be isolated from other body tissues? Are declining sperm counts and increasing rates of male breast cancer and testicular cancer related to the fact that these chemicals can be absorbed into our skin, potentially disrupting our endocrine systems?

We don’t know yet. But some researchers feel there may be reason for concern. One of the most vocal is Philippa Darbre, a senior lecturer in oncology and researcher in biomolecular sciences at the University of Reading, in England. She specializes in the impact of estrogen on breast cancer. In 2004, Darbre’s team published a pivotal study that detected parabens in 18 of 20 samples of tissue from breast tumour biopsies. Her study didn’t prove parabens cause cancer, only that they were easily detected among cancerous cells. The study was criticized for not comparing paraben levels in normal tissue, but nevertheless, the results called out for more investigation.

“We’ve known for more than 25 years that estrogen exposure is linked to breast cancer development and progression; it is the reason tamoxifen [commonly prescribed to women with breast cancer] is used to disrupt estrogen receptors,” says Darbre. “So it is not such a leap to be concerned that repeated, cumulative, long-term exposure to chemicals that weakly mimic estrogen might be having an impact.”

Darbre is particularly concerned about lotions and deodorants being applied under the arms or near the breast, and hasn’t used underarm deodorant herself for 10 years, opting instead to use just soap and water. She notes that research has found that roughly 55 percent of all breast cancer tumours occur in the upper outside portion of the breast, the section closest to the underarm. The U.S. National Cancer Institute has partly dismissed the claim, maintaining that at present, there is no decisive evidence to conclude that the parabens in these products are linked to breast cancer, but that more research is needed.

Parabens: Evaluating the risks

One recent Danish study, however, raised concerns. It showed that parabens could be detected in the blood and urine of healthy young male volunteers a few hours after paraben-containing lotions were applied to their skin. The authors concluded that since the chemicals could be absorbed, metabolized and excreted, they “could potentially contribute to adverse health effects.”

But Health Canada, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, and the Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR), a U.S.-based industry-sponsored panel of experts that evaluates the safety of cosmetic ingredients, have all deemed that parabens are safe at current exposure levels. The CIR examined parabens in 1984 and again in 2005, and both times concluded that parabens at the low levels found in personal care products are not a concern. In 2005, the European Commission’s Scientific Committee on Consumer Products confirmed that the use of methyl- and ethyl-paraben is safe as regulated. It is gathering data on other parabens.

But researchers and organizations such as the U.S. Environmental Working Group say research must not just look at individual product exposure but must find a way to evaluate the cumulative impact of many products used over many years. EWG’s surveys show the average adult consumer uses nine personal care products a day.

For consumers like Jude Isabella, a Victoria mom and the editor of a national children’s science magazine, the debate, while inconclusive, is enough for her to limit her exposure. Since cancer runs in her family, she shops for cosmetic products labelled “paraben free,” including expensive organic deodorant from a health food store for her two teenage boys. “Why slather yourself with chemicals when we don’t yet have the answer? I’m not paranoid, but I’d rather err on the side of caution,” she says.

Darren Praznik, president of the Canadian Cosmetic, Toiletry and Fragrance Association (the leading trade association for personal care products in Canada), says the organization is very sensitive to consumer concerns, but that the ingredients used in products are strictly regulated and monitored by Health Canada. “We are satisfied that the regulation process is robust, science-based and protects the consumer.”

Some manufacturers have gone on the record about their long-term plans to find paraben replacements. Jamieson Laboratories, a Canadian firm that makes vitamins, supplements and skin creams, notes that while there is no firm evidence that parabens pose a health risk, it now has five paraben-free products and is working to remove parabens from more of its products, predominantly to satisfy growing consumer demand. “We have not set a specific deadline, but are working aggressively to eliminate parabens in our products,” says Gary Leong, vice-president of scientific and technical affairs for Jamieson. He notes that until effective alternatives are found, more consumers might actually be harmed by microorganisms growing in their products than by the theoretical paraben threat.

Is there an alternative to parabens?

There is truth to that point; even paraben-free product producers like Alain Ménard, of the Hawkesbury, Ont.-based Green Beaver Company, say it’s a challenge to formulate products without parabens’ preservative talents. Ménard, a microbiologist, and his wife, biochemist Karen Clark, worked in the chemical and pharmaceutical industries for years before starting Green Beaver, largely over concerns about health risks of common chemicals. Clark formulates products and Ménard tests them for microbiological safety before they’re released.

