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The Best Tips to Reduce Belly Fat

Do you have
to peer over a portly midsection to see your shoes? Does the considered
swimsuit time of year looming close to have you within the search for a
fashionable one-piece swimsuit?

 

1.  
Aside
from appearance, belly fat is one of the dangerous kinds of fat. This is a
significant indication of illness, and getting reduce it takes many sit-ups
each and every morning. Putting on weight around your own middle is really a
sign that the levels of cortisol (your tension hormone) tend to be too high
which deadly swelling is slowing down your body. Altering a few easy habits is
effective in reducing the weight about your waist, making you your very best
self from the inside out.

2.  
Sleep. Statistically, men and women get occupied, sleep goes down
on their list of focal points. However, rest is so vital that you weight
management as well as optimal wellness that you cannot afford in order to skimp
onto it. Multiple possess proven which too little or even poor quality rest
leads to putting on weight, junk food urges and improved risk of heart problems
and diabetic. Getting more rest is an simple way to maintain your body cut and
healthful. 

3.  
Relax. Cortisol is the tension hormone.
Whenever you’re pressured, levels of cortisol rise. In the case opf chronic
tension, like restricted deadlines at the office, financial downturn, injury or
even illness, your own cortisol amounts can achieve extremes or even impair the
actual function of the adrenal program all together. This could lead to putting
on weight or the failure to lose weight, reduced immunity as well as increased
amounts of inflammation. Creating time to rest and meditate each day -- even
for jus five moments - will help you keep cortisol levels well balanced. 

4.  
Skip
the sweets. Sugars
is the deal breaker of a toned tummy. Sugars causes unneeded spikes, accidents
of your glucose levels and, whenever consumed excessively, gets saved as body
fat. If you desire sweets, maintain fruits such as blueberries, raspberries and
strawberries accessible in order to pacify your own sweet teeth. 

5.  
Boost
the consumption of healthy body fat. Although you need to still reasonable your consumption,
healthy body fat like avocados, walnuts as well as olive oil may improve
satiety. These foods will even rev improve metabolism because of high dosages
of omega-3. 

6.  
Don’t
skip meals.
Missing meals is definitely an easy method to earn the round waist. When you by
pass meals, the body responds through raising cortisol levels, growing cravings
as well as storing body fat, especially in the stomach. Consuming little meals
as well as snacks during the day can subdue cravings as well as rev improve
metabolism to avoid fat storage space. 

7.  
Interval
training. That
you can do crunches the whole day, but you can never see that six-pack if it is
smothered under levels of body fat. To achieve a really flat belly, work in
certain cardiovascular exercise among sit-ups, crunches, planks along with
other abdominal exercises. Attempt jumping string, running on the treadmill and
even do bouncing jacks with regard to 30 seconds to 1 minute among each set.
You are going to shred body fat while creating a solid primary.

8.  
Increase
vitamin C. Supplement
C, present in abundance within citrus fresh fruits, broccoli, him and bells
peppers, can help in keeping cortisol levels in check. Plus, supplement C is
important in the production of carnitine, which the entire body uses for
converting fat in to energy.

If you discover
that you are experiencing stubborn stomach fat coupled with exhaustion,
moodiness as well as poor rest despite your very best efforts in a healthy way
of life, you may be struggling with a junk imbalance. Circumstances of junk imbalance,
such as adrenal exhaustion, can be brought on by chronic tension but might be
corrected along with hormone treatment and healthful lifestyle changes.

 

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How To Not Lose Your Shit at Work

There's a passage at my work that connects the kitchen to the bar.
Actually, the passage is a brewery. I announced to one of the
bartenders, on a recent afternoon, that I routinely find myself talking
aloud when I'm walking through that space alone.



"What do you say?" she asked me.



 "Oh, I just give myself little pep-talks!"



