GIVEAWAY CLOSED!

If you follow this blog, you’ll know that I am a strong believer that yoga has many benefits. So, when I was offered to run a giveaway on my site for Hyp-Yoga’s 6-Week Weight Loss DVD Program, I jumped at the chance. However, I must disclose here that I have personally not tried out this DVD.

Here’s an excerpt of what  Hyp-Yoga is all about:

Founded by three women from three different generations, all of whom are certified hypnotherapists and yoga instructors, Hyp-Yoga is designed to help individuals improve their lives, no matter what their fitness or yoga experience. Hyp-Yoga sessions feature expansive full-body poses and deep breathwork, opening up the body and calming the mind, making the gentle hypnosis that follows incredibly effective. When practitioners learn how to open up their subconscious mind to helpful and beneficial suggestions, there is unlimited potential for positive improvement and behavioral changes.

Hyp-Yoga is the next generation of mind-body wellness programs, and combines the proven benefits of yoga and hypnosis to help align the mind with the body and its behaviors. Yoga, which literally means union, brings together and opens up the body and mind. Hypnosis, a natural state of heightened awareness, taps into this relaxed state and uses 100% of the mind, as opposed to the 10% regularly used on a daily basis, to create habits, positive affirmations and behavioral change.

BUY IT : The 6-Week Weight Loss DVD Program ($39.99) is based on the idea that if you change your mind, you can change your body. While most diets and exercise programs rely solely on willpower, which eventually fades as you become exhausted, Hyp-Yoga taps into the power of the subconscious mind and helps participants connect to actual behaviors. It  includes guided yoga sessions followed by hypnosis, as well as tips and tricks to help change behaviors, a nutrition guide, and a yoga poses poster.

WIN IT : Thanks to Hyp-Yoga, who has kindly sponsored two copies of the above DVD, I will be giving them away to two lucky readers. Here’s what you need to do:

• One mandatory entry – Visit www.hyp-yoga.com and “name the founders of Hyp Yoga. Please  leave your answer in our comment section in this post.
• Two additional entries – If you tweet this giveaway (please leave your twitter id)
• Five additional entries – If you blog about this giveaway with a link back to this post (please leave your post url)
• Giveaway is open to US shipping addresses only and closes on 19th October 2009.
• A winner will be picked using Random.org. Remember to subscribe so that you will be updated with the contest result.

What is acne?

Acne or acne vulgaris is one type of skin disease that often targets the facial area but can also break out on the neck, back and shoulders. Acne develops when sebaceous glands and hair follicle lining are overworked. This causes the follicle to be clogged. If this happens, cells and sebum can accumulate and form a “plug”. When a plug is closed it forms a whitehead. On the other hand, blackhead forms when the plug is open.

Blackheads and white heads can eventually lead to acne.

What causes acne?

Acne can be caused by a lot of things. It often occurs during adolescent stage. It can be hereditary, especially with the case of severe acne. It can also be caused by poor hygiene and imbalanced or improper diet. There are also environmental factors that can cause acne such as dirt and pollution.

Acne treatments

There are many acne treatment products that you can buy over the counter. These include non-prescription treatments like products with sulphur, benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid and resorcinol.

You can also consult with your dermatologist if you have severe acne. Your doctor can prescribe you topical treatments like retinoid or give your antibiotics. You can also take oral medicine and hormonal medications.

How to prevent acne

A good hygiene can help you prevent acne. Make it a point to wash and clean your face before your sleep and when you wake up in the morning. Wash your face after being exposed to dirt and pollution. You can also use anti-acne products that are readily available in the market.

As the bun become the new fall trend, why not mix it up with a funky twist. Philip Pelusi and his Tela design team, created a sexy, chic look for over thirty models at the Kati Stern’s Venexiana Mercedes Benz fashion week show.

