Some diets are instituted because people are suffering from specific health challenges. Other diets are started simply because dieters would like to lose an amount of weight. There will also be dieters, who would like to maintain their current weight. Diet, and regular exercise practices, are wonderful ways to accomplish these goals.

One must understand that they need to set obtainable goals, before looking at the big picture. So as a guide you can tell yourself that you want to lose 50 pounds in 5 months.  So instead of focusing on the overall 50 pounds.  Think about your monthly goals, say you are going to lose 10 pounds each month until your weight loss target is reached.  The end result will be a great one, and you will feel proud of yourself for sticking to your goal.   And after you can reward yourself with that new red dress or indulge in a big bowl of chocolate fudge ice cream that you have been missing!

Weight Loss Tips

• Take the first step by deciding to lose weight

• Set a weight loss goal and work towards it daily through diet & Exercise

• Dedicate at least an hour to fitness daily

• Set a schedule and fit work out time into your daily routine

• Go at your own pace and increase intensity levels when you feel that you are ready

• Partner up- working with a buddy helps keep you motivated and you will be more likely to stick to your plans

• Invest in home-fitness equipment to sneak in quick workouts when you can’t make it to the gym

• Exercise on an empty stomach- this helps you burn more fat because the fat is being used as energy

• Strength Train- trust me you are not going to bulk up.  2-3 times a week will have you looking lean

• Keep an exercise log to track your progress

10 Days to Silky-Smooth Hands and Cuticles

Exfoliate your hands every other day in the shower for two minutes per hand. Use a scrub with an alpha-hydroxy, beta-hydroxy, or glycolic acid.

Clip the cuticles. Be sure to only clip the tip or edge of each cuticle, otherwise you can cause a cuticle sore.

Treat the hands twice daily with a moisturizing-exfoliating cream. Choose a moisturizer that contains both mineral oil and glycolic acid.

The secret weapon to Beautiful Hands

You can also try a Vaseline treatment for dry hands. Simply saturate the hands in Vaseline before bed and cover with disposable gloves. In the morning just wash the Vaseline off and enjoy its moisturizing effects for beautiful silky hands.

Popping Pimples!

The most popular No-No! It is natural to want acne pimples to go away fast. However, being hasty is counter-productive. Trauma and infection can result form the use of non-sterile tools (i.e. fingernails, safety pins) which slows healing. You can develop scabs, dark marks due to a lot of melanin pigment in your skin and makeup. First and foremost, do not pick or pop! Schedule to see a dermatologist to evaluate your skin. In the meantime, wash your face everyday with an over the counter salicylic acid cleanser followed by a dab of benzoyl peroxide cream to specific pimples which will quickly dry them. To deeply clean pores, use a facial exfoliating scrub every 2-3 days which help to reduce pimples and improve skin surface. For any dark areas that result form the picking, use a Q-tip to directly apply an OTC skin whitener which contains Hydroquinone 1-2%.

Not feeding your hair and skin!

Like plants, hair and skin need to be nourished from within at their root on daily basis but we have not been used to doing this. Traditionally, we have been using the topical approach which can not work within. The phrase, “You are what you eat” is very true.

However, the basic diet alone is simply not what is truly needed to support your hair roots and skin which is why you need to supplement your diet.

Not washing your hair enough!

We many all be guilty of washing our hair every 2 weeks but this is a no-no! Contrary to those believing that when your hair itches, it is growing. This is a myth and actually means that your hair root needs a wash.

Foot Pampering Routine

Foot Pampering for tired feet

For this routine you will need a foot scrub, foaming bath gel, a large foot bowl, 1 large and 2 small soft towels, a pumice stone and pedicure tools.

Step 1. Half fill a large bowl with warm water. Place the bowl on a large towel on the floor. Add a little foaming gel and perhaps a couple drops of essential oils. Swish the water around with your hand to create plenty of bubbles and to get release the aroma of essential oil. Now put both feet into the water, then sit back and relax as you soak them for 5 minutes. After that remove your feet from the water bowl and rub on the floor towel to remove excess water.

Step 2. Put a small towel on the right knee and rest the left foot on top. Massage the foot scrub all over the sole, paying extra attention to any rough skin and rub into cuticles. Place your foot in a plastic bag and secure.

Step 3: Repeat the above 2 steps on the right foot. Wait for 10 minutes and them remove the bag from the feet. Dip both feet into the water. This will have cooled down, so it will stimulate the circulation.

Step 4: Remove your feet from the bowl. Place your left foot on the right knee. Take the pumice stone and rub over the sole. Use firm pressure on the heal and ball, and light pressure on the arch. Now rub the pumice stone all over the top of the foot using light pressure. This helps to improve the skin texture and bring nutrient-rich blood to the surface which will help improve the appearance. Repeat on the right foot.

Step 5: Trim the nails straight across and then smooth the edges with an emery board. Use a cotton bud to apply cuticle remover, wait for a few minutes and hen gently push the cuticle back with hoof stick. Soak the feet again and carefully clean under the nail. Now dry the feet and apply base coat, polish and top coat.