“Creams and lotions are the toughest. We often have to go back to the drawing board because on testing we have got something growing in it,” says Ménard. As preservatives, Green Beaver uses oregano, thyme, rosemary, goldenseal root, grapefruit seed extract or lavender oil in various combinations, but they’re always looking for other formulations and combinations with natural preservative properties.

“The reason parabens are used so widely is that they are cheap and effective,” says Ménard, noting that parabens largely replaced formaldehyde many decades ago as a preservative. “We don’t want to take a step back to that chemical. Everyone is looking for better alternatives.”

So until consumers decide they’re happy storing cosmetic products in the fridge, most companies will continue to use parabens while searching for preservatives without estrogenic qualities. Meanwhile, scientists like Darbre aim to add to the body of evidence to clarify the debate.

Notes Ménard: “I’m sure that in the next 10 years, parabens will be phased out. That may not be so much because of conclusive evidence as consumer demand.”

Source:besthealthmag.ca/best-looks/beauty/parabens-what-are-they-and-are-they-really-that-bad#tb6BKjeimVWmEvGR.99

3 Easy Ways to Be More Confident

Feeling good about the skin you’re in—and having a healthy body image in general—has been something we hope all women regularly nurture, but it’s always nice to have some quick tips to pass along. 

These are our three favourite tips for improving your confidence:

1.) Instead of stepping on a scale, set goals that aren’t weight-related. Ideas: Try to hit 10,000 steps on your fitness app every day, do a couple more push-ups than usual, or work an extra serving of veggies into every meal.

2.) Try mindfulness and being present. Slowly count 30 of your breaths, walk slowly and notice how your feet support you with every step, or lie down and think about how each part of your body feels.

3.) Flip the script on yourself. When you start to put yourself down, immediately take out a piece of paper or your iPhone and list three things you love about yourself.

Suddenly, the imperfections you find in yourself seem so trivial, don’t they?

Source:self.com/wellness/psych/2015/08/be-more-confident/

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Change Your Life Whilst You Sleep

Can you IMAGINE if changing your life...

... Was as EASY as falling ASLEEP?

Turbo-charge your confidence. Lose weight quickly. Rocket your relationships. Become a luckier person. Let go of stress. Be a super-positive thinker. Speed up your brain.

Imagine if ALL of this were possible.

Just by falling ASLEEP.

WELL, IT IS.

And it's all down to an ingenious audio technology known as "Sleep Programming."

Sleep Programming is officially more powerful than hypnosis. It's recently been proven by San Diego University -- and is used daily by the US Government to help train new military recruits.

How does it work? Simple!

Just play one of the special Sleep Programming CDs on loop as you fall asleep - and get ready to wake up a NEW PERSON!

It's the FASTEST and MOST EXCITING way to change. And it's available to YOU - RIGHT NOW.

Check out the official website online CLICK HERE

And get READY to CHANGE!

Quick and Easy Body Scrub

Caffeine has been used in skin products for years. 

Caffeine's anti-inflammatory and vasoconstriction effects are also a reason why it's used as a popular ingredient in anti-cellulite creams.

If you want a quick and simple body scrub that will exfoliate, reduce cellulite and improve the appearance of the skin then use coffee grains. Yes that's correct coffee grains.

Do this in the shower and have a good gentle scrub all over. Rinse off and apply baby oil to damp skin then gently pat dry with a soft towel.

Your skin will feel soft and silky and all for the cost of a few coffee granules. Brilliant! 

The Best Exercises To Get Rid of Double Chin

Here is a pretty useful video which can help you to get rid of a double chin. It can also help with toning loose skin. It is all about the technique called “natural face lift”.

Watch the video and practice the presented exercises in order to tighten up your loose skin and lose double chin. Loose skin and double chin might be over for you if you practice the techniques and natural exercises presented in the video.

Do This Once A Week.....

Japanese women have enjoyed the benefits of rice for centuries. The secret of their beauty lies in this simple gift of nature.

Rice is an amazing source of linoleic acid and squalene, a mighty antioxidant that stimulates collagen production. It slows the occurence of wrinkles. Squalene also protects skin from sun. Rice is also abundant in vitamin E and gamma oryznol, known for its ability to protect heart and decrease cholesterol levels.

Unfortunately, apart from Japanese, most people are not aware of these facts. Rice does miracles when it comes to skin rejuvenation.

