WORKOUTS WITH THESE TIPS
Achieving a toned, fit body does not have to break the bank. Yoga and Pilates classes, personal trainers and gym memberships are not financially realistic for all people. For parents, going to the gym means having to worry about childcare, therefore adding another expense. Just because you don’t have a fat wallet does not mean you can’t get buff. The following are budget friendly at home fitness tips from Gerald Mayes, a certified fitness trainer with www.vshred.com
HERE ARE THE HACKS:
Use soup cans for weights.
Gerald Mayes says that “You can do any triceps or biceps exercise at home using cans of soup that you’d do at the gym with dumbbells. To properly gauge the weight, don’t go by the ounces listed on the can — that’s liquid weight. Instead, weigh the cans on your scale to figure out the poundage that’s best for you.”
Use jugs as weights.
Fill a household bucket or jug with water (or sand, rock salt, or powdered detergent) and secure the top with duct tape. Lift it up and down in front of you as you do squats.
Substitute paper plates for body sculpting equipment.
“The key here,” Gerald says, “is to use the plates to help your body slide on a carpet. This allows you to do body sculpting moves that would ordinarily require workout equipment. You can do the sliding lunge (put the paper plate under one foot and lunge forward). Try simulating skating to work your butt and thighs — just attach the plates to your feet with rubber bands and slide away. Or, get down on all fours, put the plates under your hands, and use them to work your chest by sliding your arms back and forth.”
Substitute a countertop for a push-up bench.
In most homes, at least one countertop, either in the kitchen or the bath, is the right height for a push-up. Put both hands on the countertop, extend your legs behind you at an angle, lean down into the counter, and then push back up.
Substitute pantyhose for resistance bands.
“Almost any exercise you can do with a resistance band, you can do with old pantyhose or tights,” says Gerald. For example, sitting on the floor with your legs straight, loop a pair of pantyhose around the balls of your feet and pull back with both hands as if you are using a rowing machine.
A fitness ball.
Sometimes called a stability ball, looks like a large beach ball. You can do many core exercises, including abdominal crunches, with a fitness ball. You can also use a fitness ball to improve your flexibility and balance.
Kettlebell.
A kettlebell is a round weight with the handle attached at the top. A kettlebell can be used to do strength-training exercises and to help improve grip strength. Kettlebells are available in many sizes.
Jump-ropes.
Skipping rope can be a great cardiovascular workout.
Resistance tubing.
These stretchy tubes offer weight-like resistance when you pull on them. Use the tubes to build strength in your arms and other muscles. Choose from varying degrees of resistance, depending on your fitness level.
Chair or step stool. Use a chair for support when doing exercises such as leg curls. A low, sturdy step stool can become exercise equipment if you use it for step training — an aerobic exercise resembling stair climbing.
Towels
Make your waist-whittling planks more effective with towels says Gerald . Take two and place them under your hands or feet, then move forward, backward and sideways.
Clean Sweep
This one’s easy: You can burn 80 calories every 20 minutes of sweeping. Pull out the broom and get to sweeping every corner of your house or apartment. How’s that for multitasking?
Laundry Twist
Gerald says, “Sit next to a full basket of laundry and twist to grab an item from the basket. Twist to the other side to lay it on a pile. Continue until your laundry is finished.”
Become a member of an online fitness platform
Vshred.com guides users to the very best program for their body type and fitness goals while giving them some amazing tips they can use that day in a video and then offers them a program that’s perfect for them if they don’t want to do it themselves.
About V Shred
V Shred is a leading brand encompassing online fitness, nutrition, personalized training products, and related services. With millions of YouTube viewers and 600,000+ inspired clients worldwide, we know people are busy, so our goal is to make fitness fun and effective in the shortest amount of time possible!
We offer a variety of guided programs and custom diet plans, including personalized fitness training from top-tier trainers, to help our customers achieve real, attainable results. We pride ourselves aligning our customers’ ideal health and fitness goals with proven programs to make a positive impact on the way they look and feel.
