Secrets of the World Wide Sisterhood

The Secrets to Flawless Skin

It doesn't matter if you have no wrinkles at all; if your skin tone is bad, your skin looks aged.  Evenly toned and softly textured skin is the secret of a youthful appearance.  As we age, the skin tends to look dull because the cell turnover rate slows down.   Years of abuse to the skin, from sun exposure, environmental pollutants, and even your diet can speed up the process of aging skin.  Probably the most important things you can do for your skin is always wear a sunscreen and make sure your skin is hydrated.  But once the damage is done, there are some ways to reverse the damage.  You must exfoliate your skin frequently.  I use an exfoliating cream at least twice a week.  Not only does it slough off dry, dead skin, but it also helps my products absorb into the skin much better.  Also, exfoliation is crucial for maintaining healthy-looking skin because it can reduce dark spots and uneven skin tone.   You should also use a cleanser that contains high-performance active ingredients like glycolic and salicylic acids.  They help to encourage faster cell turnover in the skin, thereby potentially lightening and possibly removing superficial pigmentation.  I, personally, like Glytone products. You can purchase them from amazon.com.  Their cleansers are really good. Age and liver spots are commonly found in mature skin.  These are a buildup of pigment cause by years of sun exposure that continues to grow.  They can range in color, from light brown to dark brown, can be flat or raised, are are normally found on the surface of the skin, but in some cases the damage can go deeper.  Sometimes they must be treated by a doctor.  There are several bleaching creams on the market to treat the spots.  Tri-Luma is a prescription-strength bleaching cream that contains hydroquinone.  It may be partially covered by insurance.  Light chemical peels may also treat discoloration from acne, light sun spots and malasma.  I have been getting chemical peels for several years.  They are definitely worth the money and downtime.  You will see a difference after just one peel, but it takes a few to get the results you will want.  If you cannot tolerate the chemical peels, microdermabrasion is a great alternative.  However, I have found that results do not last as long.  Biomedic has an intense at-home peel if you don't feel comfortable going to a physician's office for them.  You can purchase this from spalook.com for $80.  Just because your skin has been damaged doesn't mean you have to live with it.  There is a lot you can do to improve its appearance.  Keep in mind, leafy green vegetables like spinach and kale are rich in the antioxidant Vitamin E, which is essential for smooth, healthy skin.    

Skin Essentials

Regardless of your skin type, there are a few essentials you need to keep in mind.  You should always use a soap-free cleanser every night to rinse off dirt, oil and makeup.  This also allows your skin care products to penetrate deeper into the skin.  Never use soap.  It is too drying.  Use a creamy no-soap liquid to add extra moisture.  For oily complexions, use a foaming gel or an alpha hydroxy acid wash to degrease.  Spend about 30 seconds massaging your cleanser into your skin.  In needs that long to completely break down makeup and sebum sitting on the surface.  Next, you need to use antioxidants to stop free radicals from sun, pollution, and stress.  Vitamins E and C are good, but according to David H. McDaniel, M.D., director of the Anti-Aging Research Institute in Virginia Beach, VA, look for wrinkle-fighting CoffeeBerry extract.  And last,  but not least, always use an SPF moisturizer.  Many dermatologists consider everyday sunscreen the most important antiaging weapon.     

Facial Fat Loss

Have you noticed that people who are over age 35 and who lose a tremendous amount of weight always seem to look older?  It's because losing too much weight can speed up the process of losing facial fat.  Once you lose facial fat, you lose the scaffolding that holds up your face.  Once you lose facial fat your face looks droopy.  In fact, natural aging causes fat in some areas of your face to decline and descend which leaves your face looking skeletal, concave and saggy.  There are deep compartments of deep fat, which is the second layer of fat responsible for giving structure and fullness to your face.  They are located in the middle of your cheeks and under the eyes.  Facial fullness here, gives your face a more youthful appearance.  When fat is lost from under the eyes, it can cause a sunken and gaunt appearance, making you look tired and older.  Hollows, which cast dark shadows, can also start to form.  They eyes take on an indented, round appearance and in some cases, you can actually see the underlying  bone.  As you lose fat in the cheek area, the result is flat, gaunt cheeks that can appear hollow, and more apparent nasolabial folds, which are the medium to deep lines that run from the sides of the nose to the corners of the mouth.  So what do you do?  Do you eat as much as you can and stop working out so your face will be fatter and younger looking.  Besides, the fat also fills out the wrinkles.  No, you should try to maintain a healthy and steady weight.  And there are also solutions for adding fat to areas that have become void of fat.  Fat grafting, micro-fat grafting or autologous fat transfer involves harvesting fat from one part of the body (like the buttocks, hips, or thighs) before it's processed and then reinjected into the needed areas to add back volume and shape.  One of the main benefits of fat transfer is that your own body bat is used, so there is no risk of an allergic reaction or rejection.  About 30- 50 percent of the fat transferred stays permanently.  It not only provides long-term results, it looks natural. Some report that fat grafting may encourage collagen growth within the tissue. Wow, just one more problem to think about as we age.  Oh, well.  At least there is a solution!        

