My 5km Run Today

I started running in November 2014 after a long hiatus off running (about 5 years) and i realised as i have always known, i love running.
I love running slow though. When i mean slow, i mean i seem to derive fun running for more than 40 minutes at an easy pace.....I find once i get to the region of 40 minutes, i am always in love with running. I get a high when i am over an hour into my run and going through my app i use to log my running activities, apparently i started running on a good note as  within 2 weeks, i was doing long runs of 9km and above.
I would love to run everyday but i was being harassed by the boyfriend that i was getting too skinny so i reduced my runs to 3 times a week but then my fitness levels started diminishing. I think I'm the kind of person who needs to run more regularly and run further to feel the full benefits of a run. When i was running 3 times a week, i was getting lazier by the minute and a 5km run started seeming like such a big deal to me. I also started to put on weight running that way which is a no no for me....so i'm back to running 5 days a week (undercover....sssssshhhh!!!

Enough of me rambling about my running habit.....
Today i ran over 5km. I found it fun, exhilarating and liberating. I ran at an easy pace, which i have missed as since i was running 3 times a week and lacking the energy to do so, my runs became shorter although my pace improved.  It really is nice to run at a better pace but i HATE short runs. They DO NOT excite me.....They DO NOT make me happy, i DO NOT feel like i have had a workout and most especially they DO NOT give me a runners high.....and trust me, there is no such feeling as a running high.
So, today at my easy run of 8.22minutes /km, i had fun whilst running, i was even singing all my favourite songs whilst i ran like Alanis Morisette's '21 Things i want in a Lover 'and 'You owe me Nothing in return'....I also loved singing along to Dido's 'Life for rent' and 'Who makes you feel' as well as my all time favourite Eminem's 'Till i Collapse'. It was a great run! A fun run. And yes, there were times i was breathless but i really did enjoy myself.
At the end of my run, i am more in love with running than yesterday and i really enjoy the time i spend with myself running. Now i want to run 8km tomorrow but i'm reining myself in....easy does it Furo.....don't overwork yourself too soon......will wait for my run tomorrow and see how i feel during my run.

Are you a runner?
Do you love running?
What is your favourite running race? 5km, 8km, 10? Half marathon or marathon?

Please leave your comments

2015 HEALTH AND HAIR GOALS

Happy New year everyone!
 i know this is coming late, but i have been on holiday and my laptop had issues so had to get a new one.

I have so many goals this year, but i'm going to stick to my health and hair goals on this blog.


My health goals are the following:

• I love running with all my heart. I cannot describe the glorious joyous feeling i get after each run, even if i am exhausted. So, i plan to continue to run for my health and happiness and seek exciting ways to make my runs more fun.  I plan to run 3 times a week with an additional long run on saturdays. I also intend toward on my pace as well. However i shall not get antsy about it, just enjoy my workouts.

• I intend to run a half marathon at the middle of the year. I haven't decided which country yet,  though. It will however be one in the UK or US once i make up my mind.

• to do some strength training exercises at least twice a week. I would love this to be at the end of my run workouts so will come up with an easy plan soonest.

• Motivate myself by splurging on workout gear......well, i have already done this by adding an Asics Women's Gel Keyano 20 running shoes (i haven't run in this yet) and an Adidas Energy booster 20 ( i love these shoes. They were excellent for running in the Uk and i even turned them into my walking shoes...lol, i know!).  I also bought a lot of tank tops, sports bras, shorts, cropped pants et al so no excuses....i'm going to look quite hot whilst i run!

My hair goals on the other hand are as follows:

• Aim for 6 inches of hair growth and to retain at least 5 of those inches. `Will trim my hair every 6 months or just dust it a little based on its needs. I intend to take hair supplements in the form of sublingual biotin. I am keeping my fingers crossed that they will not cause my skin to break out.

• Relax my hair every 3 months. I seem to have fallen into a bad practice at the end of last year of relaxing my hair every two months i.e 8 weeks. This is because i felt my hair is texlaxed and therefore strong enough to deal with having relaxer treatments. I don't know if this is /was a good thing for my hair as my hair has been under a weave for the past 5 weeks. What i do know is that it really is not healthy for my hair. I have to keep it at 3 months.