She laughed and gave me a look I've grown accustomed to receiving in
reaction to my more cheerful moments. We chatted about the content of
these private outbursts. Then, this slow, rainy, moon-y Thursday
evening, she suggested that I write a post about those talks to myself
in the brewery. I've elaborated on her idea with a few of my best tips
for staying sane in the soul-sucking chaos of the modern workplace.
While this refers specifically to restaurant work, I think these
life-saving strategies will assuage the pains of a range of jobs,
especially in the service industry.



1. Preparation is everything. My shifts go much more smoothly
when I've prepared: sleeping as well as I can, eating a meal, having the
tools that will get me through the day, from an emergency banana, to my
watch,  to a favorite essential oil. Provide for yourself and you'll be
amazed how much lighter you feel before even setting foot in the
building. Make sure you have any extras you need: a couple elastics,
pain-killers, tissues, gum, a tampon for you and a friend, your phone
charger, adjust freely. A server with a full and organized bag is a
happy server.



2. Flair is real. It may have prompted the most righteous flicking off ever in Office Space,
but expressing your personality with your style is one of the most
honest-to-goodness ways I know to stay calm and happy in a work setting.
Work drains me. Work can feel like a place where I'm erased. The right
earrings, a scarf, my shirt tucked in just so--these little things help
me hold onto my self. I need to wear all-black and no tank-tops, for
god's sake!  I cope with the dehumanization by wearing my hair in a
signature style, dressing consciously, and performing some basic
grooming rituals beforehand. This can be anything from a full-blown
home-spa bath experience (try epsom salts!) to just splashing cold water
on my face in the bathroom and tying a bandana on my dirty hair.
(Speaking of which. Dry shampoo. It will change your life). Dressing the
part distinguishes between who I am at work and who I am at home, and
bringing some of myself into my work attire bridges that gap.



3. Don't take it personally. I try to approach each shift as a
radical experiment in practicing detachment. Whether it's a glance, a
sigh, a rant, remember: it's not about you. Not taking it personally
means drawing a boundary around yourself. This border of protection
means you need not concern yourself with what others are thinking or
experiencing in a given moment: that is theirs to deal with. The most
you have done is provided a stimulus that triggered someones shit--that
doesn't make it yours. Take a deep breath, notice how you are feeling,
and then let it go. Not taking it personally doesn't mean you can't own
up for mistakes or notice the mistakes of others--it just means you
needn't identify with them. Bonus tip: When I was first starting
to realize that not everything another person did was a hidden slight
against me (what a revelation!) I visualized this boundary with a simple
image--a glow-y bubble, a circle of light, whatever your cynical little
heart can stand.



4. Don't shit-talk. Don't shit-talk yourself, don't shit-talk
your co-workers, don't shit-talk your customers, don't shit-talk your
boss. Resisting being drawn into negativity is doubtless one of the
trickiest endeavors we face, period. But practice this credo and
experience true freedom. Don't be afraid to change the subject or walk
away if you feel like you're being entangled in gossip or drama. You'll
be the most popular person at work if you refuse to talk shit--people
will wonder how you do that thing you do. The integrity you develop by
not allowing yourself to spew with the vicious abandon your id would
love pays spiritual and financial dividends.



5. Take care of number one.  When you're thirsty, drink. Hungry?
Eat something. Don't let the fact that you are at work and your time is
being paid for make you neglect your own needs. Far better to take the
thirty seconds to adjust your too-tight tights or stretch your arms over
your head than remain distracted and tense. Whether it's drinking a
glass of water every hour or taking a moment to apply some chap-stick,
allow yourself the tiny gestures it takes to keep you feeling good.
 It's insane how many times a night I hear a fellow employee mention
they've been so busy they haven't been able to pee. You're not that
busy. Go pee for fuck's sake. Bonus tip: Be a little fancy. Go
ahead, put a slice of lemon in your water. Straighten your tie, whistle a
tune, put a little more cream in your coffee.  You deserve it.



