Cabbage Soup Diet

Cabbage soup diet or Russian cabbage soup diet, is a popular fad diet, that has had constant hype and marketing publicity within the press, especially with claims that some medical professions recommend this cabbage soup diet for weight loss prior to surgery.

The cabbage soup diet requires food combinations that make little sense, plus this plan is just not very healthy to begin with and is hazardous to your long term health and fitness.

The cabbage soup diet is a diet that enables you to eat as much as you like of a soup that you have stunk the kitchen out making, followed by storing in tupperware dishes within your fridge.

This diet is good for people who like to hear that they can eat as much cabbage soup as they want, as some dieters struggle if they know that they have to miss a meal or have a replacement shake. This will surely sound appealing to dieters, because after all, dieters just love to hear that they can eat unlimited amounts of any type of food.
The problem with the cabbage soup diet is that this cabbage soup is so horrible tasting, regardless of how you try and spice it up, that after a few servings you spend your time trying to wash the contents of your tupperware containers down the sink.

Weight loss from the cabbage soup diet is due to the few calories that the soup contains, and also a major reduction in water content throughout your body.

Due to the lack of energy that the cabbage soup diet will give you, your energy stores in both your muscles and liver will be greatly reduced, resulting in a lower body fluid content, which results in you feeling tired throughout the day.

As the cabbage soup diet is really a form of starvation with the added benefits of regular visits to the loo, I personally would advise against this method, however if you wish to try it, you will find the recipe below.

Alternatively you could try and make up your own recipe by boiling two hand fulls from a compost heap. Personally I wouldn't try the first method, and certainly wouldn't recommend that you try the second.

For those of you that want to spend a week on the loo.

1 head cabbage, shredded or chopped 2 large onions, chopped 16-28 ounces canned tomatoes, chopped 2 green peppers 4 stalks celery 1-2 packages Lipton onion soup mix black pepper fresh herbs, chopped 6 carrots, sliced 1/2 pound green beans, sliced diagonally 1/2 cup balsamic vinegar (optional)

Put all vegetables in a big pot and cover with water. Bring to a boil stirring in the soup mix, and boil gently for 10 minutes. Cover, reduce heat, and simmer until all the vegetables are soft. Stir in the black pepper and chopped herbs of your choice to flavor.

Here is the good news, you can eat as much of the soup that you want, with the following on these days.

DAY 1: All fruits except bananas.

DAY 2: All vegetables, raw or cooked. This includes baked potato with a LITTLE butter.

DAY 3: Fruits and vegetables, but no potatoes or bananas.

DAY 4: Bananas and skim milk--eat as many as 8 bananas and drink as many as 8 glasses of skim milk.

DAY 5: Beef, skinless chicken, and/or fish--as much as 20 ounces, total. You can also eat 6 tomatoes. And you must drink 8 glasses of water. Don't forget at least one bowl of soup.

DAY 6: Beef, skinless chicken, or fish and vegetables. Drink 8 glasses of water and eat at least one bowl of soup.

DAY 7: Brown rice, vegetables, and unsweetened fruit juice.
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Grapefruit Diet

The Grapefruit Diet, also known as the Hollywood Diet, was originally developed in 1930s Hollywood.

It gained real popularity in the mid-1970s, This so-called fad diet regained popularity in the mid-1970s with its claim that you can lose up to 3 stone in only 12 weeks.

The original Grapefruit Diet, the basics of which are detailed below, is an unhealthy, ultra low calorie plan, and not recommended.
However, a 2004 study led by Dr. Ken Fujioka at the Nutrition and Metabolic Research Center at Scripps Clinic found that simply adding half a grapefruit or a serving of grapefruit juice to each meal resulted in an average weight loss of around 3.5 pounds over 12 weeks.

This appears to be due to grapefruit's ability to reduce insulin levels. For those interested, here are the rules and meals for the original 1970s plan.



Rules for the grapefruit diet:

• Eight 8oz. glasses of water daily (required).
• Eat until you are full at any meal.
• You must eat the minimum listed at each meal. Do not eliminate anything from the diet - these combinations of food are designed to burn the fat, thus omitting any part of the combination will cause the plan to not work.
• The grapefruit/juice is crucial - it acts as a catalyst that starts the burning process. Don't add or reduce the amount of grapefruit or juice.
• Limit coffee to one cup at meals - it can affect the insulin balance and hinder the burning process.
• Don't eat between meals.
• You can use butter generously on vegetables and also fry food in butter.
• Completely avoid desserts, breads, white vegetables and sweet potatoes.
• Eat as much meat, salad and vegetables as you want.
• Eat until you are sated. The more you eat the more weight you will lose.
• Follow the diet for 12 days, stop for 2 days, then repeat.

ITEMS YOU CAN EAT	ITEMS YOU CANNOT EAT
RED ONIONS	WHITE ONIONS
BELL PEPPERS	POTATES
RADISHES	CELERY
BROCCOLI	PEAS
CUCUMBERS	CEREAL
CARROTS	CORN
LEAF SPINACH	STARCHY VEGETABLES
CABBAGE	POTATO CHIPS
TOMATOES	PEANUT BUTTER
GREEN BEANS	PASTA
LETTUCE	CORN CHIPS
CHILI (NO BEANS)	JAM
MAYONNAISE	SWEET PICKLES
ANY CHEESE	PRETZELS
HOT DOGS	FRUIT
COLESLAW	LOW FAT / DIET SALAD DRESSING
REG SALAD DRESSING	.
GREEN VEGETABLES	.
DRIED NUTS	.

