Journey To Beauty

Do Yoga And Get Beautiful And Healthy Skin

2011-01-12T12:31:00.000-08:00

Yoga for beauty can help you to look young and beautiful well into old age. Face is the index of mind, good texture of skin and health of your hairs are an indication of your physical and mental health.

I have come across many people who have a glow on their face with years of regular yoga practice. But this is not possible in a few days by doing some selective asanas. You need to be disciplined in your diet, regular yoga practice, follow yama and niyama yoga ethics and keep balance between your outward personality and your true self.

You have to avoid excesses of all kinds. A person with disciplined life and regular yoga practice will look beautiful form outside as well outside and treats you with a refreshing smile always.

Yoga helps you to attain your ideal body weight and gives you a proportionate body by removing excess weight from all body organs. It helps to improve flexibility and maintain correct posture for young looks.

Detoxifying your body is most essential for beauty. Yoga improves blood circulation and helps to remove toxins from the body. Detoxification of alimentary canal through yogic kriyas helps optimum absorption of nutrients in your food. Yoga practice helps to provide nutrition at the cellular level. All the internal organs and particularly the endocrine glands get activated and their functioning is optimised.

Yoga practice helps to reduce the stress levels considerably and provides complete relaxation. Yoga asanas and pranayama makes you free from disease by strengthening the immune system. Healthy body means healthy skin.

Yoga practice can specially benefit women to retain their natural beauty while coping up with menstrual problems, child birth, work and home stress etc. Most of the film personalities around the world practice yoga for years to retain their beauty and youthfulness. Yoga helps women to stay slim and active. So, ideally start your day with yoga practice.

Learn more about yoga at www.facebook.com/learnyoga

Smile and be Beautiful

2010-05-16T13:45:00.000-07:00

People smile for a lot of reason. Some of them maybe smiling because of a positive event in their lives or a simple gesture to return the favor to someone who just gave it to them. But whatever the purpose is their are actually three kind of smile in which you could actually project to be deemed beautiful and picturesque at the same time. I have the enumerated the famous one's and these smiles are not really categorized according to gender but to the loveliness you would illuminate for yourself if you could show them sincerely and of course with a complete set of teeth and smooth lips.

Smile # 1 Monalisa

Of course her smile is the most classic and timeless of all and some people even think that she is not actually smiling but grimacing from pain. But regardless on what she is actually feeling, if you could project this smile so simple yet beautiful its better to do it all the time to save you the wrinkles from frowning.

Smile # 2 Beauty Queen Smile

Now this is the smile we usually see on yearbooks . Its a smile that shows confidence with eyes that flash with sincerity. The aura of positivity and brightness is present. If you want a smile that draws attention then you must learn to practice this.

Smile # 3 Cheerleader Smile

Now this smile is trying to say that you are vibrant and brimming with life. It also inspire confidence like the beauty queen smile but its a bit more candid than the second one. For those moments you feel like smiling and you want to show the world that you know what funny really means this is the way to show it.

Of course we dont want to inspire stereotypes on how people should smile but these types of smiles are the popular picks. You could just pick any of the smile and project it depending on your mood. But if you have a signature smile that launch a thousand ship already then by all means practice. After all these three kind's of smiles that I just pointed out could be an additional arsenal for your bag of tricks for beauty. Just remember to keep your pearly whites shiny and those puckers soft and moist to boot. :)

To Wong Foo Thanks for Everything Julie Newmar

2010-03-09T05:23:00.000-08:00

While I was scanning my favorite cd rack I came across this old funny movie called “To Wong Foo, thanks for everything Julie Newmar. This comedy is the story of three Drag Queens namely Vida Boheme, Noxeema Jackson, and Chichi Rodriguez. Their story started when Vida and Noxeema win the Drag Queen title in New York and decided to take a young prodigy Chichi who was down and out of her luck to the Drag Queen of America Pageant. All sort of misadventures and Glamour was encountered by the trio as they start their cross country tour to Lala Land California where the contest would be held.

Then it cross my mind and wonder why do this Drag Queens although eccentric and beautiful at the same time get to attract peoples attention. What are their fine attributes that make them click which maybe useful in achieving beauty.

As we know it Drag Queens put lavish make up and clothings with statement for the purpose of entertaining people through satirical expression of culture that trend towards glamor and extravagant fashion and make up. With the obvious intention also to flaunt its hard not to get notice by the public and be viewed as beautiful. But the movie about Drag Queens teach us lessons which I believed will make a person really beautiful inside out . The following are the enumeration and my personal interpretation of what they mean.

Lesson #1 LET GOOD THOUGHTS BE YOUR SWORD AND SHIELD

In the movie Vida and Noxeema teach their prodigy Chichi to think good thoughts while she recite a prayer for help in achieving real beauty. In reality and true enough to my observation most beautiful people I know who has a claim to fame for being a bitch or an a**hole don’t look beautiful in the long run when you get to know them. Beauty is good but we need also the right attitude to handle it. No amount of make up can cover up for a bad reputation. So I say beauty is good to boot with a beautiful mind.

Lesson #2 IGNORE ADVERSITY

In the movie Vida and Noxeema try to stop Chichi from entering a hotel from fear of prejudice, which in the later part of the movie makes Vida commend Chichi for being bold and smart in handling the situation. In applying Lesson #2, for me I think Ignoring Adversity is more on not comparing yourself with people who look better than you or who think less of you. Of course these people will tend to dampen your spirit which is not very good to begin any endeavor of changing yourself. Beauty is different for every individual and as they say it “Beauty is in the eye of the Beholder”. So if you want to feel beautiful you have to feel good about yourself and if find yourself comparing it to others think of beauty as Diamonds. For like Diamonds , no two Diamonds are alike.

Lesson #3 ABIDE BY THE RULES OF LOVE

In the movie Chichi was commended by his mentors for letting go of his Country Boy love Bobby Ray to give way for a girl Bobby Lee. She did it because she don’t want to mislead Bobby Ray who believes he is a girl. I have to say that Chichi did it to feel good about herself by being selfless and unselfish. You wont feel beautiful at all if you mislead somebody or cheat someone intentionally. Think about the constant conscience encounter. If you don’t feel good about yourself , you cant begin to beautiful. In relation to lesson number #1 true beauty is made from inside and out.

Lesson #4 LARGER THAN LIFE IS JUST THE RIGHT SIZE

In the end of the movie Chichi was crowned as the Drag Queen of America from the numerous tips that Vida and Noxeema gave her on their way to Hollywood. A lot of people do do take care of themselves in terms of clothings and hygiene. But lesson #4 is telling us to be a little different from the regulars or try not to be like the rest of the flock. Every body else seems to follow a certain fashion or beauty trend. Why not try taking your beauty to the next level or try to deviate a little from the norm so you could stand out from the rest by putting a little extra. If every body else wears a red bangle why not wear a red bangle mixed with other colors that way you will be a tod different. For guys if you notice there are very few men out their with big guns so why not pump up your arms and feel the difference.

How to know if you are Lacking Sleep

2009-09-06T01:19:00.000-07:00

One of the things that you must do regularly to be beautiful is having enough sleep during the night. Enough sleep does not mean you are getting it only through quantity but also the quality of that slumber count.

I for one believe that I was getting enough sleep because usually make up for the lost sleep I have on some days I over work. Until I felt sometimes I easily get sick and my eyes diminish in luster. I asked my doctor friend how to determne if I was actually lacking sleep. He said I could identify the shortage through the following signs.

1. You actually need an alarm clock to wake up on the correct time.

2. Its hard to pull you out of bed in the morning.

3. You repeatedly hit the snooze button of the alarm clock to get more sleep.

4. You constantly feel tired, irate, and stressed during weekdays

5. Its hard to concentrate and remember things

6. Having a hard time being creative, analyze things, and solve problems

7. Falling asleep while watching the tube

8. Falling asleep while in meetings, lectures, or in a warm room.

9. Feeling asleep after meals or after gulping a small amount of alcohol

10. Actually falling asleep after dinner

11. You doze off five minutes after hitting bed

12. Drowsy when driving

13. Sleeping extra hours on weekends

14. Needing naps during the day

15. Having dark circles around the eyes like a racoon.

The doctor told me if I am experiencing at least 3 of this symptoms I actually lack proper rest and sleep. He said that I must rest completely and never neglect that. If you compromise this very important thing it might affect not only your beauty for having dull skin and tired eyes but your general health. Sleep is the only way your body recuperate from all the stress it encountered during the day. Some disease are actually incurred for having lack of rest.

So from now on I will use the checklist above to see if I need a dose of ZZZZZSSSSS and improve my beauty and overall health altogether.

Sporting a Flat Stomach by Equalizing Body Mass

2009-08-31T02:46:00.000-07:00

One of the body part that I have trouble eliminating is my gut. Their are a lot of techniques on how to make it small in the shortest time possible from diet to some sort of creams that would make you perspire or spike your metabolism to increase your burn rate. The solutions are many and sometimes I could hardly implement all of them in my routine.

My gym instructor told me that their are actually exercises that could help and minimize the appearance of your beer belly but it would require to target specific body part for maximum result .

He specifically told me that the main problem why our stomach stand out compared to our other body part is that it require no effort to maintain its volume and we dont exert effort to even out the imbalance. One sure fire way to make it less prominent is make our shoulder and back more voluminous.

Shoulder and back are the muscle group closest to the gut and if they are miniscule in size all the more our bodies would look like walking pear's. The best way to create an illussion of a coke bottle figure even if our tummy is big is to increase the mass of both shoulders and back so to create a balance in their appearance making the tummy less obvious.

Another body part that my gym instructor advice to improve is my hamstring. These specific muscle support our body when we are standing. If they are weak we tend to slump thus in effect give the chance for our love handles or tummy to protrude. If we strengthen these muscles to support our overweight midsection we will lessen the chance for it to sag.

It would be silly of course if you just have your back, shoulders, and hamstrings improve while your other body parts look punny. These muscle improvement is advisable if you want to minimize the appearance of your tummy as soon as possible when your method is exercise. Over the course of time when you achieve the look you must target other body parts for growth like your arms and exercise that actually minimize the stomach. It would help of course to incorporate the tummy exercises while having these back, shoulder, and hamstring exercise for maximum effect.

The best way to get the most effective exercises for back, shoulder and hamstring is to ask your gym instructor for a program that would improve first those body parts while your other muscles grow at a close pace.

The Beauty of Juicing

2009-08-30T01:01:00.000-07:00

"Bottoms up." This is my catch phrase before during my high school times when I frequently juice my veggies and my fruits so I could extract most of the nutrients. I have these big white juicer that I bought. I tried to juice all sorts of fruits and vegetables and I drink them individually.

I heard that Juicing help me get the most of the nutrients I want because minus the fiber the juice contains all the nutrient and it is easily absorbed by my system. It is also a good way to compliment a healthy diet and it will eliminate the tedious munching. A one day detox of fruits of vegetables guarantees health benefits like smooth skin and a boost in your immune system over long term practice. You just have to plan it for a day and make sure you are not doing anything tiring.

The only downside is when you are juicing these vegetables most of them dont taste good thats why children hate them on their plate. I tried drinking bittergourd (ampalaya) and white radish. The bittergourd is known to cure a lot of ailment including diabetes, it felt like after I gulped the first sip it numbed my tounge of taste because it is so bitter. Although its the case I simply drink it since I know it would be good for my over all health.

The real challenge though is drinking the white radish vegetable. They said that drinking it would eliminate most bacteria including worms in your system. Though that alone sounds encouraging, when I drink the glass it felt like I gulped down a bottle of muriatic acid. Their are times I actually spit the juice because of the taste. It felt like I am drinking a polyjuice potion in the book Harry Potter where Hermione actually dropped the bottle containing the potion due to the disgusting taste.

The only solution I come up with is mixing it with fruits. Yes it is possible that you can mix both vegetable and fruits to counteract that yucky taste of vegetables. Vegetables are more dense with nutrients compared to fruits, but on the brighter side fruits are more tarty and palatable compared to vegetables.

To sum it up to benefit mostly from juicing and if you would want to gain the most benefits in juicing, try to combine delicious fruits with gruesome tasting vegetables. This way you could have the best of both worlds with fruits and veggies, and get that beauty with no hassle from juicing like shiny hair, sparkling eyes, and so on so fort.

How to feel Happy and look Beautiful at the same time (Part 2)

2009-08-23T01:03:00.000-07:00

Here is the second installment of these blog about how to be feel Happy and Look Beautiful at the same time. The following are the second part of the list I enumerated on activities and lifestyle at triggers Happiness and Beauty.

6. Lot of Sleep - Sleep is one of the things in life that is free yet it is a luxury for some. Lack of it do make us irritable and creates mood swings. According to some psychologist and therapist beside the fact it makes us tired it lessen the smile factor in our face. The best amount of sleep at least is six hours a night. If we get to be rested enough the lesser the chances we feel bad and our mind is clarified enabling us to feel good. Lots of sleep also brings benefit like better skin and better body function that in turn contributes to overall wellness and beauty.

7. Moderate alcohol consumption - These activity is a no brainer for everybody. We all know that over consumption of alcohol adversely affects our mood for a number of days due to hangovers. Beside the fact its bad for the kidneys and distorts our brain funtion these side effects brings down our smile-o-meter a lot because of the heavy effects. Too much alcohol also dehydrates our skin due to water loss. Alcohol initially works as a stimulant at first but ends up as a depressant after too much consumption.

8. Take L-Tyrosine - Base on a study by the U.S. Army the best benefit of consuming it is it lessens depression and wards of stress. A chemical reaction that a have a good side effect to our hormones. These amino acid is abundant in most poultry like chicken and turkey. Poultry as we know it is low in fat as a protein source which is good in maintaining a svelt figure to look good.

9. Dressing Sexy - On studies made by famous researchers M Lewinsohn and M. Graf, the idea of being perceived as sexy or beautiful by others makes us feel good and positive all day long. So by all means make yourself look good and even sexy. Wear somethig that flatters you and put a bit more effort to enhance those looks. The study also points out to give back a compliment when you saw somebody with the same aura and it adds to your smile-o-meter when you make somebody feel good as well. Confidence in yourself is a big source of happiness together with beauty.

These is the complete list of activities that makes you Happy and look Beautiful at the same time. I hope you implement most of them. Did you know that Most people who are happy most of the time tends to age Slower compared to their friends who frowns a lot. All the more reason not to frown ehehehe and have a positive perspective about everything..

Source : Better than Chocolate by Siimon Reynolds

How to feel Happy and look Beautiful at the same time (Part 1)

2009-08-20T23:39:00.000-07:00

There are many ways a person could feel happy about his life. Usually happiness is a state of mind but their are a lot of techniques on how a person could be really happy about himself. Some people find happiness in achieving life goals, relationship, new property and the list goes on.

But dont you know that certain activities that you do to make you beautiful actually makes you happy at the same time. Though it happens by accident or for some unknown reason this activities will really help put a smile on your face. As we know it people who smile a lot looks much younger than people who grudge 24/7. ehehehhe. The following are the list of things that could make you happy and beautiful at the same time.

1. Exercise - The work out that we indulge release the tension and stress we feel. Also the biochemistry of our body produce feel good or happy hormones known as endorphins which in turn makes us high during the work out. The benefit of having better skin, losing fat, better muscle tone as an added effect to exercising will really boost our self esteem which in turn would put an inch to our smile.

2. Low insulin diet - usually we consume a lot of white foods like flour, rice, pasta, and a lot of sugar that yoyo's our sugar level which in turn contributes greatly to our mood swings. A diet known as the Zone diet helps stabilize our sugar level and mood by teaching us to eat fruit every four hours and to incorporate vegetable with every serving of meat and fish that we eat. The result is proper weight loss and significant increase in energy level which in turn contributes to happiness.

3. Discipline - As we know it over indulgence to a lot of stuff like vices (e.g. smoking, drinking, eating, sex) is very taxing on our health. It degenerates the state of our mind, body, and soul. Practicing control over those habits that you over indulge will help you feel better. Control over our habits in a way contributes to happiness which in turns out to be a source of accomplishment. Too much vices also ruins our health that ruins our beauty altogether

4. More Fish more Fun - According to Andrew Stoll from Harvard Medical School a diet high in omega 3 coming from fishes reduces depression. This diet have been study and proves to be effective. The big reason I can come up is fish is low fat and doesnt contribute much fat. Fat in bad form when added to our body ruins our mood especially when its dangling as a love handle on our midsection.

5. Yoga & Tai Chi - this two major form of stretching exercise bank on the theory that our body have this meridians which are rivers of energy that flow in our body. If that flow get slackened it dampens our mood which in turn make us feel bad. Indulging in this two major exercise contributes in releasing or maintaining the good flow of meridians in our body. But if its not possible 10 to 20 minutes stretching activity a day will suffice to get those meridians to circulate and put a smile in our face. Regular stretching however also add to flexibility of our body during exercise that prevents injury.

These are just some of the things that you can do to be Happy and Beautiful. Watch out for the part 2 for the complete list. For the mean time stay Beautiful and be Happy :p ehehehe

Source : BETTER THAN CHOCOLATE (by Siimon Reynolds)

How to improve your looks even if your not good looking enough

2009-08-19T00:20:00.000-07:00

Their comes a time when all of my hopes to feel good about myself regarding on the way I look was really out. I have done a lot of stuff to make myself beautiful and, I keep thinking that I have tried everything and yet their is no difference, I still feel the same and no confidence was gained. Despite the many efforts I dont think its not paying enough on what I am giving out. I was about to give up my journey to beauty then I was confronted by one of my beautiful friends and he give me an advice on how get back on my feet. The advice was really stern but direct to the point.

He told me that in order to be beautiful you must accept whatever you are right now. Its the first thing that you must digest. If you lack height you can never change that. If you come from a family of receding hairline its totally unchangeable. Their is no shortcut, no magic wand to change anything at all. I am beginning to feel disheartened because it seems like no matter what I do I am heading for a dead end.

But the next thing he told me really give me inspiration. He told me that why not bank on your assets. Or if their is none why not enhance whatever you got. I ask him to explain further to give me enlightenment on what I must to do achieve whatever he is advising. He told me that not all of us are born as prince charming or a person that could launch a thousand ship, but we could improve ourselves to the next level.