Visit our website to learn more: www.VShred.com
Gerald Mayes Trainer Bio
Gerald Mayes, a married father of 4 is a V Shred Lead Trainer, a Certified Personal Trainer through the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) and sat on the Nevada State Board. He is also a certified Health Coach through the American Council on Exercise (ACE) where he writes the certification curriculum. After being honorably discharged in 2010, Gerald gained a significant amount of weight going from 177 to 301 in a year. After hitting a low in his life, knowing his health would only spiral down further, Gerald met a trainer who helped guide him towards adopting a healthy lifestyle. After achieving his result, he knew he wanted to do the same for others. Over the next few years, he dedicated himself to learning as much as he could about health and fitness earning him an Associates in Personal Training, a bachelor’s degree in Public Health and a Master’s Degree in Sports in Health Science and worked his way up to one of V Shred’s lead trainers!
Today Gerald’s many clients include everyone from fellow Marines and other members of the Armed Forces who often return from service in need of support when transitioning into civilian life to stay at home moms who want to get back in shape despite having a hectic schedule.
(New York, NY) – The thought of fall conjures up comfy layered clothing and finally letting hair down from being tied up in summer pony tails, braids and buns. And this season, natural texture and curly locks have swept back into our hearts. “The major bonus in the current trend of curls is there is no right or wrong way to rock the look! Curls can be lazy and loose, tight and voluminous, or even better…a mix of textures for a more dimensional finish,” says Andrew Carruthers, Education Director for Sam Villa, who offers two fresh curly looks for fall.
For a rocker look with tons of fullness, separation and a hint of a Robert Plant influenced shag, a blow dryer with a diffuser and plenty of curl contracting products will do the trick.
Image #1
To dress up the look and add some contrast to the visual textures, gently brush out and add a few bobby pins to shift the vibe.
Image #2
“Curls are as multi-faceted as the people that wear them, so don’t be afraid to explore new techniques and combinations of texture to celebrate the fact that fall is for curls!!” adds Carruthers.
Images: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/qso1am4wo3vgpj8/AAAE-qtI_vo3PMFaL9y9w15fa?dl=0
Credits: Hair/Sam Villa ArTeam; Photo/Katie Parker; Wardrobe/Brittany Hart; MUA/Nicole Schimel; Model/Nausheen Ahmed @nausheen_ahmed
Sam Villa is co-founder of Sam Villa®, 2017 NAHA Lifetime Achievement Award Victor, Behind the Chair Stylist Choice Award Winner for Favorite Platform Artist and Educator (2012, 2011 and 2007), Favorite Overall Educator of the Year (2015) and Global Artistic Ambassador for Redken 5th Avenue. Facebook: @SamVillaPros ;YouTube: @SamVillaHair; Twitter: @SamVillaPro; Instagram: @SamVillaHair; Pinterest: @SamVillaHair
Traveling has become so accessible to so many of us that we hardly ever think about the impacts it has on the environment, our budget, or even the quality of our trip. For example, we will often take a plane as the fastest means to get to a destination, without even considering the merits of going on a road trip along the way. So, if you are debating on whether to go by air or by sea to your next destination, here is a quick run-down of the pros and cons for either option:
There are many pros to traveling by air. From faster travel times (an absolute must when your destination is thousands of miles away) to cheaper travel, flights are the go-to option for many business and leisure travelers around the world. You can also enjoy more protections and rights than some sea-faring options. If you travel within the EU, to the EU on a European airline, or from the EU, then you can enjoy delay and cancellation protections. This way you don’t have to worry about your Thomas Cook flight being delayed, for example, as you can instead make a claim on FairPlane.co.uk and receive compensation to cover some or all of the costs.
The cons of air travel are primarily due to the massive amounts of CO2 emissions that each flight costs. During this critical period in our history, it is important for everyone to do all they can to reduce their carbon footprint and waste. That being said, this shouldn’t bar you from flying entirely. You could instead join a carbon-emissions offset program to fly guilt-free.
Traveling by sea is a luxurious affair, meaning you won’t likely have to deal with uncomfortable conditions. In fact, the most basic of all sea travels will be a ferry which takes, at most, a few hours. For most sea-travel, your experience will be with a cruise. Cruises are great ways to enjoy the journey and not just the destination. As they often come in packages, they can be easily budgeted for as well. Enjoy the sea, enjoy the sun, and in most cases explore a variety of destinations that help you maximize your vacation experience.