You can add the following to flavour your food: salt, pepper, herbs, lemon, vinegar, Worcestershire, soy sauce, mustard, ketchup.

Sample weekly menu:

DAY 1
BREAKFAST
Coffee or tea with sugar substitute & 1/2 grapefruit
2 eggs any style or 2 rashers of bacon
LUNCH
Lean beef, chicken or fish + tomato salad + coffee or tea
DINNER
broiled fish + tomato and lettuce salad + grapefruit or melon

DAY 2
BREAKFAST
coffee or tea with sugar substitute & 1/2 grapefruit
2 eggs any style or 2 rashers of bacon
LUNCH
any amount of fruit salad + coffee
DINNER
hamburger (no bread!) and all the cooked vegetables you want

DAY 3
BREAKFAST
coffee or tea with sugar substitute & 1/2 grapefruit
2 eggs any style or 2 rashers of bacon
LUNCH
tuna salad + grapefruit or melon
DINNER
2 lean pork chops + mixed green salad + coffee

DAY 4
BREAKFAST
coffee or tea with sugar substitute & 1/2 grapefruit
2 eggs any style or 2 rashers of bacon
LUNCH
2 eggs + cottage cheese + 3 oz. squash + 1 toast + coffee
DINNER
Chicken ( grilled or broiled w/o skin ) + spinach or green pepper + coffee

DAY 5
BREAKFAST
coffee or tea with sugar substitute & 1/2 grapefruit
2 eggs any style or 2 rashers of bacon
LUNCH
As much dry cheese as you want + spinach + 1 toast
DINNER
broiled fish + cooked veggies or green salad + 1 toast

DAY 6
BREAKFAST
coffee or tea with sugar substitute & 1/2 grapefruit
2 eggs any style or 2 rashers of bacon
LUNCH
fruit salad (as much as you want) + 1 coffee
DINNER
broiled chicken w/o skin + tomato and lettuce salad + grapefruit or melon + coffee

DAY 7
BREAKFAST
coffee or tea with sugar substitute & 1/2 grapefruit
2 eggs any style or 2 rashers of bacon
LUNCH
cold or hot chicken + tomato & lettuce salad + grapefruit or melon + coffee
DINNER
lean beef + mixed salad + coffee
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Blood Group Diet

The blood group diet is said to have originated from two American Naturopaths, Dr James D'Adamo, and his son Dr Peter D'Adamo, who believe that your blood group type is the key to how you burn your calories, which foods you should eat and how you would benefit from certain types of exercise.

They recommend that eating to suit your blood group may, help you to lose weight, help you fight disease, boost your immune system and slow down the ageing process.
t is believed that a chemical reaction occurs between your blood and foods as they are digested. Lectins, a diverse and abundant protein found in food, may be incompatible with your blood group and adverse side effects may occur. The avoidance of these Lectins which can agglutinate (adhere or stick to one another) can be important if your particular cells-determined by your blood type,may react with them.

There are 4 blood types: A, AB, B, and O

Blood Type O

The O blood type was the first blood type to evolve from the hunter-gatherer era around 50,000 BC. Here the diet was high in red meat and virtually void of grains and dairy. The type-O thrives on a meat-eating diet. As the diet is high in animal protein, the type-O requires intense physical exercise to help burn off the meat.

Type-Os are prone to digestive disorders resulting from over-secretion of stomach acid. They can also be more susceptible to arthritis and thyroid disease due to overactive or hyper -immune system.

Wheat and dairy also promote inflammation in this blood type which can trigger an imbalance in the immune system.

Blood type O individuals can gain a significant amount of weight following a high carbohydrate diet, as their bodies cannot properly metabolize these foods.

Blood Type A

Type-A blood group formed when man began to develop an agricultural lifestyle between 25,000 and 15,000 B.C. People with blood type-A do best on a vegetarian diet for weight loss especially the macrobiotic diet.

The type-A individual hardly produces much hydrochloric acid and therefore does poorly on meat and dairy diets such as the Atkins Diet.

Type-As are generally more prone to cancer, diabetes and heart disease, if they do not take charge of their health. The gene for alcoholism is also found in type-As.

Blood Type B

Type B also evolved from the intermingling of blood type O with the blood type A. This occurred between 15,000 and 10,000 B.C due to man traveling further.

As a result, the type-B individual does best on a dairy diet with some meat (no chicken) and few grains.

The type-Bs suffer from the highest incidence of bladder and urinary tract infections. They are also prone to viral diseases when their immune system is compromised.

Since B blood types can metabolize dairy products and most foods, they will usually lose weight effortlessly as long as peanuts, corn, wheat, and lentils are eliminated from the diet.

Blood Type AB

The rarest and newest blood type to evolve (1500 years old) was the AB blood type. This blood type is the most well adapted to a moderate diet. The type-AB individual benefits from both the A and B type diets.

Meat is not as well digested as seafood, dairy, wheat-free grains and soy foods.

The type-ABs are prone to either diseases encountered by the Type-As or the type-Bs. By undergoing further metabolic typing, it can be determined which diseases they are most likely to be vulnerable.

For weight loss and maintaining a healthy weight, AB's do best on seafood, dairy, nuts and grains.
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Dieting Advice

Dieting advice and what are the best weight loss supplements or tablets, is the most popular email request that this site receives.

There are so many different forms of dieting tablets and supplements out there, with some manufacturers making obscene claims of amazing rapid weight loss.
Today's lifestyle of fast food and sedentary working has resulted in a rapid obesity level in the Modern World, however as modern people, most of us are still looking for the easy fix for weight loss in a bottle.