6. Get it while you can. When I run to the bathroom, I make sure
to take deep breaths while I'm in there. If I'm cold, I'll pay extra
attention to the warm water on my hands. If I'm hot, I'll rest a cold,
wet hand on the back of my neck for a few seconds. Waiting for a drink
at the bar? I stand up straight and adjust my posture with a few
breaths. Being mindful when you have a minute for yourself conserves
precious energy and emotional resources for when you inevitably get
frazzled.



7. Manage your time. I have ADHD and staying focused for long
periods of time (like 7 hour Saturday night shifts) can be difficult. I
break my time into chunks (I'm going to wipe down table 20 and 23, go
get more ice, then refill the linen) to get me through larger amounts of
time without projecting too far into the future. I try to have a
playful and elastic relationship with work time. It soothes me to have a
mantra: "I can do anything for one hour," helps me a lot, so does "This
is temporary." Make a (lame) game of it: I'll challenge myself not to
look at the clock for as long as possible, or time myself sorting a tray
of silverware.



8. Practice positive self-talk. To me, this means questioning and
then filtering the content of my inner monologue. Do you put yourself
down in your head or find certain phrases "This blows and I hate it and I
suck," just for example, running on a loop when you're distracted or
feeling poorly? Change the script. As corny as it sounds, telling
yourself nice things really does help you feel nicer. I amplify this
practice by talking to myself out loud if I've found that I can't censor
the flow of negative judgement.  I find an opportunity to say "You can
do this," or even just "You're ok and nothing is wrong right now." This
anchors me in the present and reaffirms my commitment to treating myself
with respect and kindness. As always, a deep breath is your cheapest,
most reliable, and most accessible source of instant self-care.



9. Pay attention. When I'm wiping down those tables or scooping
ice into a bucket, I notice what I'm doing: how the cold metal handle
feels in my hand, the sound the ice makes as I move it, the weight of
the bucket. I match my breath to this work and it becomes a brief
mediation, a way of staying grounded. If there's a breeze coming through
the windows, a good song on the radio, rain just about to fall, a
glorious sunset, I do myself the favor of noticing it. Paying attention
to what is actually happening right here and now makes it easier to stay
in the zone.



10. But not too much. The beauty of practicing mindfulness is
that you get to choose what you pay attention to, and you get to choose
what's happening inside your own head. I dream of sections of my novel
at work, write impassioned emails, enumerate the components of a perfect
Sunday afternoon. What's happening inside my head is mine alone, and it
can co-exist with the task at hand. I can choose to pay attention to
the drunken man leering at my body, or I can choose to pay attention to
the mom telling her daughters, "Wow, look how strong she is," as I'm
clearing the dishes from their table.



So there you have it. Fight the good fight.



TL; DR: Stay hot, don't talk shit and breathe, bitches.

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Beauty Tips For The Mentally Deranged

Read on if you are one of the following:

A bad bitch

Living in relative poverty

Lazy femme

A witch

Struggling under the nightmarish oppression of the capitalist patriarchy (hint: you are)

Not likely to be fazed by knowledge of my most intimate and outlandish beauty rituals.

I
may have refused to wear a shirt until the age of 11 or 12, and thrown
many a tantrum against the hegemony of scratchy tights and underwear,
but I've also always been drawn to the girly side of life. Even as a
small child, watching my mother get ready, selecting perfume, applying
her makeup, brushing her hair, I recognized the power of female beauty
rituals: the staking of a claim, the celebration of the mysterious, the
cultivation of small, sensual pleasures, the attention to self. In
becoming a woman, I felt I had found something worth belonging to and
worth fighting for--I had a strong instinct that pursuing the feminine
would not weaken me. I saw and still see these routines as one way to
navigate a world that is brutally unkind to female bodies and female
expression.

Over
years of experimentation, I learned how to make my appearance into one
tool of many to wield; I learned how to incorporate my sexuality, my
contradictions, my personality into a series of coherent looks that I
could always rely upon to make me feel better no matter what was
happening: the failing grade, a relationship ending, odious social
events. During the inevitable dark times, I clung to this cultivation as
a life-saving device that helped restore my equilibrium when I’d been
knocked on my ass.