• Wanna try this look? Below are step by step tips to create this great look- perfect for a night out or the office.
• Make a side part and take three inches of the hair closest to the front and pin to the side.
• Take another three inches from the crown of the head, right behind the section of hair you just marked off and pin that to the side as well.
• You should be left with two sections of hair on both sides of your head.
• Take the hair from the right section, and twist hair into a low ponytail, you should go from your temple to the nape of your neck.
• Take the hair from the left section, and do the same but make sure you keep hair on an angle.
• You should be left with 2 “rolls” on each side of you head.
• With the hair in the low ponytail, you should coil pieces together and allow them to fold into each other, just use pins to hold hair in place.
• Take the top section from the crown of your head and twist that piece loosely like a rope and pin it to your head.
• Take the last section of hair and fold the hair into the rolls with your finger and pin all loose pieces with your finger.

Yoga is increasing its popularity, especially to women who want to stay fit and healthy. Yoga does not only help in improving one’s physical outlook but it can also bring peace of mind. Here are some benefits that women can get from yoga:

Improves flexibility

Yoga workouts require you to do exercises in different positions. These positions can help you in exercising your body joints and doing so increases your flexibility. Different yoga positions also increase lubrication of your body’s tendons, joints and ligaments.

Tones the muscles

Our muscles can sometimes be weak and loose. Yoga is an effective tool in toning the muscles. It can also help in getting rid of excess flab and fats with regular workout.

Massages body organ

If you don’t’ think that this is possible, it is- with yoga. Yoga workouts can actually massage your body organ including your internal glands, and even the prostate.

Aides in detoxification

If you are in a detox diet and you want o flush out unwanted toxins and harmful substances in your body, yoga is a good way to complete you detoxification efforts. Yoga stretches your muscles and joints to ensure a good flow of blood in different parts of your body. As such, this can help in flushing out unwanted toxins in your body and improve nourishment.

Anti-aging

Because yoga can help in the detoxification process, it can also help in delaying the signs of ageing. It can also give you the energy and stamina to last you throughout the day.

If you think that yoga is your usual exercise regimen, think again. It has a number of health benefits that you can take advantage of. So if you want to tone up and be healthy, get into yoga today!

She is a talented actress, a sex symbol and winner of some of the most prestigious awards for acting. Love her or hate her (really?) but you have to admit that Jessica Alba sure knows how to look amazingly stylish and sophisticated at all times. So much so that she is one of the most idolized female celebrities in the world. So if you want to get her trademark look and get with it, here are a few valuable tips!

• Everyday look: Jessica goes for fresh and natural make up for everyday wear. The feel is light and airy – very attractive.
• Cleanse and moisturize facial skin and add a fine, thin layer of fresh foundation with your fingertips. Rub it outwards, away from the centre of the face and towards the hairline.
• Lightly dab concealer over visible spots, but be very sheer with the application and follow up by rubbing the concealer in with the rest of the face colour. Blend in well. This is the key.
• Use a cream bronzer on a stiff brush to enhance the fresh glow on the face. Blend in for a polished look.
• Apply translucent powder in a sheer puff and blow away any extra bit.
• A sheer pink blush on the cheeks and a neutral cream eye shadow towards the centre of the lids completes the skin routine.
• Nude lip colours add to the natural touch.
• A good coat of mascara completes the look! Do not curl lashes though.

In celebration of its 250th episode, TLC’s WHAT NOT TO WEAR is going on a nationwide search for the Worst Dressed American. For the very first time in the history of the show, viewers will be in charge of nominating the worst fashion victim ever.

Mirroring a typical WHAT NOT TO WEAR episode, Stacy and Clinton will visit the chosen victim’s hometown and interview her loved ones. But with an ambush on a much grander scale and a makeover like no other, the overall transformation for this victim will be the most dramatic one viewers have ever seen on the show. WHAT NOT TO WEAR will mark this very special milestone in January 2010.

TLC is still accepting nominations. If you (or someone close) seriously needs some fashion advice and help, you can get more details about the contest here. Please note that September 25th is the closing date.

So you are a foodie looking to get into a more acceptable shape than ‘round’? Think dieting is your stumbling block on the way to weight loss? Hate the thought of depriving yourself of your favourite foods? Well then, you better keep reading, because we are going to tell you just how you can lose weight and still enjoy all your favourite foods!

