The Youth Fountain Blog – Health, Beauty, Wellness, Weight Loss, Weight Gain, Anti Aging
31May/090

Joining the Discovery Channel Weight Loss Challenge




Stop being a couch potato! Drop that crispy, fried chicken thigh and don't open your refrigerator door to look for your Snickers bar! It's time for you get rid of these unhealthy habits and start doing things that will make you fit and healthy. If you don't where to start, join the Discovery Channel Weight Loss Challenge.

The challenge began as an eight-week fitness and health program started to kick off the New Year right but now the program is expanded to be a comprehensive health and weight loss challenge to keep Americans fit and healthy for life.

The Discovery Channel weight loss challenge's program will provide its participants expert advice on fitness, weight loss and having a healthy lifestyle. Included also in the program are customized meal plans with over 1,000 recipes. These meal plans are based on real foods that you can easily buy from your local grocery or market. Plus, they can also be customized for diabetics, vegetarians, people with heart problems and kids.

Unlike fad diets and plans this has medical-supervision. Throughout the program, you will be guided by medical professional and fitness trainers. Plus the meal plans in the program are based on the most recent 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, by the US Department of Health and Human Services and the US Department of Agriculture.

The Discovery Channel Weight Loss challenge is open to any US resident aged 8 and up. Families and friends may also join as a group. Children (8 - 12 year olds) who want to enroll in the program must be enrolled with their family.

The best thing about this weight loss and fitness program? The Discovery Channel weight loss challenge is free and signing-up is a breeze. Just visit their website, complete the form and you're done.

31May/090

Weight Loss – Exposed! Weight Loss For Wedding Secrets!




Weddings are the cause of much stress for brides and grooms alike. The event is enough to turn anyone into a monstrous "bride-zilla" You picture your big day to be something out of a fairytale: beautiful weather, doves, flowers everywhere; but after day-dreaming you snap back to reality and realize that your body needs some serious work if you are going to resemble the fairy princess you imagined.

For many ladies out there Weight loss for weddings is a major issue. Because wedding dresses today are sleeker and more revealing than in years past, the shoulder, back, and arm areas are usually of highest concern for most when discussing weight loss for weddings. Almost all women see their wedding day as the most important day of their lives and want to look their best. It's the time where a lot of women finally decide to incorporate a weight loss plan into their lives because of that goal.

As with any weight-loss plan, diet and exercise go hand it hand and you cannot have the one without the other. The amount of time you have before the big day would also help in determine exactly what kind of exercise regime you would need to follow in order for your "weight loss for wedding plan" to be effective.

While it is not smart to crash diet or starve yourself just to fit into your wedding gown, there are several things that you can do to naturally and effectively drop a few extra pounds and tone up, so that you will not only look your best on your big day, but feel your best too!

The more time you have to implement your "weight loss for wedding " plan, the better . A bridal "boot camp" at least six months before the wedding that includes a balance of cardiovascular and strength training for about an hour a day, three to four days per week is the ideal.

However, if, like myself, you are a habitual procrastinator with less than six months to go, prepare to spend most of your free time in the gym. "The less time you have, the more time you have to dedicate to working out.

Experts say a weight loss for wedding plan with a goal of loosing about a kilo a week is reasonable. For those with weddings many months away, it is recommended setting short-term goals - like a couple kilos per month, rather than just 20 kilos before the wedding. This will allow you to enjoy short-term success and stop you from becoming discouraged or disheartened.

For brides- and grooms-to-be who want to achieve sensible and lasting weight loss before their weddings, a well balance eating plan is essential. Ensure that you eat smaller portions and limit the highly fatty and surgery snacks from your diet. Incorporate more vegetables and fruits into your daily diet and choosing low fat meant and dairy products will help the cause.

Drinking water and green tea are also vital; these will not only flush out your system to accelerate weight loss but will make your skin radiant pending the upcoming event.

31May/090

Increase Your Health and Wellness




Health and Wellness. It is definitely one of the hottest topics you hear about today. It should be. After all, if you cannot function in life at an optimum level, your quality of life diminishes. We are all concerned about our health and well being, and we should be, so we need to find out how we can increase in our health and wellness. There are many ways that we can increase our health and wellness but where to start may be different depending on how much you need to overcome.