One key to feeling good is banking on what you got. He told me as an example if I have good skin why not flaunt it more. Reveal more flesh or improve the state of my skin to a higher level that it supersede all other things that is flawed in my body. Whatever your asset is like good eyes, beautiful hair, candle like finger nails ( the list goes one) they are the first things you must flaunt and improve. Now this dont exactly mean you should neglect other aspect of your body but what he is trying to say is that let that one good asset be the highlight of your looks. If you got big muscular arms by all means wear a tight fitting shirt or if you got long clear bright eyes highlight them with a good combination of eye make up. Let people have something to look at you then after that target the next best thing about you

If you feel that you have no asset whatsoever in your body then the next best thing to do is make one or better yet improve your worst liability. My friend told me that if you cant find anything to appreciate on yourself then improve something or somepart of your body. If you think that your hair is your most gruesome liability that it detracts everyone else then by all means concentrate all your energy in improving it. Treat it weekly to treatments like hot oils or find that perfect hair do so it will compliment the shape of your head. Let it improve to the point it is no longer problem for you. Then improve the next thing you hate about your body. Its like turning your liability into an asset. Of course their are unchangeable things in our body but we could always find other things to improve

The focal point of his advise is that never grudge on things that you cannot change. Nobody is created as a total loss and their is always room for improvement on everything else including your body. Give people a reason to compliment you, and from that starting point everything else will follow. A thousand mile journey start from a single step. My friend sounded more like an Accountant slash Life Coach when he told me this things but they all make perfect sense to me and it make me feel good about my endeavors on beauty even if they take so long to reach fruition. But nonetheless I feel good about it and it give all the reason to continue with this odyssey

Top Foods for Gymgoers

2009-08-14T02:46:00.000-07:00

On my frequent visit at the gym I often feel hungry after the workout. Sometimes even before the workout I already feel the lack of energy and I wonder what could be the perfect food that could compliment my weightloss plan. While I was resting at one of the sofas at the lounge I see gym buffs and aerobics fanatics pass me by carrying small pouch bags and eat their food beside me. I was thinking of something fancy was inside the brown bags and I was shock to find out their meal plan is so simple I could also do it. I made a list of the most common food I see these health conscious people are consuming and it is enumerated below.

1. Banana - yes I do see a lot of them and they eat it two pieces each session. The best reason I could only think of beside from the high nutritional content and fiber is its rich in potassium. Potassium is perfect when having exercise because it alleviate muscle spasms and cramps.. I guess this will be a regular food for me as well.

2. Sweet potatoes - these food I see baked or boiled in small tupperware. Often they are boiled and sliced in circles. The body builders told me its one of the best sources of carb because it helps in the nitrogen retention inside human muscle that aids in natural muscle building. It is also high nutritionl contents and fiber that is good for the digestive system. Perfect for moving those junk inside for a more flatter abs.

3. Tuna - these food seem to be a staple in every gym fanatic. Tuna is a fish low in fat and high in omega 3 content. Gym goers often buy the water packed tuna for maximum benefit. You wont really need the extra vegetable oil in your body. Omega 3 is known to aid in metabolism thus boosting your weightloss endeavors.

4. Chicken breast - Both guys and girls at the gym indulge with these high protein and low fat food. Of course they all remove the skin where all the fat are and eat it boiled or broiled. People at the gym eat it for more protein source aside from the tuna for more variety. Sick people are give chicken soup to make them feel better. They said their are enzymes that only chicken contain that can open the taste buds so that sick people can enjoy them. Of course you dont have to be sick to consume them but it could also be the reason why consuming these low fat protein by healthy person makes them more perky or enthusiastic to workout. Chicken is also packed with a lot of nutrient beside from having high protein.

5. Whey Protein - Most gyms have refreshment stand that serve whey protein with fruit or soya milks in shake. Sometimes they also put a cup of yogurt for more digestion benefit. People at the gym cant seem to get enough protein. They told me that whey protein as an additional source helps in boosting metabolism. Protein is harder to burn compared to fat. Whey protein is easily absorbed by the body when working out which becomes muscle food in the process. If you gain more muscle when working out it will help your body to burn more calories even when you are not working out.

These are the food are foods most gym goers consume whenever I see them at the lounge. Of course they may have other food on the list and also some supplements but I am sure these gym foods that I enumerated will always be included in their shopping list.

My one day wellness Program

2009-08-11T00:58:00.000-07:00

It was a hectic week for me during the last summer. I hardly go out with friends and didnt get to go out much. Their are a lot of things to do and my day off at work is usually weekdays. I was getting burned out since my friends are not available to talk to on weekdays since they have work the following day. I decided to give my self a one day break that would relax my body entirely.

I wake up tuesday morning and I prepared myself a nice bowl of oatmeal filled with fruits. I choose to put slices of a whole banana and a small box of raisin over a big bowl of cooked oatmeal. Right after that I drink a big glass of non fat milk to prepare myself for the things I am about to indulge for the rest of the day.

I went straight ahead to a dentist have a propylaxis or teeth cleaning. Its been awhile since I have it. I would really want to feel good inside out so I think my mouth is one of things that should benefit from this endeavor. The procedure lasted for a hour.

After the dentist I went to the nearest badminton center in my area and played for an hour together with my buddy. I sweat generously and I feel wonderful about it cause I think I lost a lot of toxins in my body and it made me feel light inside out.

The next destination I have is the spa in alabang town center. I enjoyed a nice honeybody polish scrub with some light massage. The body scrub made my dull skin glow. The body scrub includes a procedure where I must be in a steam room for 30 minutes, a 30 minute massage, and healthy scrubbing of honey with salt. It removed most of my dead skin cells and right after that I thought I dont want to step out the spa hahaha. But the day must go on to the other treatments

I stop by to have a grub at subway sandwiches at the food court at alabang town center. I bought a sandwich filled with a lot of greens and lean turkey. I told the person preparing the sandwich to hold the mayo and put some olive oil in it to aid in my metabolism. I ordered a big bottle of buko juice also so that it would clean my kidney.

After my lunch I went to a skin clinic and have a collagen facial. I preferably asked for collagen facial over the other treatments because since I am exposed to a lot of free radicals (e.g. sun exposure, pollution) everyday it damage my skin structure. Collagen is the substance responsible for maintaining it firm so I think its best to put collagen over stressed skin. I also told the facialist to put an extra eye treatment that would help lessen the appearance of my dark circles. She put a cream on my eye and covered with a piece of cloth for about 30 minutes so I can sleep.

Before going to my next beauty stop I went to the food court and bought a fruit shake made of watermelon, strawberry, and kiwi. This three is not only refreshing on a hot summer day but loaded also with nutrients that is perfect for your skin.

I went to the parlor to have a hot oil treatment. I have these dandruff problem so I asked them to give me a hot oil treatment that would target my scalp specifically. The staff massaged my head together with the treatment. By far its the most relaxing treatment cause my stress point is concentrated on my head. They steam my hair so the hot oil mixture would blend well with my hair and scalp. While having a hot oil treatment I also indulge with a foot spa and a manicure. The foot spa with massage and reflexology almost made me fall sleep completely.

After the treatments I have a light dinner with a big bowl of salad, a delicious soup, and big glass of fruit juice. I went to the movies after that and watch a comedy flick with my buddy. The day was so relaxing and I could see glow radiating from the inside out. If only everyday could be spent relaxing and chilling ahhaah but that is wishfull thinking.

My buddy and I went home early to sleep. I drank another glass of milk before retiring and put some night cream on my face. I sleep like a log the whole night. The day I went to the office after my one whole day of wellness my officemate asked me their is something diffirent about me. I was thinking of repeating it next week but then again I have to schedule it because of my hectic schedule arghhhhhh!!!!!

Strawberry the Skin Food

2009-08-07T22:39:00.000-07:00

One of my most favorite fruit is strawberry. A fruit that grows on small shrubs on cold temperature climate. I like the hint of sweetness that it give and most of all its great to mix with most food like, shakes, salads, and chocolate fondues. When you purchase them on the produce section of the supermaret make sure you get the one that is the most freshest and mold free. This fruit is highly perishable and can last only for a few days in the fridge, having one of them contaminated with molds will damage the other fruits.

Thankfully this food is also one of those great food that can contribute greatly to your beauty and well being. Its high vitamin c content can help greatly in protecting the colagen and elasin structure of your skin making it more firm and lowering the risk of having bruises. It also helps to fight the side effects of pollution which is great because this fruit is handy you can snack it anywhere. Strawberries are known to have high amounts of ellagic acid, an acid that fights hydrocarbons derive from smoking which in turn damage our skin and lungs in the process

Just make sure you wash this fruit whenever you serve it so you wont consume the pesticides and dirt that comes along when it is harvested. Its most healthy when you serve it together with probiotic yoghurt and along with fruit salad served with grape vinaigrette. A dark chocolate fondue will be ok as well for those nights you want to get cozy and healthy with your partner. If ever these fruit is not in season healthy alternatives for it is raspberries, blueberries, oranges, and kiwi fruit.

How to make your Gym workout effective

2009-08-07T00:05:00.000-07:00

I always go to the gym before and enjoyed every moment that I was their. Of course my objective was to gain some muscle and becoming more fit but it turns out I havent gain much of a mass although I have lose some weight in the process.

I repeatedly do the same mistakes that didnt make my workout worthwhile. Few month of going their didnt produce the muscle I desired plus its getting more tedious going back their due to lack of inspiration. The following are common mistakes I have observed on why most workouts is not effective in getting the result I want to achieve.

1. Sliming down by too much weight lifting - Most guys I know want to look macho pronto. Their objective is to have a lean muscular body as soon as possible but the method they do is wrong. They only get stocky and beefy but not lean and muscular which is the objective they want. Most of them put too much weight that they can hardly make a lift which is crucial for fat burning. We need to have 15 reps done in good form and done 2 to three sets per exercise. But if we are lifting to much weight we will only bulk up and we wont be able to lift much because its so heavy and its hard to reach the 15th count more so repeat the process.

2. Obsessing on your body at the gym - most of us think that achieving the body that we want at the gym is the end all of fitness. We spend a lot of time at the gym thinking we are in the perfect fit by working out a lot. The truth is to achieve complete body form you must have variety in your work out and get some exercise outside the gym. Yes doing the treadmill is fine and will cause you to sweat a lot but joining a marathon is so much better since their is more fresh air and a real terrain adds more value to the running. My point is dont limit yourself in just working out in the gym. Try to find other exercise outside the gym (e.g. sports) that will enhance your performance and body form. Remember we are also trying to avoid in making your workout becoming tedious in the process.

3. Dont rest too much between sets - We do know that rest is necessary between reps to catch your breath and recover your strength. But too much rest between reps will eliminate the benefit since you will recover too much. We are trying to shock your muscles so they would use more muscle fibers in your next rep. On top of that too much rest will somehow lessen the momentum of the exercise causing you to slack in the process. The best resting time between reps is a one minute or less.

4. Dont be in the rut of the same old exercise routine - When we go to the gym we must sweat out a lot and feel motivated all the time. But if for the past 4 or 6 weeks and your exercise routine is still the same you wont get any progress of developing any muscle at all. You must change your exercise routine every four weeks when your muscle finds it easy to do it. It maybe great to work out but we are not just maintaining your body to stay fit we also want it to change to the next level to get inspired and keep exercising.

5. Do stretching exercises - most guys I know just do minimal stretching before working out because they are too eager to lift weights. The end result is they compromise their flexibility and sometimes they also gain some injury during the work out. Stretching is necessary in a workout to warm up and relax your muscle at the same time. So dont skip stretching because its vital in any work out regimen. It might discourage you to lift weights if you damage your body in the process

These are just some of the things you must do to make your work out effective. In the future I will post more stuff in making your Gym workout really work for you. :)

How to Eat Healthy at the Movies

2009-08-05T01:12:00.000-07:00

One of my frequent hobby whenever I am alone is going to the movies even if I have to watch the movie over again. I love the feeling of sitting in a big room and watching the big screen. It is simply invigorating and enjoyable for me. Of course one of the perks in going to the movie house is the buttload of snacks available around. Most of them of course is junk food. Gorging on junk food is a sure complimentary habit when watching your favorite movies at cinemas. Unfortunately junk food is not good for our body and it ruins our beauty as well.

I look around to see if their are any healthy choices that I could eat to avoid the regular fat and calorie overload associated with impulsive snacking. The following are the list I come up with as healthy and low calorie.

1. Popcorn - Alright! Its an unavoidable snack and its the most aromatic. Its scent fills the lobby of the cinemas and its hard not to eat it. Just make sure that when you eat this empty calorie snack you choose to have the one without butter and flavor. Just plain iodized salt will do and for heavens sake buy the smallest bag and dont consume everything. Consume only to satisfy your cravings and throw it away after eating two handful at most. If you are going with someone at the movie eat only a handful and let your companion finish the small bag. If you can resist this so much the better.

2. Nuts - Their are a lot of nuts for sale at movie concessionaires. They are the better option compared to the popcorn. Just make sure its unsalted and eat only a small bag.

3. Juices - Their are also a lot of juices available near the cinemas. Avoid the one filled with sugar and just flavorings. I've have seen juices that are for sale with pulp bits or coconut juice with the meat on. They are the better choice because they have some fiber.

4. Fruit shakes - so far this is the most healthiest choice of them all because they are freshly blended with the fiber and the sugar is less. Their are fruit shakes stands at the mall that only put small amount of syrup and the rest is just ice and fruit. Some have whey protein scoops as an option to add to the shake. Go for this snack for it is both vitamin packed and good for the muscles.

5. Ice cream - get the yoghurt versions of ice cream with pro biotics (good for digestion). I have also seen some ice cream at the cinemas with low fat so you better look for them, of course sugar is another issue but at least you already lessen the chance of getting more fat. Ice cream is not that healthy as a choice so make sure that you have this as a treat or really occassional.

6. If you looked high and low and found out that their is no such thing as healthy at the cinema food booth by all means bring your own healthy snack like fruits, sandwiches, and water. This will save you from a lot of things like money, fat, cholestrol, and guilt of consuming high fat foods.

This is the food list I can come up with that is healthy and low calorie when eating at cinemas. Just remember you are their to enjoy the movie and not to add fat at your belly, so snack healthy and munch low calorie food as much as possible.

Ms. Corazon Aquino the icon of Democracy & Colon Cancer

2009-08-04T23:57:00.001-07:00

Today is the day that we bid farewell to our beloved former President Ms. Corazon Aquino. Thousands of Filipinos went to the funeral of this revered woman and all of them also was part of the convoy that will bring her body to her final resting place at Manila Memorial Park.

She was known as an Icon for Democracy for she is the only known leader who lead a most peaceful People Power Revolution. Her term of six years after being elected as President is a legacy we cannot forget.

It saddens me to find out that this strong woman of faith and belief in ideals have been diagnosed with illness of Colon Cancer back in March 24 2008 by her doctors which led to her death on August 1, 2009. Her strong determination to survive despite doctors analysis that she have only 3 months help in extending her life together with the chemotheraphy treatments.

I dont know exactly what is the medical history of their family but I found out that their are several preventive measures one can do to avoid untimely deaths due to cancer. The following are the tips I have gathered and I hope it will be useful for you.

1. Take barley juice - this food is known to be the most highest in antioxidants according to the ORAC test and was mentioned in the bible more than 50 times as a staple food. A recent study shown here in the Philippines a woman who have leukemia with 75000 cancer cells took this as a supplement for two weeks in juice form and reduce her cancer cells in half. I am pretty sure it could help a lot in avoiding most Cancers.

2. See a Doctor for regular check ups - usually colon cancers early stages are loss of appetite, cramping, and bloody stools. Its best that you visit your doctor regarding your health condition because some cancers can still be cured at their early stages. If your age is 50 above you must see a doctor more frequent because this is the age people are most prone to get it

3. Lose those love handles - according to recent studies men are more prone to women to colon cancer specially those who have apple shape bodies. Obesity is link to a lot of cancers this is due to the high amount of fat and cholesterol we intake. A balance diet rich in fiber is recommended if we are to avoid this dreadful disease and fiber also aids in digestion. Fat and cholesterol is a magnet to most disease and ailments.

4. Exercise much - most of us tends to become couch potatoes as we grow older. The result is that we have a sluggish metabolish and most of the waste that our body accumulate hardly leave our body. In our digestive system the colon stores all the food we digested until they are ready for release. Exercise can aid in getting your body to move those unwanted waste to your rectum preventing the waste in staying long in the colon and have the toxins absorbed by your body. Exercise cut your risk by 40% in getting colon cancer.

5. Know your family's medical history - check your ancestors or immediate relative if somebody have been diagnosed with colon cancer or any other cancer. Some cancers are hereditary. So its best to find out if your family have it and see a doctor immediately for more preventive measures.

6. Dont smoke or avoid it - inhaled tobacco smoke are carried through your body all the way to the colon and gets stored their. I can only imagine the danger it can bring to passive non smokers. According to doctor it cuts your risk of developing it by 12% if you avoid this habit. Much worse if you have some polyps in your colon it can make them cancerous at some point due to the smoke.

7. Avoid Radiation - radiation can contribute to developing cancers in you body. A 1,000 millisieverts (scientific equivalent of radiation units) can cause cancer to develope. In everyday life you get radiation but make sure its in safe levels. So as much as possible avoid getting too much radiation to avoid certain cancers from developing

Whew! This is the list that we must follow to at least avoid having colon cancer. Its still the rule of the thumb that a Prevention is far better than Cure. I hope that everybody follow the simple steps. Nobody can be Beautiful if they are Sick.

Here is the link to the video of the song Magkaisa which the famous song back in 1986 for People Power Revolution when our beloved former President Corazon Aquino rose to power and brings us back the gift of Democracy. We will surely miss you Madam.

Getting Healthy and Beautiful with ORAC

2009-08-04T03:43:00.000-07:00

While munching the piece of fruit that I am eating I was thinking how much nutrition was I getting. Of course the fibre do its magic by helping in my digestion and all but what about the nutritional contents. Fruits and vegetables that we eat have different nutrient level but which is the most beneficial to consume on a regular basis to get the most and contribute to better health and beauty?

I came across with this findings about the anti oxidant level a food can provide to person. Its this research called ORAC (Oxygen Radical Aborbance Capacity) which measures the level of anti oxidant a food possess. Anti oxidants fights free radicals which we get on a daily basis from exposure to all stressfull factors like the sun, pollution, and even exercise. The list goes on from where to get free radicals. Too much free radicals contributes in developing cancers and disease that can naturally occur in the body.

To get the most nutrition according to the scientist who conducted the ORAC research we must have 3000 to 5000 ORAC units on a daily basis to create an impact on our plasma and tissue antioxidant capacity. Sadly we do not consume enough and at best we get only a dose of 1200 units a day by consuming 3 fruits and vegetables a day. Its even sadder because I rarely see people consume a lot of fruits and vegetables.

The following is the table I have come up with the fruits and vegetables with the highest ORAC value that could possibly help us pick the produce with better value.

FOOD and ORAC VALUE

Barley 1275
Dark Chocolate 656
Prunes 289
Raisins 142
Blueberries 120
Blackberries 102
Kale 89
Dark Honey 82
Strawberries 70
Alfalfa 49
Brocolli 45
Beets 42
Orange 38
Grape 37

To get the ORAC units from the list just multiply the ORAC value by 10. Grapes have 37 ORAC value times 10 it is equivalent to 370 ORAC units. This ORAC values shown above is equivalent to a serving of the fruit and vegetable.

