How to Look Thinner Instantly
How can you look thinner, have your clothes fit better, and project more confidence? Here’s the secret.
By Colette Bouchez
WebMD Weight Loss Clinic-Feature
Reviewed by Louise Chang, MD
Psst … Hey! Wanna know a secret? Here’s how to look up to 10 pounds thinner, have your clothes look better, and ooze confidence with every step you take. And you might just get rid of your tension headaches and lower back pain while you’re at it. Sounds like a bad late-night infomercial, right? It’s not. You may actually achieve these things if you pay attention to an often neglected area of body conditioning — your posture.
“You would be amazed at what a difference making a few simples changes in how you hold your body can make in not only how you look, how your clothes fit, even how young you look,” says personal trainer Sue Fleming, creator of the Buff Fitness line of DVDs and books.
Posture expert Janice Novak agrees. “We spend a lot of money on our clothes, our hair, our makeup, but without good posture, your midsection can look at least a couple of inches wider than it is — and because you are also pushing your gut forward you are creating a potbelly that might not otherwise be there,” says Novak, director of ImproveYourPosture.com and author of the Posture: Get It Straight series of books and DVDs.
What’s more, she says, your posture influences how others see you.
“They did some research about 10 years ago at the University of Louisville where 60 people were asked to rate the appearance of two women in a series of pictures — in some they were slumping, in others they were standing up straight . Consistently, viewers rated the women who were standing up straight to be younger and more attractive,” Novak says.
In fact, she says, when subjects looked only at the bodies of the women, (their heads were masked) the researchers found that the woman who weighed more — 125 pounds, compared to the 105-pound model — was perceived as thinner and more attractive simply because she was standing up and taller.
Personal trainer Jessica Bottesch isn’t surprised. “When you slump over, you lose inches in your height, so you are taking whatever your body mass is and scrunching it down, making yourself look shorter and wider,” says Bottesch, co-owner of Empower Personal Training studios in North Carolina.
But, Fleming says, “when your body is in alignment, your head is sitting squarely on your shoulders, and your shoulders are pulled back with your core muscles pulled in, you not only increase your height and stretch out your body mass, making you look thinner, but you’re also projecting an image of confidence, of being more alert, and more youthful — all of which makes you look more attractive.”
Posture and Your Health
If vanity isn’t enough motivation to get you to stand taller, experts say posture can also affect your health.
How to Look Thinner Instantly
How can you look thinner, have your clothes fit better, and project more confidence? Here’s the secret.
Posture and Your Health continued…
“Low back pain, shoulder pain, neck pain, tension headaches, trigger points in neck or shoulders, sometimes tightness and stiffness — all of these problems can occur when our skeleton is thrown out of alignment via bad posture,” Bottsech says.
In a study presented at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America in 2006, doctors found that the typical “slouch” is linked to higher rates of wear and tear on the spine, which is often a contributing factor to chronic lower back pain.
In another study published in the journal Headache, researchers found that people whose posture caused their heads to jut forward had more frequent, longer, and more severe headaches than people who maintained a correct posture.
But even if you don’t experience any short-term health consequences, you may not be off the posture hook.
Over time, studies show, faulty body alignment can lead to actual skeletal damage, including degeneration of the disks and joints, and even a breakdown of cartilage that can leave you achy and less mobile in your later years.
This may be particularly important for women at risk for osteoporosis. In a study published in the journal Bone and Mineral Research in 2006, researchers found that posture that continually causes the head to jut forward (known as hyperkyphotic posture) was linked to a higher risk of fractures in women aged 47-92 — independent of bone mineral density or even a history of fracture.