When you travel by sea, you are stuck with the schedule. You cannot fall in love with a port town and stay a few extra days. You will also have to double check to ensure that food and drinks are included in your package. Otherwise this could become a huge unexpected cost. Cruises are also not ideal for those who are easily sea-sick or who have a limited amount of time for their vacation.
Knowing all your options when it comes to getting to your destination will help you make the right choice for your next trip. Just remember to stay within budget and to work out tra
Introducing the newest shade to the Osmosis Colour Lip Goss collection, Think Pink ($19) is a beautiful sheer pink with a high shine finish. Robin McGee, Osmosis Colour Founder and Dr. Ben Johnson, Co-Founder along with Kids Artistic Review, a sponsor of Dancers Against Cancer, created this shade to raise money for the charity Dancers Against Cancer (DAC).
Donating a percentage of all Think Pink proceeds, Robin, Ben and their daughters chose this organization because they have witnessed firsthand the impact of this program on those battling cancer. DAC’s mission is to create an alliance in the dance community that provides financial support and inspiration to instructors, choreographers, dancers and their families who have been impacted by cancer.
With an irresistible scent of grapefruit and strawberry, all Osmosis lip glosses feature a creamy, rich texture and 3D pigments to help lips appear fuller and more plumped. The line’s jojoba and sunflower oils hydrate and nourish, encouraging the healing process and turning dry, chapped areas into baby smooth and soft. Enhancing your natural barriers to lock moisture in, each formula will also promote firmness and elasticity. Each swipe of luminous color will even help remove free radicals and block environmental age-factors, all thanks to its antioxidant packed ingredients. Gluten-Free. Oncology Friendly
Price: $19 from https://www.osmosisskincare.co
Beauty begins the moment you open the box
It’s sleek and sexy, but natural and conscious too: giving back is the new beautiful.
Created by celebrity hairstylist David Babaii, n:p beautiful is a new line of revolutionary hairstyling tools and products utilizing the science of stem cell technology just launched at Nordstrom.
https://shop.nordstrom.com/c/n
After seven years of research, David Babaii, Chief Global Creative Director, is proud to introduce plant stem cells into his now, patent-pending haircare. Working tirelessly to capture the essence and wonder of Mother Nature in a bottle, he managed to bring plant-based proteins to hair — proteins that are rich and restorative, fully delivering key nutrients to each strand. Whether naturally fine, thick, curly or frizzy, n:p beautiful is ideal for all types of hair. The products are also free of sulfates, parabens and artificial dyes for an elevated, all-natural experience. Plus, the entire line is dedicated to giving 10% of net proceeds to pediatric cancer and animal welfare charities. Because what’s more gorgeous than giving back?
David Babaii is the man who styles the most beautiful women in the world including Meghan Markle, Kate Hudson, Nicole Kidman, Scarlett Johansson, Angelina Jolie and more.
n:p beautiful’s hair styling tools are innovative, sexy and beautiful with sleek Italian design, matte black packaging and rose gold accents They include a lightweight, high-wind performance blow dryer, a fast-heating ergonomic tourmaline barrel curling iron and an innovative flat iron with vibrating plates that pulse as hair passes through to minimize tugging, pulling and heat damage. Hair is sleek, shiny, and manageable.
Continuing the matte black theme with delicate touches of rose gold, n:p beautiful’s 10 styling products will transform your hair the minute you open the bottle. Containing the amazing restorative ingredients mother nature is famous for, plants are incredible self-nourishers with the unique ability to repair and regenerate and lead astonishingly long lives. Whether it’s his Smoothing Shampoo and Conditioner, sexy Beach Spray, or Miracle Serum, each formula delivers nature’s healing ingredients like: Royal Jelly – which provides nutrition to the Queen Bee herself so of course it’s good enough for you, Lotus Flower – which increases hair strength and elasticity and Wild Ginger Root – which promotes fullness and volume. The results are smoother, thicker, glossier, hair.
“I have spent 17 years of my career working with some of the most famous people in the world, all of whom have different hair types,” explains Babaii. “Throughout this journey of creating different hairstyles for my clients, I never found a product that allowed me to fully achieve my goals… I would always have to use multiple products to achieve these looks. So, when given the opportunity to create a new hair care line, I wanted to develop something that really does what it says it does.”