• EXERCISE. Not only does exercise burn up stored fat and calories, it also revs up your metabolism so that the body burns fat at a faster rate throughout the day. Go for aerobics and cardiovascular exercises like swimming, running, jogging, cycling and power walking for fat loss.
• Strength training ensures that you tone your muscles, which again revs up metabolism and makes your body burn calories even at rest.
• Eat all of your favourite foods, but just reduce the amount that you eat. Use smaller spoons and plates.
• Share your favourite treats with friends for a win win situation: you make others happy, you get to eat your favourite snack, and you eat less of it without realizing it.
• Do not eat while watching TV, reading or simultaneously with any other activity. People do not realize what and how much they are shoving into their mouths when their minds are busy elsewhere. If you concentrate on the food, you will feel fuller faster without eating too much.
• Chew more and eat slowly. You will feel fuller with smaller portions.

GIVEAWAY CLOSED!

The majority of women who are trying to lose weight look for healthy, convenient, delicious and cheap diets. Unfortunately, most nutrition plans leave dieters feeling hungry, depressed and frustrated when they do not see immediate results. Thus, just like fashion and beauty, everyone wants to know what is the next “hot” thing in weight loss and health.

Sunset Health Products, Inc. is proud to introduce a variety of diet products that is not only effective in helping to shed pounds, but is healthy, safe and will leave women feeling satisfied throughout the day. Now, you can have that beautiful physique too!

The Hollywood Cookie Diet® offers dieters the chance to eat delicious cookies, while still maintaining a sensible diet and staying full longer. A woman on The Hollywood Cookie Diet®, simply eats a cookie (a variety of flavors are available) for breakfast, lunch and as two snacks throughout the day. The website offers sensible recipe choices for dinner. The beauty of this diet is it relieves hunger (each cookie contains approximately 150 calories and necessary nutrients for the day) while helping women lose weight. People can stay on the diet for as short or long as they choose—until they reach their weight loss goal. Cookie choices include chocolate chip, oatmeal raisin, and lemon or the variety pack for just $19.95 a box. With 12 cookies in each box, The Hollywood Cookie Diet® offers 3 days of meal-replacement, which is less than $2.00 per serving. Also, in these busy times, it is perfect for meals on the go—with life moving so fast these days, eating well has taken a back seat to other things. Over 3 million cookies have been eaten .

BUY IT : The Hollywood Cookie Diet are available at Walmart, Rite Aid and Walgreens. The Hollywood Cookie Diet® has appeared in publications such as InTouch Magazine, OK Magazine and on programs such as “The Early Show” and the NBC television program, “Lipstick Jungle.” For more information, you can visit http://hollywooddietstore.com

WIN IT : Thanks to Hollywood Diet Store, I’m giving away two boxes of The Hollywood Cookie Diet® each to two lucky readers. All you need to do is:

• One mandatory entry – Visit www.hollywooddietstore.com and “name three ingredients in The Hollywood Cookie Diet. Please  leave your answer in our comment section in this post.
• Two additional entries – If you tweet this giveaway (please leave your twitter id)
• Five additional entries – If you blog about this giveaway with a link back to this post (please leave your post url)
• Giveaway is open to US shipping addresses only and closes on 3rd September 2009.
• A winner will be picked using Random.org. Remember to subscribe so that you will be updated with the contest result.

Since more women than ever are being diagnosed with breast cancer, it makes  this story particularly important to be shared with every one of you today.

New York, NY (July 28, 2009) – According to the American Cancer Society a staggering 70 percent of women eligible for breast reconstruction forgo it simply because they are unaware of their options. This glaring oversight leaves the roughly 250,000 American women who each year battle breast cancer uninformed about what’s often considered the finishing touch of a treatment plan.

New York City board certified plastic surgeon Dr. Thomas Sterry says that even though women feel scared after receiving a breast cancer diagnosis and overwhelmed by the treatment that lies ahead, neglecting to discuss reconstruction options serves only to limit her.

