Skin-smoothing body scrubs

It's that time of year when I'm inundated with press releases fanfaring new wonder cures for cellulite. My love affair with beauty momentarily stalls, my recycling bin overflows. A topical product – whether cream, gel, lotion or serum – can't possibly cure the orange peel dimples that occur naturally on almost every woman.

These indentations are simply the outward manifestation of fat cells. Cream can't dissolve fat, just as miracle bust creams can't produce it. I want to ask why, if a product really has the power to burn or grow fat, it is not being prescribed on the NHS to treat the morbidly obese or save severely premature babies?

In short, I believe cellulite creams are a nonsense. Furthermore, they create an extra neurosis for women where there needn't be one. I have never known a man who would be capable of identifying cellulite if his life depended on it.

The way to treat cellulite is with smoke and mirrors, or at least exfoliant and bronzer. A good body scrub, massaged on to dry skin (damp, if sensitive), then showered off, will remove dead skin cells to give a smoother texture, the illusion of firmness and a more radiant appearance.

6 super annoying things about men

Source: Times of India - Rejuvenate

Love them, hate them, hate to love them or love to hate them, it doesn't matter. When it comes to the opposite sex, especially when it involves annoying habits that are characteristic of the male species, we women certainly have a list that seems endless. However, here's the pick of the lot. Six habits of men that are so annoying, you either find yourself tearing your hair out or crying in frustration in the privacy of your bathroom...

Ball scratching: In public. Or even in private. The less said the better. Not just gross and embarrassing, but makes you wish that the earth would just open up and swallow you (or him, depending on how mad you are). Farting and burping also fall in this category. Trust us, that's just not the way we want to know what they had for lunch!

Road rage: Especially against women. How is it that the men always assume that a bad driver has to be a woman? Yes, we might have our leverage with traffic policemen, but that doesn't mean that we travel in amoebic speeds on the road. Pay some attention next time; it just might be one of your own behind the wheel.

The male ego: Fragile is the word that can be used to describe the male ego. Other words that you can use for the same are huge, confusing and even downright deplorable. Here are a few examples of what men think are great ego boosters - vrooming on a bike in the middle of a traffic jam that's a mile long, making a woman feel about three inches tall, confusing two diverse terms like possessiveness and protectiveness... the list is quite endless. Annoying as hell isn't it?

Dirty talk: Or even talk in general. What is hilarious is when they tread on tough topics like 'giving each other space' and 'it's not you it's me'. Not only do they not have a clue about what they are saying, it sounds downright made up, to say the least. And please, dirty talking and bad mouthing is just not the way to flirt. We hate to break your bubble. It is absolutely revolting.

Sheer dumbness: Here's a familiar scene. You are arguing like crazy with the guy you are seeing and at the end of what seems like hours, he asks you, "So what is your problem now". What have we been screaming for the last four hours, retard? Sounds familiar? We don't blame you.

Selfishness: An annoying thing about men is that they live in this little world of their own, where they think that the world revolves around their central axis. Breaking news. It doesn't. Though you might think that everything is about you, it unfortunately isn't. Respect the fact that we have a life that is independent of your likes and dislikes - that is all we ask.

Top 25 reasons to get running

Source: Yahoo - Rejuvenate

 

 

 Running is one of the best forms of exercise, not only for getting fit but for weight control too. A 30-minute run, three to four times a week, trims your waistline, strengthens the cardiovascular system, improves muscle tone and definition and helps foster a positive mental attitude. Running can also be a great social activity. Here are the top 25 tips on why you should start running today.

1. Running is the quickest way to cardiovascular fitness. You get fitter faster by running regularly.

2. Running is one of the cheapest forms of exercising. You only need a pair of running shoes and shorts and T-shirt to get started.

3. Running is easy to learn. Most people have run at some point in their life, either competitively or at school/college, so there is no steep learning curve involved.

4. Running makes you feel good, not only physically, but mentally as well.

5. Running is excellent for reducing stress levels. There is nothing better than a run to clear your head and concentrate the mind. Many great ideas have been formulated on training runs.

6. Running is one of the most flexible methods of training around. Wherever you are in the world, it is nearly always possible to get out for a run. You can jog, steady run or sprint depending on how you feel that particular day.

7. Running is good for your heart. It not only strengthens the heart but also reduces the actual resting heart rate.

8. Running is accessible to all. As long as you are physically able, you can go for a run virtually anytime and anywhere. There are no race barriers to running.

9. Running helps you to lose weight and tone muscles. The more your train and run, the more weight you will lose. Also by toning up, you are getting rid of the excess fat and converting it to muscle.

10. Running is for people of all ages. Old or young, everyone can benefit from running.

11. It is good for your sex life! By being more physically active you increase your sex drive.

12. When run training, you can get away with eating chocolate and legitimately say it is part of your training program.

13. Running is a great way to recover from a hangover. A run will help clear your head faster than sitting around feeling terrible.

14. Running is a great safety aid. Being able to run away from people puts you in a much better position if you are chased.

15. You can use running to change other people's lives. Run for a charity and raise money to help the needy or less able.

16. Running with friends gives you time to catch up on gossip and get fit at the same time.

17. Running is a time-efficient way to get fit and lose weight so you have more free time after exercising to enjoy yourself.