Now,
I see my beauty routines as a core part of who I am, a core part of the
way I choose to fight my way through life. My rituals are my refuge.
The care I take with my appearance is how I access my creativity, my
subversion, my power, my joy, my don't-give-a-fuck. It's part of how I
practice self-care, how I draw boundaries for myself, how I prepare
myself for life's challenges. It's how I experience freedom. Every
lesson has been hard won. Here's a few of my best.

Get weird with it The
only real reason you need to do anything to your appearance is to make
yourself happy. If, at the same time, you look hot as fuck constantly
and scare the shit out of people (read: men) on a regular basis, all the
better. Face glitter on a random Wednesday, mixed patterns, daring
hair--there is really nothing too out there that you can’t try at least
once. No one is watching you as much as you think. There’s nothing new
under the sun--that can depress you or energize you.  Make all the
combinations, revisions, and decisions that please you
the most and you can’t go wrong. Fear nothing. Trial-and-error is
everything. Experimentation is the reason that adorable sweater vests
from Goodwill are now safe from me, and fake eyelashes will remain
unattached to my body.

Take your time
I am rabid about my getting ready time, whether it’s a full hour in the
afternoon or the ten minutes before my date gets to the bar or the five
minutes in the bathroom before work. That is my time, and god help the
person who impinges on it.  Taking my time with my appearance is how I
mentally prepare for whatever I’m about to do. Life is very short and
goes by very fast. Outfits are how I mark occasions (even the Tuesday
farmer's market) and how I celebrate myself. Also, getting ready is
fucking fun. I put on music, arrange all my tools in front of me, sashay
around the room gazing at myself in the mirror, noticing each tactile
step: pulling on my tights, my fingers on my face, that split-second
wetness of fresh mascara, the way my hair smells while I’m drying it.
Claiming my time and my right to use it however I wish is powerful. No
one else tells me when I’m ready but me.

Dirty as you wanna be
Most of the time, my finished look is pretty damn girly, and if not
exactly conservative, contains some element of class and restraint. But I
only cultivate that by channeling my inner beast. You know, the one
whose hair gets that sheen from the potato chip crumbs in her bed and
crazy afternoon sex. The one with secretly ripped tights and menstrual
blood underneath her fingernails.  Being a little wild and frankly,
gross with some of my beauty rituals frees my spirit. Digging the dirt
means I have to be more inventive--the quickly unsmeared eyeliner from
the night before, the half-damp paper towel used in the bathroom to
bring a flush to my cheeks. The curiously effective exfoliation from the
dirt trapped in the lipstick rolling around the bottom of my bag.
Embracing filth keeps me from becoming a slave to my beauty standards--I
know how to find a way to look as good as I want to even when I've
spent the day tramping around the woods, driven a car through the night,
been caught in a rain-storm, or just slept through my alarm. Beauty
becomes a survival strategy for me in this way, makes me into less of a
weird slob and more of a dirty-haired, no bra, dark-circles hungover
witch who’s gonna ride her red-wine stained lips into history.

Feel your way Looking
good is feeling good, and vice versa. Sometimes I look my hottest when
I'm actually feeling sad as shit, because I use my beauty arsenal to
work out my feelings and adjust my look accordingly, and I use my
feelings to adjust my beauty arsenal. Confrontations with roommates
require muscle tees and braided hair. Drab afternoons when I've spent
all day in bed require short, tight dresses and unruly waves. When I
feel out-of-control I bring out the fancy underwear, collared shirts,
and slightly binding mini-skirts. Feeling picked on and I go for baggy
jeans, pale colors, and extra lipstick. Thick eyeliner and perfume when
I'm meeting someone new. Anger is obviously a black dress. Feeling your
way means wearing lacy tights because i like how they feel when I'm
sliding myself into my lover's car, or asking myself what Buffy would
wear to work if she also had to bus tables for a living. I have a coat I
wear when I need to feel like a rich, impossible bitch and one I wear
when I need to feel like a country fairy-tale princess. I've busted more
than one bad mood just by putting my hair in a side ponytail.

