7 Tips for Beauty and Fitness

You want to look and feel your best? Take action. Don't try and complicate the issue. No excuses.

Begin.

1) You need to exercise. It's the truth, and for some of us, not the reality we want to hear. Stop wasting your time with the latest workout trends. It's not working; it's not going to work. Be wise with your time.

On a cellular level, your cells use either fat or sugar. Either you're burning sugar, or you are in fat-burning mode. When someone gets on a treadmill for an hour, eventually, they will be in what is commonly referred to as the fat-burning zone. In this zone, you do, indeed burn fat. For the next 24-48 hours, though, you will burn the opposite, which is sugar. Correct this by shortening your cardio workouts to something rapid and something that gets your heart rate up immediately. This way, you will first burn off sugar but, for the next 24-48 hours, you will be in the opposite mode, fat burning.

You can just run in place, moving your arms, mostly looking crazy for about 60 seconds. Move as fast as you can, and your heart rate will go up quickly. A mini-trampoline is excellent too. Now, during this time, you're burning sugar. Rest a couple of minutes and repeat this process a few more times. You're done. Now, for the next 24-48 hours, you are going to be burning fat, not sugar. You will notice this is easy, you will have more time to do other things, and you will be losing weight a lot quicker. I have attached a video for you if you would like more of an explanation of how this works.

As you continue and begin to become stronger, your style will change. You will need more than a mere 60 seconds, but, I use this only as a starting point. Many people haven't worked out regularly in years. A starting point can be discouraging. It becomes easier to give up before you even begin. What you need to know is that just starting for a mere 60 seconds is a perfectly fine place to begin. Each day, you can try and push yourself a bit more. Change can be hard, but taking even tiny steps is better than doing nothing.

2) Weight training is also great to incorporate into your exercise program. You can work out at home or go to a gym. Most workouts are pretty generic. There's nothing I can share about weight training that you haven't seen before. Work the various muscles you wish by doing three sets of 10, which is relatively standard. If you're using lighter weights, you can do 1 set of 30. It depends on your primary goals.

Rotate which area to work on - Mondays, Wednesday, and Fridays can be arms and abs. Tuesdays and Thursdays - chest and legs. Switch this up the following week. Watch your posture, make sure you are patient, and always be aware of anyone around you. Pure awareness and patience will help avoid injuries to yourself and anyone else.

Building your muscles by lifting weights is the best way to burn fat. Having muscle burns fat. If you are starting, begin with a small weight and many reps. After a time, increase your weight and lower reps. Keep in mind; initial results will be slow, but, once you get over that initial "hump," it becomes much more manageable.

3) Supplements. Do you need them? If you already eat relatively healthy, then it's likely supplements would be a waste but, let's face it, you probably wouldn't be reading this if you were doing so well in the diet department.

Take a daily vitamin. Be aware that the outer shell, in almost all cases, prevents the body from breaking down the pill. Often, they can travel right through you. Don't worry; they aren't entirely useless. All you have to do is break them in half before you swallow them, allowing the core to be exposed. You should have no trouble digesting them and gaining the vitamins that are promised to you.

As for other types of supplements, calcium is a must, especially for women. Calcium has many benefits for the body and works with many other minerals to ensure your body is running at peak performance.

Magnesium is also important. If you take too much calcium, you will become constipated. Magnesium stops this and works hand in hand with calcium. Buying a bottle of Milk of Magnesia will work. Both calcium and magnesium can be purchased at a low price.

For healthy skin and bones, take silicon. You may have to order over the internet or, go to a health food store to find this. Silicon is a miracle supplement. It helps keep your skin looking young. It also works with calcium to keep your bones healthy and strong. Your hair will be shiny, and, your nails will grow. It is also suitable for your joints. It is one supplement that has not been talked about enough. You can find silicon in liquid form and capsules. The liquid form seems to be ideal.

Fish oils. This supplement helps hydrate the skin and feed the brain. You can take them via capsules. You can also eat fish, but many times, this is not enough, so take the supplement on days you don't eat fish.

4) Skincare - Okay, this isn't going to be a simple answer because we all have different types of skin and as we grow older, you'll be amazed at just how your skin and its needs will change as years pass.

If you have any skin condition like rosacea, severe acne, eczema, etc., you must seek treatment from a doctor. Do NOT attempt to put anything foreign on your face. It's not worth the risk. Avoid products with fragrances.

A great way to exfoliate is to use plain yogurt. Make sure you've washed your face first. Apply on face and allow it to dry. Rinse face, and follow up with a moisturizer.