The test conducted to measure the Orac Value of this Fruits and Vegetable also states that consuming regularly foods with high Orac Value slows down the process of agingboth the brain and the body. Which is why it could really help also in maintaining Beauty in a longer term

Ramping up your daily consumption of fruits and vegetable by eating 5 to 9 servings specially the ones with high ORAC value will contribute greatly to reducing the chances of you developing age old diseases. Just make sure you eat a variety of the fruits and vegetables from the list I enumerated because diffirent antioxidants and nurients contributes differently to the body. The key is always variety.

Skin Type Questionnaire (Pigmented Vs Non-Pigmented)

2009-08-04T02:40:00.000-07:00

Its been awhile since a posted about this article . Anyways this article is a continuation of my previous articles on how to determine your skin type. But we have to determine first your skin category before we can know what is your skin type. This is the third installment of this article.

We will determine if your skin produce melanin a lot. Although melanin is the contributing factor for your skin color its not without benefits. It helps to protect the skin from sunburn so those people with less is more prone to skin cancers. The questionnaire below will determine if your skin actively produce this pigment.

1. Your pimple or ingrown hair once healed produce a dark spot:

a. Didnt happen
b. At some occassion
c. Happens a lot
d. Happens all the time
e. I never have pimples or ingrown hairs.

2. How long does a brown mark stays in your skin after being cut?

a. I dont get one
b. 7 days
c. 14 days or more
d. Months

3. Do you acquire dark spot when your pregnant or taking birth control pills?

a. Never
b. Just one
c. Maybe two or more
d. I lost count
e. Count me out I am male or I am unsure what dark spots are

4. Do you recognize any dark spot or pactches in your upper lip or cheeks, or do you have them before?

a. None
b. Not really certain I have them
c. I do have them but beyond notice
d. I have them and friends notice it

5. Your dark spots fluorish or gets worse under the sun

a. Dont have any
b. Never notice
c. It have a little effect
d. It aggravates my dark spots
e. I always have sunscreen or rarely goes under the sun ( answer is d if you wear
protection to avoid the effects of the sun)

6. Did you ever have melasma or dark patches on your face?

a. Never
b. A one time thing then it disappear
c. Yup
d. Yup, worse case ever
e. Uncertain

7. Do you have freckles on your skin?

a. None
b. quite a few but not more than 6
c. I could count 6 to 15
d. Oh my gosh I lost count

8. What is the reaction of your skin after being exposed to sun after a few months

a. I get sun burns
b. A sunburn then later it darkens
c. It darkens my skin
d. I hardly notice my skin is naturally dark

9. What is the result of almost week long of sun exposure to your skin?

a. Sunburn & blister nothing more
b. It darkens my skin a bit
c. Darkens my skin a lot
d. Dark is my natural color

10. Does the sun contribute to freckles in your skin?

a. Never happen
b. Its an annual happening I do get a few yearly
c. I always spawn a few regularly
d. Never notice I have dark complexion
e. I dont go in the sun

11. Do your parents have freckles? If only one has freckles answer the question relating to the parent who have freckles?

a. Nope
b. Quite a few
c. A lot on the face
d. A lot all over the body
e. Not certain neither of them have it

12. What is your hair color (the one you are born with)

a. Blond
b. Brown
c. Black
d. Red

13. Does your relatives have melanoma?

a. None
b. One
c. We have two or more
d. It runs in the blood
e. Not sure

14. Add 5 points to the score below if you gain dark spots on skin that is exposed to the sun.

Score for the test above is as follow

A = 1 point, B = 2 points, C = 3 points, D = 4 points, and E = 2.5 points

Tally your score and see the results below

A total score of 29-57 means you are Pigmented Skin
A total score of 13-28 means you are Non Pigmented

We are almost near to the end of the skin categorizing questionnaires only one more to go then we will find out what is your skin type. Stay glued to my blogs and you will see soon enough what skin type do you belong and know how to treat it right.

( Source : The Skin Type Solution by Dr. Leslie Baumann printed 2005)

Keep Young and Beautiful by Annie Lennox

2009-08-02T00:02:00.000-07:00

The other day I was watching youtube and came across this video that my friend Cris recommended. I got curious with this video of her song titled Keep Young and Beautiful and decided to watch it and read the lyrics. I even look at google to read the lyrics thoroughly. I posted it below for every body to catch up with what I've found out and enjoyed

Keep Young And Beautiful lyrics

What's cute about little cutie

It's her beauty, not brains

Old father time will never harm you

If your charm still remains

After you grow old, baby

You dont have to be a cold baby

Keep young and beautiful

It's your duty to be beautiful

Keep young and beautiful

If you want to be loved

Dont fail to do your stuff

With a little powder and a puff

Keep young and beautiful if you want to be loved

If you're wise exercise all the fat off

Take it off, off of here, off of there

When you'er seen anywhere

With you hat off

Wear a marcel wave in your hair

Take care of all those charms

And you'll always be in someone's arms

Keep young and beautiful

If you want to be loved

If you're wise exercise all the fat off

Take it off, off of here, off of there

When you'er seen anywhere

With you hat off

Wear a marcel wave in your hair

Keep young and beautiful

It's your duty to be beautiful

Keep young and beautiful

If you want to be loved

Keep young and beautiful

If you want to be loved

Boopie doo, ah

The song simply amazed me because it teaches us to be beautiful for a purpose. It teaches us to be beautiful to gain attraction and love in the process. Well beauty have always been associated with wellness and health since having it does require to be a stiff advocate. The song is so candid and blatant at the same time for me since it also suggest to maintain beauty and love will also remain. For some instances as we know it, some couples lost their passion for each other and eventually look for another partner because one of them became lousy or losyang in the process. This song simply emphasized on beauty as a cementing factor for relationship. Well I do believe the song for some guys go out of their way their leave their partners for a more beautiful girl to flirt, and some old women vie for younger guys for their stamina and physique. Of course the brains is not a considered factor but the mere company of a lovely creature simply supersede all other factors for consideration.

Beauty is indeed a powerful tool one must possess for health and relationship sake. But any ways we shouldnt fret about it since everyone can achieve it with a little bit of exercise and dedication coupled with a few make up here and there as our Diva Annie Lenox have suggested.

Here is the link to the youtube for more inspiration to be beautiful :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OrpHbTZ_jL8

Healthy Jambalaya

2009-08-01T22:37:00.000-07:00

One of the major carbohydrates we Filipino's often consume is rice. Its our most eaten carbohydrate and second to that we consume mostly bread and rarely we eat legumes or fruits as a primary source of energy. The sad thing about it is that we consume only white rice which is reduced of nutritional content because it is too polished to improve the taste. I have posted blog a month ago about the health benefits of brown rice and why should we eat it despite the fact that its more pricey and less palatable because of its texture.

Just recently I have experimented this recipe that I got from a Food Magazine. Its called a Jambalaya. My friend Don Don who likes to cook a lot approves to give it a try since he is the one who have a fondness for cooking. Although we thought it may not turn out as delicious as its white rice countepart version but nevertheless its more healthy.

The following is the recipe I have followed :

Healthy Jambalaya

Ingredients:

2 tablespoon vegetable oil
2 cups of cooked ham
1 medium onion sliced and quartered
1/2 cup chopped bell peppers. Any color combinatin will do
1 clove of garlic, minced
1 can (14.5 ounces) diced tomatoes
1 can (6 ounces) tomato paste
2 1/2 cups water
1 cup Brown rice uncooked
1 bay leaf
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp dried leaf thyme
1/8 tsp ground cayenne pepper
1 pound peeled, cleaned, and cooked shrimp

Procedure

1. Heat the oil in medium heat over a large deep skillet.

2. Put the ham and cook it till slightly brown, then saute in onions, bell pepper and garlic ; cook them till tender

3. Put the tomatoes and tomato paste, water, rice, bay leaf, salt, thyme and cayenne pepper. Stir to mix the ingredients well till its boiling. Then reduce from medium heat to low. Cover the skillet and simmer it for 30 minutes. Stirring the food from time to time.

4. Put the shrimp and mix it in. Simmer for a few more minutes to let the shrimp flavor to sink and enhance the flavor.

After cooking it. It the turns out delicious despite the husky texture of the brown rice. I would recommend this recipe to my friends who wants to maintain a healthy body. The good thing about jambalaya is it contains a lot of tomato which is a rich source of lycopene and the shrimp content makes it great because of its high selenium, zinc, and protein content. The lycopene, selenium, zinc, and protein makes its perfect enough to be a skin food and the rich vitamin B complex content of brown rice makes up for a healthy nervous system.

(recipe source : SL Agritech Corporation)

Skin Type Questionnaire ( Sensitive Vs. Resistant )

2009-07-24T22:57:00.000-07:00

This is the second part on determining your skin Category for my blog for the 16 types of skin. In this blog you will find out if you have Sensitive or Resistant to skin. It will determine if you have the probability to have pimples or reactions to certain stimuli. Again its crucial to answer it in all honesty so we could determine skin type do you belong on the 16 skin types.

1. Do you have red bumps on your face

a. Didn't happen
b. Sometimes
c. a monthly occurrence
d. you have one weekly

2. Skin care products which includes regular make up and cleaning products ( e.g. cleansers) can cause allergic reactions that leads to itching or create pimples.

a. Didn't happen
b. Sometimes
c. Regularly
d. Never use these products

3. Do you have acne or rosacea?

a. Never
b. My colleagues said I have it
c. Yup
d. A worst case of it
e. Uncertain

4. Do you get rashes when not wearing a 24 carat gold jewelry with your skin?

a. Unlikely
b. Sometimes
c. Regularly
d. Always
e. Unsure

5. You are allergic and feels itchy using sunscreens

a. Unlikely
b. Sometimes
c. Regularly
d. Always
e. Not a fan of Sunscreen

6. Do you have atopic dermatitis, eczema, or contact dermatitis?

a. Nope
b. Colleagues said I have it
c. Yup
d. A severe case
e. Unaware

7. Do you get rashes when wearing rings?

a. Unlikely
b. Sometimes
c. Regularly
d. Always
e. Dont like using rings

8. Fragrant bubble bath, massage oil or body lotions makes your skin itchy or feel dry

a. Unlikely
b. Sometimes
c. Regularly
d. Always
e. Never use these products

9. Do generic soaps from establishments like hotels pose as a problem when you use them?

a. Yup
b. Not really
c. It is a problem for me, makes me itchy
d. Wont use it cause I have a problem using them before
e. Havent tested because I have my own set of toiletries

10. Do you have a family history of eczema, atopic dermatitis, asthma or allergies?

a. None
b. Just one relative
c. A few relatives
d. Most of my relatives have them
e. Never checked them

11. What happens when you use scented laundry detergents?

a. Nothing
b. My skin feels dry
c. My skin feels itchy
d. I develop rashes that itchy
d Never use them

12. Do you develop red face and neck whenever you do light exercises or you are under some sort emotional stress when you are mad?

a. Unlikely
b. On some occassion
c. Regularly
d. A natural occurrence

13. Does your skin turn red after consuming alcoholic beverages?

a. Unlikely
b. On some occassion
c. Regularly
d. A natural occurrence
e. Dont drink alcohol

14. Does your skin turn red after consuming spicy foods or beverages?

a. Unlikely
b. On some occassion
c. Regularly
d. A natural occurrene
e. Dont eat spicy foods

15. Do you have visible broken blood vessels on your face?

a. Never have them
b. I counted 3 so far
c. I have somewhat four to 6 of them in my face
d. More than 6

16. In photo's do you look reddish?

a. Never noticed it
b. On some occassion
c. Regularly I am reddish on photo's
d. A natural occurrence

17. People are mistaken that you have sunburns even if you never been under the sun.

a. No one thinks that way about my skin
b. On rare occassion
c. Some people do and some people don't
d. No one believe I am not sunburned

18. Does your skin turn red or swells whenever you use cosmetics or whenever you use skin care products

a. Nothing happens
b. On some occassion it does
c. Regularly I have that but no always
d. I never use them because its a natural reaction of my skin

Scores for the result of the test is as follows

You get 1 point for all a answers, 2 point for all b answers, 3 points for c answers, 4 points for all d answer, and for all those e answers you get a 2.5.

Add plus 5 points to your score if you are diagnosed by your dermatologist to have acne, rosacea, contact dermatitis, or eczema.

If your points range between 34 - 72 you are indeed sensitive skin
If your points fall between 30 - 33 you are somehow sensitive
If your points fall between 25 - 29 you are somehow resistant
All score falling under 24 and below means you are resistant

Just follow my blog about this skin categories and you will find out what skin type do you belong from the 16 skin types. From these we will see the proper way to treat your skin on a personal level.

( Source : The Skin Type Solution by Dr. Leslie Baumann printed 2005)

How to sleep better for beauty and health sakes

2009-07-23T01:09:00.000-07:00

With the job that I have working as a call center agent at night, having a peaceful sleep during the day is really a hard thing to achieve for me. Living in an extended family house together with a lot of househelp because we have our printing factory beside our house makes it more worst with the noise pollution. I always go to work half rested and not refreshed. Its both the effect of having a bad environment and bad time of sleeping. I have come up a list of solutions to get a proper shut eye be it day or night. The list is as follows.

1. Have a regular time for sleeping - your body clock plays an important role in falling asleep. I found out that even if I only have 4 hours of sleep my body wakes up at the same time of the day. So to get proper rest and to cope up with your body always make sure that you sleep at the same time of the day or night that covers enough hours for your body to recuperate.

2. Put heavy curtains and maintain a cool room - although it may sound as luxury an airconditioned room with heavy drapes or curtains seem functional for me to block of the noise coming from the outside and the airconditioned room sets the mood as the same as night time. If not possible just make sure you sleep in the most quite room in the house that is well ventilated.

3. Never eat an hour before sleeping - a rule of thumb not to disrupt your stomach that will keep you awake while digesting the most recently ingested food. Dont eat a full meal before going to bed as much as possible eat a light meal with milk which help induce sleep. Drink a big full warm glass of milk it will speed up your shut eye or a cup of warm valerian tea to calm your nerves. Valerian tea is known as a tranquilizer and sleep aid for more than a 1000 years in England. Its effects is comparable with Valium

4. Never put the television in the room - or for that matter dont put any hobby or interesting activity that might rouse your interest not to go to sleep immediately while inside your room.

5. Have some light exercise - do some stretching before sleeping to relax you more and prepare you for resting. The only intense exercise allowable before sleeping though is SEX. hahaah yess its a perk to have it before sleeping with your partner or anybody who could provide it safely for you. It is known to burn 200 calories and its the only known exercise safe enough after a heart surgery.

This are the things I have adopted to get a proper shut eye and recover all the lost beauty from being awake at night Of course you could amplify it by putting some night cream on your face and never sleep on a dirty body to maintain supple skin.

Watermelon Nails

2009-07-11T21:06:00.000-07:00

I was visiting the modeling agency where I work the other day. We have our usual weekly sessions with our boss regarding the latest updates on our gigs. One of the things I noticed is the color of the nails of our teenage models that is kind of flashy and cute. I was wondering what sort of design is it and then I figure out its a watermelon.

The design really is cute specially if you are planning to be trendy and stylish with a certain unique flare. I ask the girls if they have it done in a parlor or a nail salon, and they told me they did themselves and all it really require is a set of diffirent nail colors and some styling equipment.

I got the list of mateials you will need if ever you want to try the cute design for yourself at home. The following are the things you will have to prepare. You could go for any brand as long that it suits your preference or budget for that matter.

1 top coat or a nail strengthener
1 soda pink nail polish
1 pearly white nail polish
1 light green glow nail polish
1 emerald green nail polish
1 black nail polish
1 old eyeliner brush
1 toothpick

The link for the tutorial on how to do it step by step using the materials I enumerated above is
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H8GYiObImkI&feature=popular .

Just remember if you are going to wear this design you are not wearing it in a formal business meeting because it looks kinda informal. Of course it would be better to have this design to boot with a red dress or any casual or trendy clothing. Most nail spa's or nail salon I know can do this design too, so if you rather have a professinal do it for you that is an option as well.

Skin Type Questionnaire (Oily Vs. Dry)

2009-07-10T02:49:00.000-07:00

In my previous blog I have promise to post the 16 skin types but before that you must answer this 4 part questionnaire formulated by Dr. Baumann for you to better understand the category of your skin. Just be sure you answer it in full honesty to ensure you get the correct skin category. This will determine greatly on which of the 16 skin types you actually belong and it will help you treat and care for it.

As a teaser though the skin types are actually a mixture of several skin conditions so you must determine what are the categories you are in to know exactly how to make it beautiful.

1. After washing your face don't put any other products on it. Observe it under the mirror on a bright room. How does forehead and cheeks look like after two hours.

a. Rough
b. Tight
c. Hydrated no light reflecting
d. Shiny reflecting the bright light

2. In pictures, do you look shiny:

a. It didnt happen to me
b. Ok on some occasion
c. Regularly I do
d. Always

3. After putting on foundation for three hours with no powder how does your make up looks like

a. cakey with wrinkles
b. Smooth
c. Shiny
d. Streaked and shiny
e. I do not wear facial foundations

4. If you are in a low-humidity area wearing neither moisturizer or sunscreen how does your facial skin react.

a. Feels dry
b. Feels tight
c. Normal
d. Didn't feel the need for moisturizer
e. No Idea

5. Count the number of large pores you have the size of pin's end. How many can you see?

a. Dont exist at all
b. Some visibile at T-zone
c. Abundant
d. I lost count of the numbers

6. How do you describe your facial skin :

a. Dry
b. Normal
c. Combination
d. Oily

7. When you use soap that suds, bubbles, and foams vigorously, your facial skin:

a. Dry (this is your answer if you don't use soap because dryness is a side effect)
b. Feels like its dry but no signs of cracking
c. Just normal
d. Seems shiny

8. When not wearing moisturizer on your face , Does it feel tight?

a. All the time
b. On some occasion
c. Rarely
d. Not at all

9. Do you have blackheads or whiteheads?

a. Non existent on your face
b. Hardly have them
c. A few at times exist
d. Yes Plenty

10. Are you oily on the T-Zone?

a. Not a all
b. Sometimes
c. Frequent
d. Always

11. Two to three hours after putting on moisturizer your cheeks looks like?

a. Roughness abound
b. Smooth
c. Slightly shiny
d. Shiny and slick

Scores are as follow

a answer = 1 point
b answer = 2 points
c answer = 3 points
d answer = 4 points

Count your points and see what category do you belong below?