Anti-Aging Foods

There's a lot of strange food out there.  Here are some food choices that you may not be eating enough of, or eating at all.  These foods are high in anti-aging ingredients.  You can find these foods in the "gourmet food" section at amazon.com.  

Gooseberries-High in cancer-fighting vitamin C, A, calcium and iron.  The purple variety contains almost 50 percent more antioxidants than blueberries.  

Ostrich Meat-Much lower in saturated fat and cholesterol than either chicken or steak.  It actually tastes like red meat.  It's also an excellent source of zinc, selenium and iron.    

Guava- This fruit is a great source of potassium, which helps keep blood pressure in check.  It is rich in antioxidants. 

French Lentils- High in fiber and great for regulating blood sugar and preventing diabetes.  They are a great meat substitute. 

Greek Yogurt- Packs significantly more protein than regular yogurt and has high levels of calcium.

Sunchokes- These tubers are actually more closely related to potatoes, but contain less blood sugar boosting starch.  Sunchokes are loaded with vitamins A and B, Potassium, iron, calcium, and magnesium. 

Prickly Pear Cactus- Rich in fiber, vitamins A and C, and potassium.  May also reduce blood sugar levels. 

Workout Videos

Some people can't find the time to go to the gym, or during these tough economic times can't afford a gym membership.  What should you do when the weather is cold or rainy?  I personally love exercise videos.  I taught aerobics for many years and I still love doing aerobics at home.  I have Billy Blanks video that I've done forever and also a Boot Camp video by Tracy Mallot.  If you don't know what video is right for you or what options you have, I suggest you go to www.CollageVideo.com.  This is where I buy mine.  I get their catalog and it is wonderful.  You get information about hundreds of videos. The videos are grouped by workout type. It also ranks the videos as  Beginner, Intermediate, or Advanced and allows you to choose the complexity of the choreography.  You will also know if it is low, high, or mixed impact.  They also sell workout equipment such as medicine balls, body bars, mats, etc.  You can return any video within 30 days even it it is opened.  Videos are much cheaper than a gym membership and are very effective.      

Procedures for a Flatter Stomach

In some cases, diet and exercise can only do so much to flatten your stomach and surgery is the only option available that can really help.  If you've tried everything and feel than your last resort is to have abdominal liposuction, at least you can be sure that it is the only solution proven to remove fat from the stomach and surrounding areas.  However; not everyone is a candidate for liposuction, especially if you have a significant amount of extra skin. Liposuction is a relatively quick procedure and has a relatively short recovery time, it may take anywhere from three to six months before seeing the final results.  It costs between $1500 and $5000 per area.  If you have excess fat and excess skin, you may choose a combination procedure that entails both liposuction of the stomach and a tummy tuck.  Liposuction makes the area flatter and the tummy tuck makes it tighter. There are two noninvasive procedures now available in Europe as well as other countries outside the U.S. They are LipoSonix and UltraShape.  They target fat within the body to break it yup without the need for surgery.  LipoSonix uses ultrasound energy to disrupt fat cells, without damaging the skin or underlying tissues and organs.  UltraShape is a no-downtime treatment that uses noninvasive ultrasonic technology to break down and liquefy fat cells, leaving the surrounding skin, blood vessels, nerves and connective tissue intact. Both can be used on the tummy as well as on the thighs and love handles.   