If you feel that this is the route to take, the Netfit Teams only advice is to make sure that you use whatever product, within the guidelines of that product.

Too many people believe by doubling the dosage, they will gets results in half the time - don't make that mistake.

Every health and fitness magazine, or those with celebrities on the front cover will be full of adverts and claims of the lastest amazing weight loss products.

Losing weight is not the key to being healthy and happy. Would you want to lose 20lb in 4 weeks, but have stretch marks and saggy skin - bad breathe and poor skin tone.

Rapid weight loss should be avoided, just like most diets. Your bodies are designed to digest food, not take its calories in the form of shakes..

Unfortuanetly most dieters don't realise that the actual process of breaking down FOOD, especially proteins requires a large calorie exspenditure by the body, whereas drinking a protein shake requires very little.

With healthy eating and exercise you will create a well toned, healthier looking body - this process does require some effort and will-power but the end result is much better than any dieting plan can provide to you. full story...

Weight loss and Diet advice

Our most popular area dealing with weight loss and dieting advice.

The best piece of advice I can give to anyone wanting to lose weight or go on a diet, is to increase your exercise / activity levels and eat regular healthy meals.

Weight loss is simple, you simply need to use more calories each day than what you consume through food and fluids. Either that or you may have heard about Xenical or reductil prescription pills.

Its easy to put weight on, all you have to do is consume more calories than you expend. The answer to losing weight in the form of excess body fat, is also really really simple, you intake less calories in food and fluid then you expend through your daily calorie usage.
he biggest problem is that for most people they have put weight on over a number of years, simple for two main reasons, firstly that good tasting foods are all around and easy to eat and secondly lifestyle changes mean that most peoples lives have become less active.

Simple mathematics would equate to the fact, that if you have taken a number of months or years to slowly increase your body weight and increase your body fat percentage, you need to appreciate that this weight is not going to be safely removed for a friends wedding or summer holiday a few weeks away.

The truth is that in order to lose just 1lb of body fat, a deficit of 3,500 calories needs to be achieved.

If you're generally eating 2,500 calories a day, then aim to simply cut back by just 10 - 15%, anymore and your body will think about going into its starvation mode (avoid at all costs).

The other side of the equation, is to look at increasing your calorie expenditure, if your body is using 2,500 calories a day, than chances are you haven't gained much weight lately, however if your only using 2,000 calories a day, then over just 1 week you could be close to increasing your bodyweight by 1lb.

Just a small amount of daily exercise, enough to increase your bodies calorific expenditure by 250 calories a day, combined with just a 10% reduction in your calorie intake from food, will already help you on the way to losing 1lb of body fat per week, with minimal change in your eating habits - slowly change both your eating habits and foods you eat and you will get quicker positive results.

If your aim is to lose 10lb in weight this week, then the information within this weight loss (fat) section is not for you, as this form of weight loss is detrimental to both your health and long term weight loss goals. full story...

Salad - warm potato and salmon

Good source of: fibre, folate, iron Preparation time: 30 minutes Cooking time: 45 minutes Serves: 4
Ingredients: 600 g salmon fillets 500 g baby (new) potatoes, halved olive oil, cooking spray 100 g baby corn, (either whole canned baby corn or fresh corn) 100 g baby spinach leaves, washed and halved lengthwise 100 g semi-dried tomatoes

Dressing
4 tablespoons natural yoghurt, reduced fat
3 tablespoons sweet chilli sauce
2 tablespoons lemon juice

Method:
1. Preheat oven to 200°C.
2. Remove the skin from the salmon fillet and then use tweezers to remove any bones. Cut the salmon into large cubes.
3. Put the potatoes in a large baking dish, lightly spray with olive oil spray and cook for 30 minutes, turning a couple of times during cooking.
4. Add the baby corn to the potatoes and cook for 10 minutes or until the potatoes and corn are tender.
5. Turn the oven off and keep the vegetables warm.
6. Lightly spray a chargrill with olive oil spray and cook the salmon cubes over a high heat for 3-4 minutes or until just tender and golden.
7. To make the dressing - Put the yoghurt, sweet chilli sauce and lemon juice in a small jug and whisk well.
8. Put the potatoes, spinach and semi-dried tomatoes in a bowl and toss to combine.
9. Arrange the salad on individual plates, top with hot salmon pieces and drizzle with the dressing.

Contributed by:


(Logo links to further information)

Source: Heart Foundation, Deliciously Healthy Cookbook

This recipe was originally published as: Warm potato and salmon salad
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Easy Makeover

Olive Skin
Use a tinted moisturizer instead of regular moisturizer but if you have dry skin you use tinted one at the top. To conceal your dark under eye circles. Use a yellow-toned concealer to blend nicely and cover it with a loose powder. Apply powder on your forehead and other shiny part of your face. Use a sheer, berry or plum color lipstick on your lips. You will sure look great.

Fair Skin
Use a moisturizer and foundation with SPF 15. They will protect your skin against the sun. Apply translucent powder to set your foundation. Then stroke peach blush on your cheeks. You can use the same one to line your eyelids too. Apply extra coat of mascara and use a sheer red lipstick for a quick finish.

Rosy Skin
Cover your blemishes and your uneven skin tones with a concealer same shade with your skin. Then apply a berry shade liquid gel blush with your fingers on your cheeks. Put on brown mascara onto your upper and lower lashes. Before applying your lipstick use a tinted balm but if you have rosy lips, apply clear gloss.