• Love my hair and not get too OCD about it. Last year, i was OCD about my hair. Spent too much money on products, spent about 8 hours washing and straightening my hair. This year, i aint got no energy for that. I intend to keep my hair protective styles mostly. Reduce the number of times i wash my hair to bi monthly except I'm wearing my own hair. Invest in a good hand held hair dryer.
• Keep my hair protective styled for a month at a go at least. I plan to retain as much length as i can and this is the only way to do so.

Generally, i just want to be happy this year and achieve my hearts desires., enjoy what i love doing and grow my business.

I wish you all you wish for yourselves!

THE SNEAKY CALORIES YOU'RE SIPPING ON

Hi All,
Just thought to share this article I read this morning from Spark people. A lot of times when trying to lose weight, we focus on what we eat paying no attention to what we drink. This is certainly an eye opener.

They go down easily and can be found anywhere and everywhere. Water, tea, milk, juice, soda, flavored waters, coffee, energy drinks, smoothies. This list touches just a few of the many categories of beverages but doesn’t even delve into the different brands, sizes, flavors and varieties. Plus, with the billions of dollars spent to make drinks look, like, way cool, it’s hard to resist them! You probably couldn't avoid them even if you tried; they are everywhere you turn, tempting you at gas stations, schools, doctor's offices, malls, movie theaters, airports, bus stops, street corners, your workplace—even at the gym! For time’s sake, let’s skip counting the dollars spent on marketing these drinks and go straight to the number that matters most if you're watching your weight: 400.

That's the average number of calories Americans drink on a daily basis, according to a recent study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, which showed that around 37 percent of our total daily liquid calories come from sugar-sweetened drinks. So where are all of these calories coming from? Here is a sampling of the calories hiding in your cup.

Soda is the most-discussed beverage that sneaks calories into your day. Soda and fruit-flavored drinks can rack up to 250 calories per 12 ounces. Ginger ale and dark cola are the lowest in calorie at about 120 calories per 12 ounces, and cream soda is the highest with about 200 calories per 12 ounces. Portion size does really say it all! When these sugary liquids are sold in 20 ounce, 48 ounce, 1 liter and 2 liter bottles, it would be easy to work up to 800 calories in drinks a day if you're not being conscious of your choices. (Big) gulp!

"Juice" drinks (flavored, sugar-sweetened juice) can rack up more calories per ounce than soda! Orange, grape and cranberry juice drinks have about 216 calories per 12 ounces. But they seem so healthy! Don't let the fact that a portion of the ingredients in those bottles come from fruit fool you. The calories in these beverages should not be overlooked. Thankfully, food labels make it easy to check out the calorie content prior to purchasing a drink. Flip over labels before buying anything, and, of course, check the portion size!

Even 100% fruit juice, be it orange, apple, grape, pomegranate, cranberry or another flavor, can contribute calories to your diet. It’s great that all the sugar in fruit juice is natural and direct from the fruit, but unlike a whole piece of fruit, fruit juice is very concentrated in sugar, which makes it high in calories. Juice can also count as a serving of fruit if you’re getting about 6 ounces, but if you’re filling a big 24 ounce cup, you could be pouring about 320 calories of OJ with your breakfast. Go for grape juice or pineapple juice and the numbers are even higher. The key here is to stick to a 4 to 6 ounce serving of juice with your breakfast, and enjoy a large glass of water to hydrate yourself! If you’re worried about getting in your vitamins, grab a whole piece of fruit for a snack or add some berries or sliced fruit to your yogurt or cereal in the morning. Anytime you can eat fruit or vegetables rather than drinking them, you'll be better off.
Milk, including non-dairy milk alternatives, is often overlooked when it comes to calories. Although the beverage tastes great and is great for you, it does still contribute calories. A single serving of milk is 8 ounces, which is probably less than what many people pour at meals or on a big bowl of cereal in the morning. A tall dinner glass is about 12 to 16 ounces, which provides 132-168 calories if you choose skim. Fill your glass with 2% milk and that number jumps to 240 calories. These facts don’t discount the key nutrients found in milk that are healthful, but they hopefully encourage a proper serving size.