The Big Slump: Why Our Posture Is So Bad
Right now, you’re probably remembering all those times Mom whispered in your ear “stand up straight”. And of course, she was right. But if you’re also thinking poor posture is only about what goes on when you’re standing, you’re missing much off the message. Novak says slumping when we’re sitting is by far the more serious problem.
“Over the last two decades we’ve become a nation of professional sitters, and what’ I’ve experienced dealing with posture over the last 20 years is that most of the problems people experience are actually linked to the positions they assume while working on computers,” Novak says.
Hunching over your keyboard, she says, causes muscles in the upper back to stretch and the corresponding muscles in the chest to tighten. This, in turn, pushes the head forward and the ribcage down.
Assuming that posture day in and day out can cause you to not only slump every time you’re at your desk, but eventually, even when you’re standing, Fleming says.
“Actual structural changes can begin to take place so that ultimately you’re slumped over all the time and standing up straight can actually become painful and difficult,” Fleming says.
Exercises to Improve Posture: The 1-Minute Solution
Although changing your posture may seem like a daunting task, experts say real change can come about fairly quickly. Novak says you can begin the process in less than a minute, with an “instant” realignment technique for joints and bones.How to Look Thinner Instantly
How can you look thinner, have your clothes fit better, and project more confidence? Here’s the secret.
Exercises to Improve Posture: The 1-Minute Solution continued…
How’s it done? “From either a standing or sitting position, simply lift your sternum, (the breast bone in the center of your chest) up just an inch or two. It will dramatically change what is going in with your posture instantly,” says Novak, who details several other similar techniques in her new DVD.
What’s going on, she says, is that you’re lifting your rib cage up off of your midsection and stopping the curve in the back that takes place when you slump forward. More important, she says “it helps you get your head back over your shoulders where it belongs, plus it takes the stress off of the back and neck muscles.”
Novak says doing that one other move each time you find yourself slumping forward will net you some real change in your day-to-day posture in as little as 3 weeks’ time.
“If you also add in a motion where you squeeze your shoulder blades together towards your spine, and tuck them down as if you were trying to put them in your back pocket, you’ll begin to strengthen the back muscles that will give additional support to your posture, so you may even see results sooner,” says Novak.
If you want to boost your posture even more, Bottsech says, try exercises that build core and upper back strength, so your midsection can be well supported.
“When your core and your upper back are strong, it not only makes it easier to stand up tall and straight, but it also helps overcome some of the health-related problems created by the muscle imbalances of poor posture, including lower back pain and neck pain,” says Bottsech.
To help get you started, Bottsech offers these three simple core strength and posture exercises. Be sure to check with your doctor first if you have any back, neck, or spine issues. And if any exercise causes pain or is extremely difficult, stop and consult a physician or a personal trainer before continuing.
Pelvic Tilt: Lie on your back with knees bent and feet on the floor. Place a folded towel under your lower back. Engage your abdominals by drawing your navel toward your spine as you press your lower back into the towel. Hold 5 seconds. Repeat 10-15 times.
Arm Sweeps: Sit on the floor with knees bent, heels touching the floor and toes lifted. Extend arms to each side and rotate your body, lifting the right arm toward the ceiling as the left arm touches the floor behind you. Reverse and lift left arm toward the ceiling while right arm twists to touch the ground behind you. Repeat 10-15 times.
Cross-Over Crunch: Lie on the floor with knees bent, feet flat on the floor. Place one hand behind your head for support. Engaging your abdominal muscles, slowly lift head, neck and shoulders, and bring left elbow to right knee. Lower slowly and repeat on opposite side. Repeat 10-15 times.
Article Link: http://www.webmd.com/fitness-exercise/features/how-to-look-thinner-instantly