For example, for people with addictions such as smoking and alcohol abuse, they need to get help with these as well as utilizing the tips that will be shared next. The best thing to do when endeavoring to begin any lifestyle change is to realize that it will take time. Small lifestyle changes will make a big difference in the long term.Some examples of simple things you can do to improve your health are to drink more water, eat more vegetables, and exercise daily. Breathing deeply, getting a good nights sleep, and stretching are all simple things you can do to improve your health.

Some other things are is to find a workout buddy, pack your lunch, watch your caffeine and junk food intake, and enjoy healthy fats found in nuts and seafood in moderation. Of course, none of these changes will become permanent unless you make the commitment to yourself and never give up. Having a mindset of constant persistence and drive will help you to reach all your goals in life, not just your health and fitness goals. Be determined, plan carefully and act. If you have a fallback, get right back up.

31May/090

Interested In A Spa Vacation?




Today Norm Goldman, Editor of Sketchandtravel & Bookpleasures interviews Susie Ellis, President of Spa Finder Inc.

Norm:

Could you tell us a little about yourself and your expertise in spas, and why you became interested in them?

Susie:

I was athletic in my youth and naturally gravitated toward being as healthy as possible. After college in the mid 70's, I began working at the Golden Door Spa which, unbeknownst to me at the time, was the top spa in the country. After spending many years on staff, I became enthralled with how people's lives were transformed after just a one-week stay at this famous place. I decided to make spa my life's work, and the combination of movement, good nutrition, spa therapies and a mind/body/spirit approach to wellness became a passion. And lucky for me, the spa industry, which was just emerging at the time, was poised for explosive growth.

Norm:

Why have spas continued to grow and have become popular over the past several years?

Susie:

I see three general trends that have come together to precipitate the popularity of spas.

1. The aging baby boomer. This demographic wants to maintain youth and vigor. Spas are a perfect place to achieve these goals.

2. Stress. The non-stop bombardment of information and connectivity is creating a need for people to have places to decompress, de-stress, slow down and pay attention to their body, mind and spirit.

3. A troubled health care system means people of all ages must become more responsible for their wellness and health.

Norm:

How do you go about identifying top-notch romantic spas in terms of quality of treatment, fitness, relaxation, location, atmosphere, and staff?

Susie:

Truly the best way to identify romantic spas is to consult the romantic/honeymoon spa category on www.spafinder.com. There are almost 50 romantic spas listed. Spa Finder's mission is to connect people with their ideal spa experience, and we also present spas in 20 other categories such as: weight loss spas, spas for horseback riding, hiking spas, spas for yoga, etc.

Norm:

As a follow up which ones would make the top ten on your list?

Susie:

Here are a few of my favorite romantic spas in the U.S.:

Mirbeau, New York

Chateau Elan, Georgia

Miramante Resort & Spa, California

Silverado, California

Emerson, New York

The Spa at Sundance, Utah

Hampton Retreats, New York

Mana Lani , Hawaii

Sanctuary on Camelback Mountain, Arizona

Westglow, North Carolina

Outside of the U.S.:

Brenner's Park, Baden Baden, Germany

CuisinArt Resort & Spa, Anguilla

El Santuario, Mexico

Samas, Park Kenmare Hotel, Ireland

Echo Valley Ranch Resort, Canada

Norm:

What are the benefits of spa treatments for honeymooners and romantic getaways for couples in search of de-stress?

Susie:

There are many ways to de-stress and spas specialize in this. Exercise is an excellent de-stresser. Bathing in hot water is a de-stresser. Massages are for many the ultimate de-stresser. At spas people typically leave their outside world behind, they slow down and their bodies become more relaxed. A spa has nurturing staff and there is lovely food that doesn't intoxicate but rather revitalizes. I think that what spas do is help us get back to who we really are and connecting at that level is always romantic.

Norm:

What spa treatments are especially recommended for those new to the spa experience?

Susie:

I think a good place to start for a newcomer is with a Swedish Massage and a facial. These are still the most favorite spa treatments because people love them. Although there are many wonderful treatments on most spa's menus, such as hot stone massage, Ayruvedic treatments or even body scrubs and wraps, I would not recommend them for the first time spa-goer.