18. Running is a challenge that can be motivational and bring great personal satisfaction.

19. Running is a great way to see a new place if you have limited time available for sightseeing. Just think how much more of a place you can see when running around it compared to walking.

20. Running improves your concentration as you are forced to concentrate more when running. This in turn improves your concentration when you have to focus in other areas of life.

21. You nearly always work better after a run because you are still on a runner's high and feel ready for anything.

22. Running is a great way to meet people, especially if you join a club or enter a race.

23. There are no monthly subscriptions with running. You just put your running shoes on and go.

24. Endurance built-up through running can be transferred to other sports.

25. If you drink alcohol you can just run a little bit further the next day to work off the extra calories.

Control anger before anger controls You

- Dr. Kurien S. Thomas, Effective Living Clinic, Vashi, Navi Mumbai - Rejuvenate

"A man was polishing his new car; his 4 year old son picked up a stone & scratched on the side of the car. In anger, the furious Man took his child's hand & hit it many times, not realizing he was using a wrench. At the hospital, the child lost all his fingers due to multiple fractures.When the child saw his father....with painful eyes he asked 'Dad when will my fingers grow back?' The man was so hurt and speechless. He went back to the car and kicked it many times. Devastated by his own actions... sitting in front of the car he looked at the scratches, His son had written 'LOVE YOU DAD'. It is said, Anger and Love have no limits...Always remember..... "Things are to be used and people are to be loved" but the problem in today's world is.... "People are being USED & Things are being LOVED."In today’s world we are always being judged / scanned / criticized by one and all; at home, at school, at college, at place of work and at all places that we go.Competitions and performance are over –rated. Televisions, internet and other media have been set on high search and follow mode. People today follow others not according to their taste, but by fame, prosperity etc. of others. The result …. They end up with unsatisfactory taste buds in life. This triggers their stress and stress in turn makes them immobile towards anticipated success thus anger triggers in the individual. Who does not get angry? The answer is everybody does? Every human does because that is his/her way of expression on anxiety or dissatisfaction.Anger has many dimensions to it. Some think an angry tone displays maturity. Some feel an angry expression can bring fear; that is the best mode to bring discipline. Some feel angry words can bring hope. Parents get angry due to anxiety. Some Anger has love in it. But only wise men can recognize the element of love in anger.I read about a 19 year old boy who ran away from his house 3 times. The reason; his mother did not buy a motorbike for him. The anxiety that a parent holds while the child rides the bike is unexplainable. Parents got their right to worry and that worry is translated into anxiety and the anxiety is expressed in anger.Marriages are today held is such a way that parents got no say in the lives of their child. We have a notion with us that we know everything and we can deal with it. That is our side of the story. We do give pre-marital counseling to the to-be-bride & the groom where a detailed study is conducted considering the likes & dislikes a crispy consultation is tabled before the to-be couple. In my personal suggestion the entire family if possible must be given counseling. If not possible as an entire family at least the parents of the bride and the groom must also be facilitated with this unique service. There may be contradictions to my say but let me say that many times due to lack of proper understanding, family issues pop up in no seconds. A gulf is bridged in the family. It would look like a torn bedspread when spread on the bed. The charm is gone. Many families today live like strangers under one roof. The newly wed does not interact with the parents or very limited. Or the parents do not interact with the newly wed. Sibling rivalry, the list goes endless… The reason is perhaps small issues which are concreted so well perhaps stronger than a RCC slab. Sometimes it would be stronger when compared to concreted roads. This is stress in the family-relationships. Concern for each other brings understanding and that understanding is real love.The other day I had written on stress during exams and tips to combat it. Stress to some extend is good but when it goes beyond boundaries of tolerance it turns out to be negative. Similarly, expression of anger to an extend is wise beyond that limit is evil sometimes even destructive.A short advice to the newly married or all those in the wedlock Don’t go to bed angry at each other. It will only get worse in the morning. Young husbands & wives sometimes think that their spouse will “get over it” with a good night’s sleep. Take it from one who knows? It doesn’t work. If you don’t solve your problems, both of you will not sleep well and both will have a bad morning when you do wake up.

Quick tips to control anger before anger controls us

Get out of the situation or place where you are when you got angry•

Try to stop the discussion at once and try to think will it benefit you in any way•

Try to channelize the energy in you to do some activities like cleaning, walking, writing down the causes of that particular situation•

Try to analyse which kind of conversation was responsible to trigger anger in you, rather learn to act tactful in similar situations ahead• Try to think of something else that could calm down your anger (about your family, loved ones etc.)•

Try deep breath –inhale/exhale at least 8 times•

Try to listen to some soothing music.•

Still angry… take a pillow; punch it till your anger wades out.You would emerge stronger when you learn the art to control your anger. Remember, it is human to have anger. It is what you do with it that counts!

Let every person be quick to listen, slow to speak, very slow to anger.

Dr. Kurien S. Thomas is a certified & qualified Clinical  Psychologist, Psychotherapist, Counsellor, Life Coach, Registered Medical Practitioner in Alternative Medicines & YogaTherapist. He has completed M.S, M.D (Doctor of Medicine in Alternative Medicines), certified & qualified Yoga Therapist from University of Mumbai, Founder and Executive Director of EFFECTIVE LIVING CLINIC and creator of K Yoga Therapy. He is registered with Indian Board of Alternative Medicines, which is recognized by the W.H.O (World Health Organisation) and U.N (United Nations).