Dark Skin
Use an oil free makeup. Apply foundation using your fingers or sponge. Use a powder that will match your skin to set the foundation. Then a stroke of brownish red blush will look great on you. Finish it with a coffee or copper colored lip gloss on lips.

Long Lasting Stunning Nails

1. Start at the center of the nail and wiping toward the tip when removing old nail polish.

2. Use a cuticle remover cream instead of cutting your delicate skin.

3. Always file in one direction. The nails weaken and break easily if you nail it back and forth motion.

4. Buffing is good on your nails it boosts circulation and encourages nail growth.

5. The right way of mixing your polish is rolling the bottle between your palms. Shaking it will cause air bubbles.

6. Use a base coat before your color applying it same way with your nail polish.

7. Make sure that the first coat is completely dry before applying the second coat to prevent formation of bubbles.

8. To remove excess or slip- ups. Use a wooden cuticle remover and make sure the polish is dry.

9. Avoid direct contact with chemicals and some household products. Always use gloves.

10. Use a hand moisturizer in the morning and in the evening.

More...

Styling Iron Power

If you want to look sexy yet alluring and simply irresistible try these simple steps by using curling iron and get a sexy hair wings and tousled waves.

1.If your hair�s on the fine side, wash it with a sudsier that�ll give your strands a swing. If you have normal to thick hair, take a barreled round brush and pull your hair as straight as you can while you dry. If you got some natural curl, using a cream first helps.

2.Once your hair is totally dry and as straight as it�s going to get, create a side part and pull the back section of your hair starting just behind your ears into low ponytail. Secure with elastic. Leave two loose sections of hair beside your face each will be a just few inches wide and spritz both with a heat-shielding spray. Then gently comb the spray through your hair, root to end.

3.Take your curling iron, hold it vertically next to your face, and wrap a two inch- wide section around the iron-away from your face. Note: Because you want big curls, get your hands on an iron with at least a one-inch-wide barrel. Hold the curl for ten seconds, and then release a ringlet. Repeat this process, moving from the top layers of your hair to those underneath but leave the back alone.

4. Once the front half of your head is covered that was holding your ponytail in place and shake that hair loose. Take the big-barreled brush you used to blow-dry your hair and pull through the spirals in front brush down the first, then flip up at the ends to create soft feathers on either side of your face. Dousing with hair spray will help the wings hold-tucking one side behind your ear will get you the look at left. More....

Facial Foundation That Fits

Facial Foundation That Fits

Facial foundation is applied to the entire face, used on a daily basis, and worn for an extended period of time. For this reason, facial foundation plays an important role in skin treatment, but it is also the facial cosmetic most likely to be problematic. Many women avoid foundation, because they're scared of an unnatural, mask-like effect. In fact, finding the right product for you is simpler than you might think.

There are two keys to success, the first is to pick the right formulation, and the second is to choose the perfect shade for your skin.

FIND YOUR FORMULATION

Four basic facial foundation formulations are available, oil-based, water-based, oil-free, and water-free or anhydrous forms. Oil-based products are designed for dry skin, while water-based products can be adapted for all skin types. Oil-free formulations are used in oily skin foundations, while anhydrous forms are extremely long wearing and used for camouflage or theatrical purposes. Choose one to get the best coverage for your particular

How Does Skin Works?

How Does Skin Works?

Skin is the largest of all the body organs & the one of which you are most aware of. Women Fitness in its effort to help you understand your skin and its management, will provide you with all the essential information you must possess to achieve a lifelong nourished skin.

This water-proof covering and self-repairing body covering is a reflector of health and well-being.

Skin Structure

HOW DOES THE SKIN WORKS?

FUNCTION	STRUCTURE/CELL INVOLVED
Protection against Chemicals, particles	Horny layer
Protection against Ultraviolet radiation	Melanocytes Langerhans cells, lymphocytes mononuclear phagocytes, mast cells
Protection against Antigens, haptens	Langerhans cells, lymphocytes mononuclear phagocytes, mast cells
Protection against Microbes	Horny layer, Langerhans cells mononuclear phagocytes, mast cells
Preservation of a balanced internal environment prevents loss of water, electrolytes and macromolecules	Horny layer
Shock absorber- Strong, yet elastic and compliant covering	Dermis and subcutaneous fat
Sensation	Specialist nerve endings
Calorie reserve	Subcutaneous fat
Vitamin D synthesis	Keratinocytes
Temperature regulation	Blood vessels, Eccrine sweat glands
Lubrication and waterproofing	Sebaceous glands
Protecting and prising	Nails
Body odour	Apocrine sweat glands
Psycho-social	Hair, nails

Caring for Long Hair

By Kathryn M. D'Imperio

Elegant and versatile, long hair gives women many options when it comes to styling and creating new looks. From perms and temporary curls to braids and up-dos spilling curls out on all sides, women with long hair can create a variety of looks with simple styles and fashionable accessories.

Long hair provides a carefree freedom that is balanced by the need for hair accessories, styling products and a little bit of know-how. Read up on new, fancy, funky or traditional hairstyles for long hair. See your stylist or merely check out the beauty aisles of your favorite stores for ideas.

As far as accessorizing goes, try the following for a great new look:

• Headbands for low maintenance
• Hair scarves for a casual look
• Claw clips for a fun style
• Decorative bands for ponytails and pigtails
• Hairpins to twist hair atop head
• Combs for an elegant up-do
• Lots of little clips to create many hair twists

Long hair often requires special care and treatments to keep strands healthy, shiny and smooth. You may wish to check out different hair care products designed specifically for long hair.