WebMD Home Health & Fitness Center Health & Fitness Feature Stories
EMAIL A FRIEND

Did you know poor posture can decrease breathing capacity by as much as 30%?  That means there’s 30% less oxygen getting to your brain and other cells.  Try this next time you hit a mid-afternoon drop in energy and alertness. 

-Whether sitting or standing, lift the front of your ribcage up slightly, as if a string were attached from your breastbone to the ceiling.  This movement repositions your ribcage to were it should be and gives your lungs more room to pull in oxygen.

-Next, inhale deeply through your nose.  Think of pulling the air all the way down to the bottom of your ribcage.  You should feel your lungs inflate and your ribcage expand.

-Exhale through your mouth.  While exhaling, let all your tension go.

-Repeat 3-4 times.

We extract the most amount of oxygen from the we breath in the bottom half of our lungs.  It is where your lungs are physically biggest with more blood vessels to pick up incoming oxygen.  Unfortunately, too many people are shallow breathers and pull oxygen into only the top half of their lungs.

Breathing deeply not only oxygenates your bloodstream more efficiently, it also calms the nervous system and neutralizes the harmful effects of stress on our systems.

-

POSTURE, GET IT STRAIGHT!
Look 10 Years Younger & 10 Pounds Thinner

Posture is important because it affects how you look, how you feel, and how others perceive you. Poor posture is the #1 cause of back and neck discomfort and can lead to a lifetime of annoying aches and pains. By improving your posture, you improve the health and comfort of your spine. By standing tall you can stop the rounding over that occurs as we age, causing you to shrink in stature. And last, but not least, your posture conveys a lot of info to the outside world about your mental and emotional state, as well as confidence level. In this workshop, you will learn very specific exercises to straighten your shoulders, flatten your upper back, strengthen lower back and all 4 layers of abdominal muscle. You will learn tips and techniques that will improve alignment immediately. We will discuss back-friendly ways to adjust your computer workstations or desk; how to adjust your car seat to help your posture, beneficial sleeping/resting/reading positions and much more!

****************************************************

OSTEOPOROSIS WORKSHOP: Building Better Bones

There is an estimated 25,000,000 Americans who have osteoporosis and another 34,000,000 people with bone density low enough to be at risk for fractures. Even women in their thirties, when given bone density scans, are already showing significant bone loss due to poor eating and lifestyle habits. Bone loss doesn’t begin in your 60’s or 70’s but can actually start in your teens. This workshop is filled with practical information that women and men of every age need to know to help build stronger bones and/or regain lost bone mass. We will discuss the latest research findings on foods that are best for your bones as well as ones that are worse; substances that can weaken your bones on a daily basis; which forms of calcium and magnesium are best absorbed; other important nutrients like vitamin D, K and trace minerals; which forms of exercise are the best bone builders; which tests are available to assess bone density, and much more.

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JOINT HEALTH WORKSHOP
How To Have Stronger, Younger, Healthier Joints

The human body contains 143 joints. Strong, flexible joints are needed for almost every activity we do - walking, lifting, bending, etc. Unfortunately, studies show that at any given time, 1/3 of all adults, worldwide, are experiencing some sort of joint pain. When your joints hurt, even simple movements become painful and that greatly lowers quality of life. The good news, is, your joints were meant to last a lifetime and studies are showing that you CAN reduce pain and restore your joints to a stronger, healthier condition. In this workshop, we’ll talk about: various causes of joint pain; treatments currently available; pros and cons of taking prescription drugs to mask pain; latest research information on nutrients that can help repair joints; results of a breakthrough study on gelatin; simple joint lubrication movements for hips, knees and shoulders to sooth those achy joints; a few important stretches to help relieve joint compaction and increase range of motion and a simple technique that’ll align joints and cut down on wear and tear.

****************************************************

ABSOLUTELY ABDOMINALS:
MidSection MakeOver

We all have four layers of abdominal muscles, each with fibers running in a different direction. This criss-crossing pattern shapes your mid-section and supports the lower back. There are many reasons why the abs can weaken and lose shape: past pregnancies, abdominal surgery, sitting for hours a day at a desk, to name a few. In this workshop, we will:
• Strengthen ab muscles and re-shape waistline, without getting on the floor
• Check for overstretched abdominal connective tissue. If you have this, common abdominal crunches will only serve to weaken muscles further.
• Do a simple technique that will correct this problem
• Regain control of abdominal muscles that have been cut from surgery.
• Strengthen abdominals from the inside out & relieve lower back discomfort.
• Learn Anywhere/Anytime exercises that fit into even the busiest of schedules
• Discuss how to get rid of bloating and water retention
Don’t waste your time doing traditional abdominal crunches. Come and learn how to strengthen and flatten your abdominals quickly, effectively and in a very functional way. Come prepared to exercise and bring a mat.

****************************************************

WOMEN, WEIGHT & HORMONES:
METABOLISM MAKE-OVER
7 Strategies For Fighting Fat After 40

Are you finding that fat is collecting around your mid-section and that no matter how well you watch what you eat or how much you exercise that weight is not budging? If this is your story, then your inability to lose weight probably has more to do with your hormone levels than anything else. Until you discover and correct any imbalances, trying to lose weight will be like shoveling sand against the tide. Fluctuating hormone levels at mid-life very much affect weight gain. It is not only the level of hormones but the ratio that’s so crucial in determining how much and where you gain body fat. In this workshop you will learn 7 key strategies for fighting fat and losing weight, including: which hormones can make you fatter; why hormone ratios are important; why you are gaining weight around the middle; what HRT or birth control pills have to do with weight gain; which food choices make this worse; how to have your hormone levels checked reliably; what steps need to be taken to safely break the vicious cycle of hormone related weight gain; and how to help your body begin to lose weight again.
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PERIMENOPAUSE, MENOPAUSE & HORMONE HEALTH
Information Every 40+ Woman Should Know For Health & Balance

