How to Slimming Vacation

 Credit: Kicka Witte/kickawitte.com

The ultimate vacation

By Karen Asp
From Health magazine

You go somewhere luxe, indulge away, and come back thinner. Our experts canvassed the country to find 10 standout trips that make it easy to eat healthy and get toned without trying.

Our healthy-travel judges then ranked these top U.S. destinations, based on how nutritious and tasty the food is, how active you’ll want to be while you’re there (in other words, how creative and fun the exercise options are), how much private coaching is at your fingertips, and whether you’ll pick up healthy habits to bring home. Jet off to one of these places this summer and your souvenir just might be a smaller dress size.

Meet our judges

• Samantha Brown is the host of Travel Channel shows including Great Weekends and Passport to Europe.
• Melisse Gelula is the co-founder of WellandGoodNYC.com; she is also the former editor-in-chief of spafinderlifestyle.com.
• Jim Kaese is a hotel gym expert and Editor in Chief for AthleticMindedTraveler.com.

Credit: Courtesy of Miraval Arizona

No. 1 Miraval Resort & Spa

Tucson, Arizona
How to travel: alone, with your partner, with girlfriends

The peaceful desert setting at Miraval will inspire your sweat sessions; all meals are under 450 calories.

An exhilarating zip-line trip through the desert. A flavorful, grass-fed beef tenderloin under 350 calories. The premier integrative-wellness program founded by mind-body guru Andrew Weil. These are just a few of the reasons why Miraval snagged the top spot. "You leave there feeling lighter in spirit and slimmer in your waistline," says Melisse Gelula, one of our panelists and co-founder of Well & Good NYC, a healthy-lifestyle Web site. Food-wise, dishes are portion-controlled, locally sourced, and delicious.

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Credit: Getty Images

How to increase your focus

By Karen Pallarito

You’re late to work (again), behind on a project, or can’t remember the action points from the last meeting. If you’re one of the roughly 10 million U.S. adults with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), it can be a constant challenge to stay on task.

Anthony Rostain, MD, professor of psychiatry and pediatrics at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, in Philadelphia, says you can get distracted by external stimuli like noise or internal stimuli like daydreaming; these different distractions require different coping strategies, he explains.

Here’s how to pinpoint your weaknesses and 10 strategies for getting the job done. 

Write it down

If you want to raise an important point in a conference call, but don’t want to butt in, you may not absorb what the others are saying while you wait to bring it up.

Better to jot down a keyword to remind yourself what you want to say, says Linda Richmand, a Westchester County, N.Y., certified professional coach with a specialty in adult ADHD and ADD. "Now you’re ready to fully attend."

She recommends keeping a "random-thought pad" on hand, whether you are at your computer or folding laundry. Enter important reminders and any brilliant ideas that pop into your head so that you are less distracted by them as you work on the present task....read more

Tips: How to Get More Energy

All-day energy

By Viriginia Sole-Smith
From Health magazine

We work, we plan, we organize, we go, fueling ourselves on coffee and pure determination. Until, that is, we fall onto the sofa in a stupor. More of us are struggling with energy issues, experts say; they point to the weak economy, which has us working harder and plugging in longer, and the belief that we can have it all (so what if we’re up till midnight making it happen).

“Just like houseplants need water, our energy reserves need regular replenishing," says psychologist Michelle Segar, PhD, associate director of the Sport, Health, and Activity Research and Policy Center for Women and Girls at the University of Michigan.

To the rescue: strategies that will keep you humming along—and, happily, don’t take much effort.

Stay energized all morning

What works against your a.m. mojo: "We've been essentially in a starvation state all night," says Gregory Dodell, MD, an endocrinologist in New York City.

What's working for you: "At the same time, we experience spikes in cortisol and testosterone, important hormones for energy that help get us moving," Dr. Dodell adds.

You want to fuel up and max out that hormone high. The plan: Lights! Action! Breakfast! 