For a first time romantic experience, I would suggest choosing a "couple's massage" where both of you are in the same room for your treatment. Sometimes this can include a bathing ritual for the two of you together before or after...very romantic!

And finally, if a spa has a "signature treatment" that might also be a good place for a first time spa-goer to begin. Often this is an experience with more than one element - like a scrub and a massage, or a foot ritual and massage, etc.

And I do suggest that a person let the receptionist know that this is their first time spa experience so that the attendant and therapist can be a bit more thorough about explaining procedures and protocol.

Norm:

What is meant by "destination spas," and how do you differentiate them from other spas as well as between themselves?

Susie:

That's a great question and I'm glad you asked. In the world of spas we segment them into various categories. The most general categories are resort/hotel spas, day spas and destination spas. The resort/hotel spa is part of a hotel or resort where there are also activities such as golf, tennis, fine dining, etc. The spa is one of the amenities. A day spa is a place where people go for a spa experience but do not stay overnight - this can be for one spa treatment or for several or even for an entire day. Then there is the destination spa. Think of them as places to stay overnight with programs that makes it a full immersion spa experience. In other words, everyone is there for the spa experience. Canyon Ranch Health Resorts and the Golden Door are good examples of a destination spa. La Costa or The Doral are examples of resort/hotel spas and Bliss or Elizabeth Arden's Red Door are examples of day spas.

Norm:

Can you tell us something about the new developments and trends in the spa industry, particularly as it affects those couples seeking romantic getaways together with spa treatments?

Susie:

We are seeing a variety of trends in the spa industry. I will share with you the 10 trends that we predicted in January of this year:

Medical spas (medicine and spas coming together)

People mixing business and spas

The arrival of the "destination day spa"

More affordable spas and more inclusive

International treatments and unique and inviting spas internationally

Spa cuisine going mainstream

Travelers deciding on where to go and stay depending on the spa

Pets are welcomed at some spa

More men are going

More families, including teens and preteens

Of these I think one of the interesting trends for couples is that more men are going to spas. This means that it is becoming easier and easier for a woman to get her guy to go with her to a romantic spa get away. Increasingly, they already want to go!

Norm:

I have come across the term "quality assured" spa, what does this imply, and why should we believe the spa when it has this designation?

Susie:

To be honest, I am not aware of any such designation on a large scale. There are over 10,000 spas in the U.S. and no one has been to all of them or able to rate them in terms of quality. There is no easy way to conclude the level of a spa's service. In fact, sometimes quality comes down more to an individual therapist than it does a facility.

That being said, there are some ways for the consumer to have more information that could help them make an informed decision. There is an association called the International Spa Association (ISPA) that has a "voluntary standards and practices designation" that spas may choose to apply for if they wish. This could be of some help. But even here, many spas don't know about this so I wouldn't necessarily rule out selecting a spa if they don't have this designation.

It is also helpful to look at what awards a spa has won. For example the Spa Finder Readers' Choice Awards lists the top 10 spas in almost 20 categories. Since this award is voted on by readers, it is a good indication of quality.

Of course, word-of-mouth is always a good way to learn about a spa.

Norm:

Could you give our readers some suggestions as to tipping?

Susie:

Tipping policies differ among spas but in general it is customary to leave a gratuity of between 15% and 20% for the therapist or technician providing your service. In some cases, the gratuity is already added on to the final bill and in some very rare cases, tipping is discouraged. Most spas have their tipping policy printed on their brochure I often ask, "What is your tipping policy?" when I arrive at the spa and check in. That usually clears things up right away!

Norm:

I have read that the destination spa concept is evolving as some brands expand their product through other outlets. Could you give us some examples and explain why this is taking place?

Susie:

we are seeing brand extension from destination spas such as Canyon Ranch and The Golden Door. Canyon Ranch Health Resort began as a destination spa in Tucson, Arizona in the late 70's. They then opened in Lenox, MA and then opened their first Spa Club in Las Vegas. They are now the spa on the QM2 and are part of a retirement condominium spa facility being built in Miami. They have also added a Canyon Ranch product line and I hear there are more things in the pipeline.

The Golden Door branched out from its origins as the U.S.'s top destination spa...there are now Golden Door spas at resorts in Arizona, Colorado and Puerto Rico. There is a Golden Door product line.