Follow these tips to care for your hair with an easy and convenient routine:

When you apply conditioner to your hair, concentrate especially on the ends. Rub additional conditioning treatment into the tips of your hair to prevent split-end damage. You can also use a leave-in conditioner to treat dry ends on a normal basis.

As you dry your hair, take advantage of the hairdryer�s settings. Use warm airflow at first to dry your hair, and conclude with the cool setting to close the hair follicles. You can also dry your hair in sections by pinning most of your hair atop your head, releasing small sections and drying it in layers.

Protect your hair from chemical, heat and sun damage. Long hair faces a great risk of irreparable damage when it comes to high levels of chemicals or extensive sun exposure. Try styling products that are gentle on your tresses and avoid overly exposing your hair to the sun and chemicals like the chlorine found in swimming pools. Also, allow your hair to dry naturally from time to time.

Note: Many of these tips will also work for hair of shorter lengths.

Precautions for Long Hair
Wearing your hair long can be as much of a blessing as a curse � trust me, I know. I�ve worn my hair long for years and years, both as a child and through much of college and my adult life. I must admit that while I love many things about my long hair, I also have a few playful gripes.

Long hair = easily trapped and caught
I may be the only person in the world to have done this, but somehow I don�t think so. As I enter the car, often on a windy day, sometimes my hair gets swept up in the air and catches between the door of the car.

Long hair = athletic liability
When it comes to sports, long hair can get in the way unless you tie it back securely. Have you ever play-fought with someone or wrestled around on the ground, only to find that the thing pinning you down isn�t even your opponent? With hair extending down to your lower back, it becomes easily trapped beneath you, holding you to the floor unless you physically release your hair from beneath you.

Long hair = more to lose if problems arise
Have you ever gotten gum stuck in your hair? How about a bad haircut? Think about it this way � the more hair you have, the more you have to lose. Be careful with your hair so you don�t have bigger problems to deal with�like cutting away inches because of a bad style or cut.

Long, flowing tresses give women many options for beautiful hairstyles and elegant appearances. Get creative with your hair and try new colors and styles just for fun. Add some playful accessories for a great new look or let your hair flow naturally beautiful and long.

TIP: When you get tired of your lovely long hair, don�t just chop it off! Donate to Locks of Love (www.locksoflove.org), a nonprofit organization that creates custom hairpieces for children in need. A little girl will be so grateful!

Manicure Mania

Three Hot Winter Styles for your Nails

With the winter chill in the air, keeping nails sexy and strong becomes a challenge. Nails break more easily than usual and cracked, dry skin on hands and feet often take precedence over the appearance of one�s fingertips and toes. However, despite the inconvenience of winter�s cold bite, keeping short, sexy nails has never been more stylish. Read on to discover three hot styles for cool winter nails!

Manicure style #1:

Attempt a spin-off of a traditional French manicure. Instead of the customary pink with white tips, try a pale blue with white tips and a tiny white snowflake painted on one or two of your nails. To achieve this style, apply a base coat followed by two coats of pale blue. Once the blue dries, apply a small border of white polish to only the tips of your nails. If you don�t trust your hand to be steady enough to paint the design, check the beauty sections of various stores for snowflake decals and appliqu�s. Not into the blue and white combo? Choose any two colors you like and invent your own contemporary French manicure. And don�t forget your toes!

Manicure style #2:

Go dark and sexy. Keep your nails short and rounded and apply several coats of a rich color like maroon, purple, navy or deep green. Check out the newest shades in the makeup section of your favorite local stores and select a few shades to last you the next few months. Apply a base coat to strengthen your nails and follow with two coats of your desired dark hue, followed by a topcoat. For a creative twist, apply a decal, rhinestone or a mostly-transparent topcoat boasting glitter or gloss.

Manicure style #3:

Lay on the metal. Metallics are in this year, so don�t be afraid to be a little daring when it comes to dressing up your nails. Trim and file your nails to a short, rounded or slightly squared-off shape and apply base coat, two coats of color and finish with a topcoat. If you still aren�t convinced, consult a beautician in a cosmetics department or even ask your hairstylist for her opinion. Nail Expert Carolyn Cianciotto notes that the hottest looks this season are short, dark and oval. Red nails, though traditional, are very popular. Short and sheer nails are �working girl sexy,� she adds, admitting that many men prefer reds and French manicures with nails not too long and not too short.

No matter which style appeals most to you, try to keep your nails healthy and strong throughout the cold winter season. Enjoy sexy, attractive nails without spending a bundle at the salon. Feel free to apply a clear topcoat from time to time to keep your polish from chipping, and when it does chip, perhaps that�s a sign that it�s time for a new color.

Healthy Nails

Do you know that your fingernails and toenails can indicate potential problems in other parts of your body? Healthy nails should typically sport a pink hue, but sometimes they may change in tone and texture, signifying a deficiency in certain vitamins, minerals and nutrients.

If you keep your nails healthy and strong, you should notice changes in the composition and color of your nails. Keeping your nails healthy holds a twofold benefit � gorgeous fingertips and tootsies and a helpful clue to learn if anything might be wrong elsewhere in your body. And while we don�t necessarily think of nails as gauges of our health in most cases, we sure do love getting dolled up and showing them off!

To begin your quest for healthy nails, first make a commitment to eating healthier foods. You can still enjoy the foods you love, but you should make a conscious effort to consume healthy fruits and vegetables, nuts, fish and eggs, among other nail-friendly foods.