Don't delay the day

It’s so tempting to hit snooze when your alarm goes off in the morning. Problem is, “by falling back asleep you could be interrupting the hormone cycle, which can make it harder to get going,” Dr. Dodell says.

Better to just set your alarm for 15 minutes later—and keep your clock across the room so you can’t reach out and silence it. 

Let in light

"Artificial or natural, light helps optimize the body's wake-up processes," says Michael Terman, PhD, director of the Center for Light Treatment and Biological Rhythms at Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center in New York City. Roll up the shades or, if it's still dark outside, turn on lights.

Terman recommends compact fluorescent bulbs (CFLs) labeled "cool white" or "daylight." They're not just good for Mother Earth, he says: "CFLs with these color temperatures emit a white light closer to outdoor light than the yellowish kind from incandescents." 

Ease into things

"Roll out of bed and into the frenetic pace of getting everybody ready and you're exhausted right out of the gate," says time-management expert Julie Morgenstern, author of Never Check E-mail in the Morning.

Get up 15 minutes before the kids so you can shower and get dressed. And, yes, avoid the siren call of email: "Facing an onslaught of to-dos can be a big drain if you haven't cleared your mind first."

Get moving

Not an a.m. exerciser? Rethink your idea of a workout. In a University of Georgia study, people who did a low-intensity aerobic activity (think a leisurely walk) three times a week had a greater reduction in fatigue levels than folks who did higher intensity workouts (like a faster-paced walk with hills) for the same amount of time.

If you tend to drag in the morning or you’re overall exhausted, a tough workout can be more draining than invigorating. “And if you’re not in top shape, a high-intensity workout forces you to expend major energy, leaving your body tired,” says exercise physiologist Michael Bracko, EdD.

Motivation to do some activity: The study found regular exercise generally increased energy levels by 20%.

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Fashion: Naomi Campbell brings her hit show to the UK 

Supermodel Naomi Campbell has brought her hit TV show, The Face, to Britain for a UK version of the program. Co-starring alongside Ms Campbell will be Erin O’Connor and Swedish model Caroline Winberg as judges and mentors.

 

"All you need is love. But a little chocolate now and then doesn't hurt."

"Semua yang anda butuhkan adalah cinta. Berikanlan sedikit coklat dan anda tidak akan terluka"

Actually, chocolate can make life better. Dark chocolate may lower your risk of heart disease by reducing blood glucose and bad cholesterol while boosting levels of good cholesterol. The reason: Chocolate contains compounds called flavanols, which have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. read more the tips.....

Get ready to dance: Dance yourself slim

By Jenny Everett
From Health magazine

Most of us weren't born with the flexibility of an Olympic gymnast—and that includes ABC's Dancing With the Stars pro Cheryl Burke. "I am not one of those girls who can just land in a split," says Cheryl, 28. "I need to warm up to be flexible."

Before you launch into a dance workout, Burke recommends doing this eight-minute warm-up routine, which stretches and strengthens the muscles surrounding the hips, thighs, and ankles. Three days a week, begin with two minutes of jumping jacks and dive into these moves. DWTS-style heels—strictly optional! 

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Tips: 5 Foods for Healthy Skin

Feed your face

By Rachel Grumman

Here’s a beautiful reason to stop by the supermarket today: Certain foods have powerhouse ingredients that keep skin supple and smooth and help fight age-related damage, says Nicholas Perricone, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and author of Ageless Face, Ageless Mind. Wondering what to eat and what to smooth on? These skin-saving foods help both ways.

Strawberries

Strawberries have more anti-aging vitamin C per serving than oranges or grapefruit. And research published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition shows that people who eat foods rich in vitamin C have fewer wrinkles and less age-related dry skin than those who don’t.

Vitamin C fights free radicals, which damage cells and break down collagen, leading to fine lines. For smoother, better-hydrated skin, apply a natural berry mask once or twice a week, and eat vitamin C–rich foods daily, says Ramona Ionescu, primary aesthetician at New York City’s Cornelia Day Resort. 

