Consider the source

Consider the source. I’m going to make a gross generalization here, but… why would I trust an overweight doctor or nutritionist to give me proper advice on weight loss? “Do as I say and not as I do” is not a maxim I’m willing to accept from anybody who would be qualified to tell me how to do something. Talk to people who are doing it, or who have done it and been successful. You don’t have to mirror their regimen, but at least you’re getting help from someone who’s really been there. Or, as they said in the Christmas episode of “Two and a Half Men,” people who live in fat asses shouldn’t throw waffles.

Win a ThermaClear from Savvy Skin

Here’s your chance to win a free ThermaClear, the zit zapping tool that has been getting rave reviews, and retails for $150 at Sephora. Therative, the makers of ThermaClear asked me if I wanted to test out a ThermaClear, but now that I don’t really get acne anymore, I thought a better choice would be to allow one of my readers to win this tool instead!

The ThermaClear works on mild to moderate inflammatory acne, usually characterized by red pimples or bumps. ThermaClear is not intended for use on blackheads, whiteheads, or cystic acne. The device works by sending heat to the source of the pimple, and it can make the pimple go away up to four times faster. I personally have not tested the ThermaClear, but have read a lot of good reviews about it, and a lot of my fellow beauty bloggers swear by their ThermaClear.

Win a ThermaClear from Savvy Skin!
The contest starts today and ends Friday, April 18th. To enter, just write a comment to this post telling us your worst pimple story, and include your name and email address (which will not be visible to viewers). As you know, my worst pimple story includes having acne all through high school, and then suffering from it for several years in my late 20s! My persistent acne is what caused me to make a whole website devoted to skin care! The ThermaClear winner will be chosen at random, and will be notified by email after April 18th.

Please note that by entering the contest, your email address will be shared with Therative, so that they can send you information about ThermaClear. If you would also like to receive information about ThermaClear via snail mail, you can email me your mailing address to jenipix (@) yahoo.com, but this is not a requirement.

I went to the Dermatologist yesterday for the first time in three years. I picked yet another doctor at the same Dermatology clinic, because I like to see a different doctor every time, so that I can learn as much as possible about skin care. First I had him check my suspicious moles on my back for skin cancer, and he said they were totally fine, and nothing to worry about. Despite knowing what to look for with skin cancer, I still get totally confused, and it’s better to be safe than sorry!

Wrinkles and Acne
The other main reason I was there was to get a presciption for topical acne/wrinkle products. I have been using Differin for several years for acne, however I don’t know if it’s the best treatment to use for fine lines as well. I have used Retin-A Micro in the past, but it was pretty harsh on my skin, so I wanted to avoid that. After some research, I discovered that Renova looked like a promising alternative. Renova is basically Retin-A, but in a moisturizing base. For some reason, I thought Renova contained pore-cloggers, but that doesn’t appear to be the case.

The doctor gave me a prescription for both Renova .05% cream, and Differin .03% gel. Differin is usually preferred over Renova for acne, however now that my acne is minimal, Renova should be strong enough for my acne, and it will give me a chance to see if it works better on wrinkles than the Differin. If I end up hating the Renova, then I will just go back to Differin. I had been using the .01% Differin, but the doctor said the new .03% isn’t any harsher, and that I might as well try the stronger one. Renova is generally not covered by insurance for acne (but my insurance doesn’t cover Differin either) so I order my products through a reputable online pharmacy.

Blackheads
The only acne I can’t seem to get rid of are the blackheads on my nose. They are super annoying, and they are always there! I also asked the Dermatologist for a prescription for Tazorac, because I’ve read that is the best treatment for blackheads. Luckily he gave me some sample tubes of it, which I will only use on my nose. Tazorac is similar to Differin, but it’s stronger, and also harsher. It’s probably better for someone with oily, non-sensitive skin.

Eyebrows
Finally, I told the doctor my eyebrows have been thinning a lot - especially the outer edges of them. They also feel itchy all the time - like something is crawling on them. Ugh. He said they look fine, and since there’s no redness or scaling, that there’s nothing he can do. He said it’s probably just heredity, or possible an auto-immune problem, but he had no suggestions. I briefly mentioned I have been struggling with hair loss for five years, but he had no comment or suggestions.

This is why I hate going to the doctor - they rarely have helpful answers to anything. It’s extremely frustrating going to the doctor, only to feel worse than before you got there. That’s why I do all my own research, and figure out what will be the best choice for me on my own. I just get frustrated when I have a problem I can’t fully solve (hair loss, thinning eyebrows) and the doctor knows less than I do.treatment for depression and anxiety

Health and Physical Fitness

Wednesday, August 19, 2009

Health and physical activity tips including information on men's and women's health and wellness including advanced nutritional products for the immune system, joint health, weight loss and general health. All five components of fitness and health: strength training, weight management, cardiovascular exercise, nutrition, and flexibility training are discussed in the Online Muscle Fitness section of the site.

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The Top 20 Lessons For Living Longer

By: Sean Barker

You are probably sick of hearing "new" studies telling you to do this or eat that to live longer and feel like you did in your twenties.

Despite all the medical advances available today, the most effective and the most practical advice to living a long and healthy life can be found in our past.

Here are the top twenty time-tested healthy habits that have survived for centuries to increase the quantity and quality of our life.

1. Eat mostly plants.

(Have meat as a side dish instead of the main dish)

2. Put family first.

(Time with family is priceless)

3. Take a walk.

(Our legs are meant to move us, so move)

4. Drink a glass of red wine daily.

(It's been a practice for centuries, it must be good)

5. Reduce and manage stress.

(Stress kills, so avoid it or deal with it)

6. Have a purpose.

(Be excited when you wake up each morning)

7. Get outdoors.

(We came from nature, go back for a visit)

8. Be grateful.

(Appreciate what you got and you will get more)

9. Have fun.

(Do things that you enjoy)

10. Maintain a healthy body weight

(Move more, eat less)

11. Get regular exercise.

(Push and pull heavy things)

12. Love and laugh

(Preferably both at the same time)

13. Snack on nuts

(The most nutrient dense food in the world)

14. Give something back.

(If you want to get, you have to give)

15. Eat a large breakfast.

(Your mother was right...again)

16. Eat a medium lunch

(It's a lunch break, not a lunch buffet)

17. Eat a small dinner

(Enough eating already)

18. Drink plenty of water.

(It's the basis of all living things)

19. Sleep when it's dark.

(There is a reason why we can't see in the dark)

20. Learn new things.

(You live, you learn)

Get your FREE Fat Loss report "The Truth About Fat Loss, How To Finally Lose That Beer Belly"

Sean is a Certified Personal Trainer and a proud and busy Dad. Sean has been involved in the health and fitness industry for over 15 years and have appeared in High Performance Muscle Magazine, been on health and fitness radio shows and was selected as a sponsored athlete by one of the top supplement nutrition companies in the world. His popular Dad Fitness fat loss workouts have helped Dads around the world lose fat, gain muscle, and get lean in less than 3 hours per week.