Everyone knows that self confidence is sexy! Boost yours by following a few simple rules that will reinforce your worth and boost your self esteem.
EAT A HEALTHY DIET — You’re in control of how you care for your body. Putting the best fuel into your body will help you get the most satisfaction from it….in so many ways.
GET MOVING — Choosing physical activities that work your muscles will make you more aware of your body and more appreciative of your health.
TAKE TIME FOR DETAILS — By taking a few minutes to pay attention to what makes you feel good you’ll send yourself a message. You’re worth the time and effort. You know what that means for you. It might mean a few minutes to decompress with your favorite music, some time to file your nails, or pick up your favorite wine, tea or weekend snack. We’re not saying you need to be selfish but there’s nothing sexy about a martyr.
Your smile is your calling card. A healthy lifestyle includes good oral hygiene and your smile is indicative of that. This IS the TOTAL Health Makeover! Start with a healthy diet and avoid refined sugars. Check out some of these other tips for a happy healthy mouth.
- Visit your dentist regularly.
- Floss, and brush at least twice daily.
- Replace your toothbrush each month. (We love Oral B and Crest Pro HealthPaste…a winning combination!)
- Drink water between sips of wine. This is good for your health and also for your teeth. Even white wine can be harmful due to the high acidity.
- Apply the above principle to coffee, tea and other foods and beverages with staining properties.
- Crunch it up. Snack on raw fruits and veggies. Good for your health, good for your weight, and a the fiber is a natural scrub for your teeth.
Living with GUSTO is about more than what you put in your body. It’s also about attitude and style. You’re presenting yourself to the world every day !
Just for fun we’re sharing a picture tutorial on jeans for fall. Not “mom jeans”. Fun, sexy, show off your best you, jeans !
If your healthy lifestyle is making you more aware of ALL purchases, not just food, you might want to check out this article on Eco Friendly Fashion This isn’t for everyone but for many it IS a concern. There are vegan friendly fashion blogs and tips about where to find fashion, accessories and beauty products that are cruelty free and fair trade, sustainable, and organic.
We’re not saying this is the right choice for everyone but it’s something that everyone can check out.
Summer may be over but caring for your skin should still be on your to-do list. For many people the harsher winter weather is just around the corner. The right cleansers and moisturizers can only do so much. What you put IN your body has as much effect on your skin as what you put ON it. If you think a skin care regimen has to be punishing, expensive or time consuming read this to find out how it can be incorporated into your meals to make skin care delicious.
If you’ve been coming to this site for a while you know that we talk about anything and everything here ! In fact a question about panty lines led to the now famous “thong thread” that lasted for months.
Everyone knows that the right undergarments will make what you’re wearing look better and give you a trimmer appearance, but isn’t it about more than that?
In honor of the weekend let’s think about fun, sexy, flirtatious fashions from the skin out. You don’t have to spend a bundle to unleash your sexy side….you just have to ditch the granny panties. They’re not the real you.
And we’re not even including quitting smoking or using sunscreen daily. Check out nine more ways you can fight aging.
Not enough sleep * If you’re up watching late night television, you’re probably not getting the 7-8 hours of sleep you need each night to help fight high blood pressure, diabetes, weight gain, and looking and feeling old.
Too many sweets * Sugar not only adds pounds, it also makes your skin dull and wrinkled. Here’s the biology: There’s a natural process known as glycation, in which the sugar in your bloodstream attaches to proteins to form harmful new molecules called advanced glycation end products (AGEs, for short). The more sugar you eat, the more AGEs you develop; these damage surrounding proteins like collagen and elastin, which keep skin firm and elastic. Once damaged, springy and resilient collagen and elastin become dry and brittle, leading to wrinkles and sagging. These aging effects start at about age 35 and increase rapidly after that (British Journal of Dermatology), so limit your sugar intake.
Stress! * Stress increases the concentration of the hormones cortisol and norepinephrine in the bloodstream, kicking up blood pressure and suppressing immunity. Over time, stress that doesn’t go away can delay healing, harden your arteries, and possibly shrink areas of your brain involved in learning, memory, and mood. Try deep breathing or meditation to relax consciously.