Sip it or smooth it on

In a food processor or blender, combine 1 cup frozen or fresh strawberries (or a mix of strawberries, raspberries, and blueberries—they’re all antioxidant stars). Stir together blended berries, 1 cup vanilla or plain yogurt, and 1 1/2 tablespoons honey (a great moisturizer) in an 8-ounce glass. Enjoy smoothie, setting aside enough to coat your face.

Apply remaining smoothie to your face over a sink (it’s a little drippy at first, but a smooth layer will stay put), and leave it on for about 8 minutes before rinsing off.

Olive oil

The antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of olive oil don’t just benefit you on the inside—they soften your skin, too. “Ancient Romans massaged olive oil into their skin,” Dr. Perricone says. “When used topically, olive oil results in smoother, more radiant skin.” Plus, consuming olive oil, a staple in the healthy Mediterranean diet, provides antioxidants to disarm free radicals and reduce inflammation. In addition to working olive oil into your daily diet, apply as a lip gloss and skin soother, as needed. If you have dry skin, you’ll particularly benefit from topical application.

Eat it or wear it

At dinner, drizzle a few tablespoons of extra-virgin olive oil into a small bowl, and dip whole-grain bread in it to improve your skin from the inside out.

Dab a pea-size amount of extra-virgin olive oil on lips to hydrate a parched pucker; or use it on rough patches (think elbows and heels), as needed.

Green tea

Curling up to a cup of green tea does a lot more than relax you. Green tea is filled with inflammation-fighting antioxidants, Dr. Perricone says. What’s more, research from Case Western Reserve University and the University of Alabama at Birmingham shows that drinking green tea may reduce your risk of skin cancer. And when you add a generous squeeze of citrus juice, the tea’s antioxidants get a boost of staying power, so they remain in and benefit the body longer, rather than being digested quickly and having much of the goodness go down the drain, according to Purdue University researchers.

Drink it or press it on

Sip at least three big mugs of green tea every day for an antioxidant boost, says Madelyn Fernstrom, PhD, founding director of the Weight Management Center at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.

Chill damp tea bags in the fridge and put on eyes for 10–15 minutes. Green tea contains tannins, which act as an astringent when applied to skin and can help reduce puffiness, Dr. Perricone notes.

Pumpkin

Pumpkin’s orange hue is from carotenoids, wrinkle-fighting plant pigments that help neutralize free radicals in the skin, keeping them from damaging the cells that fast-forward aging. “Pumpkin is filled with vitamins C, E, and A, as well as powerful enzymes that help to cleanse the skin,” explains dermatologist Kenneth Beer, author of Palm Beach Perfect Skin. Plus, pumpkin has hydrating properties, Ionescu adds. Although the seeds make a great fiber-filled snack, you get the skin-saving antioxidants from the pulp.

Eat it or smooth it on

In a food processor or blender, combine 2 cups canned pumpkin, 4 tablespoons low-fat vanilla yogurt, 4 tablespoons honey, and 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice. Coat face; leave on for 10 minutes, then rinse. “It’s good for hydrating and softening skin,” Ionescu says.

Make a sweeter pudding by adding these ingredients to the recipe above: 2 tablespoons 1/3-less-fat cream cheese and 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract.

Eat it or scrub it on

Cut off pomegranate crown, and score rind in sections, without cutting all the way through. Place in a bowl of water for 5–10 minutes. Break rind away from seeds, which will sink; strain seeds. In a food processor, combine 2 tablespoons seeds and 1 cup uncooked oatmeal. Transfer to bowl; stir in 2 tablespoons honey (an antiseptic) and 2 tablespoons buttermilk. Apply to face for a few minutes, then rinse. For rough patches (like elbows), add 3/4 cup turbinado sugar.

Enjoy remaining pomegranate seeds au naturel or with your favorite cheese.....!