Always keep the skin around your eyes moisturized. You don't need fancy creams. Try and use something that has Vitamin E. Glycerine is also favored. It's cheap, it lasts for a long time, and it's great for your skin. Make sure you do not get any product inside your eyes.

I'm not knocking expensive eye creams. There are some excellent eye creams available. I have found that typically you will notice some result in a few weeks and then, without warning, the product seems to do nothing. I can't speak for all products, obviously, but this has been my experience. Just be gentle with your fingers around the eye area, keep it moisturized, drink lots of water daily, and you'll look fine. If all else fails, you can get fillers.

Serums are quite popular. Vitamin C mixed with Hyaluronic Acid can be found online or at some retail stores. It will keep your skin hydrated and fresh looking. If you are interested in using more products like Retinol or Alpha and Beta Hydroxy Acids, be sure you research what combinations can work and which ones to avoid. Just like medications, you need to be cognizant of what products you're mixing.

5) What to eat and drink? We all know that water is right for you. Many people are very dehydrated and don't even know it. Dehydration has also been linked to pain, fatigue, and headaches. Generally, you will find that about half a gallon of water works best. I prefer distilled water. It's clean and absent of minerals or other contaminants.

Sure, we can drink spring water or tap water, and advertisers try and tell us we need these minerals but, the idea that a person gets all their needed dosage of minerals from water is ludicrous. The trace amounts found are meaningless and take away from the real taste of water. The choice is yours. Don't agonize over it.

Also, try not to get sucked up in all the latest pH craze nonsense. "Oh look, high pH water! It's great for you." Oh, baloney! Our bodies already regulate our pH. Sorry, but water isn't going to cure your cancer, and neither is your weed. Year after year, people get some bizarre idea in their head because they learned a rudimentary factoid about something, then they apply the same approach to everything. It's foolish.

Yes, you can say cancer is acidic. True, but trying to suggest that drinking high pH water will somehow fix this is a conclusion made based only on that one stated fact and not based on actual research and using the scientific method. Always be careful to avoid trying to extrapolate from one general point and attempting to apply that in such a broad manner.

Alcohol should be avoided. You don't have to become a pearl-clutcher. Just use in moderation.

I'm not going to waste your time telling you that fruits and veggies are right for you. It seems like most the stuff I run across is just basic, every day, recycled crap that everyone already knows. Who cares?

Vegetarian and Vegan diets are also popular online. Many vegan advocates tend to behave like a cult and will go, full-on keyboard warrior if you dare disagree with them on any point they make. Please do your best to avoid these types of people, as they do not represent the whole.

Vegan may be okay for some but, the reality is, animal products are in many food items and almost impossible to indeed avoid. Many animal products can be found in modern medicines. Some heart valves are replaced with pig valves. A true vegan lifestyle can be near impossible, and for many, it's not realistic. Vegans love to claim that a person can eat on a few dollars a day but, by the time you're done paying for supplements that you will need, or the fruits and veggies, you will be left with nothing. Ultimately the claim is untrue. All of your time will be spent on finding out what you can and cannot eat and later scream at other people about what they are eating. That can't be healthy!

A neutral ground to this nonsense is vegetarian. You won't have to become a food tyrant, but you will be able to cut out lots of unhealthy junk food like cheeseburgers. Ultimately you cut out the meat but allow yourself to eat eggs, milk, and cheese. By doing this, you can avoid having to take supplements for Vitamin D, vitamin B12, and omega-3.

Whatever type of diet you choose, if you want to get healthy, you will have to make changes to what you're currently doing because it's not working. It would be best if you started with portions. Do you eat steak? Eat 25% less. Do you eat fruit? Double it. Ice cream looking delicious behind the glass doors in the grocery store? Look for the one with fewer calories. Small changes lead to significant results.

6) Teeth. Keep them clean. Drinking only water will make it easier for you to keep your teeth free from cavities. It's perfectly okay to use regular toothpaste. I know people these days are concerned over fluoride but, the danger is always in the dosage. Cleaning your teeth for 5 minutes or so a day is not going to harm you, give you cancer, or some other nonsense. Always floss!

7) Hair. Take care of your hair by keeping it clean, avoid dyes, or perms - IF you can. Hair can range from crazy curls, thin and limp, to thick and straight. It's best to talk to your hair professional if you have any unique concerns about caring for your hair type.

About once a month, it's a good idea to do a deep cleanse, something that will remove any buildup that resulted from oils, shampoo, conditioner, and styling products. Use one part vinegar and two parts water. Run through the hair slowly, rub into the scalp, and wait a few minutes. Rinse off and reveal shiny, smooth hair.

Always give it time. If you forget one day, no matter, start over the next day. Be consistent and make adjustments when needed. Believe in yourself and stay confident.