June « 2008 « Men’s Fitness Advisor

Archive for June, 2008

Athena 7 Minute Lift: The Best Anti-Aging Wrinkle Cream?

Wednesday, June 25th, 2008

So how do you go about choosing the best wrinkle cream?

To find out more go to this site all about the best wrinkle creams and their selection criteria:

Best skin wrinkle cream serums for women that are the best rated

After all, there are so many anti-wrinkle creams on the market, and the choice can be difficult to make, especially if you’re looking for the first time and trying to figure out which products are the ones to get.

They claim to be anti-wrinkle and anti-aging, but do they really work?

If you want to go straight to the wrinkle cream that’s taken everyone by storm, then see this article on Athena 7 minute lift the anti-aging phenomenon that has impressed women (and men) everywhere.

Since its launch, it has created excitement everywhere it has went. The reason?

Its results.

Well, in this article, we’re going to look at how to choose a good wrinkle cream based on certain factors or criteria that you can keep in mind.

Something to keep in mind here: we all will age and our skin ages, but there is a crucial difference between people, and that is, some women’s skin age gracefully and looks beautiful and stunning at whatever age. While others don’t have this luxury and their skin ages more quickly.

If you look after your skin, you’ll certainly have skin beauty that you can be proud of!

Yes, your skin is important – and why not look younger with the wrinkle creams that work?

For more on the famed Athena 7 Minute Lift cream for wrinkles, see this review here.

The criteria for choosing an the best anti aging and the best wrinkle cream are these:

1. satisfied customers (testimonials, before and after pictures and clinical studies)

2. good explanation of how the wrinkle cream works

3. before and after pictures

4. good pricing

5. company guarantee for their products

Let’s have a look at the importance of satisfied customers.

This is a ‘big one’ in the world of wrinkle creams.

When there are many satisfied customers, you’ll usually see three things.

One is before and after photos, untouched. Another is customer testimonials. And the third is clinical study results.

These are very revealing, especially the pictures as they tell you so much information, the most important being that the product works.

Just have a look at the pictures and get the overall feeling of the difference the product has made.

And yes, the clinical studies are important too.

They’re usually done independently, and provide the judge’s results of the percentage reduction in wrinkles in the percentage of women studied.

But out of all of these, the results are best seen by the before and after photos.

So now that you know this, go ahead and find the wrinkle creams that work.

To make this easier for you, go ahead and get the best wrinkle creams available.

And you know what, so many women have had their friends ask them how they were able to look 10 years younger so quickly, without plastic surgery! For more, see these valuable Athena 7 minute lift real-life testimonials.

This is a compliment for sure.

It’s a real ‘face lift in a bottle’: the ultimate non surgical face lift!

Wrinkle creams that work are a breakthrough that’s had so many people impressed.

So go ahead and get the wrinkle creams that work and see for yourself.

Posted in Facial beauty | 149 Comments »

A Girl’s Bestfriend

Tuesday, June 24th, 2008

Have you ever wondered why girls look so good even though they are just wearing ponytails? Or why does their hair smell great even it is just shampoo? These are only a few of the many secrets or mysteries there are in women. Guys are contented with what they see. Despite the fact that they have to wait for a long time before the girls meet them, it is all worth it because they look wonderful. The girls get all crammed up when they have a date. They want to be the best that they can be when the guy sees them.

With the help of some hair styling tools, the girls can get that look that they want without the hassle of going to the salon. Straightening your hair can be done easily with the help of a hair iron. Curling can also be done with the help of iron curlers. Highlights can also be put in the hair since there are those that come in packs. Women can do their own highlights in their own home. Just follow the instructions and you’re all set. Just make sure that the tools you will be using are not harmful to your hair and scalp.

Clips are usually seen worn by women to make them look neat and to keep their hair in place. There are a lot of clips that girls can choose from. There are those that can hold only a small amount of hair and there are those that you can use to create that ponytail look. Headbands can also be used to keep the hair tidy and not unruly. Just like the clips, the headbands come in all shapes and colors. There are those which are thick and there are those which are thin. There are even those headbands that are like the ones that you see on the television which makes it an instant trend.