Damn the man The
man is out to get you to buy as much shit as possible, unrelentingly
and without exception, from now until civilization collapses (so only a
few weeks left to go). Don’t throw good money after bad and spend your
hard-earned cash when you don’t need to. Shampoo is body wash.
Conditioner is shaving cream, lipstick is blush, men’s razors are
cheaper, fingers are just as good as most any makeup brush. I aspire to
buy only all-organic fair-trade locally-sourced unicorn-tested products
but until that happy day arrives most of my beauty shit comes from the
dollar store or the grocery store. Baking soda, coconut oil, vaseline,
sea salt, witch hazel, apple cider vinegar are some of my cheap go-tos.
You can make a delightful scrub just using some sugar and the coffee
grounds you were going to throw away (er, compost) anyway. Sticking to
the drug-store, combining/re-purposing products, or making my own shit
helps me stave off the class envy and depression I go through looking at
the Sephora website and keeps me able to afford all the lavender oil my
anxious little heart requires.

Be a healthy-ass evolved bitch Being
hot is about a lot more than products. It’s not even really about
technique. Being hot is a state of mind. When I do push-ups while I’m
getting ready, or meditate to the sound of my blow-dryer, I’m getting
myself into an optimal state of hotness.  I take my vitamins while I get
ready, create mantras, fantasize about my writing, drink huge jars of
water, put garlic everywhere (yes, there) stretch and move, light
incense and pray. When I eat a really good meal I feel it in my hair, no
joke. So use your beauty routine to get right with yourself and become
stronger. Masturbate before you get ready. Dance. Make your shower a
crazy sacred temple where there’s always a  candle ready to be lit and
you’re allowed to think anything you want.  I had a boyfriend who hated
when I wore makeup, another one who nearly cried when I cut my hair,
another who forbid me from wearing sheer tops. Every time I shake my ass
in my mirror, put on red lipstick, take off a layer someone else might
want me to leave on, every time I take a risk or a breath, I’m setting
myself free.

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Pumpkins in all of their glory: Bringing Fall into your beauty routine

The fall season is upon us and Thanksgiving is right around the corner
and everyone is now making plans and preparing their bellies for the amount of
food they are going to eat. On a more serious note, however, with this time of
the year the weather is changing and so must our beauty regimen in order to
keep our skin in top condition.

 

Cold weather
leaves your skin feeling parched and dull. Fortunately for us, this fall season
is not only good for decorating our houses with pumpkins but these vitamin
packed mega squashes can protect our delicate skin from premature again,
clogged pores, and an uneven complexion.

Pumpkins are
enriched with many vitamins and anti-oxidants that can boost the elasticity of
our skin. So after carving those pumpkins don’t throw out all the puree instead
we are going to put it to good use.

So, to keep with
the holiday theme, here are scrubs and masks to keep every area of our body
hydrated and glowing. After all with the holidays come family photos, which you
want to look your best for.

 

 

Pumpkin Body Scrub:

This body scrub
will gently and effectively exfoliate your skin giving your skin a healthy
glow.

Combine, in a
small bowl:

1 Cup Pureed
Pumpkin

1 Cup Sugar

1/8 Teaspoon of
Cinnamon

1 Tablespoon of
Coconut Oil

Blend all of
these ingredients and apply it to your body. Gently scrub in circular motions,
using your fingertips. Rinse off with warm water and you are set, see the
difference?

 

Pumpkin Facial Scrub:

This will no
doubt cleanse your skin, removing excess dirt and leave your skin feeling clean
and soft, while giving your skin a lift.