Having made your soap learn to use it properly. Begin by splashing your face with lots of warm water. Then work up a good lather in your hands from a bar of herbal soap appropriate for your skin type. Spread this on your face and gently massage upwards and outwards, skimming lightly around the eyes and paying special attention to the nose and chin. Now sluice the soap off with lots of warm water. Run a basin of fresh, barely tepid water and add a tablespoon of cinder vinegar to it. This will help restore the acid mantle your skin so badly need to fend off bacteria and infection for its protection. Splash at least twenty handfuls of this rinse on to your face. Palm your skin dry, that is, pat away the water using the palms of your hands, leaving it slightly damp so that you can apply a moisturizer. This method of drying does not roughen the skin cells as an abrasive towel does and much more importantly it leaves some of the water on the skin’s surface to moisturize it and to be held there by a cling film of skin moisturizer.

Never use large quantities of cold water as a rinse. This will only aggravate sensitive skin and thread veins and make the sebaceous glands pump out oil even harder after their initial cold shock. If you like, you can spray your face with a plat mister containing one the mineral water or herbal vinegar or wine mixes suitable for your skin type. Leave this untouched on the skin for a few minutes, then apply a layer of moisturizer over it.

For those still not totally convinced by the argument in favor of soap, soapwort is an excellent herbal substitute which can be used on any skin type. The roots yields a lot of mucilage which mixed with water, resembles soap in solution.

How Night cream benefits your skin?

The cell renewal of skin is more active in the night and night creams are designed in such a way to make the most of these hours. Using a night cream daily gives your skin the chance to repair the damage caused by makeup, air pollution and ultra-violet sun rays. Night creams are particularly beneficial for dry and very dry skin type when used daily. Choose the formulation carefully on the basis of how dry your skin is – it is important that your skin should not feel overloaded.

Use a goodnight cream daily!

Applying Night Cream

1. Dab a little night cream in your palm and then gently rub your both hands together. This way the cream is more easily absorbed.
2. Applying night cream before going to bed means waking up softer, smoother complexion. Skin’s performance can boost if night cream is applied to slightly damp skin as it seals in extra moisture.

Here is a good recipe for homemade night cream

Nourishing Night Cream – As we get older, our skin tends to become dry and needs more intensive care. Jasmine and rose oils helps to redydrates the skin and frankincense helps in reducing wrinkles and restores tone to slack muscles.

For making this cream you will require 50 gram jar of un-perfumed base cream, 3 drops of rose essential oil, 2 drops of frankincense oil and 1 drop of jasmine essential oil. Mix well the oils to the cream. Apply a little of the cream just before going to bed daily.

Mask It!

Face Masks Application Benefits

Choose from the wonderful selection of face masks on the market to find one that is perfect for your skin.

Moisturizing Face Masks
These are ideal for dry complexions because they boost the moisture levels of your skin. This means they can help banish dry parches, flakiness and even fine lines. They work quickly like an intensive moisturizer and are usually left on the skin for 5-10 minutes before being removed with a tissue. The slight residue left on your skin will continue to work until you next cleanse your skin. They are a soothing treat, particularly after too much sun, or when your skin feels “tight”.

Clay and mud Face Masks 
Ideal for oily skins, they absorb excess grease and impurities. They are an ideal way to close open pores, reduce shine and clear troublesome blemishes. They dry on your skin over a period of 5-15 minute and then you simply wash them away with warm water, rinsing dead skin cells, dirt and grime away at the same time. They are a fantastic pick-me-up for skin.

Exfoliating Facial Masks 
Masks with a light exfoliating action can keep your skin in tip-top condition. Even normal skins sometimes suffer from the build-up of dead skin cells, which can create a dull look and lead to future problems such as blackheads. Masks that cleanse and exfoliate are the perfect solution. They smooth on like a clay mask, and are left to dry. When you rinse them away, their tiny abrasive particles slough away the skin’s surface debris.

Peel-off Face Packs 
Ideal for all skin types, the gel is smoothed on, left to dry and peeled off. This light formulation refreshes oily areas, clears clogged pores and nourishes drier skins.

Gel Face Masks 
These are suitable for sensitive skins, as well as oily complexions, as they have a wonderfully soothing and cooling effect.

1. Warm soapy water
2. Cotton
3. Orange Sticks
4. Towel
5. Nail File or Emery Board f. Nail Scissors
6. Base Coat
7. Nail Polish i. Nail Polish Remover

Steps for Manicure At Home

Step 1.
File your nails into shape with an emery boards or a nail file to make a smooth even edge. Work with one-way strokes, starting from the corner and working towards the tip. Use long strokes and never saw at the nail.

Step 2.
Rinse your hands and dry them carefully. Remove old nail polish using an acetone-free remover and cotton.

Step 3.
Soak your nails for three or four minutes in warm soapy water to which a few drops of lemon juice and olive oil have been added. This helps to soften and clean hands at the same time. Dry them carefully. Dig your nails into a soapy sponge to clean under the nail tips.

Step 4.
Gently lift up the skin around the nails with a orange sticks. Take care not to break the skin, which is called the cuticle. Under the cuticle the new nail is growing.

Step 5.
Hang nails are broken bits of dry skin around the nail. They can be very painful and the skin can become infected. Cut the hangnail close to the skin, with sharp nail scissors. Use hand cream to keep the skin supple.

Step 6.
Lay your hand on a flat surface and brush on a base coat to prevent the nails from staining. This also strengthens your nails and allows the polish to be applied more smoothly.

Step 7.
Apply polish, starting with one brushstroke in the middle of the nail and then one on each side.

Step 8.
When dry apply the second coat of color in the same way. Be sure to wait until each coat is quite dry before applying the next.

Step 9.
To avoid chipping, apply a base coat to seal the polish underneath.