SLEEP IS OUR FRIEND

Had enough sleep last night?

It's possible to eliminate many minor sleep problems by creating a comfortable sleep environment, maintaining a healthful balance of nutrition and exercise, and engaging in relaxing activities near bedtime.

• Keeping a regular sleep schedule—even on weekends—maintains the timing of the body's internal clock and can help you fall asleep and wake up more easily.

• Even if real life stands in the way of achieving the perfect sleep routine, making just a few small changes can improve your sleep dramatically.

Read more here...

RUN SHIRTLESS FOR YOUR OWN GOOD

Going out for a run in summer? Go shirtless. 

This blogger tells us how running shirtless outdoors gives him more of the fitness boost he needs.

"Running Style: I feel so free when I run shirtless.  I’m able to run in the most natural form possible; minus the whole shorts and shoes thing.  Honestly though, running without a shirt does allow me to concentrate more on the arm pumping portion of my running form.  Most runners ignore the importance of pumping your arms.  If you have forgotten how to pump your arms then I suggest you run shirtless.

Temperature: It’s obviously much cooler (yeah, there’s a double meaning there) to run with your shirt off.  Your body is able to release the heat and cool itself down easier.  

Read the whole thing here....

SEA FOR THE SKIN

Water from the sea reported improves skin condition. 

The researchers then analysed the effects of the individual compounds in seawater and said that two of them - salt and potassium chloride are the main healers. They seal the damaged skin and allow it to mend.
The researchers also claimed that bathing in seawater increases the elasticity of the skin, and improves its outer appearance.

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DO YOU HAVE THE RIGHT SPF ?

Photo shot for People Asia Magazine

How much sun protection do we really need?

The SPF rating is a measure of the time it would take you to sunburn if you were not wearing sunscreen as opposed to the time it would take with sunscreen on.

"SPF is not a consumer-friendly number," says Florida dermatologist James M. Spencer, MD. "It is logical for someone to think that an SPF of 30 is twice as good as an SPF of 15 and so on. But that is not how it works."

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BE LIKE THE BRAZILIANS : LESSON ON POSING

Some people just have it, some need to work at it. I have yet to meet a Brazilian male model who does not deliver the projection I need for my shoots. I'm wondering if they start boys on modeling at primary grade. Pedro is the first model from Brazil whom I shot in Singapore, and he was awesome, practically directing himself throughout the whole fashion shoot. I had many other shoots with many other Brazilian, I was never disappointed.

We can all learn from models as to how they project beautifully in front of the camera. Start with these tips.

"3 Ways To Be Photogenic ": Read Here.

TOO BUSY OR TOO BORED?

 Yes, you CAN make time for exercise today!

"If you’ve recently identified more excuses than reasons to visit the gym, you may be battling a case of boredom in your exercise routine. Simple, small changes in your normal regime may reunite your feet and the elliptical machine once again.

Read more here...

OFFICE WORK IS GREAT, BUT...

Model: Ms. Farrah Florer

Don't get wasted at work!

Productivity Expert Laura Stack zeroed in on some very helpful insights into feeling good about working in the corporate setting -- she has this 7 Tips for Leaving the Office Earlier...so intriguingly true!

1. Stop participating in the cultural rules. Commit to getting out the door on time. Who decided that you should work until 7:00 p.m.? How much is the time “you’re devoting because you’re a salaried employee and obligated to do what it takes to get the job done” worth?

2. Start meetings before 4:00 p.m. If you have some say or control regarding meeting times, schedule them to end by 4:30. Preferably, start meetings right after lunch. Block out your calendar beginning at 4:00 every day so people can’t schedule with you. And don’t ask people to begin projects at 4:45 PM. Respect their right to a life, too.

3. Be assertive. Don’t be afraid to tell others, “I leave work at 5:00, on time, every day. I have a 5:30 commitment I must adhere to.” It’s none of their business that your commitment is with yourself or your family. People tend to support others when their goals are made public.

4. Schedule fixed office hours. If you have an assistant, block off certain hours a few days a week to accept appointments. Perhaps Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, you take appointments from 9:00 to 10:30 and 2:00 to 3:30. This way you don’t have interruptions overlapping the time you’re trying to leave the office.

5. Make preparations to leave. Gather up your coat and put it in a visible spot so others can see you’re on your way out. Close your door a few minutes before quitting time so people will think you’re busy or already gone. Whatever they want, it can wait until tomorrow.

6. Challenge your assumptions. Long hours aren’t “the way it is.” To reduce the time pressure you feel, decide to reclaim your day, not by working longer, but to finish your work within the workday. Don’t focus on “catching up.” You will never catch up. There will always be more things to do than time to do them. By being more productive during the day, you’ll get the same amount of work done and leave earlier.

7. Start small. Pick a single day, perhaps Thursdays, to be “the” day you leave work on time. To support this decision, you will automatically begin to be more productive on Thursdays and work your day more carefully. Keep working on productivity skills and adding more days, until you’re working your 40-hour workweek again and accomplishing even better results.