Total points ranging from 34 to 44 equates to very oily skin
Total points ranging from 27 to 33 equates to slightly oily skin
Total points ranging from 17 to 26 equates to slightly dry skin
Total points ranging from 11 to 16 equates to dry skin

After trying the questionnaire myself, the score equals slightly oily skin. Hmmm but that alone wont guarantee that I should start using oily skin products. In my next blog watch out for the next questionnaire about sub category of skin type, we will determine if your skin is sensitive or resistant, so stay glued.

(Source: The Skin Type Solution, a book by Dr. Leslie Baumann M.D.)

Body Shop Lip and Cheek Stain

2009-07-05T01:19:00.000-07:00

This day was supposed to be my first post about the sixteen skin types but I was having a problem with my computer lately and lost the data. But I promise to post it anytime this week.

Anyways let me share you this beauty product that I swear I have used and was satisfied with the results. Its The Body Shop Lip and Cheek Stain. Its a dual cosmetic that acts as a semi lipstick and a blush on. This is so handy for people like us who are on the go and saves a lot of space and money.

If you plan to never put a heavy lipstick but just want a tint of red on your lips then this is for you. It will put a faint color of red on your lips and then you could just top it with your regular lip balm or lip gloss to add some shimmer then instant simple lipstick.

Another purpose of this product is if you want a blush on that stays long like 8 hours. I swear this product stays like forever unless you plan to stay out and sweat generously from a sports activity it will fade from your skin. You just have to apply a generous amount on your cheeks until the desired blush is achieved then top it with our regular face powder to eliminate the shine on your face.

This product cost around P700.00 at the store but it will save you from buying lipstick and blush on. It will give you that simple posh look. It comes with two shade bronze glimmer and rose pink. You can choose from the two shades whichever match your skin tone best. It contains Panthenol and Glycerin, two ingredients that contributes well to hydration which is great since lips dont have sweat glands to moisten it.

The Different Skin Type (Introduction)

2009-07-03T00:56:00.000-07:00

One of the things that I have in constant struggle during my teenager years is my skin. Although pimples are not a regular resident at my face I do have warts and some skin discoloration as a main stay so I frequently freak out because those stuffs can only be cured by a professional dermatologist via special treatment. From time to time my skin have reacted differently on the climate. During cold windy days my hands are chapping and dry, and during the hot days it frequently oily. I would have to say its reacting to rejuvenate itself from different climatic conditions but I am not sure what kind of skin type I possess.

Their is the common knowledge that their are only four skin type which is oily, dry, sensitive, and normal. I have come up with this book from a famous dermatologist Ms. Leslie Baumann and found out that their are actually sixteen skin types. All skin types should be treated specially and specifically dependent on the type otherwise all your efforts would be in vain to beautify it.

In my succeeding weekly articles I will divulge all this skin types and the treatments that you will need to take care of your skin. Also I will post some questionnaires here so you may know what are things you must take note so you will know what skin type you are in to give your skin the right attention.

This coming sunday I will post the first skin type so their will be something for you to keep glued on this series of articles on skin categorizing.

My tip for the day though is keep eating fresh vegetables and fruits on a daily basis and avoid red meat. My friend who got a serious case of acne said that for two months he avoided that meat and consume a lot of greens. He regulate his carb intake to only organic and the result did astonish him. Eight weeks later there is less outbreaks and lesser pimples too and he did gain more suppleness. He swear to me that this diet help him regarding his skin predicament and would recommend it to be followed as daily routine for everybody.

how to freshen up your looks when going on vacation

2009-07-01T01:55:00.000-07:00

One of my auntie who is frequently stressed because of financial problems and other stuff recently told me her secret for beauty and longevity. My auntie frequently visits my uncle abroad in the Palau Islands. She usually stays their for a month or two so that my uncle wont get homesick so much. I notice that everytime she goes back my auntie looks like 5 years younger and her skin is supple. She has this fresh aura despite the problems that she has. I asked her what is she doin their on the islands that freshen her up.

One of the thing she usually do a lot since she doesnt get do a lot of activity is sleep a lot and sleep early. She told me she sleep most of the time in the afternoon while waiting for her husband and during the night she sleeps as early as 10pm since the only thing around them are crickets and trees. Everybody knows that sleep is indeed rejuvenating for all individuals and the fact that she getting it a lot and on good quality that contributes much to her looking young.

Every morning my auntie and uncle goes for a morning jog for about an hour together with their other friends as a exercise and recreational activity as well. This is one of the bonding moments that she has with her amigas. They usually do some calisthenics and tai chi for more flexibility. Their is no denying exercise release a feel good hormone called endorphins to make one feel good about themselves which improves the aura and over all well being of an individual.

My auntie also regularly shop for fresh veggies and fruits and steam them. Since my uncle is always on the go and he is also suffering from a heart ailment my auntie usually prepare healthy meals. Vegetables and fruits that are prepared as simple as possible gets to retain most of their nutrient. My auntie gets the full benefits of her food since steaming dont remove much of the nutritional content of food.

The climate in the Palau Islands is also cold and their are a lot of trees that contributes to the good climate. It rains everyday specially during the afternoon. Since the area is pollution free my auntie gets to inhale only fresh air the whole time. We all know that Pollution contributes also to the premature aging of people and adds to the regular stress they are suffering.

One last thing she secretly told me and I hope she wont kill me for divulging it is that she regularly have sex with my uncle. Not for being pervert and all but since they are the only two people in the house with no one to disturb them they get to engage a lot of it. Sex is known to boost an individuals blood circulation and regularity will aid you calorie loss as well a feel good mood which greatly release stress and immensely improve once's aura.

My auntie visit's my uncle twice a year everytime she gets stressed from all the problems with her household in the Philippines. And everytime she did that she came back as if she is a totally new person. So for you gals out their I would recommend to copy this system and its a proven technique to beautify and rejuvenate while having a vacation. Have fun ehhehehe

Healthy Fruity Bloody Mary

2009-06-27T04:11:00.000-07:00

This is a personal recipe I concocted while at home. I was shopping at Rustan Makati and pass over the fruit stand saw all my favorite fruits which are hard to find as well. I grab a basket put all rare fruits I could pick. This juice that I specially brewed (speaking like a witch) is designed specifically to purify the body but accidentally would do great wonders fo the skin as well. The following are the ingredients

Ingredients :

150 grams watermelon

150 grams strawberries

100 grams raspberries

6 pieces of cherries

Procedure :

Drop all the ingredients in a blender with 2 to 3 pieces of ice cubes or depending on how evaporated you want the juice to be. Top with whole strawberries or cherries if desired and drink right away.

The ingredients of this healthy drink composed of fruits good for the skin like watermelon which is perfect on hydrating the skin and its packed with beta carotene and vitamin c. The strawberries and rasberries are known to be high in anti-oxidants that fights free radicals in your body. Its high in potassium, lycopene, and zinc which are great in purifying your system. So everytime you and your friends have a get together instead of the real bloody mary try to replace it with this mix blend of red fruits for a change. Its definitely free of hang over and you will wake up the next morning with a healthy glow.

How to eat healthy at Convenience Store

2009-06-26T03:53:00.000-07:00

I am regular night owl who have a hard time sleeping at night due to my current job as a call center agent. During my day off I found myself bummed with nothing to do so I go out to eat and see what are the usual stores open. Of course in my area the Jolibbee food chain is 24 hours but I already had enough of it because everywhere I go their food chains are like mushrooms. Another option near to me is the carinderia like the tapsihan but I'm not really hungry for rice. So the last resort for me are the convenience stores.

We have 2 convenience store located in our area. The first one is Mini Stop and anoter one is seven eleven. Both serve meals like microwave dinners and sandwiches of all varieties. Since I am in for a quick bite I look at the choices available for me at the stands and the following are the best choices I can come up with.

1 Dark chocolate - Yes oh yes it might be too indulgent but dark chocolates are good choices for a snack. They are known to be anti-oxidants and contains ingredients that makes you feel good all over. I advise however that consume this item at moderation. If you are going to buy them like in bar form eat only 1/4 of the bar because we dont want any sugar rush or calorie surge to add up to your belly.

2. Water - Their are diffirent kinds of water available here you just have to pick the one that suits you like mineral, purified, alkaline, and all the other assortments. Some even have the one with vitamin's. But off of course to make it really simple and calorie free choose plain water because it would aid you in hydration and keeping your skin supple.

3. Cavendish Bananas - Most chain of seven eleven do serve this fruit. Their are no doubt about the health benefits of this fruit are as follows a. its good after exercise and b. good source of fibre. Bananas by the way are good source of fibre to keep your weight at bay so its best to buy 2 pieces when you are at the store.

4. Yogurt - This dairy product which is rich in bacteria good for digestion comes in various fruit flavor and sometimes in juice form. Most of them are zero fat so definitely your cart must contain this when you go shopping at night for a snack.

5. Prepacked Fruits - On the refrigerator isle you could also see a lot of prepacked fruits like dole apples and some fruit cocktails served in small cups. The juice of the fruit cocktail is laden with sugar so dont consume that when you buy this product.

6. Milk - if you are not lactose intolerant its best also to buy this item. Make sure that you buy the low fat or non fat version. Milk is rumored to increase your metabolism on regular consumption because it contains a good amount of protein. Protein do increase metabolism even at rest phase and it consume more calories when you digest them so its a lot of help to keep your weight down.

7. Hotdogs - All right I can see that their are a lot of eyebrows saying on protest against this food. Although hotdogs are not really a good choice for a snack, convenience store's do steam this food when they cook it. Steaming is the most healthy choice for cooking food. Although hotdogs are not really healthy at least the method of cooking is ok. Its a good way to satiate a craving for meat minus the other calories derive from frying.

The items I enumerated above are just few of the choices you could buy at convenient stores but I guarantee you they are the most healthy stuff you could buy their. Its best to eat healthy stuff during the night when your metabolism is low and your digestion is not at it peak performance. So the next time your tummy grumbles and request for a grub go out and get your snack or dinner at convenience store with this shopping list. Hehehe

How to make the most of using Sauna or Steam Room

2009-06-24T09:58:00.000-07:00

One of the things I frequently do when I go to the gym is indulge in this perk of an exclusive gym. I go to the Steam Bath which is located near the showers together with the Sauna. I like the feeling of steam being sprayed over my body because it gives that instant moisture that my drench skin have been wanting after the exercise at the gym. It kinda open my pore to sweat out and at the same time release the toxins accumulated under neath it. It has the same effect as the Sauna although its just pure heat and the sweat alone is pushing all the impurities out of your pores.

This indulgence however can have its effects maximize. The following are the steps.

1. Do bring slippers inside the steam room or sauna - as a habit I love walking on foot inside the house so I implement the same at the sauna or the steam room. In return the bacteria breeding at the floor have an easy access to my foot. A week later my foot started having warts and athletes foot. I found out from my friend who have encountered the same problems that these germs breed on humid and wet areas.

2. Always wear towels when sitting at sauna or steam room - its the same effect as not wearing slippers. My friend told me he got a ringworm right at corners of his Butt ahahah just because he dared wearing his t-back at the sauna room. So for your butt cheeks sake always wear those towels just to be sure those bacteria wont have direct contact to your skin.

3. Do bring a Body Scrub - since your skin are soft due to the sweating it is best to scrub it to slough away all the dead skin cells to let new skin show. What better way to have this is to use a Body Scrub like Body's Shops Sea Salt Scrub. I frequently used the product while im scrubbing my skin. They always smell nice after the scrubbing and leaves my skin more radiant. Salt by the way is a disinfectant. Which could be perfect also for your skin after accumulating some germs.

4. Apply hot oil treatments inside the Sauna or Steam - to save you time going to the parlor and have a hot oil treatment you could also do it inside the Steam or Sauna room. Apply a hot oil treatment like a cream and let all the natural oils sink in your scalp for maximum benefits. Of course the result wont be at par as having the treatment at the parlor but im pretty sure regularity of the habit would bring the same effect.

5. Do not go to the Sauna or Steam room more than twice a week - Although this treatment is not forbidden for us compared to some people with asthma or heart ailments , in all things it must be done with moderation. Our constant tendency when we go to the steam room is rub our skin. Rubbing it do slough away the dead cells but doing it more often than we should darkens the skin. The dermatologist I consulted said frequent rubbing do stimulate growth of skin cells but at a fast rate that would darken it instead.

6. Stay inside at most 15 minutes - this treatment do make you sweat a lot but too much sweating will cause dehydration so I would advise you to limit yourself for a 15 minute treatment then if you want some more drink some water then indulge again. Do put intervals to avoid too much water loss which may eliminate the health benefit altogether.

This are the things I usually do whenever I go inside a steam room or a Sauna. Most of my friends follow the same as a rule of thumb. Sauna and Steam rooms will leave you fresh and will aid your metabolism for further fat loss. Always do the things I enumerated above to further enhance your beauty and eliminate the disadvantages of going inside the Sauna or Steam Room.

How to lighten those deep dark circles under your eyes

2009-06-23T03:26:00.000-07:00

One of problems due to the night job I have right now is the dark circles I have under my eyes. Its not really a pretty site cause it makes me look like a racoon. Other sources of this predicament is allergies, constant eye rubbing, and smoking. Which I get a lot also because I'm always surrounded by people who smokes a lot.

My guy boss who look so fabulous advice me to take vitamin k internally as a part of my regular diet and as a supplement to speed up the process. He told me that vitamin K helps in the proper blood circulation in those dark areas of my eyes. He advised me to eat a lot of cruciferous veggies like spinach and brocolli and also some berries like strawberries for they are known to have high content of the nutrient.

I went to Rustan department store and I found a wide array of eye creams that contains vitamin K. I bought the one with retinol in it because according to the sales lady it gives result much faster. True enough when I tried the product I could see visible results after 3 weeks. I guess this would be a regular regimen of mine. I usually applied it at night even though I am at work. And applied a little bit of it during the day.

The next step I took is go to the nearest health store to buy a big bottle of Vitamin K. I made sure it is a full months supply for me like 30 pieces so I wont run out of the stuff. According to my boss a safe dosage would be 75 to 80 mg for males and 55 to 65 for females. I took the supplement after meals.

Lastly my boss recommended to get a lot of sleep because no matter I how I treat my dark eye circles it wont get any better unless I attack the source of the problem. I kinda wonder how do I do that when I work in the night. My boss told me that to get a good rest during the day is make sure that I wear eye mask while sleeping so that I wont be able to see too much light. True enough I dose off more peacefully and faster. I also put some heavy curtains at my window cause it kinda block of the noise coming from the outside I put two slices of cucumber on top of my eyes to relax it further.

After a month of sleeping a lot, taking vitamin k, and eating a lot of the veggies my dark circles have diminish together with the eye puffiness. Give it 2 more months and it is guaranteed to disapper completely according to my Boss. For the meantime while you still have those racoon eyes it would help a lot to put concealer or some other form of make up to hide those unsightly dark circles.

Whats inside the Bag of a Professional Model

2009-06-22T02:29:00.000-07:00

One of the sidelines I've been doing aside from my regular 8 to 5 job is a booker for a Modeling Agency. I usually work side by side with them and get to observe their habits specially when they are having their photo shoots. Usually my boss would apply something to their face or to their teeth before the shoot to make them more gorgeous but its another story when you look into their bags. Really these pips have an assortment of beauty arsenal to enhance their looks further . They are not really brand conscious but they usually buy stuffs that works for them or cosmetics they are not allergic. I come up with a few of the stuff that are usually at their bags and the following are the frequent items I get to see.

1. Perfume or cologne - I always see this people spray these stuff to smell good. Most of the time they have perfume's or cologne that they find fragrant, but some spray cologne that have a signature on the scent like some expensive brands. It adds to their allure and confidence to smell good to feel good. Not all models have cars and the toll of commuting is absorbing the aroma of the nearby environment. So for us regular pips it will help us also to feel good about ourselves by doing the same. Spray perfume that would that would make us more pleasing to others. Nobody wants a stinker around them.

2. Hand sanitizer - Most models I know keep this product intact at the corners of their bag. They are gaga over cleanliness and health so they always apply it to prevent germs and bacteria to breed at their hands which is the only body part that gets to touch every opening in their body (e.g. mouth, eyes) that acts as doorway for disease. Its a preventive measure for them to avoid common illnesses like flu or colds that could aggravate to something else. Clearly nobody looks good if they are sickly.

3. Healthy Snacks - Most models I know specially the guys are health conscious. Models frequent the gym often and they are always on the go. They keep a healthy snack handy in case they get hungry to keep their metabolism up. They know for a fact that frequent small meals will boost their metabolism to keep them slim and still constantly watching their calorie intake. Models usually keep a piece of fruit in their bag or a whole wheat sandwich packed with veggies and meat like tuna. Chocolates are one of their indulgence but they usually bring like 5 small pieces handy to give them a feel good mood and reduce cravings.

4. Make up - These is the most regular resident of their bag. Usually they have foundations and other assortments for a re touch of their make up every few hours. Guy models do have make up but they keep it on a minimum. Some guy models usually have simple skin tone foundation and apply it sporadically and a clear lip balm. They always buy make up that are close to their skin tone so that they would look fresh and flawless naturally.

5. Tissue - A clear must have for them is a pack or two of tissue for cleaning their face & for wiping sweat and dirt that accumulated at any body part. For people who wants to be constantly fresh tissue is the perfect aid for cleaning up.

6. Hair styling products and Tools - Beside their face models usually fix their hair all the time. Their bag contains hair wax or gel to keep their locks in place or if they are the rapunzel time you could see a brush or a medical comb to stroke their mane. most of them have a healthy hair strand so its easy to manage their hair because its well maintained. They also bring caps to cover their hair from wind damage or some pony tails or hair clips to keep it in place.

7. Shades or Eyeglasses - Models keep a good pair of eyeglasses in their bags to protect their eyes from dirt and the harmful rays of the sun. Its not really good practice for them to squint and let their eyes be exposed to the sun. Its like an open invitation for crows feet and sundamage if they dont bring eyeglasses handy. Their eyes wont look great or expressive in front of the camera if they look tired or lined with wrinkles

8. Sunblock or SPF lotion - Skin is the largest organ exposed to models. And since most skin ageing are also a result of frequent sun exposure models have a face cream and a sunblock handy to prevent their skin from wrinkling and having sunburn due to over exposure from the sun rays if they choose to travel or commute.

The above list are the common stuff Models bring or put in their bags. Of course they might forget an item or two but these stuff are the regular things you would see. So if you are planning to be the BATMAN of the modeling world your utility belt should mostly compose of the items listed above. Their could be some deviation on the list but I assure you it would containt most of the things I enumerated above

Grooming 101 for Guys to Improve your Beauty & Social Life

2009-06-17T22:28:00.000-07:00

In todays fast pace life specially in the corporate world most guys usually dont have the time to alot an hour or two for grooming. Though guys have a flare for vanity its not really in their top to do list, they would rather sit down sometimes and talk with their buddies with a beer or do a hobby like a sport.