Perimenopause actually starts around the age of 35 for most women and can last 10-15 years. Common symptoms include: fatigue, mood swings, weight gain, water retention, depression, sleep disturbances, joint aches, hot flashes, migraines, fibroids, and exaggerated PMS. These symptoms are not “in your heat”. They are real and irritants you don’t need to live with. If you are experiencing any of theses symptoms, it is probably because you have a hormone imbalance going on. In this workshop, we’ll talk about how to get your hormone levels measured - blood test vs. saliva test and what to do with the results. We’ll discuss the latest research findings on traditional HRT and what that means for you. We’ll talk about safer alternatives to traditional HRT; synthetic vs. bio-identical hormones; the use of herbs for relieving symptoms; which vitamins and minerals are need in greater quantity and guidelines for choosing a well balanced multivitamin and mineral supplement. Learn some simple ways to restore health and balance.

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IS YOUR WAISTBAND TOO TIGHT TODAY?
6 Strategies to Win The Battle Of A Bulging Belly

Have you ever found that in the a.m. your pants fit fine but by mid-afternoon, the waistband squeezes you like a tourniquet? Or that no matter how many crunches you do, your stomach still hangs out? Getting rid of a potbelly is much more than just doing abdominal exercises. In this workshop, you will learn the main causes and 6 strategies for getting rid of belly bloat. Wear comfortable clothes as we will do a few ab exercises designed to strengthen all 4 layers of abdominal muscle so that you no longer have to waste your time on crunches.

****************************************************
THE ART OF DE-AGING
20 Simple, Scientifically Proven Things You Can Do Right Now To Peel Years Off Your Biological Age

Your chronological age is the number of years lived. That is a fixed number and cannot be changed. Your biological or body age, however, is measured by how well all of your organs and body systems work. And there are many things you can do to affect your biological age. You have more control over how your body ages than you may think. Research has shown us that you can peel years off your bio age. In this workshop, you will learn 20 simple, scientifically proven things you can do right now to decrease your body age. Help yourself look better, feel younger and age with health and vigor.

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FIT & FABULOUS IN YOUR 40’s, 50’s and Beyond

Researches are predicting that lifespan for people who are now in their 40’s and 50’s is anywhere from 90-100 years. The goal is to live longer and be healthy enough to enjoy it. You can’t change your chronological age but you CAN shave years off your BioAge. Studies show you can be 50 and have the physiology of a 30 year old, (and vise versa), depending on how well you take care of yourself. What you do now greatly affects future health and well-being. Nothing beats good health! In this workshop, we’ll discuss simple steps to help make you as healthy as possible; how to shave years off your biological age; dumb health mistakes even smart women make: 10 easy metabolism boosters to get rid of extra weight; what tests to ask for at your yearly physical; how to stop the stress to belly fat cycle; how to look and feel your best, plus more.

****************************************************

THYROID INFORMATION WORKSHOP

Are you one of the millions of Americans who suffer from low thyroid function? Fatigue, weight gain, depression, anxiety, arthritis, rising cholesterol levels, foggy thinking, inability to focus, thinning hair, skin, digestive problems, abnormal blood pressure, reduced sex drive, and heart palpitations are only some of the symptoms for low thyroid. In this workshop, we’ll discuss:
• How low thyroid function can make any illness worse.
• The 5 things that need to be measured (but usually never are)
• Why the most commonly prescribed hormone may not be helping you at all.
• Different treatment options
• How thyroid malfunction can be the source of joint aches and pains, including fibromyalgia
• Foods that can help or hinder thyroid function
• Commonly misunderstood rules for when and how to take thyroid meds.
• Environmental triggers
• New TSH recommendations from The Amer. Assoc. of Clinical Endocrinologists
• If you are someone who currently takes thyroid medication but are still gaining weight and still have a variety of symptoms, there’s more you need to know.
• Info you need to discuss with your doctor
Once your thyroid function is tested and treated properly, your quality of life may improve dramatically. You deserve to feel strong, be healthy, and live fully.
This workshop is a source of information only and should by no means be considered a substitute for the advice of a qualified medical professional.

****************************************************
ARE YOU A CARBOHYDRATE ADDICT?

Do you crave starches, snack foods, and sweets and find the more you eat, the more you want to eat? Is your snacking out of control? In this workshop, we will discuss a two week plan that will STOP your cravings (no kidding!), help you lose weight and help keep your insulin levels balanced. Overcoming carb cravings is not a matter of willpower but a matter of biology. Learn how you can stop the vicious cycle of food craving and weight gain. No hype - just the facts.