We give you a super simple rice mask that will smooth out your wrinkles and give you a nice skin complexion.
You need:

• 3 tbsp rice
• 1 tbsp milk
• 1 tbsp honey

Preparation:
Boil and strain the rice. Preserve the water. Stir a tablespoon of warm milk into the rice, then add a tablespoon of honey.
Always apply the mask on clean and dry skin. Leave it on until dried. Clean your face and rinse it with the water in which you cooked the rice.
Rice water has strong antioxidant properties. It moisturizes skin and stimulates circulation. Rice water also helps in removing age spots and relieves inflammation. It will make your skin healthy and moisturized. Use it to protect your skin from sun.
For optimal results, repeat this treatment at least once a week. You will be amazed of your complexion in the mirror – you will look 10 years younger.

Source:healthyfoodhouse.com/do-this-at-least-once-a-week-and-your-face-will-be-10-years-younger/

Lose Weight For Christmas

Whether you have a little weight to lose or a lot, or a lot it's best not to

reduce your calorie intake to less than 1200 calories a day. This level of

intake will help you shed around a couple of pounds a week (a bit more at

first) so you should be around half a stone trimmer by Christmas.

Importantly it won't hamper your weight loss effort by sending your body

into starvation mode.

The food choices you then make to obtain these 1,200 calories is the crucial

factor in how hungry or otherwise you will feel. To beat hunger pangs

completely, try these fail-safe tips:

1Make two thirds of your diet plant-based. Pasta, rice, beans, bread and

fruits and vegetables give maximum fill for minimal calories, and making

them the main rather than secondary part of your meal means you'll always

have plenty to eat.

2Choose high fibre options wherever possible. Fibre doesn't contain any

calories, so it fills without being fattening. It also slows down stomach

emptying so that you feel full for longer. And because you have to chew high

fibre foods so well it forces you to eat them more slowly.

3 Eat high water foods. Water is the ultimate low calorie, high volume food,

so liquid meals such as soups and stews can be particularly satisfying, and

kinder to your waistline. Another trick is to drink a glass of water before

a meal to trick the stomach's stretch receptors into sending 'I'm full'

messages to the brain.

4Don't skimp on low fat sources of protein, such as fish, grilled chicken

and lean meat. Lean protein has an effective blunting effect on your

appetite, and can make you feel full for longer.

5Cut the fat. Apart from the obvious reason - that it has more than twice

the calories than the same weight of protein or starch - fat is also the

least filling food component of all.

If you follow these rules, you'll be able to eat really well (for example

cereal and fruit for breakfast, soup, bread and yoghurt for lunch and a

large veggie curry and rice followed by fruit fool for evening meal) and

still not go over 1200 calories.

Source:dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-86585/How-I-lose-weight-Christmas.html#ixzz3lFuazMpE

7 Day Workout Completed - Update

After finally completing the intensive workout, my body felt a little bit like it had used muscles I never knew existed. 

As difficult as it was I really enjoyed it. I feel stronger and although it is difficult to tell whether it has made much difference to the look of my body, I certainly feel better (I can feel that my butt muscles are harder!)

I have decided that I would really like to keep on top of pushing myself a little bit harder so will continue to add a days routine into my normal exercise pattern 2-3 times a week. I will continue doing my walking/running and cycling with the addition of one days intensive routine thrown in a few times during the week.

Doing the same routine all the time is not a good idea as the body gets used to it and is not challenged by it. I would suggest changing it every 6 weeks or so and giving yourself a challenge occasionally if you want to get any kind of results.

If you would like to try the 7 Day Challenge or take a look, you will find it at 

http://www.self.com/program/best-bodies-challenge/

Update on 7 Day Intensive Exercise Routine

Well yesterday I did day 4 which was mainly abs. It consisted of floor exercises, some which included the use of dumb bells. Again like the other routines I found myself having to improvise on some movements to get through it. It does however say that some moves are inspired by the Best Bodies Atheletes 2015 so it's no wonder I am struggling with some of it!!

I do feel a sense of achievement in doing this routine though.

Today's session consists of legs and arms with more squats and lunges using weights.

The last few days have been a little bit uncomfortable in that my legs have been overworked making it difficult to go about my daily tasks without some pain and discomfort. So today I have listened to my body and decided to give it a rest. Having a rest day is not part of the course but I have had to take note of how many body feels, plus the fact that I wouldn't have managed many squats or lunges.

Since I am not an athelete or trying to getting a body like one then I will adjust the routine accordingly.