But grooming doesnt really need a lot of time time and money investment if all you want to achieve is that fresh out look that girls would appreciate. All you would need is a few purchase of items and a tweek of habits to get that handsome aura. The following are few of the grooming tips & tools some of the guy models advise me and they dont really require that much effort.

1.) Invest in a good dandruff shampoo - since guys are more active than girls we tend to get more dirt and sweat, thus these things get stucked in our hair a lot too. Most guys I know do shampoo but a medicated shampoo especially for dandruff like nizoral would be a good addition to your guy grooming kit. You dont need christmas all year round hanging on your shoulders due to the flakes, otherwise girls would be turned off by that sight figuratively making christmas stay all year round because they are appalled. (approximate time to shampoo your hair : 5 minutes)

2.) Invest in facial cleanser, toner, and moisturizer - these three products are the basics in any grooming arsenal. Most guys think it eats a lot of time applying them and sometimes costly on the budget. Well in fact for a mere budget of like P250.00 you could buy all three and it would eliminate the occurence of additional facial problems like blemishes (e.g. whiteheads & blackheads) acne, and warts. A clean face makes good countenance thus attracting more people to you. (approximate time to use 3 products : 15 minutes)

3.) Use clear lip gloss or lip balm - chapped lips is a no no for guys also. Although you dont pucker to attract girls it would be very unsightly to see that. If your lips flake too much sometimes some lip sores occur if it becomes very dry. You would need to apply lip balm or gloss the frequently since lips dont have sweat glands to moisturize them. Lips by the way is a major gateway that open the doors to other pleasures like kissing so might as well take care of them both upper and lower (approximate time to use : less than a minute )

4.) Toothbrush & Toothpaste - although we do this everyday not every guy do this on the correct frequency. Do brush your pearls for at least 2 times a day to ward off the bad odor. For social life and health sake dont cross this out in your grooming to do list. A good set of teeth is a big factor also in attracting conversations and people. You would miss a lot on opportunities when nobody wants to talk to you for a long time due to the nauseating smell of the bad breath. Do eat also on time. Bad breath also occurs on a hungry stomach. floss and use a mouthwash to seal in that fresh breath for a longer period of time (approximate time to use : 5 minutes)

5.) Buy a sturdy nail cutter - one of the most undesirable sight is having long finger nails to qualify you as a vampire in a brom stokers movie. Both guys and girls dislike it and its completely unhygienic because most dirt and bacteria brood underneath those areas given enough space. They might contribute for more blemishes to your face if you touch it when filthy nails. So once every 3 to 4 days do check your nails and make sure they dont grow outside the range of their nail beds ( approximate time to use : less than 5 minutes every few days)

6.) Dont forget to use deodorant - a definite must in every grooming tray is this simple yet powerful beauty tool. A bad breath wards of people once you open your mouth but body odor wards of every body within the 360 degrees range at approximate 2 to 3 feet from you depending on the stench. Its like an instant force field that just pops up to keep people away. But thats not the kind of protection you would need doesnt it? Some deodorant are so fragrant that it acts like a simple cologne or perfume. So if I we're you i would buy a deodorant and it only cost like P50 to P75 pesos per bottle. Buy the most fragrant one and labeled as extra strength if they have one. You will never know when you will sweat heavily. (approximate time to use : less than a minute after bath)

These are just the basic grooming tips for guys who wants a slight improvement in their beauty and social life. If you add up all the time use to do them its only less than an hour. It would bring benefits to you like more confidence in getting closer to people and a better countenance to boot. In the future I would post more grooming tips for guys and how they could take their grooming to the next level to provide them with more handsomeness and better health.

Healthy Brown Rice

2009-06-12T22:34:00.000-07:00

I was enjoying my usual rut of being a mall rat at Alabang Town Center when I pass the food court for a grub. I couldn't figure out what to eat because all the fast foods seem bland to me because I always eat their and the other stalls seem to serve a regular fare where you could eat the meals even at your office cafeteria.

Then this stall caught my attention. The exact catchy phrase is they serve only healthy stuff. No sodium, no cholesterol, good for diabetics, heart healthy, and all those hala baloo claims that they are the ultimate whatchamacallit stall for the vegetarians and health freaks alike. I look at the menu immediately to see what nonesense are they serving because for them to serve something like that it must be tasteless, because most tasty food that I know is laden with fat, salt, and sugar and no way they could be yummy.

What I saw is a menu of grilled meat and everything served with brown rice on the side. Of course its a given that grilled is healthy but what rouse my curiosity is the brown rice. It doesnt look so inviting at the picture. But for health's sake I ordered, since I can count already two hips at my waist. I ordered the chicken with the brown rice. I recall my trainor at the office saying that he lost all his tummy because he consumed only whole grain carbs and brown rice every meal. The brown rice help him a lot to have good bowel movement because of the high fiber content, thus preventing waste becoming accumulated on your large intestine.

I've read from a magazines also that because of the high mineral content of brown rice like manganese and selenium it is also good for you asthma & heart disease. It has more B vitamins than white rice because it gets to retain more of its husk which contains most of the nutrients. I was about to worship the grain until I started eating. Brown rice is a bit rancid and gritty when you munch it. I cant figure out whats wrong exactly but its so bland that although the grilled chicken paired with it is tasty im not encourage to have a second cup of rice. Its filling but Im not satisfied with what I eat. Maybe I have to develop an acquired taste consuming it.

A chef friend of mine recommended his cook book on how to serve brown rice and enjoy it. In my future blogs I will feature this recipe's so we could enjoy the benefits of brown rice so we could enjoy eating it on a regular basis.

Making an awesome Peanut butter sandwich

2009-06-09T02:45:00.000-07:00

One sunday afternoon when I woke up at the house I was so hungry. I look around to see if their is something to eat at the fridge and all I see was the leftovers from last nights dinner. Nobody is around since everyone went out to go to the malls or to church ergo their is no food cooked in the kitchen argghhh!!!! Double whammy really. So i look inside the fridge for the second time around and look for anything to gobble that dont require a lot of time to prepare. I see a lot cereals and fruits. Then their is also a loaf of wheat bread and a lot of spreads. I really want to eat a real lunch not the breakfast fare the fridge is offering and then, their is hope. Their is like a light bulb flashing into my head. I saw a bottle of Peanut Butter.

I started making this sandwich that I used to make when I was a kid and really I find it so filling even for a grown up like me. So I started gathering the ingredients for this super meal. I grab the whole bottle of the less fat Peanut Butter which happen to belong to my super buff brother. I also pick 3 large slices of whole wheat bread, the bottle of the strawberry Jelly, the Honey also. I thought I would be satisfied but because I could a whole cow at that time I added 2 slices of light bacon which also belong to my brother ahahhaha (im in for some trouble), and also a big banana and the little box of raisin at the cold recesses of the ref ahahahah. I can almost hear my brother on top of my head grumbling.

I put the 2 slices of bacon and heat them for 5 minutes at slightly high heat. I put the 3 slices wheat bread at the toaster when their is only 2 minutes remaining for the bacon to cook. After that I grab one of the bread and started spreading peanut butter on the bread and slice the banana in the middle to make smalls circles and placed them on top of the peanut butter together with a few raisins. After that I put some strawberry jelly on top of the second bread and placed the sinful bacon on top of it. I placed the third slice on top of the bacon then put them on top of the peanut butter and wowowweeee instant Peanut butter club house sandwich

I consumed the whole thing in 20 minutes then I counted the calories on the whole sandwich. I think it would reach to almost a thousand. But regardless of the sugar spike it gave me a I know the energy Im getting didnt come from empty calories.. It is filled with a lot of protein and fiber. Except of course for the two bacon slices do not count as healthy but since its less fat I think it would be an exception or maybe look next time for a better alternative. Peanut butter consist of monounsaturated fat that is good for the heart. I also planned on making this same sandwich when I go to the gym and plan to have some protein boost after the workout. Yes it packs a lot of calories but the ingredients alone guarantees they would do good to your muscles and your body (again a disclaimer against the bacon because I thought its delicious). All of a sudden all of the good stuff in my head started to disappear when my brother walk in the door and saw me nibbling on his food. Nyahhhhh I could see the dagger look in his eyes. I told him immediately I would replace the food when I go outside to buy for my groceries lolzz!!!! and offered him also if I could make him the MOST AWESOME PEANUT BUTTER SANDWICH EVER with the matching begging look of the cat in SHREK. ahahahahahha but the reaction is another story. :p

Why do some people never get pretty or sexy even if they Diet or Exercise?

2009-06-05T23:44:00.000-07:00

This two discipline diet and exercise have always been the best combo to get that sexy figure and if you want to be beautiful too. Its a time tested formula that any body can attest the result if they are combined together with the right methods and techniques. Any deviation will surely produce result short from what is expected. I have tried applying them individually and the result is half satisfying.

The first that I applied alone is exercise. I enrolled in the gym and went through a strict exercise program. I was so obese back then so I do 1 hour cardio and 1 hour weight lifting, on days I dont lift I do 2 hours cardio. In 3 months time I am 5 lbs away from my desired weight. My friends told me my skin is glowing because of constant workout but the problem is I cant seem to remove the remaining spare tire of my tummy. I was not really dieting back then but I dont gorge either. I just eat whatever I fancy. Although I work out I dont have enough protein to go with the weight lifting thats why I wasn't able to grow enough muscles. Muscles by the way is important to gain in the process of working out because they will burn your calories even if your outside the gym. My diet is not planned to sustain the dietary requirements of having muscles. A junk food after work out certainly is not helping me either. Suffice to say working out alone didnt produce the exact result I wanted to become healty and beautiful at the same time.

I experimented on eating healthy but without exercise. I eat mostly fibre and lean meats in most of my meals. I have a variety of fruits and vegetables everyday to cover most of my dietery requirements and I drink milk twice a day. The only thing that drive me nuts doing this is I did it all too soon and I have to combat cravings. In a matter of two months I got the results. My friends admired the nice complexion I got from eating a lot of fiber. I did slim down but I look a bit haggard because my muscles are not toned from the sudden decrease of body weight. Exercise help tone down muscles when you lose weight so those excess skin wont be sagging in all directions.

To conclude it all diet and exercise have to be in tandem when endeavoring a beauty and health program. You cant exercise and eat just anything in hopes that the workout will burn everything. An hour of exercise maybe 500 calories but a simple meal after it composing of a slice of pizza and cake is more than enough to ruin it. Dieting is a good tool to slim down too but of course we want our body to be in good shape also. Their are some stomach flabs that cant be remove by dieting alone and exercise is required to remove them. To be beautiful and healthy it would require both methods working together and anything less than that would shortchange the results.

Eat Oatmeal for better skin

2009-06-03T22:35:00.000-07:00

One of the things I have experimented before when I was younger is this diet that proves to be so effective in giving supple skin the shortest time possible.

I was so stressed back then because of the line of work I was doing. I am always in the field due to the marketing stuff I have to do for the company I worked for and what I have notice I am getting fine lines at my young age. It is frustrating to see that I am becoming a victim of premature aging that is plauging most of our yuppies nowadays.

What I did is eat oatmeal for my carbohydrates and nothing but this carbs for a week. All I do is scoop out 3 to 5 tablespoon of ready eat oatmeal from a can each meal and put it in a bowl. I put hot water in it and mix it till all the oatmeal is good for consuming. I always put drips of honey on top of the bowl to add flavor or sometimes I put some non fat milk. To put more variety I added banana's and raisins during breakfast. During lunch and dinner I just interchange chicken and fish as a viand for the oatmeal which I used as a replacement for rice which is the usual carb for us Asians.

After a week from this diet I noticed that my skin is less stressed and some of the early signs of frownlines and stress marks on my face have cease to show. My face looked more fresher not to mention its thrifty on the budget because I refrained from eating out. The set back is im becoming cranky because of the limited variety of food that im eating and from the sudden withdrawal from my usual food intake.

It is the usual side effect of sudden diet changes to be cranky but what really amaze me is the look and feel of clarity that I experienced from this oatmeal diet. I cant deny I like the aura it gives me and the minimize appearance of my fine lines and stress mark truly inspires me to continue. However my fast pace life made me forget this diet which I will incorporate to my daily life again soon.

I researched that the reason why oatmeal have such wondrous effect is because its actually a nerve tonic that soothes the body of stress including the face. All the by product of stress like spot marks, hives, & veins are minimize. I wasnt able to test if it vanquish the effects of stress completely on continued used but I am more bound to try it now. Naturally oatmeal have silicon which is an important mineral in mainting the collagen structure of our skin which is the skin component that cements its to prevent sagging. This wonder food however should be avoided however by people allergic to gluten because oats compose of gluten and instead of beauty we might unleashed the beast within ehehehehhe.

The serious case of the False Eyelashes

2009-06-02T06:48:00.001-07:00

It was one of those afternoons when I usually meet up with my close friends and have chit chat with them over trivial stuff's and ask about the latest updates about their lives. I met with my bestfriend Santi (not real name) a 57 year old kikay woman who likes to indulge in parlor services and visit it like a second home.

We met at Jolibee pacita regarding our sideline about events organizing for the Rotary Club and start discussing of what must be done to expedite things needed to be accomplished. As I was listening to what she was telling me about the overpriced talent fee for our charity work I cant help but notice her eyelashes. I noticed that she doesnt have eyelashes in the middle of her eyelids. All of her eyelashes are concentrated on the corners of her eye and in the middle portion its non existent at all.

At first I was curious about it and start thinking could this be the latest fashion craze about eyelashes. Because I remember back in the 80's there was a fad in hair style where all the hair is concentrated only on the middle of the head and the sides are shaved like MR. T on the tv show THE A TEAM. But this nagging voice in my head couldnt stop and forced my mouth to ask the question " What happened to your eyelashes my friend? "

My friend Santi replied to me saying it was the parlor's fault. They use an old adhesive to attach her false eyelashes. What happened was her eyelashes become clumped and started sticking to one another. Instead giving the dramatic effect of a peacock they got intertwined to one another and whats worse they started pointing downward instead of the usual upward stroked look. The beautician probably is a novice and have some of the adhesive mixed with the lashes. Instead of going to the parlor my friend started plucking her eyelashes until all that is left are the one's on the side of her eyes because its too painful to pull out.

My friend complained also that instead of the regular human hair they use synthetic false eyelashes making everything much worse than it should be. I couldn't help but chuckle because it look so ridiculous. She told me that she would go back to the parlor and have them fixed the problem. I told her to run back to the parlor cause she look like the hairless wonder and everybody might give her a second look not because of awe.

After that fiasco with the parlor she always ask to the beautician to show her the materials being use for her eyelashes from the adhesive to the false eyelashes to ensure that she wont be the victim of the same predicament the 2nd time around.

IBLOG5 SUMMIT CONVENTION

2009-05-12T02:08:00.000-07:00

Last May 9, 2009 I attended the iblog 5 convention held at the UP College of Law in Quezon City in the Malcom Theatre. A yearly Philippine Blogging Summit where new and old bloggers attend to exchange ideas, socialize, and learn new things on how to improve their blog and what kind of stuff they can include in their blog to make it more worth reading or to put more value in its content. It was my first time to attend a blogger's convention. I expected that I will meet geeks and nerds in this convention since the only people I know who are fond of writing and expressing their thoughts belong to this archetype. But I was bummed to see their are also a lot of fabulous people who attend this kind of stuff. The first one that caught my attention is Winston. This cute kid from Davao writes a blog about travel and must haves. His blog is named Batang Yagit. I was mislead by the title of the blog and the content because it means a poor kid. The blog is about his personal travels from here and abroad. How ironic that this poor kid travels a lot . He is the winner for the People Choice Award for Bloggers.

The second person who caught my attention is Kring Elezano. She is this sassy cute girl who is also the speaker about video blogging. She has a personal blog Funny Sexy which is all about the humorous and sexy life of this urban girl. I did enjoy her latest video blog which is something like walking with a pink winter coat on in the streets of manila with fast cars. Talking about absolutely funny because she did that while striding like a model for all bystanders to see in the middle of a hot day. Hahaha its so hilarious and its all in the name of challenge from one of her friends abroad.

The third fab person I get to mingle with is Jayvee Fernandez. He has this blog about the media industry in the Philippine. The blogs name by the way is A Bugged Life. His blog discuss about all this new techy stuff available and make the most out of this things. He also writes for Uno magazine. A girl mag featuring sultry ladies with Vaboom bodies. Clearly this guy has an eye for beauty too. He is also a speaker which tackles on Blog Marketing and & Strategies in the Philippines. Simply put he has a big range of interest to boot with the debonaire look.

I have to say this recently concluded IBLOG SUMMIT is one of the most enlightening experience for me. I get to learn new things about how to put more value on myblog like doing it on my celphone, or a simple picture will have the same effect as text and the words to describe it are nothing more than embelishments. The people i've met are just fascinating and they do justice to the words BEAUTY with BRAINS. Clearly one of the best way to put premium to beauty is pairing it with brains.

I'm back for beauty!!!!

2009-05-03T21:13:00.000-07:00

I'm back ahahah finally from a long time of absence from my blog I've resurrected from my long slumber. Its not like I'm having a beauty rest but I have to fix some things that needs repairing in my life.

I'm sorry I haven't written for a long time rest a assured I will keep you glued for my upcoming blogs. This time beside from my own experience I will also write about time tested tips coming from people who value beauty as a premium.

Yes tips that will come from Models, Doctors, Make up artist, and all people who believe in beauty as a virtue. You will hear their opinion on what makes a person beautiful from the inside out.

I will also write about some unconventional techniques and some FYI's about getting beautiful. Stuff's you never heard off and think that would contribute to your over all well being never before seen on reading materials about beauty, fashion, and everything related to it.

So keep posted and glued and you will keep on coming back for more life transforming information.

Dear Readers

2009-04-19T12:52:00.001-07:00

Sorry for the lack of updates to this blog. Rest assured, more content will be added to this as soon as more free time is made available to the writers. Thank you.

Beauty Movie Review : Memoirs of a Geisha Last Part

2009-01-25T01:11:00.000-08:00

Simultaneously while she is learning all this skills she is also enhancing her beauty. It seems a bit odd and funny seeing the old techniques in achieving beauty back then. One of which is applying this clown like face powder on the face. Its done simply to hide any imperfections that maybe present on the face. Another is the Charcoal sticks they are burning in candles just to have an eyebrow marker. The most outrageous is the hair straightening treatment. Out of a boiling pot there is this sticky concoction which is brushed on the hair. While the comb is being pulled away from the head the hair strands are being pitted on two small rolling pins.

Another thing that I have learned in the movie is geisha always wear elegant or elaborate wardrobe. Applying that concept in recent days, a sure fire way to catch people’s attention is to wear something catchy at the same time something that will fit to match you and enhance your appearance or your get up.