Many of us can’t function before 11 a.m. without our coffee. The brewed beverage is, by itself, calorie free, which makes it seem innocent. But with all the enticing additives offered by java joints, the numbers rise sharply. An 8 ounce latte made with whole milk is about 130 calories, but add flavored syrup, sugar and whipped cream on top and your drink now tops 200 calories. But when was the last time you ordered a latte that small? Once we bring up the tall, grande and venti sizes it’s a whole new ball game. A venti gingerbread latte with whole milk and whipped cream packs 440 calories into the cup. Granted, this is a large size, fully loaded, but it does a fine job of painting the picture of how many calories you could be drinking if you don't look up the facts beforehand.

Those who don’t drink coffee may turn to energy drinks to put pep in their step. Exercisers may also tend to favor energy drinks and sports drinks pre- or post-workout. These drinks may look tiny and taste light, but they can have up to 112 calories per cup. Sports drinks like Gatorade and Powerade come in at about half that, around 60 calories per cup. But watch out: the bottles they come in can contain up to 32 ounces—not 8 ounces—which adds up to 240 calories per bottle.


Considering how cheap, accessible and delicious sweetened and caloric beverages are, it's easy to see how the average person consumes hundreds of calories per day from drinks alone. Those liquid calories add up fast for another reason, too: It's so easy to mindlessly drink beverages. If you’re sitting at your desk, driving your car, or watching a movie, it’s not hard to suck down a supersize beverage in 5 minutes without even feeling full or satisfied. Couple this with free refills, and you’ve completed an equation for calorie over-consumption!
So often, we focus on what we're eating when we want to lose weight or get healthier, but don't forget about liquid calories. You don't have to swear off soda or your morning latte to reach your goals. Just be aware of how much you're drinking, and follow these beverage guidelines to fit your favorite tasty drinks into your healthy eating plan.

TIPS FOR BEGINNING A RUNNING PROGRAM

I used to run a long time ago when I was living in a gated community and it was the best thing that happened to me. I went quickly from a UK Size 10 to a Size 6 (I know! I know! That was too much!) but I really was eating healthier and felt really good, plus, I tend to lose weight pretty fast (Lucky me!)

So, I decided to pick up the habit again….Thanks to my friend Pat, who runs almost everyday and runs marathons. In fact, she is what I would call an Elite Runner.  We actually used to run earlier on before, till she surpassed me and became a Running Supernova.

Anyway, it’s been a real struggle trying to create a habit out of this sport. But here is some advise if you decide to take on a running program or pick up from where you dropped off at (like in my case)

My F|I|RST advise when starting a running Program is to do YOU! In other words, understand that this is about you picking up a healthy habit and loving it. Nothing more. So don’t try to be a Superman or woman, feeling you can run 10k on your first day of your running program. Not only will you not survive it, you will wake up the next day with serious aches and pains, unable to wake up for your training the next day. So, listen to your body whilst you run. For the first 4 weeks, run and walk together, monitor your vital signs with a tool like Polar and Progress gradually. Running miles is all about building stamina so be patient with your self.

Start at a slow jog, breathing properly and focusing not on intensity but on how long you are on the road for.

Start with a  Walk and Run Program. Rome wasn’t built in a day, so don’t expect to be able to run 30 minutes straight without a break. You can start with a 1 min walk and 1 min jog, or 2 min walk 2 min jog, gradually increasing your running time till you can do 10 minutes straight of running.

Find a great running app that can keep you in check calculating your distance covered, total calories burned , miles per hour and keeps track of all your runs. I find these really helpful when running. In my opinion, the best apps available for running are Strava, Endomondo, RunKeeper, and Runtastic. Feel free to google search for one of your choice. I use Endomondo at the moment and I love it! It also lets you connect with your friends that use the app on social media so you can post your runs, share runs etc.

Join a running forum as you will have loads of questions regarding your runs. You also get to share your running experience with others. Some interesting forums to join are – Coolrunnings.com , communityrunnersworld.com and the runningforum.com…..Thank me later.

Make your running a habit. Decide how many times a week you are okay with running and make it part of your lifestyle. In my case, I have chosen to run 5 days of the week with 2 rest days – Wednesdays and Sundays. Set your alarm clock to wake you up each day of your run days and select some noisy motivational music to wake you. Because I work out pretty early, I usually will quickly have a cup of coffee to wake me up before my run. If you feel you have no energy for your run, just get up and get out and start with a walk. Usually within 5 minutes of walking you will feel more energized to jog.