As a result, the style, the feel, the results — they’re all special with n:p beautiful. Designed for the modern woman who wants glamorous, healthy looking hair, but also cares about the social impact associated with her products, the line’s presence is evident from the moment you open the box. For n:p beautiful, it’s all about finding the beauty in the world.
To learn more about n:p beautiful, please visit www.npbeautiful.com or
https://shop.nordstrom.com/c/n
15 years ago the botanical based beauty brand, Arbonne, premiered the cleanest healthy-aging skincare line on the market – RE9 Advanced! Look at the below before/after results – 15 years later!! Free of parabens, toxic chemicals, animal byproducts, fragrances, and dyes, RE9 Advanced works by using gold standard ingredients like orange stem cells and pineapple and papaya extracts to rewind the clock, protect your skin with SPF 20 daytime options, and repair with their best-selling RE9 Advanced Intensive Renewal Serum. Best of all is the RE9 Advanced Night Repair Cream — your skin works to turnover new skin cells while you sleep. Wake up looking refreshed and renewed with a healthy glow. 🙂
This set is on a REWIND special…taking you back to its 2003 debut pricing this month only (a $364 value for $212.80)! Stock up or get on this skincare regimen that lasts 3-4 months and with a 45 day money back guarantee.
When most people think of Botox the first thing that usually comes to mind is wrinkle reduction. Indeed, Botox is the world’s most popular treatment for eradicating wrinkles and fine lines. The toxin is specifically FDA approved for treating frown lines between the eyebrows (glabellar lines) and lines around the eyes (crow’s feet). In addition to being the gold standard for wrinkle reduction, Botox can also be used to treat a variety of issues, both cosmetic and non-cosmetic. Dr. Stanley Poulos is a San Francisco area board certified plastic surgeon. He provides a list of conditions that Botox has been used to treat.
Acne
Botox can curb oil production, reducing breakouts. “To totally treat acne, you’d need to use doses of Botox so large they’d prevent you from constricting your facial muscles,” says Dr. Poulos. “But tiny amounts of Botox injected very superficially help reduce oil production, and you can still have facial expressions.” Though he’d recommend it for almost any patient struggling with acne, Poulos would likely advise trying another dermatologist-prescribed treatment, like spironolactone or birth control pills, first. And though it can technically be used to quell oil production anywhere on the face, he cautions against using it all over because of potential effects on muscular activity (a.k.a. frozen face). The most effective and common area for using Botox to curb oil production, he says, is the forehead.
Gummy smile (not FDA approved)
A “gummy” smile, one that’s characterized by a smile that shows too much of the gums, usually results from “excessive lip elevation” when the upper lip rises too far above the upper teeth when smiling. Injecting Botox into the upper lip weakens the upper lip’s retractor muscles so that it won’t raise as high and your smile will seem better-balanced. It can be done in about five minutes. Usually lasts for four to six months. Costs range from $200-$300. Dr. Poulos says, “This technique is not for the novice Botox injector. Too much, and your lip won’t raise enough, too little and you will need more, or if injected asymmetrically, you might have a funny asymmetrical smile.”
Urinary incontinence
Overactive bladder problems affect up to 20% of women over 40. For severe cases where medications do not provide complete relief, Botox injections into the bladder wall may provide relief lasting about 6 months.
Psoriasis
Psoriasis is uncomfortable, itchy, and not exactly easy on the eyes. Luckily, this flaky skin condition could be a thing of the past thanks to Botox. Though psoriasis is technically incurable, Botox minimizes the activity of inflammatory cells that bring on outbreaks.
Excessive Sweating
For those who suffer from excessive sweating, however, summer isn’t always the sunniest time of the year. Thankfully, Botox could be a saving grace for those attempting to manage this condition, which is officially known as axillary hyperhidrosis. Studies show that just a handful of injections can reduce underarm sweat for up to TWO years. Um, where do we sign up?
Depression
The benefits of Botox® may be more than skin deep; two recent studies suggest that it may help alleviate the symptoms of depression. In a study published in the May 2014 issue of the Journal of Psychiatric Research, more than half of participants who had moderate-to-severe depression showed a substantial improvement in depressive symptoms following one injection of Botox® between the brows. This improvement lasts longer than the cosmetic effects, suggesting that the effect may be more than just feeling better about your appearance. Botox® is not approved to treat depression.