Sporadic exercise * It’s not just for losing weight. Research shows that vigorous exercisers have longer telomeres—cellular biomarkers that shorten as we age—compared with healthy adults who rarely work out. Being active consistently can help fight brain fog, reduce inflammation, and prevent type 2 diabetes and other chronic conditions that crop up over time. Get moving for at least 20-25 minutes a day.
Big sound * Hearing loss usually develops gradually, but the more you play that iPod at full volume, the more quickly you’ll need a hearing aid. Keep the volume as low as possible, and use noise-cancelling headphones so you’re not using the volume to fight ambient noise. Use earplugs when you’re around other loud noises, like the lawn mower.
Setting friendships aside * Satisfying friendships predict longevity better than even close family ties, and they can protect against obesity, depression, and heart disease, among other health problems. Your friends keep you young—simple as that. Make time for friendships.
Skipping fruits and veggies * You’ve likely heard that antioxidant-packed fruits and veggies can help you stay young. These powerful compounds fight free radicals that would otherwise wreak havoc on your body and skin, damaging cells that can lead to cancer and make you look older. Antioxidants remain active for only a few hours and need to be continually replenished, so it’s a daily deal – even better at every meal.
Cutting the fat * Don’t cut out the fat; choose the smart fats. Stopping the artery-clogging saturated and trans fats is a heart-healthy move, and keeping the unsaturated fats, like those found in fish, nuts, and olive oil, is wise. Omega-3 fatty acids are the ultimate anti-aging fat, essential for protecting your brain, heart, bones, joints, skin, and more. Monounsaturated fats can lower bad LDL cholesterol, raise cardio-protective HDL cholesterol, and decrease your risk of atherosclerosis.
Not enough sex * It’s not just fun, sex is great for your health. People with active sex lives have stronger immune systems, less pain, a lower cancer risk, healthier hearts, and less stress. The best news: It can even make you look younger—up to 12 years, a study shows. So rekindle the romance between you and your partner.
There is no government regulation of organic claims on body care products (lotion, shampoo, toothpaste, etc.), so those labeled as organic could have as few as one or two actual organic ingredients. That’s all it takes to be called organic! Here are a few suggestions:
Read labels to determine amount of organic ingredients.
Select products that use post-consumer recycled plastics to decrease production of plastics and reduce the release of greenhouse gases.
Check out some of the bigger retailers that now have their own line of organics (Whole Foods, Safeway) which tend to be more reasonably priced. (Still read the labels, though!)
Our entire civilization is dependent on creativity, art and design. It is how we know cultures; it is what survives and informs; it is our legacy from the past, the foundation of our future, and the form and function upon which our present moment rests.
~ Richard Bonk, artist
Acceptance Holds All by Richard Bonk
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This is a mandala that the staff at the Virginia Piper Cancer Institute (Minneapolis, MN) commissioned. A mandala is a metaphysical or symbolic representation of the cosmos, a representation of the universe from the human perspective. It comes from the Hindu and Buddhist traditions, and is often used in meditation. The Virginia Piper Cancer Institute is part of Unity Hospital, and offers integrative therapies such as massage, acupuncture, meditation, nutrition, etc., as well as traditional therapies in the treatment of cancer.
To make the piece: staff members were all interviewed by the artist, he had them do an art project, he took pictures of the space that they work in, he recorded sound from their space. Then, he put it all into a program on his computer and the result is a beautiful mandala that represents this wellness center. The piece is actually about 5 feet by 5 feet and hangs in the lobby. It is bright and beautiful to see when you walk in, and helps create an atmosphere of welcoming and healing.
In our fast-paced world, we don’t always take time to appreciate the beauty that surrounds us.
Find ways to bring beauty into your daily life. Put a vase of flowers by your kitchen sink or in the bathroom (you know, where you spend time… what good do they do in the formal dining room?). Frame and hang a photo or print you love. Use your favorite fragrance; don’t save it for date night. Garnish your plates at mealtime – a slice of citrus fruit, a sprig of herb, a sprinkle of sliced almonds or sunflower seeds. Light candles for dinner (even when dinner is pizza). Smile.