One time when I went to the office I wear this arm warmer’s that looks like dragon Tattoo when I put them on. I wear them with my tribal black shirt and a pair of jeans. The look was rugged and the arm warmers compliments the get up. People notice my arm warmers and by accident they start noticing me as well. HAHA I love the attention that was given to me by just wearing a piece of accessory that matches my Clothing Get up.

To conclude this beauty movie review I can say that Beauty is a good frontline for all kinds of endeavors. Beauty can only be enhanced further if you assist it with a TALENT and GOOD CLOTHING . TALENT and GOOD CLOTHING by its own right are things that could get attention. Geisha’s have all of the three things I mentioned that could AWE and WOW people. My advice for you gals and girls out there is try to achieve what a geisha do. And who knows you might be telling the story of GOOD MEMOIRS which could be your very OWN. :)

Beauty Movie Review : Memoirs of a Geisha Part 1

2009-01-24T23:29:00.000-08:00

One of the films I have watched on DVD while staying home is this instant classic. It tells about the story of young fisherman’s daughter named Chiyo who is gifted with blue eyes. On how she and her sister was sold by their father to repay their debt. It involves also her quest on saving her sister from becoming a whore, and her struggle against a competing geisha. In her quest it involves mostly her endeavor for the one she truly loves. And the path she must take to be near him and have him forever. The path of course leads in becoming the most sought after Geisha in all Japan.

In the movie there are few compelling lines that get stuck in my head. Most of these are the conversations with Chiyo involving mostly her mentors. The following are the lines that put a shiver in my spine.

Chiyo : Mamahe when does a Geisha choose her daimyo,

Mamahe : Im afraid it’s the other way around. Focus on your studies Chiyo, Music the art of Conversation. On your Feet not Off them. That is the surest way to get a Daimyo. Remember Chiyo geisha’s are not courtesan and we are not wise we sell our skills not our bodies. We create another secret world. A place only of beauty. The very word are geisha means artist. And to be a geisha is to be judge a moving work of art. Agony and beauty for us live side by side. Your feet will suffer, your fingers will bleed. Even sitting and sleeping will be painful. You cannot call yourself a true geisha until you can stop a man in his tracks with a single look.

“A geisha needs an elegant wardrobe just like an artist needs ink.” - Lecture to Chiyo by Old House Maid

From the lectures of her mentors I have learned that Beauty in one way or another is a form of art, or if not beauty is best paired along with art. Of course like most things that is worth accomplishing Beauty is not a path of least resistance. Maybe I could assume that beauty is also a form of virtue.

Like what Chiyo experienced in the movie she studied a lot of skills like dancing and playing musical instruments. Its not enough for her to be beautiful. Beauty is just like good façade of house to entice somebody to get in and to know you more. It acts as an invitation to come in or not. Now what will make the experience better is if that somebody who actually goes in, like what’s inside.

In the movie Chiyo displays an array of talent like acting and dancing. She also shows wit and charm in dealing with other people. There are dozen of other beautiful women but the one that becomes most outstanding is the most celebrated or most talented.

My Facial Experience

2009-01-24T23:02:00.000-08:00

One of the most frequent things I indulge when going to malls is enjoying a pampering facial from a Spa or a Skin Clinic which can be easily located on the wellness lane.

There are different kinds of facials depending on your needs. There are the whitening facials which is good for people who wants to achieve that coveted rosy white glow. There are also collagen treatment which is perfect for smoothening your wrinkles. The list goes on and you could even add an additional service like eye relaxation treatment or an ear spa for a lesser cost since you avail one of their services.

But one thing I have experience on my treatments is the tedious and excruciating process. Yes Beauty has its benefits like increase self esteem and a head turning countenance unfortunately it goes side bye side with agony. Women I notice have no qualms about it, but for most guys I know have complaints about the painful process.

Most procedures goes like this when undergoing a facial. The first part was when they clean your face with a piece of cloth and applying all those astringents and soap to remove dirt and avoid infection. Second, the attendant will apply a cream on your face to soften your skin while under a facial steam. There is really nothing wrong with the first two steps it actually gives me a chance to doze off.

The Third part is the most important and at the same time the part I wish to skip but unfortunately a necessity for the process. The third step involves plucking the pimples, excavating the whiteheads, and blackheads. It may seems like nothing at first when they start on your forehead. The pain usually sinks in when they start removing the blackheads on your cheek area and goes over the top when they go to the nose area which is a beehive of the culprits.

This agonizing step takes about 30 minutes to finish and by the time they are through I feel that Christmas is in the air when I look in the Mirror. I could see Rudolf the Red Nose Reindeer. (Argghh)

The Final Step is so far calming. They allow you to sleep for about 15 to 20 minutes while allowing your favorite facial mudpack to dry up. My suggestion is to go for the collagen treatment because it helps relax the wrinkles and by my experience the most relaxing of all the treatment.

Facials are really a must have treatment at least once or twice a month for skin maintenance. The best way to avoid experiencing that agonizing nose plucking is make sure you clean your face twice a day so the next time you schedule a facial there are less blackheads and pimples for them to mine.

Staying Beautiful at Coffee Shops

2009-01-24T22:58:00.000-08:00

One of my regular habits is going from one Coffee Shop to another. I’m not really particular of the brand but as long me and my friends change location from time to time. In my visit on a new Coffee Shop in my area I notice the adds posted by the shop which says, LOW FAT, LOW CAL and beside the slogan is a picture of their ice blended drink. Beside their slogan are other slogans Implying we are healthier and we could make you beautiful.

Being the curious cat I called the attention of one of the Barista’s and asked him a question. “Hey if you don’t mind me asking how calories is their on one of your Ice Blended Drink?.” The Barista told me that a serving have an approximate 300 calories.

I immediately look at the calorie counter pamphlet which I got from the other coffee shop I frequently lounge. Hmmm for the same size they have 350 calories per servings. The barista told me also they use mostly low fat ingredients on their blends. I asked him to bring me a calorie counter pamphlet and he replied yes. I waited for him to get back but he never did. Its most likely they never have it or in most cases of coffee shops I knew they never give out the calories count of each of their drinks unless you ask it by product.

Although I love Ice blended drinks I would never recommend drinking it for people who have a goal to stay slim and healthy. It has high calories and the sugar content could spike your insulin out of proportion.

When an advertisement says Low Cal and Low Fat it doesn’t necessarily means they are healthy. In this case it suffice to say their calories and fat content are indeed lower compared to other brands.

Coffee Shops although most of their menu are unhealthy , do have healthy options to boot. For instance there are coffee shops I visited which have Soya milk for iced drinks and tetra packs. Some have these very good delicatessen sandwiches placed on rye and wheat bread. Other shops offer non fat and no sugar alternatives for some of their drinks. Other shops have an array of salads and juices.

Staying healthy is easy when going to coffee shops. Just be courteous enough to ask the barista’s for healthy options. But going healthy is usually more expensive. I tried the non fat versions of some hot drinks and they charge for like an additional 20 peso. Hahahaha I remember that famous line suddenly BEAUTY HAS A PRICE.

My usual pick when going to coffee shops is a big glass of Hot Green Tea and a set of Chicken Deli Sandwich on Rye Bread usually the low salt version. The protein in chicken is good source of protein for a beautiful physique . The Hot Green Tea, aside from obviously being fat free is good on spiking your metabolism to keep you slim.

Be Thrifty, Get Pretty Final Part

2009-01-08T19:00:00.000-08:00

7. Reduce Convenience Store - Most of the time I go to convenience store and buy junk foods whenever I’m in a hurry. But foods there are no different from restaurants. I would advise you to lessen your trip to this place. Its not exactly cheap and the only perk it has is its 24 hours service. It would be better to go shopping to the supermarket in advance and plan your list to avoid buying out of budget. The extra money you save could be use to buy groceries (e.g. fruits & veggies) or beauty gadgets like (facial wash). We are not actually splurging but making sure you get the best value for your money at the same time getting the extra budget for your beauty enhancements.

8. Eat Less Meat & Carbs – Yes most of the people I know binge on meat & carbs in the form of junk foods (e.g. pizza, donuts, burgers). All of them are again calorie laden, more expensive, and not to mention add a lot of inches to your waistline. Every inch of belly better your chances of getting disease (e.g. diabetes, heart ailments). Its for the best you eat them occasionally or as a reward for a job well done in maintaining a fit body. The money you save guarantees less doctor bills, and a cache of savings.

9. Cut your own hair - I known this advice wont work for everybody but if you happen to know how to make your own Hair-Do to save trips to the parlor just to get a haircut by all means do it. Before my cousin’s cut my hair cause they have a knack for it. Most parlors now a days charge high for trims. If you could do it or have a relative help in shaping your tresses then beg for their help (hahaha)!! The money you save is already a budget for a hot oil service or maybe some highlights you’ve been long delaying to have because of financial constraint.

I hope this Budget tips help you to save money and gain more beauty in the process. You could use the extra cash to splurge on other beauty stuff or use it for emergency fund. Either way it’s a win win situation . You save money and in the process get beautiful!!!!

Be Thrifty, Get Pretty Part 2

2009-01-08T18:56:00.000-08:00

4. Smoking - a lot of people deal with stress through smoking. I do know it’s a hard habit to break but with enough discipline I know some people have quit it. Smoking is a source of wrinkles, certain disease, and not to mention bad breath. If you could divert your stress and control your smoking the amount of money you save from it could be use to other stress relieving activities like enrolling in a yoga class or a body massage. Quitting smoking does have a lot of beauty perks.

5. Alcohol – Thank goodness I’m allergic to alcohols. I get a lot of rashes when I have regular servings of this food. Its another contributor to a widening tummy. Drinking liquor everyday is not very healthy as a matter of fact. Unless your drinking a glass of red wine after a meal this is a habit you should shun. Some people I know suffer from disorder of their kidney and liver when they hit their old age. Instead on spending your money buying liquor why not buy a health drink. There are a lot of alternatives out their which you could have to replace beer (e.g. milk, protein shakes, some wines). The replacement you buy could save you hospital bills in the future.

6. Eating out Less – I am fond of eating at Fast food chains and restaurants because they are far more accessible compared to regular home cook meals. But when I have computed the cost they are far more expensive compared when you prepare them. Most foods bought from food chains and restaurants have lots of preservatives, fried (a big no no for health fanatics), and calorie bombarded( e.g. dressings). If you are to prepare your food although it may be time consuming you would save a lot of money & you could buy healthier options. The money you save could be use to buy vitamin supplements or an outfit to flaunt your new body once you loose weight in preparing your own healthier meals.

Be thrifty, Get Pretty Part 1

2009-01-08T17:28:00.000-08:00

One of the problem I encounter in this Journey in becoming an epitome of Beauty is that financial management. Sometimes I wonder if I would ever get all of my finances straight and still manage to beautiful. It’s a given fact that food along with the other beauty frivolities like facials and spas or toiletries requires you to set aside a certain amount of money to avail it.

In my effort to balance everything I have come up with a list to live by where you could be frugal and at the same become more prettier. I have actually followed them and all it requires is some discipline. The list goes as follows and I have to say its effective in helping me to achieve my goals.

1. Commuting to work – one of the expenses I have to shoulder on a day by day basis is transportation expense. And I have to say it does eat up a big portion of my budget. When my work place use to be like a 2 kilometers from our house, what I did is bought a bicycle and ride it to the office and when I get back home. It serves to be a morning exercise and a warm up going to the gym after work which is by the way another mile away from work. The amount of money I save from gas I use it to maintain my membership in the gym and sometimes I use it to buy my supplements like whey protein and multivitamin.

2. Drinking Water – when I work at the office I usually buy a lot of soda, fruit juices, coffee, and sometimes cold-blended drinks from the nearby coffee shop. In a way this liquids serve as a source of nourishment, expense, and extra calories. The amount of money you shell out is not big when you buy the food but if you save them on a daily basis it’s an enormous amount of money. Plus even if you buy the most healthy of the choice which is fruit juice it does you no good at all. Fruit juices are calorie laden drinks. A piece of apple have 50 calories only plus the fiber. Buying the fruit juice version have whooping 150 calorie count plus the fact most of the time it include sugar which is not a good ingredient. The best thing to do is drink water which virtually free, low in calorie, brimming with benefits, and don’t affect the budget. Instead of buying drinks save it up for any kind of pampering you could imagine.

3. No Sweets – I use to have this craving for various desserts like cakes, candies, and certain pastries after a meal. I got sugar crashes and gained an extra stomach (huhuhu). To satisfy my cravings I replace these sugar laden food and tried fruits. They are definitely more cheaper than cakes and healthier in comparing both their calorie and vitamin content. For the price of one cake I could buy two fruits which is very beneficial for weight loss and maintaining a supple skin.

Beauty New Year Resolution

2009-01-05T16:36:00.000-08:00

Another year has past and still here we are wondering what happened. After every fireworks display we write down in a piece of paper all the things we dream of changing including career change, family issue's, and the most often beauty resolutions.

The problem with most resolution I suppose is they are too unrealistic. Or maybe if not the goal is so longshot that its almost impossible to aim for it. The best way to handle most problems is to break them down into short term goals. Do them on a daily basis until such time you develop a habit and eventually incorporate them to your busy lives.

Really we have to take time to be beautiful. Like what the Merovinger in the Matrix Movie said, "HOW COULD YOU HAVE TIME IF YOU DONT TAKE TIME."

I made few list of small goals you can do when it comes to beauty and eventually I hope you follow the next step to becoming more beautiful. Again the key is taking the baby steps and developing the habit. Just enough habit will suffice for it to sink in and become a routine. Think of it as something to be proud off when another year ends.

1. Diet - it cannot be more tedious than anything. A its hard to manage our meals obviously. One of the surefire way to lose weight is to eat more raw fiber like veggies and fruits.

Baby step : start eating a fruit or a vegetable in a day in the first week. Let it be your most favorite fruit. If you find its getting tedious replace it with another fiber rich food on the second week of your diet. Your goal is to have a piece of fiber to jumpstart your losing weight goal till its a habit eating the fruit or the veggie

Bigger Goal : after you get used on eating a fruit or veggie a day. Try adding another serving the week after. What we need to achieve is everytime you get the habit of eating a piece of fruit a day you add ann additional serving of fiber. Of course make sure their is variety. Lets say you only eat banana's , after a week or two add a cup of brocolli to your daily meals. Do this until such time you are already eating 8 to 10 servings of veggies and fruits a day. By the time you are used to the diet you could start limiting the red meat intake, the procedure wont be so hard a discipline cause its already a part of you.

2. Exercising - A lot of people dont find time of the day to incorporate something that would make them sweat a little. Just follow the pattern I set below and I'm sure you will force yourself to exercise

Baby Step : After you wake up try doing at least 5 minutes of simple exercise like bending, swaying your hips, or jogging in place. It maybe not enough to get you to sweat but the point is to stop you from becoming a complete potato couch even for a few moments of your life. Do an exercise routine that would not bore you. This way you continously exercise. The next week try thinking of another set of exercise but this time increase the frequency and add a bit more variety.

Bigger Goal : Week after week of exercising try adding 5 more minutes of your time after waking up or before going to bed to your exercise routine. Until such time you are already exercising for an hour a day. Make sure to involve yourself in an activity that you enjoy so you would keep on doing it. Our goal here is for you to sweat out till such time you crave for a more challenging sport or maybe enrol in a gym to hit a target of losing more weight. People who go for sport are mentally inclined to strive better in their chosen field.

3. Personal Hygiene - like my two previous example Im trying to develop a habit for you to enhance whatever asset you are endowed. But lets begin on the less endowed parts of your body lets say your feet.

Baby Steps : Plan on what are the basic needs of your feet if it doesnt look its best. To be hygienic it needs a good set of nail cutters so you could trim it regularlly to avoid dirt on getting inserted between the nails to cause a nauseating smell. Next week buy a bottle of foot powder to help it not to get sweaty. A week after that you could buy a big jar of footscrub tube so you could scrub the dead skin cells making the soles more fresh. The list goes on till your feet are pampered.

Bigger Goal : The goal is to at least do something good to one of your body part on a regular interval then move to another. After you succeeded in making your feet "kiss worthy for the lips" you could plan on adding other beauty goals for your face or for your tummy or whatever part of your body that needs helping. But be sure to start on the baby steps so you wont abandon the whole project. Just keep on adding other routine on top of the other and eventually before the year ends you could hardly recognize your old self :D

GOODLUCK AND I HOPE THIS WOULD JUMPSTART YOUR BEAUTIFUL NEW YEAR!!!!

Staying Beautiful when attending Weddings

2009-01-05T00:39:00.000-08:00

I have attended my brother's wedding last December 22, 2008 at one of the finest Reception Hall at Quezon City. And I have to say its one of the best experiences I had in my life. The food was great and everything was well planned. My friends and I manage to have some bloopers and get to have this wacky photo's . Darn that emcee who introduced me during the Entourage Parade saying "HERE COMES THE MOST HANDSOMEST OF THEM ALL OR IS HE?". Everybody was laughing loudly with the joke. Hmmm. I know I was bit on the chubby side suddenly I freaked out and went on diet. Thinking how silly I looked for him to joke like that.

I ate only the fish dishes . Good thing their is roasted salmon and tuna at the wedding which I dipped merrily with the lemon sauce. Not very satisfying though to think everybody stuffed themselves with lechon(roasted pork) and other gravy laden dishes. So instead I tasted a lil'bit of everything then I eat a big plate of fruits which I dipped only to a small chocolate sauce plate to counteract all the bad stuff.

My next stop is the Chocolate fountain. You may think that its unhealthy to eat chocolate be it white or dark, and weddings are no exceptions. Truth is dark chocolate are anti-oxidant so it's ok to do so. Hmmm the fondue infront of me is white so i just dipped a wafer stick in a spoon I scooped out of the white chocolate fountain. I manage to eat just a stick. It's better to eat in small portions than to go crazy not having it then later have cravings, leaving you hungry for more.

Hahaha!!! The Wedding Cake is so inviting really. I was wondering if its a debut I'm attending because its colored lavender and pink. I get to taste it as well but I waited till my brother take home some of its left over's. That way I will get to eat only the crumbs and some icing. Talk about damage control hahaha. I forgot to mention before the feast I eat only the appetizers containing tuna even if it contains mayonnaise. In eating something the best combo is protein and fiber. The worst is carbo and fat. You could interchange them like carbo and fiber, or fat and protein. Just make sure whatever you eat include something healthy in it.

Oil of Olay Total Effects

2008-12-26T00:41:00.001-08:00

I usually have luncheon get together with my friends during the weekends. We usually have this peptalk on things and stuff on what happen during the week. Then I notice my friend carrying a bag of his usual toiletries.

Being nosy while he is in the Comfort Room I peaked on the content of the bag. And their I found this fat tube container with black cover. The label says OIL OF OLAY TOTAL EFFECTS.