It is not to say that I will not be doing any form of exercise today. I shall still go for my daily walk with the dog and do some Yoga stretches to stop me from stiffening up totally.

Normal business will resume tomorrow :)

Mother Claims Giggling Has Cured Her Asthma and Depression

• Lynette Webbe, 59, suffered asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease for 6 years as she smoked since the age of 13
• Also suffered depression since she was a teenager after losing her parents, and began laughter classes as a natural treatment
• Enjoyed the laughter therapy so much she trained to hold her own classes
• After a year she claims her doctors said her respiratory problems are much better, and wants other people to be referred for laughter therapy

A mother claims to have cured her lifelong asthma and depression by laughing.

Lynette Webbe, 59, suffered with the respiratory condition for six years before she started holding laughter therapy classes.

A year on, and she said her doctor has noticed a huge difference in her condition – and thinks the NHS should refer other patients to her classes.

She also says the classes, which involve giggling, storytelling, dancing and childsplay have helped her overcome depression.

Miss Webbe, from Pill in Wales, said: 'I went for a check-up recently and was told that my health was much better and I believe laughter is the reason.

'It opens up the lungs, so I can breathe more easily, and gets endorphins pumping around the body.

'Physically I feel much better and leave my classes feeling amazing.

'I see my classes as a fun way of shaking off the cobwebs. Laughter is like a medicine that doctors can't provide.

'I think it's important to laugh and play.

'It's good for stress as well and if you can get rid of that and anxiety, you can prevent bad mental health too.

'I'd really like doctors to start referring patients to me to treat.'

Miss Webbe said she started her laughter therapy classes as she herself suffered from mental health problems herself.

She said: 'After years of mixing with the wrong crowd as a teenager, then losing my parents and my sister, I got so depressed I started to drink and self-medicate.

'I think it's important to laugh and play.

'It's good for stress as well and if you can get rid of that and anxiety, you can prevent bad mental health too.

'I'd really like doctors to start referring patients to me to treat.'

Miss Webbe said she started her laughter therapy classes as she herself suffered from mental health problems herself.

She said: 'After years of mixing with the wrong crowd as a teenager, then losing my parents and my sister, I got so depressed I started to drink and self-medicate.

'People come and make each other laugh. When we run out of jokes I tell everyone to start fake laughter.

'Basically, fake it until you make it, but you do laugh and this makes you feel better.

'I believe my workshops make people feel amazing. I've been working with people with Alzheimer's and after a class everyone was happy and smiling.

'We dance at my classes so people get some exercise.

'Everyone tells stories, which make them realise we've all got problems and things can get better.

'I share my story as I think this helps people feel they can share. 

'People leave feeling less alone. My workshops gave me a reason to get up and go out. 

'Now they're giving others one too.'

Source:dailymail.co.uk/health/article-3152104/Doctors-refer-patients-LAUGHTER-classes-says-mother-claims-giggling-cured-asthma-depression.html#ixzz3fDUHnH89 

Feeling 'young at heart' may increase lifespan

“Feeling young at heart wards off death, scientists find,” The Daily Telegraph reports. A UK study found that people who reported feeling younger than their actual age were less likely to die than those who reported feeling their actual age or older.

The study in question asked almost 6,500 people in their 50s and over how old they actually felt, and followed them up over 99 months to identify any who died. It found that a quarter of people who feel considerably older than their actual age died over the following eight years, compared to only 14% of those who felt considerably younger. The difference remained even if the researchers took into account other factors (confounders) that could affect their risk of death, such as physical and mental health.

Still, the link between how old you feel and your health is likely to be very difficult to remove, even with the extensive efforts made in this study.

So, how do you feel younger? We would recommend staying asphysically active as possible, connecting with others (possibly through volunteering) and trying out new activities, such as yoga (which, by coincidence, was shown today to possibly reduce the risk of heart disease).

Where did the story come from?

The study was carried out by researchers from University College London (UCL). The study in which the data was collected was funded by the National Institute on Aging in the United States and a consortium of UK government departments coordinated by the Office for National Statistics. The researchers were supported by UCL, the International Longevity Centre UK and the British Heart Foundation.

The study was published as a letter in the peer-reviewed medical journal JAMA Internal Medicine.

The media covers this research reasonably well.

The Mail Online helpfully reports the actual risks of dying during the study in both groups (14.3% for the “young at heart”, 18.5% for those who felt their actual age and 24.6% who felt older than their age) rather than the relative difference in risk between them.