If you choose to use running as a means of losing weight, aim to exercise 5 days a week for about 30 minutes and above. Also pay attention to what goes into our mouth as some tend to overcompensate with food thinking that because they are exercising, they have a right to eat more.

These are my tips for starting a running program. Feel free to  ask any questions.

IS FASTING AN EASY WAY TO SHED WEIGHT?

Some people fast as a means to lose weight. Others fast to try to detox their bodies or for religious reasons………

 

As for me, I hate fasting because I end up feeling dizzy, weak and cranky but some people think that is the fasting way to lose weight. I spent almost 30 minutes of my precious time thinking how could fasting result to a healthy weight loss…….. Yes!! I said healthy because you will eventually lose some weight but not in a healthy way.

          Fasting diets aren’t all the same. Some allow only liquids like water, juices, or tea. Others cut calories drastically, but don’t completely ban foods.  If you’re fasting to lose weight, you may want to reconsider because the weight loss may not last after you finish fasting. Really????/ You’ll say, BUT that’s the truth they won’t tell you… when you eat less than you need and you lose weight, the first thing you are losing is water weight and then your body goes into a starvation mode. To save energy, your metabolism slows down. When you’re done fasting and you go back to your usual diet, you may regain the weight you lost and then some more……WHY? Because by this time you feel ravenously hungry and then you tend to eat all the things you craved to eat whilst you were fasting.

          During a fast, your body adjusts by curbing your appetite, so you will feel hungry at first. But once you have stopped fasting, your appetite revs back up.  You may feel hungrier and more likely to overeat. Fasting for a few days probably won’t hurt most people who are healthy provided they don’t get dehydrated but fasting for long period of time is bad for you. Your body needs vitamins, minerals and other nutrients from food to stay healthy. If you don’t get enough, you can have symptoms such as fatigue, dizziness, constipation, dehydration. Fasting too long can be life- threatening. How? Well if ou fast for long durations your organs like liver and kidney may just pack up on you. Very scary. Also, if you have diabetes DO NOT ATTEMPT TO FAST, because it can lead to dangerous dips and spikes in blood sugar.

          Bottomline, before you go on a new diet, particularly one that involves fasting, ask your doctor or dietitian who can show you how to design a healthy eating plan. We only live once, let’s live it healthy………*wink*


ARTICLE BY RUTH OKPANI

The Lazy Diva's Way to Lovely Skin

If you are like me, you may get lazy when it comes to skin care and make up. I find them really tasking and too much drama for me to bear…..Not only is it overwhelming with so many products and product lines available, it can also be time consuming.

Here are a couple of tips that can help Lazy divas.

1.       Stay hydrated

Drinking water is the best thing you can do for your skin. Especially if you live in a very humid country as I do. Sometimes I feel so hot that the thought of placing cream on my skin just feels so not right as the weather aside from making you hot, makes you sweat. Aim to drink at least 8 glasses of water a day….or more if you are active.

Better still head to http://www.h4hinitiative.com/tools/hydration-calculator  and calculate just how much water you need for your bodyweight and height.

 

2.       Wash your face twice a day.

This is one of the first of Skin Rules by Dr. Debra Jaliman and she swears by it. You need to wash your face twice a day- morning and night before you go to bed. This will get rid of the debris, make up and pollutants your skin has been exposed to during the day. I always ensure I cleanse my face at night even after a fun night after indulging in alcohol and I’m feeling too exhausted to take makeup off. Wipes are handy at this point and I use simple cleansing wipes which contains no harsh chemicals or irritants.

 

3.       Exfoliate! Exfoliate! Exfoliate!

Exfoliating your skin regularly can bring new life to your skin and improve the results of your skin care routine and rejuvenate your skin. Aside from helping to clear buildup, acne and breakouts, it improves your skin texture and clarity by removing the tired and dead cells and speeds up the skin renewal process. Your complexion can turn from dull and dry to bright, vibrant and smooth. It can also help by reducing ageing process. I swear by Origins Never a dull moment face scrub.