Enjoy these great foods for healthy nails:

• Apples
• Asparagus
• Brown rice
• Cucumbers
• Eggs
• Garlic
• Grapes
• Liver
• Nuts
• Onions
• Salmon
• Seeds
• Soy
• Tuna
• Whole grains

If you want healthy, strong and beautiful nails that last, don�t stop with diet. Make some minor changes in your life and you can enjoy lovely nails without the price tag that comes with a trip to the nail salon. Avoid biting your nails, buff away rough edges when necessary and make a few other small changes to achieve the perfect nails you�ve always wanted.

For great nails, follow these simple tips:

Consume foods containing calcium and zinc. Calcium effectively promotes nail growth. (You know those little white spots that show up on your nails in funny places sometimes? Those spots mean you aren�t getting enough zinc in your diet.)

Consume less sugar and less alcohol.

Do not use your nails as tools. No picking, plucking, poking, prying�

Don�t bite your nails. Try applying nail polish or painting a bitter-tasting liquid to the nails. Such products have been specially designed to help people quit their nail-biting habits.

Don�t remove hangnails by pulling at them. Gently clip them with manicure scissors to prevent damage to your skin and tissue.

Eat fewer saturated fats.

Ensure that you consume enough protein.

Increase your intake of Vitamins A, B, C, D and E.

Keep your nails short to prevent breakage.

Leave your cuticles alone.

Moisturize your nails often. When you apply lotion to your hands, legs or other areas, be sure to rub a little bit into your nails.

Reduce the amount of dairy in your diet.

Trim nails regularly, as needed. Use an emery board or nail file to smooth rough edges after trimming and when a nail breaks.

If you want to have beautiful healthy nails, it may not cost you a trip to the salon. Commit to a healthier diet, better habits and pick up some pretty nail polish for an at-home manicure. With a little time, discipline and dedication, you can enjoy healthy, strong and shiny nails with little effort.

Dry Lips Chapped Lips

When you greet people, your smile is probably the first thing that catches their attention.

A smile, especially one that reaches the eyes, can be engaging enough to beckon someone�s interest and winning enough to hold their attention.

Oftentimes, people place all the attention on beautiful, white teeth that shine out through your smile. While this is important, the health of your lips is also important.

If your lips are sore and cracked, a smile can be painful and therefore, less engaging.

When you talk, your lips move constantly and therefore dry, cracked lips can create a desire to remain silent.

An ounce of prevention (once or twice a day) is worth a pound of cure (all day long).

Preventative measures can be as simple as:

• Applying a small coat of Vaseline or lip balm when using a dry lipstick.
• Using a bit of lip balm to moisturize as you sleep.
• Using a lip balm before going out into harsh weather, especially one with a good SPF factor to protect them from the sun�s rays.
• Drinking plenty of water to keep your lips hydrated and supple.
• Avoiding the use of lipsticks that can dry out your lips if they have become chapped.
• Resisting the urge to lick your lips (saliva does not moisturize).
• Resisting the urge to nibble at your lips.
• Using a toothbrush with soft bristles to remove flaky skin from your lips.

Remember that pain is unnecessary, lips that hurt can and should be avoided, and there are many products available to help us.

Looking Great at 40

As the adage goes, life begins at 40. Your face may no longer glow with youth like it did when you were still in your twenties, and your body may no longer be as supple as it used to be. Probably, there are some sags and bulges where none used to be.

But despite the ravages of time on her physique, the fact is that a woman in her 40s is much more interesting than a woman in her twenties. She is more seasoned, poised, confident and wise. She knows what she wants and is not afraid to go for it. She has a more definite sense of style � that is, if she allowed herself to develop it.

Sadly, many women simply let themselves go when they reach their 40s. They no longer bother to update their hairstyle and wardrobes. A woman in her 40s may think that because she is not getting any younger anymore, there is no longer any purpose to going out of her way to make herself look good. But that shouldn�t be the case. There is no reason why a woman in her 40s can�t look good. It�s just a way of knowing how.

The first step to looking fabulous at 40 is accepting that you are no longer young and that you cannot turn back the time. The most sophisticated methods of nipping and tucking and other forms of cosmetic surgery will not stop your aging. Face it and let yourself age gracefully.

In relation to this, bear in mind that whatever worked for you in your twenties will no longer work for you now. You shouldn�t worry anymore about following fashion trends either, which has always been more geared towards the young. Besides, dressing young will only have the opposite effect on you: it will just emphasize your age and make you look old. Instead, you should start developing a signature style for yourself.

As you settle into your 40s, there are a few things you should start avoiding. A mini-skirt is one of them. Sure, your legs may still look great. Legs always look great because they are among the parts of our body that age the slowest, but there is nothing sadder to look at than a woman in her 40s wearing those short skirts. Also, try to stay clear of baggy clothes, and instead opt for clothes that would flatter your body�s shape, despite the thickening and the sags.

Once you begin to realize that you do indeed have to start letting go of your young-ish ways and to begin dressing your age, like a stylish woman in her 40s, here are tips that will help you create your signature look:

• Change your hairstyle to something short. Our hair begins to thin as we age, and keeping your hair short gives it a lift and body.
• Lighten up and wear lighter colors near your face. Soft colors, like white, beige and the pastels bring light to your face and lend a glow to it. You can still wear dark colors, but avoid bringing them close to your face.
• Begin wearing collars that hide the wrinkles of your neck and bring attention to your face. A turned-up or a stand-up collar perhaps, or a turtleneck, will do the trick.
• If you have seen Laws of Attraction, that movie where Pierce Brosnan and Julianne Moore played opposing divorce lawyers who eventually fell in love with each other, you would be familiar with the words of Julianne Moores mothers character: The shoulders are always the last to go. She is right. Along with the legs, the shoulders are slow to age. You can wear clothes that flatter your shoulders.
• Bring attention to your legs. Mini-skirts are a no-no, but you can achieve this nonetheless by wearing nice, knee-length skirts with sexy shoes.
• Emulate the styles of Hollywood women who are in their 40s yet still look fabulous.

