Herbal Remedies and Alternative Medicine Information

So many women exercise because they feel they “have too”, but they really don’t enjoy it.  I always ask my clients what exercise they enjoy doing.  I had one client that said the last time she enjoyed any type of exercise was when she was doing ballet as a young child.  I said, “Great!  Join an adult ballet class.”  So she did and she absolutely loved it!  Soon she was taking up my yoga class which she loved even more.  When you do what you love its no longer a chore…plus you’ll love how you feel and the toning results!

There’s quite the misconception about pregnancy and food consumption.  Many women believe that once they’re pregnant they can eat anything they want.  The fact is when you’re pregnant it is more important than ever to eat healthy, and nourish yourself and your baby with healthy foods.  Eating for two will do NO good for either of you.  You’ll put on unnecessary weight that will be hard to lose after baby, plus it will make you feel sluggish while you’re pregnant.  It’s very easy to get the extra calories you need to support the growth of your baby.  Just listen to your body and eat the way you ate prior to pregnancy (well that’s assuming you ate pretty healthy before baby!).  If you’re craving sweets head for fruit or a smoothy first.  The key is to eat when you’re hungry and choose foods that will nourish both you and your baby!

Have you noticed that when your stressed or anxious you crave sweets?  There’s nothing wrong with eating sweets in moderation, but it becomes a problem is you’re eating sweets and you’re unaware of when you’re doing it.  Start keeping a journal and notice when and how often you crave sweets.  Is it when you’re low on energy?  frustrated? bored? Once you understand your pattern you can then chose a behavior that won’t pack on the pounds.  Call a girlfriend, go for a walk, read a book or magazine then ask yourself if you still want sweets.  Often we crave sweets to relieve stress or anxiety, so when you replace the behavior w/ a different one your craving will go away…and the result is a reduction in calorie intake and ultimately weight loss!

Exfoliating the skin on a regular basis works wonders for the skin as it removes the dead cells that form a layer on the skin. This results in a healthier glow and the skin feels fresh and taut. This is perhaps one of the easiest ways of attaining a healthy skin.

When exfoliation is done on a regular basis, the skin achieves a radiant glow and feels smoother. It also reduces the fine lines on the skin, which would otherwise ultimately result in wrinkles. The blood circulation improves, and the toxins present in the blood are removed. Although exfoliating is highly recommended, dermatologists prescribe it should be done with care and gently. Once or twice a week on the face and two or three times a week to the body should be sufficient.

How to exfoliate

• Before starting the actual process of exfoliation, the face and body should be cleaned thoroughly.
• The cleanser should be applied on a wet sponge or loofah. Wet the body well, and apply the cleanser.
• Rinse thoroughly. Now the actual process of exfoliating can start.
• The exfoliator is smeared on the sponge or loofah and the spread all over the body and face in a circular motion.
• Care should be taken when applying to sensitive areas like the neck and thighs. Special attention should be given to the back of arms, knees and elbows.
• Working your way up from the ankles, the whole body and face should be covered.
• Remember to use a good body lotion after exfoliating, as the skin tends to become dry.

Using Steam for exfoliation

Steaming is another excellent method of exfoliating. This can be done a couple of times a week. Fresh herbs can be added to the boiling water. This produces a wonderful fragrance, and acts very well on the skin. Steaming opens the pores, thus cleansing it. Once the steaming is done, the face should be thoroughly rinsed and then patted dry.

Using Masks for exfoliation

Masks are another effective way to exfoliate your skin. But they should not be used very often, as they dry up a lot of the natural oils in the face. Masks should not be put too close to the eyes or mouth.

Home methods to exfoliate

• One of the most effective yet simple and cheap exfoliants is the homemade paste of mashed papayas spread all over the face and body. Make sure the body is wet before applying it.
• Another good exfoliant is wet sand. This aids in the improvement of the blood circulation in the body.
• Oatmeal mixed with honey, lemon juice and milk is another very good exfoliant.

Apart from being cost effective, another benefit of using homemade exfoliants is that they are natural, pure and fresh, with no chemicals added to them.

Things to be kept in mind while exfoliating

• Always use a good cleanser before exfoliating your skin.
• Lenses should be removed before doing the exfoliation on the face.
• Remember to use a good lotion all over the body after exfoliating.
• Do not over do it. Once or twice a week should be enough to help your skin regenerate and glow. Exfoliating several times a week can damage your skin.

One thing I tell my clients that seems to have a big impact is “We are our children’s role models and they watch our habits”.  Eating healthy and exercising will have a strong impact on your children.  I’ve had clients tell me that once they started exercising that their children wanted to do what they were doing.  They said their children copied them! Ask yourself, “Do I want my children to grow up with similar habits and issues that I’m dealing with?”  If your answer is “no”, then it’s time to change.  Start today with one simple change…go for a 5 min. walk, drink a glass of water instead of soda.  Small changes, one step at a time will result in big results!