 

4.       Load up on Fruits and Vegetables

Beauty is skin deep and what you eat can determine how you will look so aim to eat a diet rich in antioxidants and vitamins. Drink nettle tea, green tea, burdock and peppermint teas. If you can get the fresh leaves for your tea, that would be excellent.  Eat foods like strawberries, blueberries, almonds, loads of tomatoes, watercress, fennel, red grapes, beetroot, tofu, brown rice, beans, kale, avoado, garlic, alfafa sprouts, broccoli, eggs, artichokes, cottage cheese, sweet potatoes, mackerel, salmon, oysters and pumpkin seeds. Try incorporating some of these into your diet

 

5.       Protect your Skin from Sunrays

I hate sunlight. Not only does it affect my eyes, it burns my skin so I avoid exposing my skin to it. Aside from the vanity of not wanting to get sunburnt, skin cancer is a common source of cancer in women so it is very wise to use a sunblock when you know you are going to be under the sun for more than 10 minutes. If you hate wearing sunblock, aim to use it on the days you know you will be exposed or use an umbrella, hat, sunglasses and pashmina to protect yourself.

 

6.       Moisturise

I made this last as this is the part I hate…..aim to moisturise your skin each time you wash it. In other words, twice a day. This is because no matter how much water you drink daily, your skin can get parched, so a good penetrating moisturiser will give your skin a more youthful appearance. I tend to prefer an oil free moisturiser as it is lighter. I use Origins zero oil moisturiser

How to Love yourself better!

I think every girl/woman need to love herself regardless of whatever paths or circumstances she may have chosen or found herself in because we will never be able to achieve much until we learn to love ourselves.

There is nothing more beautiful than a woman who truly loves herself. Truth is, no matter your height, color and looks,  nothing is more beautiful than a self loving personality whose actions and personality depicts love, grace and kindness. Learning to love ourselves despite what the world may throw at us, is the singular, most beautifying action you can ever do for yourself.

Learn how to meditate

In order to love yourself, you have to connect with the inner you. Set aside some time on a daily basis to simply ‘be’, and truly benefit from the gift of meditation, self reflection or contemplation. Remember, No woman is beautiful if she is stressed out.

Learn how to listen to your intuition

Oestrogen is the hormone, which allows women to be especially in tune with our intuitions. As you get to know yourself better, your gut feelings will also become clearer. Listen to the signs that tell you how you feel about things; graciousness lies in the connection between intuition and action.

Learn how to accept your looks

Even supermodels have days when they are dissatisfied with their looks. It’s part of human nature, often as a sign that we are neglecting either our mental or physical health, to occasionally feel unattractive.  Accepting your looks, is a different matter however, and a trait, which will do more for you than any magic potion or surgery can.

Learn how to take care of your body

Your body is your temple; it is the capsule of your soul and mind. Communicate with it, by observing what makes you feel healthy, and strong. Remember that a body, which does not exercise, is a body not fulfilling its function.

Learn how to manage your finances

Whether you can afford a personal bookkeeper or not, staying on top of your personal in- and outgoings is crucial to your confidence. You are an independent woman, you came into this world alone, and to be frank, you will leave it alone. Don’t leave something as important as your finances, in the hands of another person.

Learn how to be kind

As much as we are independent, we are also co-dependent. We need other people in all elements of life, from daily service transactions to friends that we can share our lives with. Kindness is therefore a key to a happy life. As you do upon others, so will be done upon you.

Learn how to enjoy sex

Female sexuality is one of the most over-debated and misunderstood topics of our time. It’s no wonder that many of us begin to think of a sex as a chore, or a conundrum. The key to enjoying sex is in learning that you have every right to express yourself sexually. There is nothing to be ashamed of in asking for what you want in bed.

Learn about your sisters and mothers

Women are like branches of a tree; we have all come to be from the same roots. We are perhaps, even more co-dependant than men, because typically we connect with our emotions rather than our minds. Find out about those particular women that have paved the way for the lifestyle you lead. Starting from your mother, to your grandmothers, to the women that made a difference in your town. These are the mother’s of your mother’s of your mother’s.

Learn how to communicate with God

This is the most important of all and I have kept it as the last. Whichever God you believe in, there are feminine attributes to your religion, which you particularly should seek out and learn how to use. Every individual woman should find her way to connect to the divine feminine too

DIET MISTAKES THAT CAN SLOW YOUR METABOLISM

Since I reached my 30’s, I noticed I have been too super gangsta about my weight, nutrition and exercise. It’s as though, if I look at a cupcake I might gain 3- pounds…*lol* don’t mind me but you probably don’t need scientists to tell you that your metabolism slows with age. As we get older…… more mature, our metabolism slows down due to the loss of muscle mass. We don’t have to be victims of our slow metabolism.