Stops the 7 signs of aging!!!! (Fine lines, wrinkles, Uneven skin tone, Age Spots, Dryness, Dullness, & Enlarged Pores)

I almost laugh at the paper literature with the product.

After he came back from the comfort room I take a really good look at his face to see any changes. Well yeah his skin is becoming more lighter and less dull. Another thing I noticed is that his facial lines are less visible than usual.

I confronted him about the product and he smiled to me saying he has used it for about a month now.

The bottle is priced for about like 900 Philippine Pesos. And for this measely price it does bring results. I will buy a bottle of this product after lunch too. I recalled few weeks ago that a customer of ours in the office use this product too and his skin is indeed getting better.

Funny thing is my friend and the customer in our office are both guys and they are getting really good results. This product is unisex I presume since most of the models in the adds are girls.

Watch out!!! He hehe I will use this product and see the results after a month :)

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Final Part

2008-12-26T00:18:00.000-08:00

While I was waiting for the Nurse attendant preparing the treatment I read on the Tarpaulin which says - WHO CAN BENEFIT MOST ON OXYGEN THERAPY. The list is as follows

* Smokers - the chemical in cigars are known to inhibit oxygen use and constrict blood cells, thereby hindering their ability to transport oxygen throughout the body

* Drinkers - alcohol cuts off the supply of oxygen to the brain and damages the liver by constricting blood vessels and reducing the delivery of oxygen to liver cells. Improve hangover condition

* Baby Boomers - once you pass 40 sufficient oxygen supply to the blood and tissue become more important in order to promote healing and counter aging.

* Athletes - maximize body ability to built muscle, increase energy, stamina, and endurance. Improves muscle stiffness and support pro-athletic performance.

* Dieters - Gives your body the blood and tissue oxygen saturation it needs to make any fat burning diet or exercise program work efficiently. When oxygen is scarce carb burns more than fat.

Whoa well! well! That is a lot of benefit I suppose and even people who dont belong to this list can benefit as well. After reading the tarpaulin the nurse called me in a room and led me to a reclining chair.

Their is a mechanical box with plastic oxygen tubes on it. I sit on the reclining chair and the nurse insert the oxygen tubes on my nose. At first I was drowned from the sudden oxygen intake so I asked the nurse to lower the oxygen pump. When I was lying comfortably the nurse leave me for 30 minutes in the quite room.

After the time frame the nurse come in and wake me up. I actually dozed off ahahahha. I ask the nurse about the tubular chamber lying beside me and said its an oxygen therapy machine as well only this time I could actually sleep and I will be using a gas mask for more oxygen intake.

Hmmm I stepped out of the oxygen salon and feel a little bit refreshed. My senses seem to be a little more high cause I can smell all sorts of stuff in the mall since for the last 30 minutes all I am breathing is pure oxygen. I feel also that Im a bit more sharper than usual.

I guess this oxygen therapy work and can do wonders once it is a regular regimen or procedure. I will definitely return for more dives and I will try the oxygen chamber for my self (grins).

Honey Body Polish

2008-12-18T18:26:00.000-08:00

I woke up one Sunday afternoon anticipating a dinner get together with my friends in the evening. I was hoping to look my best and start wondering what other ways to groom to feel super.

I put my clothes on and went to the mall early enough and start looking around for parlor to groom my hair or facial spa to have my face clean. All of a sudden I saw this expensive Body Spa. A customer opened the door and a scent of the wonderful eucalyptus aroma started to give me a high spirit. ( hmmm something new)

I went inside the spa and look what the menu has to offer. Their are an array of facials and massages which are the usual. Then there are body scrubs and nail treatments. The body scrub seems promising because its a whole body treat, so I started paying for the service.

An attendant guided me to a private room with a big bath tub and a shower room where I only see on movies. Huwawwwww talking about total luxury. The price I pay is worth it. Then the attendant told me to take a warm bath on the tub with warm water. She put some essential oils and rose petals on the tub. I basked in this new experience and I was happy with my choice.

After getting wrinkled feet for 20 minutes of bathing , the attendant told me to go to the steam room or in the shower . And their I stayed for almost 10 to 15 minutes while she prepare this large flat bed in the middle of the room.

After the steam bath treatment, I lay flat on my face on the bed and the lady started putting this strange herbs on my body. At first I love it so much because the scent lingers on my nose. Then she put this sticky liquid which I presume is honey. (Pssst honey is known to contain a lot vitamins specially B-vitamins perfect for destressing and detoxyfying). The massage is a bit uncomfortable because the sticky finger my masseurs has cause a bit of a friction.

Then their it is the unexpected torture. She started rubbing vigorously this coarse sea salt on my skin. Arghhhhh I feel newly carved wooden statue being smoothen by sand paper. The worst part of it even if I told her to lessen the rubbing it still is excruciating. I guess its done that way to slough away dead skin cells and salt are known as disinfectant for the skin.

Finally its over. The lady pour milk over my body and massage it for a few more minutes. After that I started taking a bath again on the steam room. I went straight to the dinner I was late because didnt anticipated its gonna be that long.

My friends gasp at my fresh and gleaming skin. They said the usual dull and drawn gray skin I have have lighten up. I was really happy of the praises. But Im hardly happy of that scrubbing session. Well I guess I will be just scheduling this treatment once a month. Hehehe for beauty and sanity's sake. (hehehehe)

Negative Calorie Foods for effortless fat burning

2008-12-18T17:31:00.000-08:00

When I was a much younger boy, I was very fond of eating for vanity. I really love eating vegetables and fruits on a daily basis and I would actually gorge on them. I was very skinny back then and the reason why I eat a lot of veggies and fruits together with my regular meals is to put in some pounds to gain mass.

With that eating habit I never gain a single kilo. I was beginning to wonder is my metabolism that fast because I'm young ( really I eat 5 to 6 meals a day together with the fruits) or at a worst scenario, I may have worms ( arghhh!!!! ). Not really a very good picture I suppose. So I started drinking radish juice ( a known dewormer veggie) on top of my regular fruit and veggies diet. Still no worms coming out. Later on I started drinking combantrin ( a local medication for deworming people). And still no worm.

Then I told my dilemma to a friend of mine and my eating habits. She told me that I'm getting so much veggies and fruits that the fiber and calorie burning activity is keeping me from gaining weight. ( huwatttt!!! this cant be true?)

She told me some of the fruits and veggies im consuming are negative calorie foods. They tend to burn more calories from my body when digested than what they actually contribute. For example the celery Im eating two times a day contributes only 10 calories. But it actually burns 300 calories of my daily consumption. And even if I eat additional servings of fat laden food because I am really full from the fiber it wont help at all.

Hahaha so Im actually losing than gaining. Although I have to say I really like the countenance the fruits and veggies bring to me. My skin seems to be a lot fresh, supple and firm. The fiber make sure also that my abs are more flatter and I could eat till I drop and still gain nothing.

The following are the negative calorie foods list of fruits and vegetables that I used to eat in variety . I eat 5 servings of veggies and 5 of the fruits. Negative Calorie Vegetables are Asparagus, Beet Root, Broccoli, Cabbage, CarrotCauliflower, Celery, Chicory, Hot Chili, Cucumber, Garden cress, GarlicGreen Beans, Lettuce, Onion, Radish, Spinach, Turnip, & Zucchini.

Negative Calorie Fruits that has the same effect with their vegetable counterparts are Apple, Blueberries, Cantaloupe, Cranberry, Grapefruit, Honeydew, Lemon, Lime, Mango, Orange, Papaya, Peach, Pineapple, Raspberry, Strawberry, Tomato, Tangerine, Turnip, and Watermelon.

Their is also a study that I have read that if you are religious enough on eating this diet you may lose a total of 20 pounds in 3 weeks time. Whoa!!! Hmmm I think I will go back to this old habit of mine. I have accumulated large girth because I stopped this diet back in college. I can already see my abs rematerializing again from the blubber I have gained over the years Yahoooooo!!!!

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Third Part

2008-12-15T02:40:00.000-08:00

This is the Final part of the Oxygen Therapy series I have encountered and I will divulge on what can benefited from the said treatment.

After bumming around the oxygen parlor I asked the attendant if their is some sort of literature I can read on what are the detailed benefits of the treatment. She hand me out a piece of paper and I started reading on the perks. The benefits are enumerated as follow:

* Feel better - increase your oxygen level. Promotes healing and counters aging

* More energy - 10% energy comes from water & food, 90% energy comes from oxygen (surprising revelation again)

* Better Sleep - Lessen chronic fatigue syndrome for improved sleeping patterns.

* Natural Pain Relief - Natural remedy from migraines, headaches, and hangovers

* Less Sickness - Strengthens immune system

* Mental Clarity - Heightens concentration, alertness, & memory

* Emotional Well Being - Calms your mind and stabilize nervous system.

* Natural Antibiotic - Kills Infectious bacteria, virus, fungi, parasites, without harming beneficial microorganisms vital to the immune system

* Supplement booster - enhances your body intake of vitamins, minerals, amino acids, proteins, & other essential nutrients. From either natural food sources or from dietary supplements.

* cleanses system - Gives your body the added oxygen it needs to oxidize and eliminate built up toxins and poisons.

* Faster recovery - From Injury, Stress, or strenuous exercises. Improves muscle stiffness

Whew thats a load of benefit from these concentrated oxygen. I asked the lady that I want to try the lounge treatment and experience its first hand. The lady went inside to prepare the area for my treatment. While I wait I look around the store and found another literature printed in tarpaulin that says WHO CAN BENEFIT MOST FROM OXYGEN THERAPY.

My goodness their is more ahhaha. Well well its seem like this is not the final part of our series. Join me again please on the final stage of this experience. I will tell you all about the oxygen therapy at the lounge and then reveal WHO CAN BENEFIT MOST FROM THE OXYGEN THERAPY. Till next issue :D

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Part 2

2008-12-15T02:20:00.000-08:00

This is the 2nd part of my new discovery about Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy most commonly known in acronym as (HBOT). In my last journey I was already inside the parlor and about to engage the attendant about the treatment.

I was welcomed politely by the nurse ask how can she help me. I ask her what’s the treatment all about and what’s the use of this treatment since oxygen is so abundant what need is their for such a treatment.

The attendant said that due to recent pollution we are experiencing in the environment we are inhaling only 21% oxygen in the atmosphere. If I where to submerge myself in one of their chambers or lounge I would be able to inhale 95% pure oxygen.

I was shock for awhile to find out that our atmosphere is that putrid already. So most of the air I breath when I am walking in the street of the city are just plain smog and air borne chemicals. Hmmm what a revelation, the next thing I ask is how much is the treatment and what are the health benefits I would get from it.

The lady told me that treatment starts at P190 per 30 minutes and your are required to dive(the term use for the treatment) for at least 2 sessions in a week. Alright its like having a facial mask treatment. This treatment however is for normal individuals only.

Should I have ailments like diabetes, heart disease, or certain injuries that I am recovering from the dives are more than twice a week. Its like 5 or more depending on the ailment. They do have a package for certain number of dives so that you could pay less as a regular client. (not bad) Prices are available upon request on the store.

They have this regular lounge where you could get the fresh air while you sit and talk in a sofa and there is this tubular chamber where you lie inside for further concentration and relaxation of the treatment (not to mention a little more pricey but its worth it).

(Watch out for the final part of my blog as I expound further on who can benefit from this innovative beauty treatment)

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Part 1

2008-12-15T02:14:00.000-08:00

While I was having one of my mall tours on a Sunday afternoon I was passing by the wellness area of this famous mall in alabang to be more exact Festival Mall. I was looking on the newly opened stores their wellness and most of the stores I have seen are nothing new like the regular parlors, facial store, dental, and dermatology clinics. I was about to leave the vicinity when something very special catch my attention.

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT). Whoa!! What does that mean? Out of curiosity I started reading the articles about the benefits it has given to some of the most famous stars in Hollywood.

First stop is Mr. Keanu Reeves. He is getting HBOT treatment in Beverly Hills to relieve his insomnia. (hmmm ok it aids sleeping)

Second is Madonna. Like fine wine one of the regular beauty treatment she indulge is this treatment (Gasp is this for real its good for beauty too?)

Third is Sylvester Stallone. He is back in the ring as Rocky. His secret in getting back in shape is spending a couple of nights in a hyperbaric chamber to get back his oxygen and to quickly repair from his injuries ( Huwattt its good for exercising as well!!!)

Im about to stepped inside the Oxygen Parlor then I read the final star trivia ,

MICHAEL JACKSON claimed in the 80’s that Hyperbaric Oxygen therapy (HBOT) would help him to live up to be 150 years. (My goodness it’s a key to longevity as well)

If that is not empowering enough I don’t know what will. So I went inside the Parlor and ask on how much this new treatment is and ask a few question myself.

I waited for the attendant which seems like a nurse to come out from her station and it seems like she is giving a treatment to a patient. (Not bad I suppose to think nurses handle the procedure).

Watch out for the part two of this article as I discuss further my inquiries about these procedure.

Stair Climbing For Weight Loss

2008-12-03T08:04:00.000-08:00

In my quest for a greater pay, I worked nightshifts for a call center which usually gives almost twice as much the salary compared to regular day jobs. My shift usually starts around 10:00 to 11:00 at night and ends by early morning.

Most of the time I just sit and make calls. Sometimes I would go to meetings and attend call calibrations or seminars with regards to my department.

Because of these, my hormones started fluctuating and I developed food cravings at night. Of course, my eating pattern also turned upside down. My breakfast starts at 7:00PM, lunch at 2:00AM and dinner is served before I go home at 6:00 in the morning.

It's a given fact that our bodies have low metabolic rates during the night because it's the time when it supposedly repairs itself. For this same reason is my body having a hard time digesting.

As a result, I gained weight and in addition, I became a bit more sedentary because I'm tired most of the time.

OMG!!! I have to find a way to stop my girth explosion!

Due to time constraints, I find it hard to have a descent schedule to workout or exercise. But that doesn't stop me from finding resources to halt my advancing weight.

One of the things I noticed in my office is that we have plenty of stairs and elevators. I remembered one time when I walked from the basement up to the 5th floor because the elevator broke down. I was catching my breath and had a little sweat. This lead me to research about the advantages of climbing stairs.

Stair climbing is actually major calorie burner. Stair climbing for 15 to 20 minutes will make you lose 140 calories or more depending on the intensity. Not bad especially if you like running errands at the office. And since this is an activity that involves mostly your lower body, it's a great way to tone your butt and thighs.

Thus, now, I use the stairs most of the time to go to my office floor - which by a happy coincidence is the topmost floor in our building!

Although this is not enough to lose my gut, it is however a great aid in losing weight specially when you are at the workplace.

Watch out for my article next week on exercises you can do while in the office. I'm sure it would help you a lot to maintain that lovely figure even if you are at your work place.

Surviving Gym Boredom To Stay Fit

2008-11-25T00:57:00.000-08:00

During my younger years, I was so overweight that I can hardly run together with my friends. I was weighing 165 lbs at 5’6 . Its so embarrassing that one time I accidentally tripped on the floor because I lost balance while dancing in a disco club. Thank goodness we went to that bar on a Tuesday night with my bestfriends and the crowd is scarce.

I used that moment as a catalyst to fire my desire to shed some pounds off my body. The next thing I knew - I’m signing up for a club membership at our local community gym.

My enthusiasm is so overwhelming I went straight to the cardio machines after I enrolled. I tried everything from the treadmill to the strair climbers and sweat till I dropped. My overeager attitude lasted for 2 weeks till I find everything tedious.

Ahhhhhh!!!!! I hit the common boredom most gym goers experience.

I stopped going to the gym for 3 days, then like a recurring nightmare I remembered that dreadful night at the club. I went back to the gym and look around for other means to loosen my gut.

I passed by the aerobics room and looked at the class schedule. To my amazement there are like 10 different classes of dancing and group exercise and that's not even including the stretching classes.

For a month I tried all those classes, sometimes I even did two consecutive classes so I can sweat like loco. I was so happy that I immediately lost 10 lbs in 6 weeks. I did the aerobics thing on a daily basis and tried all the variety of exercises the gym has to offer.

Ten weeks later I lost a total of 16 pounds and I'm so happy that I'm no longer experiencing shortness of breath and my skin is getting that clear healthy natural glow. Without boasting I lost all those pounds without even trying to diet.

Then boredom start knocking on my door once more.

Hmmmm, I got to find a way to sustain my figure. So once again I started my usual field trip around the gym hoping to meet inspiration once more. Then there it is the bulletin board.

They have a list of these Sports Group inviting new members. I joined the Badminton Club, Wushu Class, and the Synchronized Swimming (kidding - hahahaha). There is still a host of other sports I haven't enrolled yet but I'm saving them for last or to be more honest until I get bored again.

I lost a lot of weight after my sports addiction and gained friends. These same friends helped me along the way to keep my momentum. They have given me advise on what other things to enjoy going to the gym to stay fit.

Surviving gym boredom is not easy and I have to say it requires diversity in the activities you do there.

As much as possible enjoy the process so it would look like a recreational activity rather than a chore. Stay out in a rut routine because before you know it you might find yourself going back to your old habits of a sedentary life and the occasional falling flat on your face.

Beauty Movie Review : The House Bunny

2008-11-25T00:39:00.000-08:00

It was one of those ordinary weekends when I decided to go out with my close friends to hang out on the mall. It’s been awhile since I watched a movie so we decided to see what’s showing on the cinemas.

Of course there are those highly advertised movies like High School Musical 3 and Max Payne that came first in mind. Lines where long so we decided to watch the movie with least people. Then there is this peculiar movie "The House Bunny".

The movie star from this flick is Anna Farris, a comedienne from the famed comedy "Scary Movie". She played the role of Shelley Darlington a Playboy Model. As we read on the short literature about the movie, it's kinda interesting because of its unique plot.

It's about the story of Playboy Bunny who got kicked out of their Mansion because of a plotting envious Co-Bunny. Then in her search for a new home she came across a sorority of losers but who turns out to be smart and nice individuals.

The sorority is about to lose their Charter and their House if they will not be able to have pledges and get to attract both guys and girls to mingle with them. With the help of Shelley, the girls are able to keep their Sorority by turning themselves into Hot Vixens from their Nerdy selves and in the process retain their individuality.
For some people they may find it shallow that in order to get attention and popularity you have to be someone who is beautiful. But the truth is most people who are popular and famous are beautiful first.

Of course it does matter to have an individuality or a brain to boot but people don’t know that by just looking at you. In a way you have to lure them to get to know you more by attracting them. It’s not like I'm not giving credit to Brains and Right attitude but that quality follows after the beauty part.

After becoming beautiful comes the hard part. Beauty can only enchant a person for so long but what keeps people entangled further is what you truly are. The contents of your head, your interests and your other talents gets in the picture of the situation.