But if you need other hair tools, you can always go to a beauty shop and ask help from the sales personnel there. You may even ask for advise on how to make yourself more presentable and keeping your hair look healthy and in place. No one wants an untidy hair because it is just not right. Even though there are those which prefer to have their hair be in dreadlocks, it is there choice. People may not like this look but individuals having dreadlocks make sure that they are still presentable when the occasion arises. Applying some gel or hair polish can do wonders when used properly and with the right amount.

Before doing anything drastic with your hair or if you want to experiment on your newly bought tools for the hair, try it on a small portion first. This will enable you to know the consequences or the effects of the tool or thing that you plan on using on your hair. People may not know this but if people say that it is effective, it may not have the same effect on you. Each person’s body is different from the other so make sure to find that will suit you. Do not assume that any product used by majority will be also good for you.

Take for example hair tools straighteners. A lot of people are using this especially for girls because it helps their hair to “stay put” and get those flyaways in their proper places. More so, instead of going to the salon everyday just to get their hairs straightened, having portable hair straighteners will be better. At least you can just plug it into an electricity socket, wait for it to get hot and then use it onto your hair. Asking another person like a friend to iron your hair will be great because it avoids getting yourself burned in the scalp and hands.

But if you think you can do it yourself, do it. You can always have a mirror in front of you so that you can see where you are putting your iron and where your hair is. If may be a bit stressful at first when you are doing it yourself but with a little bit of practice, you’ll get the hang of it. This can also be a kind of exercise for your arms and hands in building up stamina which can help you in sports. This makes the muscles last longer and it helps it not to get tired easily. Aside from making your hair more beautiful, you’re making your arm muscles firmer.

There are a lot of tools for the hair that you will find whether on the malls, beauty shops or even on the internet. Knowing their real function, brand and cost can give you an idea on what you are really looking for. It does not hurt to ask about other things like its voltage because you want to know everything there is to know about the product before buying and using it. If you’re planning to buy ceramic hair tools, you should know that the blades are made of ceramic materials that actually protect your hair. These materials give off an infrared heat that helps in locking in moisture which is needed by your hair.

Another hair product that can help you achieve that long, black and shiny hair is the hot oil. These are commonly offered in parlors or salons. What the hot oil does is it somewhat gives nourishment to the hair to make it look more alive. There are some hair salons that offer vitamins treatment to the hair. Now you want to try that but make sure you ask from some of your friends about it just to know what you are getting yourself into. There are some parlors that offer this vitamins treatment at a reasonable price and there are those that are a bit expensive. Try to assess your budget to know which you will avail.

If you are still uncertain about doing all these things by yourself, you can always set an appointment on your desired salon to ensure that they are using professional hair tools. This will make you less worried about getting your hair even more damaged than it may be already.

Posted in Facial beauty | 67 Comments »

ADD/ADHD Medications: Handle With Care

Tuesday, June 17th, 2008

It’s not only people diagnosed with Attention Deficit Disorder/Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder who function better after taking ADD/ADHD drugs. These powerful stimulants will have the same effect on all of us, ADD/ADHD or not. So why shouldn’t all of us pop in a pill everyday to help us feel more cheerful and focused and energetic?

Because though ADD/ADHD drugs are effective for a variety of conditions, they have a history of abuse, addiction and deadly side effects.

Before you take these medicines or give them to your child, you need to know the benefits, and weigh them against the side-effects and the risks of abuse and addiction. Here are some things you should know:
The benefits
Amphetamines (the class of drugs to which most ADD/ADHD medications like Adderall and Vyvanse belong) and methylphenidate (Ritalin, Concerta, Daytrana) have been around since the end of the nineteenth century. In the 1930s they first began to be used medically – as decongestants and inhalers for people suffering from asthma and colds. Up to the 1950s, they were even available over the counter as ‘pep’ pills to help increase energy and concentration (one marketing slogan was that two pills were better than a month’s vacation), and to treat obesity, chronic fatigue, depression, and daytime sleepiness, and to counter overdoses of sleeping pills.

From the 1960s, they have been widely prescribed for overactive and distractible children who are not able to cope in normal classrooms – those with ‘minimal brain dysfunction’, as it was then called, or what is now known as Attention Deficit Disorder/Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. The drug has a calming and ‘focusing’ effect on these children, and helps them sit in their place, listen and get better grades (at least a short while!).
Dangerous side-effects
But amphetamines (Adderall and Vyvanse) and the milder methylphenidate (Ritalin, Concerta, Daytrana) have always been problem drugs.