“Nearly all the breast cancer patients I work with for reconstruction tell me they were concerned early on about how their treatment would impact their physical appearance, but that those concerns weren’t addressed,” says Dr. Sterry. “The trauma of her battle with breast cancer will be with her always and so will some of the scars, but there is great technology today that makes it possible for pretty much every patient to expect a pleasing aesthetic result after breast reconstruction and it’s important that every patient be educated about it.”

Breast Advice
There are many options for breast reconstruction. Because multiple factors – including the method of treatment, the style of mastectomy, and certain characteristics of each individual patient -determine which option is best, the most successful outcome results when a plastic surgeon is included on the treatment team from the beginning.

“Most breast cancer patients tell me they feel deformed by their treatment, sometimes even comparing themselves to Humpty Dumpty,” says Dr. Sterry, “They feel that after this traumatic ordeal they’re left in pieces and are relieved to learn how they can restore their body to a shape they associate with femininity and health.”

According to Dr. Sterry there are some basic terms associated with breast reconstruction that all patients should be aware of including expanders and autologous reconstruction. Dr. Sterry advises all women to also learn about up-and-coming procedures, including those that use tissue matrices and alternatives to mastectomies also known as oncoplastic surgery, which he believes will eventually dominate the field.

Not your mother’s breast reconstruction: One of the most common complaints about reconstructed breasts is that they more closely resemble “mounds” rather than natural breasts. It has long been accepted that reconstructed breasts are meant to allow women to better wear clothing, including bathing suits, after mastectomy but exciting advances have made it possible for plastic surgeons to more closely replicate a true breast.

• Tissue Matrices like AlloDerm and Strattice have proven vital in enabling surgeons to recreate the most natural looking breasts during reconstruction, says Dr. Sterry. “Essentially what they’ve done is provide patients with an additional layer of tissue, helping us overcome many challenges typically associated with breast reconstruction,” he explains, going on to say the use of tissue matrices grants the surgeon more control over the placement and shape of the breast. “With the assistance of a tissue matrix, which functions essentially as an ‘inner bra,’ the surgeon can better control and predict the long term position of the implant and the shape of the breast.”
• Alternatives to mastectomy comprise a burgeoning field known as oncoplastic surgery, which in some cases can preserve much of the original breast while also removing cancerous tissue. One example of oncoplastic surgery is the growing number of women Dr. Sterry has seen opting for a breast lift procedure instead of a mastectomy. “In the past it wasn’t uncommon for a woman to opt for a mastectomy out of fear, but thankfully we’ve benefited from some advances that allow us to successfully remove the cancer without necessarily eliminating the entire breast. Because of that, breast conservation surgery like lumpectomies and breast lift in place of a mastectomy are increasingly being used and seem to be just as effective,” Dr. Sterry explains. The trick, he says, is to discuss at length with your breast surgeon and plastic surgeon the pros and cons of traditional mastectomy versus oncoplastic surgery.

Oldies but goodies – breast reconstruction for the ages: The standards for breast reconstruction are autologous reconstruction (using tissue from another part of the patient’s body such as in TRAM flap or latissimus dorsi reconstruction), and tissue expansion, where a device resembling a water balloon is inserted under the skin and muscle in the area of the breast and inflated slowly over a few months. Eventually, the expander is removed and a permanent implant is put in its place.

Associated with each of these procedures are complications such as decreased function of the donor site when tissue from another part of the body is used and unnaturally shaped breasts due to the lack of tissue when an expander and implant are used. If the implant is fully shielded by muscle, high-riding, poorly defined breasts often result but when there’s only partial coverage, the risk for “bottoming out,” exposure of the implant, a “uni-boob” and visibility of the implant increases.

In the past women and their medical teams accepted these risks because there wasn’t much else to choose from. Today, Dr. Sterry believes these procedures can be dramatically improved upon by incorporating new technology such as tissue matrices and oncoplastic surgery.

While the number of people diagnosed with breast cancer steadily rises, the rate of death due to breast cancer is on the decline thanks to early detection and improved treatment options, making it more important than ever to consider “after cancer” plans before surgical treatment.