****************************************************

TURNING BACK THE CLOCK!
Super Nutrition for Health & Wellness

Research is showing us that we can set back our biological clock, like rolling back the miles on a car’s odometer. Unlike the age reflected on your driver’s license, your biological age (how well your body actually functions) can be radically altered. What you eat every day influences your body’s health and risk for disease as well as it’s aging process. This workshop will show you how to stay younger and healthier longer by giving your body exactly what it needs!
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VITAMINS & HERBS: FACTS AND FALLACIES

Confusion abounds about vitamin supplements. Do you need them? Which ones are best? How do you choose? In this workshop, you will learn the 7 guidelines that determine if a supplement is well balanced or a waste of money. (The instructor DOES NOT sell any supplements). Also, we’ll discuss what current research says about: antioxidants, phytochemicals, anti-aging nutrients, colloidal minerals, chelated minerals, sustained release formulas, and herbal preparations such as St. John’s Wort, Ginkgo, Ginseng, Echinaccea, & DHEA.
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JUST BREATH!
Techniques To Increase Health & Well-Being

Scientists are studying and beginning to understand what ancient civilizations knew long ago - that breathing in specific ways can have amazing and powerful healing benefits on mind and body. Breath work is the single most powerful thing you can practice for improving energy levels, health and well-being. In this workshop, you will learn a complete course of 8 ancient breathing exercises that will: neutralize stress by reprogramming your nervous system; increase energy and vitality; increase brain function; improve immune response; decrease depression and anxiety; strengthen connection between body, mind and spirit; awaken creativity and intuition and actually help strengthen your back and abs from the inside out. The simplest and most powerful technique for optimum health of mind and body is absolutely free and literally right under your nose.

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STRESS-BUSTING STRATEGIES FOR BUSY PEOPLE

Do you have too much stress in your life? Stress not only causes a multitude of physical and emotional problems, but it will age you quicker and more efficiently than time itself. In this workshop you will learn: the damaging effects of stress on your nervous system; how to keep stress from ageing you; one minute stress busting techniques that can easily fit into your busy day; breathing techniques to calm the nervous system; ways to decrease stress hormone levels; how different types of foods, colors, surroundings, and even music can increase or decrease stress.
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ANTI-STRESS FOODS
Learn How To Counteract The Harmful Effects of Stress

Simply defined, stress is any physical, mental or emotional strain placed on your body. In this day and age, who among us is not stressed? Every day we deal with jobs, kids, spouses, houses, the economy, terrorism, etc. Stress can be very damaging because, among other things, it uses up your vitamins and minerals at a rapid rate. Stress left unchecked can deplete us and grind us down. In fact, all the symptoms associated with stress - irritability, racing heart, headaches, high blood pressure & insomnia actually have been found to be deficiency symptoms of all the nutrients depleted. In this workshop, you will learn which nutrients are depleted and which foods can counter-act and reverse the harmful effects of stress. We’ll discuss simple stress reduction techniques that can easily fit into your day.

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HEART HEALTH FOR WOMEN

Heart disease is the #1 killer of women. In fact, heart disease kills ten times more women each year than breast cancer. Symptoms are different for women than men so many symptoms are ignored or go unrecognized. You have the power to control, prevent and, in some cases, reverse heart disease. In this workshop, we’ll discuss all the things you need to know: signs, symptoms and risk factors of a heart attack; hormones and your heart; foods that can help prevent and reverse heart disease; nutrients that are particularly helpful for heart health; exercise and the 4 numbers you need to know that could save your life.

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Check Back Soon

POSTURE, GET IT STRAIGHT: Look 10 Years Younger and 10 Pounds Thinner

Posture is important because it affects how you look, how you feel, and how others perceive you. Poor posture is the #1 cause of back and neck discomfort and can lead to a lifetime of annoying aches and pains. By improving your posture, you improve the health and comfort of your spine. By standing tall you can stop the rounding over that occurs as we age, causing you to shrink in stature. And last, but not least, your posture conveys a lot of info to the outside world about your mental and emotional state, as well as confidence level. In this workshop, you will learn very specific exercises to straighten your shoulders, flatten your upper back, strengthen lower back and all 4 layers of abdominal muscle. You will learn tips and techniques that will improve alignment immediately. We will discuss back-friendly ways to adjust your computer workstations or desk; how to adjust your car seat to help your posture, beneficial sleeping/resting/reading positions and much more!