But I am also seeing another type of brand expansion; that is product companies opening "retail spas". Jurlique comes to mind, Givenchy, and to a certain extent Elizabeth Arden's Red Door could be considered a spa extending from a product. And there are day spas which have become as well known for their products as their spas, such as Bliss and Nichel.

Norm:

What should we expect in the future from spas?

Susie:

I think that medicine and spas coming together is a very exciting happening. We are seeing prevention/wellness as well as aesthetic/cosmetic medical spas now. Doctors and spa therapists working together is resulting in some very nurturing, comfortable medical settings with the best results possible. In addition the entire arena of complementary and alternative (CAM) medicine is finding a home in the medical spa environment. Consumers are increasingly interested in being proactive when it comes to their health and well being. (They increasingly need to take responsibility for their own health.)

I think that spas will eventually become a very important part of the solution to health problems in the world.

Thanks Susie for replying to my questions.

______________________________________________________________

31May/090

Weight Loss Programs – Do Any of Them Work?




The number of weight loss programs on the market today is huge, everything from fad diets and celebrity endorsed programs to the latest pills and diet shakes. All of us are aware that it's possible to lose weight by taking regular exercise and eating a healthy diet, but are there better or quicker ways? Can a weight loss program really be a shortcut to getting slimmer without having to exercise and change what you eat? In this article we will look at the options.

Dieting takes many forms, but most people at some point attempt to lose weight by going on a diet of one type or another. A diet can involve simply changing your diet slightly so that you eat more healthy foods and less fattening ones, or at the other extreme a diet can involve following "crash" diet programs or celebrity endorsed plans which commonly concentrate on eating just one food for a period of time, or special shakes or ingredients. Unfortunately crash and fad diets are not sustainable for any length of time, and so will fail in the end. Some people can lose weight for a short period if they restrict their diet in this way, but it is unhealthy long term and no-one ever sticks to such a plan, so any weight lost is put back on quickly.

Another form of weight loss program involves taking diet pills and medications. There are now many companies selling so-called miracle pills or supplements, all claiming that their products will allow people to lose weight without making changes to their diet or exercising more. This type of product tends to fall into two categories, those which contain drugs which increase the consumption of calories in the body, and those which are ineffective and have no real benefit. Even those products which do contain active weight loss drugs should not be used simply to help healthy people lose weight, they are designed to be used only in situations where a doctor has decided a patient cannot achieve weight loss in any other way, and are meant to be used as a last resort. There are numerous known side effects and health dangers associated with such drugs, and this is why only those who are dangerously obese should be prescribed weight loss drugs by qualified medical professionals.

In summary, the current fad for miracle diet pills and crash diets simply do not help people lose weight in the long term. Many of them do not work in the first place, some can actually be unhealthy and potentially dangerous, and those which do work are not sustainable over a long period of time.

There are however real weight loss programs which do work, and do help people lose weight sensibly, and often quite quickly. Such programs do however require some effort, adopting a reasonable exercise regime, and making some changes to diet and what foods are eaten. Sadly sensible programs like this are less popular than the "miracle" pills or crash diets because they do not claim miracle results, or that no effort is required, but the fact is they do work. People certainly will lose weight if they can find a sensible achievable weight loss program and stick to it for a period of time. And contrary to popular belief, to lose weight you do not have to start running for miles every day or eating unpleasant foods, the key is a professionally designed weight loss program which brings results over a period of time.

31May/090

Stay at Home Moms – Three Legitimate Home Businesses




Are you a working mom looking for a home business opportunity that will allow more flexibility for your family? You will find an overwhelming number of ideas on the internet. The legitimate, proven home based business ideas will likely be in one of three categories: Services, Direct Selling and Network Marketing.

Direct sales will work best for people who are outgoing and comfortable with meeting new people. Examples in this industry would be soy candles, jewelry, handbags, kitchen gadgets, clothing and home decor. Sales are sometimes generated using print catalogs and showcasing limited quantities of product samples. Other opportunities have you sell your products by hosting in-home parties for friends and family. One-on-one recruiting is vital to this type of business. Start-up costs for this type of business usually range from $100-$300.