Just reporting the relative risk can give a distorted impression to the public on the size of a particular effect or trend.

There are also some minor inaccuracies in the coverage. The Mail Online stating that the report said "maintaining healthy weight helped increase life expectancy” – when the study authors actually noted that weight was not one of the factors assessed in their study – is one example. The Telegraph says that “those who felt younger than their actual age were 41% less likely to have died in the follow-up period” which is not quite right – it was actually those who felt older who were 41% more likely to die in the follow-up period than those who felt younger.

What kind of research was this?

This was an analysis of data from an ongoing prospective cohort study called the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing. Researchers looked at whether how old a person felt was related to how long they actually lived.

A cohort study is the best way to assess this question. However, as with all cohort studies, factors other than the factor in question (self-perceived age), known as confounders, can influence the results. The researchers in the current study took steps to remove the effect of such factors, but it is difficult to remove their effect entirely.

What did the research involve?

The researchers asked the participants how old they felt they were and then followed them for up to nine years to identify any deaths – specifically, deaths from cancer or heart disease, which are the two leading causes of preventable deaths. They then investigated if those who felt younger than they were lived any longer.

A total of 6,489 people aged 52 and over took part in the study. They answered the question about how old they felt in 2004-05. They also provided a lot of information about themselves and their health. The researchers classed them as:

• those who felt at least one year older than their actual age
• those who felt more than three years younger than their actual age
• the remainder – who felt close to their actual age (from one year older to two years younger)

They recorded those who died up to March 2013 and their causes of death, and whether the proportion who died in the different “perceived age” categories differed. They took into account a range of confounders, which could affect risk of death, including:

• age
• gender
• sociodemographic factors
• depression
• social engagement
• cognitive function
• physical health
• mobility
• lifestyle (smoking, alcohol consumption and physical activity)

What were the basic results?

The researchers found that most people (69.6%) felt younger than they were; 4.8% felt older; and about a quarter felt around their real age (25.6%). Their average actual age was around 66 years, while on average they felt only around 57 years old.

Participants were followed for just over eight years, on average. During the study, 15.9% of the participants died. More of the participants who felt older than their actual age died than those who felt their actual age or younger:

• 24.6% of participants who felt older than their actual age died
• 18.5% of those who felt about their actual age died
• 14.3% of those who felt younger than their actual age died

When they took into account the factors that could affect risk of death, feeling older than your actual age was still associated with a 41% increase in risk of death during follow-up, relative to those who felt younger (hazard ratio (HR) 1.41, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.10 to 1.82). They still found this association if they excluded people who died within a year of starting the study – to reduce the possibility that people who were feeling older than their age were doing so because they were already ill.

When looking at causes of death, feeling older than your age was associated with an increased risk of death from heart disease (HR 1.55, 95% CI 1.01 to 2.38), but not from cancer. After all of the other factors were taken into account, feeling your age was not associated with any greater risk of death, compared to those who felt younger.

How did the researchers interpret the results?

The researchers concluded that self-perceived age predicted deaths in the next eight years from any cause and deaths from heart disease. They say that self-perceived age can change, and that “individuals who feel older than their actual age could be targeted with health messages promoting positive health behaviours and attitudes toward ageing”.

Conclusion

This study has found that people in their 50s and over who feel considerably older than their actual age seem to be more likely to die over the next eight years than those who feel considerably younger. The study was large and collected data on how old people felt in a standard way, which strengthens its reliability.

It seems likely that how old people feel is related to how well they are. The researchers took this into account by adjusting for people’s physical and mental health in their analyses, and also by carrying out an analysis that removed people who died soon after they answered the question about how old they felt. They also took into account a wide range of factors that could affect risk, which also strengthens their results. However, the link between how you feel and your health is likely to be very difficult to remove, and there were some factors that could be having an effect that were not taken into account (such as weight).

The next question to ask is what can be done with this information? The researchers suggest that people who feel older than they are could be targeted for health improvements. They say that they may be able to change how old they feel, with the implication that this could help them live longer.

The findings are likely to need confirmation by other studies to make sure they are correct. Whether there are any longevity benefits of targeting people who feel older than they are would also need testing in a randomised controlled trial.

Making people feel younger is likely to involve social, physical and mental activities, and can improve health – all of which have benefits. However, whether they prolong life is another question.

Source:nhs.uk/news/2014/12December/Pages/Feeling-young-at-heart-may-increase-lifespan.aspx