Life does begin at 40. You may not be young anymore, but you have the poise, the style, the grace and the confidence lacking from women in their 20s. At 40, the best is yet to come and you still have a long way to go.

Blackheads and Whiteheads

Blackheads and Whiteheads: What is the Difference?

The presence of blac

kheads and whiteheads on the skin is a common problem for those in their teens and up. Teenagers and people in their early twenties suffer most from them, but even those who are in their thirties and forties can still have them too, especially those with oily skin.

Both blackheads and

whiteheads are forms of acne. We may have thought of acne as limited to those red, bumpy pustules, but that is not so. All forms of acne are considered disorders of the pilosebaceous units of the skin, which are made up of the sebaceous glands, the hair follicle, and the hair strand itself. And like all acne, the problem with blackheads and whiteheads starts deep down the sebaceous glands, or oil glands.

You see, the pilose

baceous units are the skin�s self-moisturizing mechanism. The sebaceous glands secrete oils called sebum, which are stored in the follicle. When the follicle is full, the oil is spilled off to the skin. The sebum is supposed to keep the skin healthy and moisturized.

But sometimes, that is not the case. Sometimes, the oil is trapped inside the hair follicle instead of flowing onto the skin. When this happens, bacteria develop in the follicle and leads to the infection we know as the pimple. Sometimes, instead of being infected, the follicle just gets all clogged up and forms comedones � the things we call blackheads and whiteheads.

What is the difference between a blackhead and a whitehead? A blackhead is a comedone formed when the opening of the follicle becomes wider than normal. Because the follicle opening is wider, the sebum and the trapped dead skin cells there react chemically with the air, resulting in the oxidation of melanin, which in turn causes the dark coloration of the blackhead.

On the other hand, a whitehead is a comedone formed from a hair follicle that is not open to the air. It is also clogged with sebum and trapped dead skin cells, but the lack of exposure to the air does not lead to the oxidation of melanin, so the clogged matter stays white.

How do we get rid of blackheads and whiteheads? Ridding the skin of acne, not just blackheads and whiteheads, takes time, consistency and effort. It is also very simple. Because acne is not exactly triggered by the food we eat, we do not have to go on a diet. Because acne does not exactly mean that our skin is dirty, we do not have to continually wash our skin. Doing this will rob the skin of its natural moisturizer and will only cause irritation. Washing the face twice a day with mild soap or a facial scrub will do the work. It will take time, but it will do the work.

Blackheads and whiteheads can also be treated using antibacterial products like benzoyl peroxide and tretinoin. Benzoyl peroxide is good for mild cases. It treats the hair follicle so as to reduce the clogging. Tretinoin, on the other hand, forces the closed comedones (the whiteheads) to open up. In this way, the materials clogging the follicle can be easily expunged.

Teen Makeup Tips

Makeup plays an important part of enhancing your natural looks. So it is very important to understand the purpose of each tool as well as using them without overloading your looks.
It is important for young girls who want to wear makeup by knowing that makeup is for enhancing and not by overdoing it. Basic touches of bronze looks well for all types of skin tone. Use a bronzing powder to give you a bronzing look. Use a peach or pink eye shadow, with deep brown or green mascara. Experiment with the colors and let your young and stunning beauty glows.

Foundation Tone
Know that the ultimate purpose of foundation is to protect the skin. For young girls foundation is not commonly essential but if you want to use it, you could pick up colors that would match your skin tone exactly.

School girl makeup
For a perfect school makeup wear use sheer and natural looking. Eye shadow shade�s that looks good are pastel like violet, pink or light blue; you could also look smoky with plums, a black or brown shade. Use a complementing sheer lipstick for light eye wear and dark matte lipstick for smoky looks. Mascara could be use to add a full eye glamour.

Evening wear makeup
For evening occasion like prom, dinner date or simply bar hopping, use stand out shades for makeup. Use light shades of eye shadow like white or cream to the whole eye area from the lid to the brow, and then blend contrast with dark shades such as brown, black or plum to the crease of the eye as visible as possible. Unless you wanted to look a little gothic, never overload these applications. Complement the make up with mascara and lipstick, a shimmering shade would look good for the lips. Another perfect evening makeup is using glitter for the face and body. These is a perfect stand out night glow, use lip gloss or lipstick that has a sparkling glitters or shimmers or even an eye shadow with a nice glam of glitters.

Blusher Color
The shades of the blush that you can choose are dependent on several factors. Whether your skin tone is light, medium or dark, you should relate to the intensity of color that you use and make sure it would adhere to your lipstick. Blush color should not necessarily be of the same shade, but it should be in the same family color. For example, pink blush takes pink lipstick or tan brown blush looks well with dark lipstick.

Blush Application Tips
1. Smile and brush the apple of your cheek the round part.
2. The strokes should blend back towards the hair line.