Teeth Grinding
Injections of Botox® were used to control involuntary muscle tension and spasms long before it became the go-to wrinkle buster. Dr. Poulos says that, “these neurotoxin injections may weaken the chewing muscles enough to reduce bruxism (teeth grinding) without affecting your ability to chew, talk and smile. Results last about four months. Botox® is not yet approved to treat bruxism.”
Migraine Headache
Botox® is approved by the FDA to treat chronic migraine headaches in adults who have 15 or more headache-days a month, each lasting four hours or more. Studies that led to this indication show that BOTOX®® prevents up to nine headache-days a month (vs seven for dummy injections). Other research hints that the neurotoxin may also help with low cerebrospinal fluid headaches and cluster or “suicide” headaches.
Brow boost
Much like lines form over time, your brow may also drop or droop. Botox cosmetic treatments can also be used to improve the appearance of the brow. Dr. Poulos explains that, “weakening muscles that pull the lateral brow down while selectively leaving the brow elevators intact can give a subtle lift and gives the brow more stability. Lifting the brows in this way leaves you with a less tired and younger, fresher appearance.”
Jaw Reduction (off label use)
Botox can be used to perform jaw reduction (commonly called jaw line softening). Injecting Botox into the masseter muscle (the primary muscle used in chewing actions) reduces its overall size; transforming an overly square and masculine appearing jawline into a more feminine oval or heart shape.
About Dr. Stanley Poulos
Dr. Poulos is a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon and Co-Founder with Yngvar Hvistendahl, M.D of Plastic Surgery Specialists recognized as one of the premier aesthetic surgery clinics in Northern California.
Dr. Poulos helped pioneer the quick lift facial rejuvenation surgery in California and has extensive experience in body contour procedures. With over 30-years’ experience in aesthetic procedures, Dr. Poulos has been on the forefront of innovative procedures such as the quick-lift facial rejuvenation, mommy makeover, and vaser lipo-contouring. Dr. Poulos combines his consistent knowledge of new treatment options with his mastery of facial and body symmetry.
His recent focus has been on the gastric balloon, a groundbreaking, non-surgical, medically assisted, outpatient procedure offering weight loss to those seeking to lose between 30 and 75 pounds who may be ineligible for the more invasive gastric bypass surgery. This exciting new procedure allows patients to achieve optimal health and, when combined with exercise and proper nutrition, the results have been exceptional.
A graduate of the University of Texas Medical School, Dr. Poulos completed his internship and residency at UC San Francisco. He completed surgery and plastic surgery training in San Francisco prior to entering private practice in Marin County where he co-founded PSS (www.psspecialists.com)
Summer is over and it’s time to assess the damage. If you have curly or color treated hair you really need a treatment. I mean Clean Enhanced Organics Repair Intensive Restructuring Treatment. Clean Enhanced Organics Repair Intensive Restructuring Treatment is a mask for your hair. It has done wonders for mine. I use it once a week and I can feel the softness and bounce restored. My hair always gets a little drier in the summer and the hair dying doesn’t help matters. What I love about Clean Enhanced Organics Repair Intensive Restructuring Treatment is that after shampooing you hair, you apply the treatment and leave it in for 3 to 5 minutes. I’ve used hair masks that you have to leave in for 15 minutes. This is ok if you have the time but I usually don’t. The treatment is fast, easy and has an incredibly delightful scent which is a plus. The Lavender and Lemon Balm extracts really stand out. The results are great!
As stated by Clean Enhanced Organics, “Repair Intensive Restructuring Treatment repairs and restructures hair damaged by environmental stress, heat styling or chemical treatments. It’s purpose is to not only repair hair but restructure strands in order to provide healthy, fully bodied look. It is designed to be used as a treatment product with other Clean Enhanced Organics shampoos and conditioners and in conjunction with Repair Style Spray and Repair Hair Oil Treatment. Formulated with organic Aloe, Camomile, Lavender and Lemon Balm extracts. This restructuring treatment fulfills its promise of healthier hair without the use of harsh chemicals. Clean Enhanced Organics prides itself on providing the highest possible level of product performance without sacrificing the importance of natural ingredients.”
Clean Enhanced Organics offers an array of haircare products including styling and repair creams and sprays.
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