Network Marketing and multi-level marketing opportunities enroll independent distributors, sometimes referred to as sales consultants, to sell products on which they earn a commission. Additionally, they receive commissions based on the sales efforts of people enrolled in their downline. If you are successful in creating a large downline, the monthly residual income can grow into a full-time income. Additional compensation plan details vary with each company. As with direct sales, you need to have a comfort level with personal selling and networking. Though some MLM businesses have suffered in the past from image problems, the business model itself is legitimate.

Network marketing business opportunities are available in several industries: health & wellness, beauty products & skin care, travel and utilities, such as electric service and telephone service. Some businesses will recruit using advanced internet marketing systems; others will grow by word of mouth to friends, family members and co-workers. As with direct sales, little to no inventory is required. Start-up costs vary from as little as one hundred dollars up to several thousand dollars.

Capitalizing on your own talents, skills or ideas, you can create just about any type of service business. Charge clients by the hour or by the job for such things as dog walking, personal shopping, home decorating, bookkeeping, closet organization, in-home child care, music lessons, math tutoring, landscaping and more. You may be able to start up a personal services business strictly by word of mouth. Start-up expenses may be minimal--perhaps just the cost of a box of business cards.

Whatever your choice, consider how much time will be required each day and each week. After all, you are a busy mom!

31May/090

Anti-Aging Natural Skin




Where do you have to look in order to find anti aging natural skin care products that will effectively work in order to alleviate the outward symptoms of aging? The best skin care products will contain all natural ingredients that are formulated in such a way as to nourish your skin back to health.

The unfortunate truth of it all is that the natural skin care products that you will most often find stacked to the rafters in your local department store or pharmacy are not going to be able to offer you much help in this area, because they have not been engineered in order to be successful at relieving the problems that you are facing.

The majority of the products that you will find cannot even be considered among the best remedies due to the fact that the ingredients that are used to manufacture these products are inferior synthetic compounds surrounded by dangerous chemical additives and preservatives.

This type of anti aging natural skin care product is not of the quality that you need in order to be able to make healthy changes in your skin. These ingredients that the major cosmetics companies are using in order to treat aging skin are not only useless for this task, but the ingredients could actually prove to be damaging to your health.

You can trust me when I tell you that anything that even remotely seeks to be called the best cream or lotion will not contain the neurotoxins, carcinogens, or endocrine disruptors that the vast majority of these other products have in them. Their ingredients will be of a very different variety.

These products will contain ingredients that will attack the signs of aging at their root cause, which is the lowering of hyaluronic acid levels in your skin, and the curtailed production of your body's collagen and elastin. These areas are actually easily repairable if your product contains the correct ingredients.

The very best anti aging skin care products will contain both Functional Keratin, and Phytessence Wakame kelp extract. Phytessence Wakame will de-activate the enzyme which is causing your hyaluronic acid levels to fall, and Functional Keratin is the ingredient that will promote a greatly increased production rate of your collagen and elastin.

These products contain Functional Keratin, which is a mixture of protein peptides that were discovered in a rare combination in the wool of a variety of native New Zealand sheep's wool, will work wonders with your skin literally erasing the lines and wrinkles that you have been accumulating over the years.

The best anti aging skin care creams that contain these ingredients are currently available only from the company that made the fateful discovery of Functional Keratin, but once you try their products you will have to agree that they are the greatest anti aging natural skin care products that you have ever tried.

30May/090

Weight Loss During Menopause




Weight loss during menopause is slightly different than just plain ol' weight loss. Because your hormones are going kinda crazy, you need to address that to maximize your weight loss. Here are a couple ways to accelerate your weight loss during this time.

Weight Loss During Menopause

1. Spinning Around like a child

Listen, your hormones are going crazy and they're unbalanced. Spinning addresses this because it stimulates your Endocrine System to balance out and stabilize your hormones. Now, spinning won't totally rework mother nature with menopause, but it'll help with weight loss at this point in your life since the more balance your hormones are, the easier it is to lose weight.

Here's what you do...

Spin clockwise with your arms out like airplane wings. Spin anywhere from 5-20 times. Your goal is to get slightly dizzy, not totally "fall down" dizzy. Once you spin and find that number where you're slightly dizzy, you'll need to spin that number mulitple times each day to help "rework" and correct your hormones throughout the day to clear the path for easier weight loss.