People who wants to be in a relationship with you be it for friendship or love wants somebody who share a common goal or affinity. Suffice to say Beauty is a tool that can open the doors to a lot of possibilities for you.

In the movie, Shelley do give some advices to the Sorority about feeling good about themselves and becoming beautiful by your own right. Not all the girls are pretty in the movie but with enough shopping, makeovers, and some habit changes the girls are able to gain their confidence and are able to project that seductive aura and radiate it to others.

Beauty does not come only from being genetically gifted but it can come from within. It’s about being comfortable of what you are and the way you carry yourself. So to make that happen you have to be really comfortable with yourself by pampering yourself and giving it the attention it deserves without getting narcissistic.

Dairy & Soy Milk for Perfect Curves

2008-10-30T19:09:00.000-07:00

I was visiting a friend of mine who lives in a nearby town during the weekend when I chance upon her husband who just arrive from the States. The guy was a foreigner who stand 6 feet tall and with good stature. But what I find funny is that my friend who stand only 5 feet is helping her husband to walk.

I ask my friend what is wrong with her husband and why is she guiding him in walking. My friend whispered that her husband has weak knees. The husband often laments and wonders why he had weak knees despite the fact that he's a fanatic of drinking milk, which means he gets a lot of calcium. I wondered myself what could be the cause of the malady.

Lunch came, and my friend laid down all sorts of barbecue and delicious meat viands and rice to match. I asked my friend if is there's a feast because she is serving around 3 dishes for our meal. My friend said that her husband likes an assortment of dishes when eating and that's why she cooked a lot.

Then like a bright bulb - the answer hit my head. I remember talking to a health buff at my gym and he advised me to always keep a good balance between protein and calcium because they have adverse effects towards each other.

The husband loves eating protein so much. He eats it, and drinks it at the same time in the form of milk. Too much protein is not good for calcium because it depletes it. The fact is, taking more protein than your body needs causes your blood to be acidic, which causes the kidney to neutralize the acidity by throwing calcium out of the body.

Yikes!!! How am I supposed to grow beautiful when in fact I love drinking milk too; and likewise I love eating a hefty serving of protein during my meals. If additional protein intake would cause my bones to weaken due to the lack of calcium supply then how would I look beautiful and not look like a walking Question Mark.

Thankfully, the health buff gym buddy provided some answers. He advises to take one gram of protein per kilogram of my body weight. Although this is not an exact science but anything that goes beyond twice as much the prescribed consumption is considered an overdose.

Like most things - balance is a necessity. Same goes for taking in protein from meat and veggies. Yes, there are different opinions that claim meat is better over vegetables as a protein source. Some even say that milk can cause diseases because cows nowadays have been injected of hormones to enhance their growth. Not to mention being fed with grass that has pesticide. Meanwhile, others says that vegetables also has insecticides and the source itself is not complete to replace meat protein.

Quite confusing...

Nevertheless, my advice, just keep a good balance for both meat and vegetables. Be sure that you get your food from clean and quality sources. I believe that moderation has always been the key to maximizing the health benefits of food.

How to Become Gorgeous with Stress

2008-10-24T18:20:00.000-07:00

There comes a point in my life that I have personal problems - love, family and other similar circumstances that could affect my emotions. I have tried different methods to forget them or dislodge that bad feeling.

These are the moments when I am in A State of Depression or Stress. As a result I have developed certain practices that one way or another seem to do a little bit more harm than good. Though its not easy to stop wallowing in self pity I would like to suggest to include a Beauty Habit with the following situations so you wont come out totally defeated once you realize that LIFE GOES ON and what a mess you have made of your self.

Situation # 1 - Sulking ( or staying a prisoner of your own home )
Yes this is very common to most people who refuse to face the reality of the situation. Most of us would rather lock themselves up in the house, watch television and sleep all day long.

Remember your problems wont go away unless you accept their existence and decide you want to be a hermit for sometime. Ok, so you beg to differ and say "it's really not that easy to move on." Alright, but I do suggest to take this as an opportunity for you to go into a state of Metamorphosis.

While sulking you tend to stay in the house and sleep a lot. While hibernating, I suggest that you slather a lot of beauty creams into your face both night time and day time and clean it religiously until you fall asleep again. So every time that you wake up you are pretty sure there is one thing in your life that is clearing up - which is your Face.

Situation # 2 - Lack of Appetite
There is also the tendency for you not to eat much. People completely disregard their meals and just stare blankly at nothing. That won't help either. So if it's hard for you to eat solid food cause its a bit tedious for the moment - ask the househelp to blend fruits and vegetables and go on a detox diet.

Yes, just one glass of a concentrated all natural drink would do the trick three times a day. A Detox Diet would be perfect during occasions when all you want to do is stare blankly at the wall or at the stars recalling all COULD'VE BEENS or WHAT IF'S.

By the moment you decided that there is no turning back time, you will discover that time indeed have turn back a little bit. A liquid detox diet of fruit, vegetables, and tea can bring a wonderful healthy glow even if it's just 3 days of fasting. But I don't encourage you to go back staring blankly hoping that you can get a bit prettier by doing so.

Situation # 3 - Violent Tendencies
Some of us tend to blame other people or become volatile when dealing with depression. At some point, our anger will cause us to be physical with the people around us. Not a very reasonable style to cope with your the problem.

You will keep people away if you continue doing this. What I suggest is that if you want to lash out all you want - then enroll in a boxing class. Yes, this class allows you to hit a punching bag and at the same time sweat out.

Every time you hit the punching bag you can shout as much as you want and you can hit it without fear of hurting anybody. A great way to release your emotions while getting that endorphins (a feel good hormone produced by exercise). By the time you are over the problem - your body would have evolved to something sexier and your mood is better. Remember to go regularly, regardless of how you're feeling - aggressive or passive.

Situation # 4 - Pigging Out
Other people cope with stress by over indulging with the food they want. Yes, it's better compared to the three other situations mentioned above but you are just putting more calories to your body and in turn, you are putting on weight.

People feel more depressed when they found out that they have grown an additional waist or chin, much worst created canckles (fusion of ankles and calves). Talk about really low self esteem.

Since you can't help eating out I would recommend that you go eating in a Seafood Restaurant. Gorge on white meat like fish because compared to red meats they don't stick around your digestive organs for days causing your tummy to bulge.

To suppress your appetite before pigging out, eat a big helping of fruits and vegetables so you will feel full and lessen your craving of putting in more junk. The great thing about Fruits and Veggies is, YOU CAN EAT ALL YOU WANT AND YOU WONT GET FAT - now where else can you go for a meal like that?

That's it. I hope that you would try this beauty techniques when dealing with your regular stress and depression, and hopefully they may help as well to get your self-esteem back. Sure some of the methods would require a little bit of will power but then again they can help you to get back on your feet.

Red Lips for Dummies or Not

2008-10-23T19:18:00.000-07:00

During my teenage days I have discovered that there is more than one way to put a red color to my lips so I can pucker in front of the mirror. Of course their are those conventional ways like the common lipstick, lip shimmer and lip gloss. They have their own purpose and variety.

But during my trials I was able to come across these peculiar methods. Yes, they're unconventional but I can guarantee they can put that red tint in your lips, if that is your main objective. If you're ready to try these techniques, I would recommended this rarely. Maybe so rare that I suggest you try them on the event that you have forgotten to buy your regular lip color from the supermarket or you are so out of budget. This things I believe are readily available around the corner. Hehehehe!(Grins)

Tip #1 Candies or Chewing Gum with Heavy Red Coating

If you would recall during your childhood days, there are those candies and chewing gum that have strong food colors that once you start putting them in your mouth the coating of the candy starts to melt. The red food color start sticking on your tongue after a minute or so they got wet with your saliva. The procedure is simple once the color starts leaving the candy get the candy and starts applying the remaining food color to your lips.

Now this quick fix doesn't have a long staying power on your lips. It may last only for an hour or less, or until your lips run dry and you start licking it with your tongue. So the next time you went to the grocery try to make it a point to go the confectionery section. This is the perfect lip color if you have intentions of snogging or kissing your partner and you want to end up with a fresh breath, and your partner craving more of your lips. :)

Tip# 2 Merthiolate Tincture

Hahaha! Totally out of this world. I've discovered this method through our maid. I always wondered why her lips have a faint red color that doesn't look like lipstick. I accidentally passed by her room one time and saw her applying the tincture directly on her lips.

I asked her does she have a cut or a bruise on her lips cause I know this tincture is used as an antiseptic for wounds. She told me she doesn't have any wounds from her lips but the tincture is perfect on acquiring the red shade she desires and it can last for hours. I have hesitations of recommending this product because it may be toxic once you smack your lips and get to swallow it in the process. But since I have news that our old maid is still alive up until now I assume it may not be that hazardous.

I do suggest this as temporary lipstick if ever you have some cuts on your lips as a result of chapping or too much drying. Or better yet try this only if the situation calls for an instant fix on a much rarer situation than the candy.

Tip #3 Toothpaste

Oh yes!! Something that is really present in your household unless your parents are conservative and believe it's still okay to brush your teeth with only salt to disinfect the gums and a dash of baking soda to whiten your teeth. This technique I inherited from one of my teenage friends and swear by its effect but forgot to divulge the side effects.

She told me to apply toothpaste over my lips before I sleep generous amounts of white toothpaste that leave a cold sensation. I must let it stay overnight and remove it only after I wake up in the morning. For vanity's sake I tried it. I was both curious and excited to see the results in the morning so I rush to the bathroom to wash the toothpaste off.

Well! Well! Yes, my lips indeed are pinkish red both upper and lower lips. But wait??!!! What is this stinging sensation. Oh no my lips seem to be slightly burnt. I don't know why did the toothpaste have that effect on my lips. Indeed for 2 to 3 days my lips are red and people are wondering why. And then the side effects.

After those glorious 3 days my lips started chapping and peeling. Argghhh and much worse it blackened a bit more than usual. I can say this procedure is only recommended if you want to go out with red lips during Mondays and Tuesdays and want to stay inside the house from Wednesday up to Sunday due to excessive peeling. Wahhahaha!

There you have it. Red lips wherever and whenever. With or without budget. The decision is up to you. Whatever your choice is, make sure you made it for the right occasion. :)

Beautiful Breakfast Drink

2008-10-21T19:27:00.000-07:00

When I wake up in the morning, I'm sometimes cranky and lack energy specially when I didn't get enough Zzzz's . So what I usually do before I go to work is to drop by my favorite coffee shop and get a big serving of my favorite hot drink usually flavored with vanilla and chocolate.

All these years I always thought that there is nothing wrong on getting my morning mood booster from something sweet. Sometimes the regular indulgence caused me to get sugar crashes that's why I limit myself to no more than one large cup in the morning.

Then while I was browsing over a magazine. In there, I read an article from a renowned doctor in the field of cosmeceuticals, Dr. Perricone. He says that sugar toxicity can cause accelerated aging.
I almost stopped drinking my beverage upon reading the article. Knowing that my drink is not sugar free and there is that nagging question in my head that the body can't function without sugar. I really had a lot of contrasting thoughts with this new founding.

According to the article, sugar, if consumed regularly in high quantities can actually cause inflammation to the cell membranes. They attach to the collagen which is the natural cementing substance of the skin and cause them to cross link with each other. With this process being accelerated with each consumption of sugar causes faster skin wrinkling. Oh my gosh!!

I instantly asked the counter if they have sugar-free drinks and to my delight they do. I ordered the new drink on my next visit and to my surprise the sugar-free drink is also fat-free. Wow that's a double win!!! Sexy and wrinkle free. :)

Of course its impossible to avoid sugar completely but reducing the consumption can lessen the risk of early wrinkling. Sugar is not bad at all because your body needs it to function. The article simply says to just get your sugar from fruits and vegetables.

To make your breakfast drink most beneficial - try telling the counter to mix either skim milk or better yet, soy milk. You'll get lesser fat which is another contributing factor to wrinkling. This is because soy milk contains natural isoflavones which is an antioxidant that fights cancer. Yet another reason to say CHEERS in the morning!!! :)

Coco Milk for Shiny Locks

2008-10-14T21:25:00.001-07:00

I remember during the days when I run errands for my Mom we use to make this delicious cassava cake. I go early to the market place and buy the ingredients as early 5:00 am and pick only the best ingredients to make this cake.

We make all varieties of cassava cakes like those with langka, buko and a variety with double icing on the cake. The icing is composed mainly of coconut milk, milk, cheese, and butter. This tedious but lucrative routine made me wonder if there might be something else I can do with the time when I go to the market to make it more worthwhile.

While I was buying for the coconut shaving which I use to make the cakes, one of the lady peddler made a comment with her co-peddler sitting beside her who is incessantly combs her hair.

"Hey you know what I am so amazed by your dark black healthy hair. Despite your age, it doesn't seem to lose its luster."

The lady peddler with the flowing black mane is quick to reply with the flattery and instantly said "Well it's my grandmother's advice to me. If I want to maintain a healthy lock you must constantly wash your hair with coconut milk."

With that reply I instantly asked the lady peddler what are the procedures for these regimen to work. She told me that all I have to do is buy coconut shaving and dilute it with water. Afterwards, squeeze out the milky juice and use it as a pre wash to your hair everytime you take a bath or on a regular interval weekly.

Finally!! something to make my trip to the market worthwhile. I told the coconut peddler to increase the quantity of my purchase and headed home quickly.

Upon arriving home I immediately follow the instructions of the peddler on how to extract the juice and proceed to the bathroom and take a bath to take the sweat out of my body from my market excursion. After washing my hair with coconut milk, I notice something.

ARGGHHH!!!! I smelled like the cassava cake I am cooking. I washed my hair with a very fragrant shampoo but NO! I still smell like the cakes.

And you know what!?! It sticks around like hell, I repeated the process and finally, the coconut scent has diminished. After the shampoo I used a conditioner to further condition my hair and put more perfume.

MOMENT OF TRUTH. I was drying my hair and noticed that my hair is more smooth and soft to the touch. Of course there is that faint scent of the coconut to add to the usual scent of my shampoo. Hmmm, I am really amazed.

I read a book about coconuts and found out that its milk contains Lauric Acid. A component of coconut that is antibacterial and anti-viral. Wow, it's very good for controlling dandruff too!

Recent studies show that compared to other oils used for the hair, coconut oil is more easily absorbed by the hair shaft which acts as a laminating film. With this edge, coconut milk is able to reduce damage to the hair and prevents protein loss. Which explains why the lady peddler had a very healthy hair.

Im so glad I've discovered this beauty secret. Makes me look forward shopping at the market place. Now if there is only a way to avoid the regular smelly alley's. (Hehehe, incessantly complaining still) :D

Tea Tree Oil Toothpaste

2008-10-13T02:01:00.000-07:00

I was walking inside the mall doing my usual "mall rat" routine when I chanced upon this Health Shop. The store was filled with unbelievable products. I saw all the healthy stuff I usually look out for - from food, books, supplements and personal care.

While window shopping for the best buys at the Personal Care section, something caught my attention - a TEA TREE OIL TOOTHPASTE!

Whoa! I have heard of Tea Tree Oil many times before as an ingredient included in astringents and other assortment of beauty products but not on toothpaste.

I have this occasional gum bleeding problem and the product I'm using is effective enough. I use it twice a day when I brush my teeth. When I examined the package of the Tea Tree Oil Toothpaste and found nothing but the ingredients written on it, I ask the sales lady about the product and she told me its good for bleeding gums too.

I looked at the package and it made no claim to such, but the sales lady said a lot of their clients buy it because it works for them. The price cost twice as much compared to my regular toothpaste but no amount of skepticism could stop me from buying it since I like the contents of the product.

This product contains Fennel which is an oil with pain reducing properties - perfect for sensitive gums like mine. It also contains baking soda. Baking soda have been widely used as a mouthwash as well and it has teeth whitening properties when it cleans.

The most promising ingredient though is the Tea Tree Oil. Tea Tree oil has inherent antiseptic properties that fight bacteria which can be good for my sensitive gums. It's currently being used to treat Oral Candidiasis, an inflammation of the gums commonly seen on people living with AIDS.

So without hesitation I bought the tube and used it daily like my Rx brand. I found out that it produces the same effect. Only this time I noticed that my breath is fresher. Another thing I noticed is that my regular vomiting when brushing my teeth have been reduced. My stomach is sensitive to regular toothpaste. :(

There is one problem though - no Fluoride on this product. Which means I have to consume Calcium if I am to get further nourishment for my teeth. But then again, there's a lot of myth and issues against Fluoride.

Some say that it can cause instant death on over consumption while some claims that it actually cause more harm to the tooth enamel than good. So for those skeptics about Fluoride this is a plus on this product.

Overall, the product is okay, even for those who don't have bleeding gums. Since the general idea is to freshen breath and kill most bacteria in our mouth, I think the product have achieved that as a toothpaste.

I'm about to rest my case about the price but when went back to the Health Shop to buy another tube I found out their is also Tea Tree Oil mouthwash, dental floss and tooth picks. I guess that will be another story. :)

Fruity Pinkish Flush

2008-10-07T08:26:00.000-07:00

On my first article I would like to talk about something every boy and girl would probably like. Something that would make an ordinary skin look great. Something that could make a head turner out of you. A clear sign that simply say you could be in great condition. It's none other than a skin in the pink of health.

Have you ever wondered why some people got that great countenance brought about by healthy pinkish skin. It maybe genetics for some but what if you could have that same asset? What if you could leave the house without make up all of a sudden because your boss calls you or for whatever emergency that may arise? Ain't it wonderful to step out of the bed knowing with no fuss you look great.

Okay, enough about daydreaming and let's work on that coveted pinkish hue. I will divulge one of the first techniques I have personally experienced and will vouch on the actual results. This procedure is not the only path to achieve a pinkish skin but its one of the fastest and most natural way.

Drink a glass of tomato juice everyday!

Hahaha! The first reaction of my friends when i suggested this is "NOT IN A MILLION YEARS." At first I thought when I was drinking it, I'm gulping down spaghetti sauce minus the cheese and meat. Not a very pleasant experience though without the pasta too but like some food - you could actually gain that acquired taste over time through regular consumption (like wasabi, raw blue cheese, etc)

A variant in drinking this beauty potion is mixing it with lemon juice to add some kick on the benefits. The time it took me chugging this wonderful concoction is three weeks.

After this time frame you will notice the pinkish flush I told you. By then you will be more than willing to include this fruit juice to your daily diet.

You may wonder why is this miracle achieved?

Tomato juice contains lycopene, a naturally occurring substance in your skin found in small amounts. Lycopene also plays a role in the pigmentation of the skin which may be the reason why we get the flush when regularly consuming this beauty food.

No adverse effects have been reported on over consumption but like most things, we should do it in moderation. With regards to the taste, just think of it as something like exercise - no pain, no gain! :)