               Here are a few tips on improving or boosting our metabolism to burn more fat.

·         Avoid limited water intake- this is one of the simplest diet blunders to fix. Water is essential for burning calories. If you let yourself get dehydrated, your metabolism decreases. We all know this and talk about it too. Research shows that an adult who drinks eight or more glasses of water per day burns more calories than one who drinks less. So try adding a glass of water to every meal. Trust me, will go a long way for your body.

·         Skipping Breakfast seems like a simple way to cut calories and a lot of us are guilty of this! I know I have come across some articles which suggest that it’s a good way to ward off weight, but really the result can be insatiable hunger the rest of the day. This may lead to snacking and eating a larger lunch. Breakfasts that are high in protein and fiber can reduce hunger throughout the day, as well as maintaining a higher metabolism. Studies show too that people who eat breakfast every morning are more likely to maintain a healthy weight, have more brain power and even lose weight..

·         Excessive Stress-Stress can increase fat conversion and cause weight gain, more typically around the abdomen due to excess release of corticosteroid hormone called cortisol. The bottom line is always have enough rest…..maybe by doing yoga or meditation exercises or getting on a workout regimen, just anything that might calm down your stress/body.*whispering*” there’s nothing wrong being selfish with yourself for a day*

·         Missing this crucial vitamin- Vitamin D is essential for preserving metabolism or revving muscle tissues, this vitamin is obtained from sun exposure( early morning sunlight) not the annoying sunlight at noon* straight face* and can also be obtained from foods like tuna, shrimp, tofu, fortified milk, cereal and eggs.

·         Avoid Sugary Drinks- many of us tend to overlook what’s in our drinks. This is a critical mistake when trying to lose weight. Some fancy coffees and alcoholic beverage have more than 500 calories. Even the calories in fruit juice and soda can add up quickly and tend to affect your sugar levels. What’s worse is that liquid calories don’t crub hunger, They make you crave food more. So, you’re not going to eat any less after a high calorie drink.

·         Don’t avoid Caffeine- caffeine is a central nervous system stimulant. A cup of brewed tea or even coffee can raise your metabolism by 12% according to studies. I love to drink tea a lot…obviously!!!! Teas rich in antioxidant boost your metabolism than you can imagine. You have a whole lot to pick from Chia, green tea, oolong, Puerh, flavored teas, Rooibos, etc

·         Eating White Carbs- boost your fiber intake by switching to whole foods such as wheat bread, pasta, quinoa, sweet potatoes and eating more fruits and vegetable. More fiber can rev your fat burn by as much as 30%. Fiber is also filling and does not affect your blood sugar levels the way white carbs wouldEat more fiber and gain less weight overtime. Aim for about 25g a day- the amount in about three serving each of fruits and vegetable.

The Lazy Girl's Guide to skin care

If you are like me, you get lazy once in a while when it comes to skin care and makeup. Not only do I find it all so overwhelming with all the various products available for different skin issues, it can also be time consuming.

Here are a couple of tips that can help you on your quest for clear skin

Stay Hydrated

Drinking Water is the best thing you can do for your skin, especially if you live in a humid climate where its so hard plastering products on your face in the morning cos the weather is hot and cream makes you sweat. You’ll notice that your eyes  look sunken and skin dryer when you are dehydrated. Reason is your body pulls water from your tissues to maintain the water concentration of your blood. So aim to drink at least 8 glasses of water a day…or more if you live in a hot climate or are very active.

Wash your face twice a day

This is one of the first rules of celebrity Dermatologist, Dr. Debra Jaliman in her book “Skin Rules” and she swears by this. Use a gentle cleanser and wash your face in the morning and at night before you go to sleep as This helps in preventing breakouts. It is also required if you have a night skin regimen. I tend to use the Clarisonic Mia to wash my face with a gentle cleanser specifically made for acne prone skin  and I find it very effective. Always take off your make up at night…no exceptions!

 Exfoliate! Exfoliate! Exfoliate!