(C) Copyright 2005 Laura Stack, MBA, CSP. All rights reserved.

This article may be reprinted provided the following credit line is present: "Laura M. Stack, MBA, CSP, is "The Productivity Pro"® and the author of Leave the Office Earlier. She presents keynotes and seminars on time management, information overload, and personal productivity. Contact her at 303-471-7401 or Laura@TheProductivityPro.com."

HAVE A DAY AT THE SPA

Angel Aquino for The Spa

Your skin and your body needs frequent breaks. We go through the week and work in our offices, and exercise outdoors, or in the gym. But do we take care of our skin and body? I don't just mean visits to the dermatologist clinic. Premium spas have got nice, cozy environments that offer scientifically-tested facial procedures, and skin toning, exfoliation and moisturizing treatments that let's your skin breathe out the toxic day away, leaving you not just clean-feeling but also refreshed and revitalized. Throw in a massage as well, to make the pampering complete. Be careful though of the salon-type establishments that offer services that are not supervised by medical experts.

Here's one place where you'll never go wrong:

MEN OF COLOR

It's about time men made statements with the socks they wear. And with all the new designs and colors available these days, self-expression has never been so interesting and liberating. Are you a green sock person, or a red sock kind of guy -- colors show who you are, and what you aim to be.

SOCK SIZE MATTERS

"A skater’s feet can get pretty gnarly after a day of riding, but wearing the proper sock can help keep the grossness to a minimum. Cotton socks, once wet, do not dry out easily. Therefore, choose a sock that has excellent breathability and moisture-wicking properties. In addition to keeping your feet dry, make sure that your socks don’t sag and crumple up in your shoe – this can cause pain and blisters. Reinforced toes and heels will also keep you comfortable, not to mention your socks will last longer."

Read more...

BREATHE AGAIN, AND DEEPLY

Breathing is an essential aspect of wellness. Try taking slow and deep breaths inside a forest or a lakeside where oxygen abounds from the surrounding plant life -- you can feel a definite difference from being inside an air-conditioned room.

WASH AND LEARN

Wash socks regularly and avoid nasty stuff like Athlete's Foot, and that gnarly wet feet smell. The people who live in the same room with you will appreciate it.

HOW DO SOCKS LOVE YOUR FEET?

Repeatedly wearing socks after use is unhygienic, but sometimes, we get into situations when we have to re-use. I heard about socks that contain some special charcoal fiber that absorbs odor and moisture that causes fungus and bacteria. They also retain infrared rays from the environment that promotes blood circulation and enhances human resistance to ailments.  How "coal" is that? :)

(Read more... )

SUN LOVER ?

Model: Andres Novillo

"If the heat is intolerable, stay indoors when you can and avoid activities in direct sunlight or on hot asphalt surfaces."

Read up on this: 15 Ways to Keep Cool in the summer.

WHAT SWIMMER BODS NEED

Trunks, or boardshorts? What kind of swimmer are you?

A DIP AFTER THE GYM?

Is swimming after a workout harmful? The gym trainers I know say "no" as long as you have no injuries that cold water might aggravate. In warm weather, it may even help to cool down body temperature to normal after a hard workout.

FEET FATIGUE FATALE

Model: Pedro Cavalca / Diva Singapore

Very tired legs and feet bother you after heavy use? Make them  more comfortable by removing excess clothing, or anything tight, and prop your legs up on a pillow. A quick warm shower before resting can help you to cool down, and relax.

HOW HOSIERY CAME TO BE

Image from eBay.com

By the 18th century, women started wearing stockings too, - prior to this it was mostly men who wore them. The upper classes would wear white or coloured stockings, whilst the lower classes would wear black. But by the 1800s, men were moving away from stockings and breeches into trousers and the industrial production of stockings from around 1860 made them more available.

(From Independent.co.uk )

Read the whole article here

DO YOU HAVE THE RIGHT PAIR?

Model: Victor Olandez

"I'm really big on appropriate socks for activities," said Dr. Ross Taubman, past president of the American Podiatric Medical Association. "No dress socks for exercise. You need cushioning to protect and wicking to remove sweat."

THE HEELS ARE ALIVE

Image from eBay.com

Humans are meant to walk heel-to-toe, with the leg at about a 90-degree angle to the foot and the ankle joint employing a 60-degree range of motion during normal daily activities. By wearing a high heel, Liebow explains, “you’re altering the position of the foot and how the foot is to function. Therefore, lots of bad things happen.

An article on the Washington Post online....

Read the whole article here

PUT IT ON FOR WARMTH

Model: Kevin Cote/ Reco Modelling

Just heard a great tip from my friend Jean M. -- wear socks on your feet on chilly nights to keep you from catching cold, and to have a restful night's sleep. It really works!

TAKE IT OFF, AND TAKE IT ON

Model: JM Manalang / Reign Models

More than a killer physique, what a male model needs is to be very comfortable in his own skin, and the confidence to shift from one pose to another, and know that he will great any which way.