Some minor side-effects from these drugs are reduced appetite, nausea, increase in blood pressure and heartbeat and sometimes skin rashes. If you or your child is taking this medicine for ADD/ADHD or anything else, your doctor may help you to manage these side-effects.

There are more serious problems when the drug is taken over a long time. In animal studies, rats treated with Ritalin in the period corresponding to childhood in humans were more likely to be depressed as adults. Long-term abuse of this drug can lead to psychosis, malnutrition, slowing growth (for children), severe itching, dyskinesia (excessive repetition of movements and meaningless tasks), and heart trouble.
A high risk of abuse
You need to be especially careful with ADD/ADHD drugs because they are addictive. When taken in large doses, orally or through injection or smoking, they can produce a feeling of euphoria, and once you have this experience you are likely to go the same way as addicts with worse substances like cocaine – do anything to get high again.

It’s not so safe in smaller doses either. If you take them for over months or years for staying awake or for loosing weight, you might become dependent on the drug, and have withdrawal symptoms if you try to stop them. Those taking the drugs without a doctor’s prescription and supervision are more likely to get addicted, and this will not just be depraved losers looking for a ‘high’. Those likely to abuse Ritalin, Adderall, and other drugs for ADD/ADHD are likely to be people just like us – overburdened with family and work responsibilities, who feel they need just a little bit more energy and concentration to get by.

Even in the 1930s, when the drug first came into the market, it was abused by people who pulled out the strip containing the drug from the inhaler Benzedrine and either chewed it or put it into their coffee.

By the 1960s, all over the world, the problems with amphetamine and methylphenidate misuse became well-known. The police noticed an increase in crime due to drug abuse, and doctors noticed more people coming for emergency treatment for drug overdoses. There were also celebrity cases like the death of British cyclist Tim Simpson due to an overdose of amphetamines and the British Prime Minister Eden’s dependence on amphetamine during the Suez Crisis (which was said to have affected his judgment).

Most governments tried to increase control over the drug: in the United States, the drug was placed in Schedule 2 of Controlled Substances Act of 1971 – the category of drugs which have acknowledged medical uses but are addictive and likely to be abused. Sweden experimented with loose controls for a while during the late 1960s, on the ground that most people would be responsible enough not to abuse the drugs. But as the number of addicts and crimes and deaths connected with drug abuse increased, Sweden quickly returned to stricter controls.

Recently, what is new is that from 1990, prescriptions for methylphenidate (Ritalin, Concerta, Daytrana) and various forms of amphetamines (Adderall, Vyvanse) alone have risen more than five-fold – mainly for what is called Attention Deficit Disorder and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. While the abuse profile of amphetamines and methylphenidate is similar to other Schedule 2 drugs, what is different is that these drugs are now being prescribed mainly for children.

A few children will definitely benefit from these drugs, but these medicines have become so widely available, and there is so much ignorance about their potential for abuse and addiction, that there is danger of an epidemic of abuse. We need to make sure that medicines are given only to children who really need them – not use them as a shortcut to controlling children who are bored, or unhappy, or simply too playful for the modern classroom. We also need to make sure that there is awareness of the dangers of self-medicating with these drugs to study, party, lose weight, or get a high.

Posted in Healing medicine | 14,447 Comments »

The Benefits of Regular Physical Activity

Monday, June 16th, 2008

If you are one of those people who wants to live a longer and a better life, then what are you waiting for? Take up that so called old fashioned physical activity know as regular exercise. None of us can deny the benefits of a regular physical activity. Physical activity helps in preventing chronic diseases and boosts our self esteem and confidence. Physical activity can be undertaken irrespective of age, sex, or even physical capacity.

Following are the seven benefits of regular physical activity.

Exercise ameliorates your mood:

You may be back after a stressful day. You may need to come off the stress. You can blow off your stress by taking a half hour walk or by even visiting a gym. In my role as a West Hollywood Personal Trainer I tell my clients that exercise stimulates the different chemicals in the brain and this leaves us in a happier and relaxed mood. Your looks and feeling also change with regular physical activity. This will enhance your self confidence and self esteem. Physical activity helps to reduce depressed feelings and anxiety.