Exfoliating your skin regularly can bring new life to your skin and improve the results of your skin care. Aside from helping to clear acne and breakouts, it improves your skin texture by getting rid of the tired and dead skin cells, speeding up the skin renewal process. Your complexion can turn from dull and dry to bright and radiant and smooth and it also helps reduce signs of ageing.

Moisturize

I know I don’t do this and I should practice what I preach but you need to moisturize your skin each morning and at night, if your skin feels extra dry. This is because no matter how much water you drink daily, your skin can get parched . So a good penetrating moisturizer will  give your skin a younger, supple appearance. I tend to use an oil free moisturizer by Origins.

Always Use Sunscreen

This is very important especially in sunny climates. Lack of sunscreen is a no! no! This is despite the fact that I rarely ever expose myself to the sun as I am anti-sun ( I tend to burn easily under the sun and light disturbs my eyes aside from the fact that I get fainting spells when exposed for a while).Also, skin cancer is one of the most common and deadliest of the cancers,  So, aside from vanity sake, avoid the sun and use a sunscreen specially when you expect extended exposure.

FLAT TUMMY WATER

 

Losing weight can be challenging but diet, exercise and self-control are the key factors. Eating fresh foods and drinking healthy drinks that do contain artificial sweeteners can help you achieve weight loss success. Naturally flavored and infused waters are a favorite when it comes to weight management. They taste deliciously good and you control the ingredients. Do you like the sound of it already?

       Flat tummy water is a delicious way to stay hydrated because when you’re hydrated, you feel full and guard yourself against weight gain and also water helps flush out your toxins. Note that, flat tummy water is not a meal replacement!!! Drink it like you would regularly hydrate yourself.

In order to lose weight it is recommended to eat and drink more of the following………

·         CUCUMBER: An 8.25- inch cucumber only has 45 calories with its skin and 34 calories without its skin. They are low in calories, act as a diuretic and high in dietary in fiber and help keep the body alkaline. Nutrients provided by the cucumber also include but are not limited to vitamin C, vitamin A, iron, calcium, vitamin K and potassium. The amount of these nutrients you get from cucumber in the water depends on how much cucumber you use in the water but if you place the entire cucumber in your water, the water will still contain fewer than 50 calories.

·         GINGER: Ginger is a beneficial addition to a weight loss program aimed at reducing belly fat and obtaining a flat tummy. Belly fat accumulates for various reasons, including overeating, age- related hormone reduction, lack of exercise and stress. Consumption of ginger addresses each of these problems. Taking ginger without reducing calories or exercising won’t reduce belly fat. Ask your doctor or dietician before taking large amount of ginger, which may be contraindicated in certain medical condition.

·         LEMON: Combination of lemon and water is one that is made up of natural ingredients, are the healthiest for the human body it adds no calories to your each time you drink it, because of the pectin fiber’s presence in lemon, it has the effect of reducing your hunger. If you tried to kill your appetite in the past with such drinks like coffee or tea, try lemon in your water from now on and also get the benefit of vitamin C, enhance your beauty by rejuvenating skin from within bringing a glow to your face. And also cleanse out your colon, lemon in water effect on your hunger craving in a one – two combination in the effort to help you to reduce weight.

·         MINT: You may have thought of mint as an appetite suppressant but it is, not only will give the water a refreshing flavor it will stop food craving too. Aside from all the other health benefits of mint, it also can help in your efforts to lose weight in a healthy way. Mint is a stimulant but also stimulates the digestive enzymes that absorb nutrients from foods and consume fat and turn it into useable energy. Therefore, by adding mint to your diet or water you are increasing the amount of fat is being consumed and put to use, rather than being stored and contributing to your weight gain.

·         WATER: Water is life. It keep the body hydrated which is important because dehydration can slow down the fat burning process. It lubricates joints and muscles during exercises and helps the blood supply oxygen to muscles, water also help feel full during meals, so we don’t overeat.

Flat Tummy Water Recipe:

·         6 cups of filtered water

·         1 cucumber, Sliced

·         1 lemon, Sliced

·         1 tablespoon grated ginger

·         ½ cup of mint leaves

Let the mixture infuse overnight. Drink it all the next day and enjoy but if you can’t finish it all then please, keep it refrigerated. Make sure ingredients are organic and water is filtered.