Burn Calories--Lose Weight

How many calories should you burn to actually lose weight?  Based on a 135 pound woman who is also eating healthy, to lose 0 pounds, you should burn 100 calories per day/700 calories per week.  To lose 1 pound, burn 250 calories per day/ 1,750 per week.    To lose 2 pounds, burn 500 calories per day/ 3,500 per week.  It is o.k. to miss a day of exercise and make up the calories another day, as long as you burn the required amount weekly.  Some ideas for burning 100 calories are walking for 25 minutes with an effort level of 4, jogging slowly and steadily on flat footing for 12 minutes with an effort level of 4,  bike riding for 17 minutes with an effort level of 4,  swimming for 15 minutes with an effort level of 5.  To burn 250 calories....Walk 35 minutes with an effort level of 7, run quickly, no stopping for 20 minutes with an effort level of 7, bike for 30 minutes with an effort level of 5, swim for 25 minutes with an effort level of 8.  To burn 500 calories, walk adding hills/inclines for 40 minutes with an effort level of 8, run with intervals of 1 minute at level 5;1 minute at level 9 and repeat 18 times for 36 minutes with an effort level of 5/9, bike (spinning class) for 45 minutes with an effort level of 7, and swim, sticking to race pace, for 50 minutes with an effort level of 8.  Effort level is the effort based on a 1-10 scale.  The weather is warming up, get outside!!      

Paraben-Free Products

A paraben-free product means that the paraben preservatives have been replaced with alternate preservatives.  They may or may not contain organic ingredients.  Parabens are chemicals used to preserve longevity and prevent the growth of bacteria in cosmetics and foods.  According to an article in New Beauty parabens are used in very low levels in skin care and beauty products and most are considered fairly safe; however, the safety of others  (like the commonly used methylparaben, proopylparaben and butylparaben) is up for discussion.  Loading products with parabens allows for them to have an extended shelf life and be nearly resistant to extreme heat and cold.  But just because they may be able to live a longer shelf life doesn't necessarily mean they are better for your health. While no concrete evidence has proven a direct link between parabens and cancer, many Americans are taking a better-safe-than-sorry approach, stockpiling their beauty cabinets with paraben-free beauty products.  If you're looking for an all-natural moisture serum, Burt's Bees Radiance Serum is great.  It is packed with pure ingredients like royal jelly, licorice extract and glycerine to restore moisture levels and your skin's inner glow.  And it is only $18.  You can purchase it at www.burtsbees.com.  It is good to use all the anti-aging products that contain retinol, glycolic acid, peptides, etc.  But, sometimes it's good to give the skin a break and try an all natural product for a few days.   These products are also much more affordable. 

21 Day Detox

I'm writing this post in response to a comment by Catherine.  Catherine is considering the 21 Day Detox Diet.  The 21 Day Detox claims to ba a safe and guided detoxification program designed to cleanse, rejuvenate, and help you lose weight.  This program was developed by nutritionist John Woods and Richard DeAndrea, a medical doctor who now practices alternative medicine.  They believe you need to detox now more than ever because of the more than 7.1 billion pounds of chemicals and neurotoxic waste dumped into the air, food, and water.  They believe that by doing this 3-week program you can rid your body of environmental toxins, increase your energy, sharpen your senses, and other medical miracles might follow.  DeAndrea says he has seen asthma, heart disease, arthritis, and osteoarthritis reversed.  The program offers a workshop for apprx. $199.95 which basically walks you the program.  Or, you can purchase the 21 Day Detox Home Kit for $149.95.  It includes 3 DVDs, 4 booklets, 9 oz. Dr.. Greens.  Week 1 focuses on plant-based food.  Week 2 moves you into a live-food diet with uncooked foods a 2 blended meals.  Week 3 is the liquid part of the program ("The Green Sludge Drink") where the digestive organs get a rest and healing begins on a cellular level.  It all sounds good and maybe it is.  However, I've read many articles on detox diets and most articles agree that our bodies process toxins through organs like the liver and kidneys, and eliminate toxins in the form of sweat, urine, and feces.  Most will also agree that detox diets are especially dangerous for people with diabetes, heart disease, or other chronic medical conditions.  According to one article I read it said that most of the weight people lose during the detox is in the form of water and may also be muscle.  And, that most will gain the weight back quickly after the program is over.  Eating lots of fruits and veggies, getting lots of fiber, and drinking plenty of water is healthy.  But it is also important to get nutrients such as protein and calcium from other foods.  I've asked my doctor about detox diets in the past and his response was, "You are healthy so it probably won't hurt you to do it once, but it probably isn't going to help either. Your body is designed to purify yourself."  I know there a lot of positive testimonials out there and the 21 Day Detox has been feature on several programs on tv, but I would definitely check with my doctor first, or do further research.  If you try this program, I'd love to know what happens.  I'd also like to know how you feel several weeks afterward and if the weight stays off.  Thanks for the comment,Catherine.  This is an interesting topic.