Helps in fighting inveterate maladies:

You can either manage your high blood pressure or even prevent it by taking up regular exercise. Your HDL cholesterol will increase and exercising will lower your LDL cholesterol. This helps your blood flow smoothly and you are free from plaques which build up in the arteries. Certain types of cancer can also be kept at bay by regular physical activity. Type 2 diabetes can be prevented and osteoporosis can be avoided with the help of regular exercising.

Exercise keeps you slim and trim:

You can shed off some of those excess pounds by regular exercise. This is because when you exercise you burn some calories. This will help you keep yourself slim. As a Personal Trainer in Beverly Hills I teach that the more intensely you do your physical activities the more calories you burn. You need not spend a lot of time on exercising or work outs. Just do some simple work outs which will help you. For example instead of taking the elevator you can climb the stairs. Instead of watching TV and becoming a couch potato you can take a walk and keep yourself fresh and active. Dedicated workouts are the best but some activity through out the day also helps a lot.

Exercise tones up your heart and lungs.

Regular exercising helps you to breathe smoothly. Your blood circulation improves. All the tissues in your body are supplied with nutrients when you exercise. Actually exercise helps your entire cardiovascular system. Improved circulation keeps your heart and lungs active and you can do your activities more efficiently.

Exercise encourages better sleep.

A good night’s sleep can amend your engrossment, productiveness and mood. Exercise is sometimes the key to a better deeper sleep. Once you exercise there will be a natural fall in your body temperature. Five to six hours after you exercise is the best time for you to go to bed. This will help you to fall asleep faster.

Doing exercise can be fun!

I’m a Personal Trainer in Los Angeles and I can tell you that exercise does not have to be boring. You can go to a ballroom dancing class. You can go for hiking or even do an exercise of climbing a wall. Take a family work out. You can go with your kids to swing or even climb with them on the jungle gym. You can plan for a football or kickball match with your neighbors’ on off days. You have to remember that you got to be on the move always. If you become bored of an activity try your hands at something new which will keep you going for some time.

Posted in Fitness workouts | 42 Comments »

Acupuncture Treatment: An Increasingly Successful Treatment For Pain And Fatigue

Tuesday, June 3rd, 2008

Acupuncture therapy is a form of traditional Chinese Medicine whose origins goes back for over thousands of years. Acupuncture therapy is based on Taoist spiritual philosophies, which believe that human body is comprised of a constant flow of spiritual energy called qi (chee), and that we can naturally heal ourselves by properly channeling this force. Acupuncture is accomplished by inserting specially created needles into specific meridian points of the body which unblock any negative qi. This results in the desired beneficial and healing effects. Acupuncture is increasingly used for pain management, an alternative therapy for chronic fatigue and is even used to combat drug addiction.

Acupuncture methodologies found their way to Europe and the United States in the early 1900s. They have been gaining acceptance over the years. Acupuncture first became mainstream in France and then spread through other European countries. Acupuncture became more acceptable in the United States during the 1970s after President Nixon’s visit to China.

One widespread use of this acupuncture treatment is for the alleviation of arthritic symptoms. Acupuncture is becoming more popular as a non-pharmaceutical treatment for arthritis. Acupuncture may provide a substitute for analgesic drugs, which may have addictive properties and may cause unwanted side effects. The philosophy behind using acupuncture to treat arthritis is that arthritis is caused by blockages of the qi energy, the life-force of the body. Precisely placed needles are used to release these blockages, thus giving relief to the painful symptoms.

Acupuncture has served as a extremely successful treatment for chronic fatigue. It accomplishes this by opening up the flow of qi energy. This creates a positive energy field that flows through and around the body. The body can then tap into this energy, revitalizing the body and bringing alertness to the mind.

Acupuncture has also been used as a successful treatment for addiction. It has been used to help smokers stop smoking, to help alcoholics quit drinking, and has even been successful for heroin users! This is because the change in qi energy can result in subtle changes the brain chemistry that control addictive behavior.

Acupuncture’s popularity will grow for years and years to come and with good reason I can offer from my personal experience! Acupuncture is such an incredible natural treatment for pain, fatigue and even addiction and it can offer little to no side effects.

Posted in Healing medicine | 107 Comments »

Men’s Fitness Advisor