Long Wear Lipstick Tips

Foundation, a lip brush, and a tissue can boost lipstick�s staying power. They cover lips with a light coat sheer foundation, which serves as a primer for color.
Define your lips with liner, and then use the liner to fill in your entire mouth. Apply lipstick with a lip brush, it helps press in and �set� the color and then blot with a tissue

Creating A Layer
For a sheer, natural finish dip your finger in water, then into pink or red Jell-O powder; rub over lips and top with balm to create an amazing stay-put shade. You can also try layering a clear gloss over a lip stain. Look for one that is not watery. They will bleed less.

All Day Wear
For a long-lasting color apply color and topcoat separately. Most of them work but sometimes they it feel dry and heavy.

Powder Power
To prevent constant touch-ups, put on liner, then lipstick; dab translucent face powder over the mouth; reapply liner and lipstick. Dusting power on top of creams sets them. This trick sure works and it last long.

Makeup Ideas

Copper Top Looks
Metallic copper eyes will make the girl everyone notices at that �first Saturday night back� party! Sweep copper eye shadow on lids. Line lower lashes with black pencil and apply a pinkish-gold gloss and hit the day away.

Electric Liner Looks
Who says you can�t wear bright colors in the fall? Well get up because blue liner is bold but totally wearable. Line your upper lines of the eye with electric-blue liquid eye liner. Glide a wet Q-tip along the top of the line to perfect it. Pair with pink cheeks and lips and you�re off to electrify the guys around.

The sexy penny
Think of creamy metallic, like a Gucci-inspired look, as sparklers for your lids. A tiny smidgen is enough to give your eyes a double-take-worthy spark, especially if you have blue or green eyes. Hazel and brown peepers light up with blue or violet shades.

Here's How:
1. Draw a sideways V on the inner and outer corner of your eyes, living the center of each lid nude.
2. Add mascara and keep your lips mellow with clear gloss.

The mix guru
Create a rainbow color by blending pink and coral blush and yellow eye shadow.

Here's How:
1. Smile and blend hot pink blush on the apples of your cheeks.
2. Sweep coral blush along your cheekbones.
3. Finish by brushing yellow shadows from the outer half of your cheekbones up to your temples.
4. Dab a nude gloss and your set!

Ripe Red Lips

Wouldn�t you like to have luscious, kissable red lips? A lot of women are afraid of painting their lips a bright, vivid red for various reasons, but mostly because they are not sure if they can wear red well.

But contrary to what a lot of women think, it is not that hard to put bright red lips on effectively and make it work for you. It is a matter of knowing how and what you should keep in mind when you do.

First, you should pick a shade of red that suits the color of your skin. Take note that the paler your skin tone is, the bigger the red lipstick will make your lips look. If your skin has a pinkish tone, you should opt for plum reds. On the other hand, if you have yellowish tones on your skin, a red lipstick that looks warm and with a brown base would flatter your skin more.

Red lipstick also makes the lips seem bigger, pouting and more prominent. This is good for women with thin lips; a good red lipstick will add volume to their lips. For women with fuller lips, however, may want to use red lipsticks that are more dark-hued, such as reds with browns or reds with blues or purples, rather than the bright hues. Using reds with browns or blues will minimize their lips.

To apply your red lipstick that will give you the maximum effect, put first a light layer of foundation over your lips. When the foundation has dried, dust your lips with face powder. Afterwards, line your lips with a lipliner, but make sure that your lipliner matches the color of your lipstick. This is especially important if your lipstick tends to bleed from your lips.

When applying the lipstick, use a lip brush rather than smearing the stick on your lips. This will keep you from putting on too much. Always start at the middle of your lip and work your way to the corners. When you are done, blot it out with a tissue and then apply a second layer. This will make your lipstick last longer on your lips.

Speaking of making your lipstick last longer, you can dust your lips with a thin layer of face powder when you are done applying your lipstick. This will help you gain a few more hours on the lipstick. Other things to keep in mind are to avoid chewing on the lips and to keep the lips moisturized.

You should also remember that if you are going to paint your lips a vivid red, you should compensate and keep your makeup balanced by toning down on the eye shadow. Vivid red lips go with light eye shadow; better yet, lay off the eye shadow completely if you are going for red lips and just put mascara on your eyelashes. If you are going to pair bright red lips with heavy eye makeup, you will only end up looking like a clown.

Red lips are always gorgeous and kissable. Go ahead and try it.

Heat and Humidity Defying Makeup Tips

By Kathryn M. D'Imperio

Time and again purses left in automobiles result in molten lipsticks, smeary eye shadow and super-sticky mascara. Makeup applied to one�s face fails to fare much better, with smudgy eye makeup and smeary foundation rubbing off every which way.

Looking your best becomes a bit trickier when the warmer weather teases your tresses and melts your makeup quicker than you can bat an eye. A fully made-up mug may not be conducive to looking fresh and fabulous on a hot, sticky day, but a few heatproof makeup tricks and tips could really help you save face, literally!

Lip smackin� fun, refreshing spray and sun protection�

For a cool, tasty treat, keep a stick or two of your favorite lip balm in the refrigerator. Fruity favorites become even more refreshing when chilled. Many brands of Chap Stick, lip gloss, lip balm and other lip treatments now offer products with SPF 15 to prevent burned lips. Keep an eye out for these sweet treats, as few things taste worse than burnt lips!

While adding items to your refrigerator, consider placing an invigorating body spray in the fridge to chill for a super-uplifting pick-me-up during the day�s hottest hours. For skin protection from the sun, also keep an eye out for special facial and body lotions that contain sunscreen along with the beauty ingredients for soft skin, greaseless feel and a nice fragrance.