Combine these
ingredients in a small bowl:

½ Cup of Pureed
Pumpkin

3 Tablespoons of
Sugar

½ Teaspoon of
Pumpkin Seed Oil

¼ Teaspoon of
Ground Cinnamon

Mix well. This
will give you a thick paste. Massage this scrub into your skin. Let this soak
into your skin for a few minutes before rinsing off with warm water. It is that
easy!

 

 

Purifying Facial Mask:

This facial mask
will help to give your skin a natural glow, aiding in moisturizing your skin.

In a small bowl,
combine these items:

2 Tablespoons of
Pureed Pumpkin

2 Teaspoons of
Honey

1 Egg Yolk,
beaten (until you see little bubbles)

Plain Yogurt (add
just enough to reach a spread-able consistency)

Cleanse your skin
before you apply this mask. Spread this mask onto your skin and relax, and let
this mask do its job for 20 minutes. Rinse with warm water, moisturize, and
enjoy smooth skin.

 

 

Now, you either have oily skin or dry
skin. You know who you are. Here is a mask for each of you, to help you get
through this season.

 

 

Face Mask for Oily Skin:

Add all of these
ingredients together and blend.

¼ Cup of Fresh
Pumpkin

1 Teaspoon of
Pumpkin Seed Oil

1 Tablespoon of
Apple Cider Vinegar

1 Egg Yolk

Apply this to
your face and leave it on for 20 minutes. Wash off with warm water and enjoy.
This will help you control the shine.

 

 

Face Mask for Dry Skin:

The creamy
consistency is amazing for dry skin and will help nourish your skin.

Mix together:

¼ Cup of Fresh
Pumpkin

1 Teaspoon of
Pumpkin Seed Oil

1 Teaspoon of
Almond Oil

Plain Yogurt; add
just enough to get a creamy consistency

Apply this
mixture to your face and leave it on your skin for 30 minutes. Rinse off with
warm water and moisturize right after to lock in the effects.

 

 

Pumpkin Pie Foot/Hand Scrub:

If you are like
me your feet crack and your hands become ruff when the weather outside starts
to become cold. This foot and hand scrub will help exfoliate off the rough
skin, leaving your skin soft and moisturized.

In a small bowl,
add all of these items together:

¼ Cup of Pureed
Pumpkin

4 Tablespoons of
Sugar

2 Tablespoons of
an Essential Oil (jojoba, grape-seed, almond, or olive oil)

1 Teaspoon of
Cinnamon

½ Teaspoon of
Honey

Over
a large bowl or the way I do it, sit on the edge of the tub, and massage this
mixture into your feet or hands. Focus on the rough areas and cuticles. To
enhance the benefits, allow this mixture to remain on your skin for 5 minutes,
and then rinse off with warm water

 

Pumpkin Hair Mask:

Yes, we are even
going to put pumpkin in our hair. Pumpkin is an excellent conditioner for dry
hair, as it is packed with vitamins that aid in softening. This recipe promises
to make your hair shiny and soft which is the ultimate goal, right?  

Combine in a
bowl:

½ Cup of Pureed
Pumpkin

¼ Cup of Plain
Yogurt

2 Tablespoons of
Honey

Apply
the mask to your entire head (it doesn’t matter if you have dry or oily hair.
If your hair tends to be very oily, simply avoid adding this mask to your
roots). Once your hair is fully saturated, you can either put on one of those
old-fashion shower caps or you can wrap your hair in plastic wrap. This allows
your hair to soak in the full benefits of the mask. Leave this on for 30
minutes. Rinse off with warm water (you can either wash your hair as normal or
just rinse the mask out). This will also help tame the little strands of hair
that tend to dance on the top of our heads. Enjoy!

 

Did you ever
think you could use pumpkin for so many different things besides cooking? You
are now taking the use of a pumpkin to a whole new level.

Each one of these
mixtures will help you keep every area of your body in perfect condition
despite the weather outside. Who knew these mega squashes could be so useful
for beauty?

Hopefully,
these masks and scrubs will help you radiate in those family photos and help
you make it through this holiday with ease.

 

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