2. Jump on a mini-trampoline

This is just an all-around great exercise. I like the fact that it's convenient, you can do it at home, you can do it in brief spurts of time, and it's very low impact. What I do is jump on it 2 minutes at a time during commercials. Did you know that the average 1 hour tv show has 20-22 minutes of commercials?

That's the perfect time do jump on the mini-trampoline. You'll get a 20 minute workout while watching tv.

Try out these 2 things and weight loss during menopause will be a piece of cake.

30May/090

The Health Benefits of Kale




When you mention kale, the majority will look up with raised eyebrows and mumble "What"? "What's that"? An old, hardly spoken of and powerful green food. Kale is a leafy green vegetable with a mild earthy flavor. The season for kale is between mid winter and early spring where it can be found in abundance in most produce sections of the local grocery store. However, one can find kale year round. Thankfully, kale is starting to garner well deserved attention due its nutrient rich phytochemical content which provides unparalleled health promoting benefits.

Kale absolutely rich and abundant in calcium, lutein, iron, and Vitamins A, C, and K. Kale has seven times the beta-carotene of broccoli and ten times more lutein. Kale is rich in Vitamin C not to mention the much needed fiber so lacking in the daily diet of processed food eating Americans. The "Icing on the Kale" are the natural occurring all important phytochemicals sulforaphane and indoles which research suggests may protect against cancer. Let's not forget the all important antioxidant Vitamin E. Rest assured kale spares nothing in providing one with much needed nutrients and associated health benefits.

The naturally rich sulfur content of kale deserves a bit more discussion. Science has discovered that sulforaphane, helps boost the body's detoxification enzymes, possibly by altering gene expression. This is turn is purported to help clear carcinogenic substances in a timely manner. Sulforaphane is formed when cruciferous vegetables like kale are chopped or chewed. This somehow triggers the liver to produce enzymes that detoxify cancer causing chemicals, of which we all are exposed on daily basis. A recently new study in the Journal of Nutrition (2004) demonstrates that sulforaphane helps stop breast cancer cell proliferation.

Kale descends from the wild cabbage which originated in Asia and is thought to have been brought to Europe by the Celtics. Kale was an important food item in early European history and a crop staple in ancient Rome. Kale was brought to the USA during the 17th century by English settlers.

A leafy green vegetable starting to gain widespread attention, kale belongs to the Brassica family, a group that also includes cabbage, collard greens and Brussels sprouts. Choose kale with small leaves as they will be tenderer and offer a sweeter taste. Make kale leaves a regular addition to your salads. A sautéed side dish of kale, onions, and garlic drizzled in olive oil is second to none. Enjoy your kale. You'll be glad did.

29May/090

Fat Loss 4 Idiots – A Genuine Fat Loss Program




After hunting for ages, here is a genuine fat loss program for you - Fat Loss 4 Idiots! Well, it is but anything for Idiots, and that's probably why the name sounds misleading a bit.

The fat person in you obviously desires to knock off all the excess pounds in you. Your jeans are strumming up big time, your evening gown probably visits the tailors too often for alterations and many more - If you have been hunted down by these things in your life too often, it is time for you to take a fat loss program.

Is the program really genuine?

There are just so many fat loss programs floating around on the Internet that you wouldn't quite know which ones are genuine and which ones come to the fore to just take away all your hard earned monies. Honestly, you can find more than ten programs that promise you would lose 10 pounds something in 2 weeks flat. Ask yourself - Is it really possible?

On the other hand, you have programs like Fat Loss 4 Idiots (And honestly, there are quite a few others like this one) that visualizes a realistic expectation for losing weight. 7 and a half pound loss in 4 weeks sounds something that can be taken without a pinch of salt!

Reviews count - Don't they!

They do, because with so many rabbit food diet plans around, which do nothing but end up forcing you on some diet that doesn't really make sense to you, you got to be doubly careful. A very good unbiased review that details on each and every aspect of the program, a review that counts all the benefits and indeed the cons of the program, is what you would need as a helping tool.

But really, one of the main reasons why reviews for any product, Fat Loss 4 Idiots included is important, is because it would normally give you a good insight into how the program would actually work. Any review that tells you on what you would be doing to make the program successful is worth reading.

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