THE ABC’s OF COMPUTER COMFORT

We have become a nation of professional sitters. If you are an office worker, computer operator or student, you probably spend a good part of your day sitting. Sitting for long periods can cause much back, neck, and shoulder distress. In this workshop, you will learn simple things you can do to make your computer workstation much more back friendly. Learn how to avoid carpet tunnel syndrome by getting your keyboard and mouse at the correct level for your body. Learn simple exercises that can be done at your desk to get rid of muscle tension. These exercises will make a world of difference in how your back/neck feels at the end of the day. You’ll learn eye exercises/stretches to help you avoid eye strain.

JOINT HEALTH WORKSHOP: Have Stronger, Younger, Healthier Joints

The human body contains 143 joints. Strong, flexible joints are needed for almost every activity we do - walking, lifting, bending, etc. Unfortunately, studies show that at any given time, 1/3 of all adults, worldwide, are experiencing some sort of joint pain. When your joints hurt, even simple movements become painful and that greatly lowers quality of life. The good news, is, your joints were meant to last a lifetime and studies are showing that you CAN reduce pain and restore your joints to a stronger, healthier condition. In this workshop, we’ll talk about: various causes of joint pain; treatments currently available; pros and cons of taking prescription drugs to mask pain; latest research information on nutrients that can help repair joints; results of a breakthrough study on gelatin; simple joint lubrication movements for hips, knees and shoulders to sooth those achy joints; a few important stretches to help relieve joint compaction and increase range of motion and a simple technique that’ll align joints and cut down on wear and tear.

ABSOLUTELY ABDOMINALS: MidSection MakeOver

We all have four layers of abdominal muscles, each with fibers running in a different direction. This criss-crossing pattern shapes your mid-section and supports the lower back. There are many reasons why the abs can weaken and lose shape: past pregnancies, abdominal surgery, sitting for hours a day at a desk, to name a few. In this workshop, we will: Strengthen ab muscles and re-shape waistline, without getting on the floor;Check for overstretched abdominal connective tissue. If you have this, common abdominal crunches will only serve to weaken muscles further; Do a simple technique that will correct this problem; Regain control of abdominal muscles that have been cut from surgery; Strengthen abdominals from the inside out & relieve lower back discomfort; Learn Anywhere/Anytime exercises that fit into even the busiest of schedules; Discuss how to get rid of bloating and water retention. Don’t waste your time doing traditional abdominal crunches. Come and learn how to strengthen and flatten your abdominals quickly, effectively and in a very functional way. Come prepared to exercise and bring a mat.

IS YOUR WAISTBAND TOO TIGHT TODAY?

6 Strategies to Win The Battle Of A Bulging Belly

Have you ever found that in the a.m. your pants fit fine but by mid-afternoon, the waistband squeezes you like a tourniquet? Or that no matter how many crunches you do, your stomach still hangs out? Getting rid of a potbelly is much more than just doing abdominal exercises. In this workshop, you will learn the main causes and 6 strategies for getting rid of belly bloat. Wear comfortable clothes as we will do a few ab exercises designed to strengthen all 4 layers of abdominal muscle so that you no longer have to waste your time on crunches.

WOMEN, WEIGHT & HORMONES:

7 Strategies For Fighting Fat After 40

Are you finding that fat is collecting around your mid-section and that no matter how well you watch what you eat or how much you exercise that weight is not budging? If this is your story, then your inability to lose weight probably has more to do with your hormone levels than anything else. Until you discover and correct any imbalances, trying to lose weight will be like shoveling sand against the tide. Fluctuating hormone levels at mid-life very much affect weight gain. It is not only the level of hormones but the ratio that’s so crucial in determining how much and where you gain body fat. In this workshop you will learn 7 key strategies for fighting fat and losing weight, including: which hormones can make you fatter; why hormone ratios are important; why you are gaining weight around the middle; what HRT or birth control pills have to do with weight gain; which food choices make this worse; how to have your hormone levels checked reliably; what steps need to be taken to safely break the vicious cycle of hormone related weight gain; and how to help your body begin to lose weight again.

METABOLISM MAKE-OVER

Millions of Americans find themselves getting heavier and heavier with each passing year. You can STOP this damaging cycle. The good news is we now have a plethora of cutting edge research shedding light on not only mechanisms that cause us to gain weight but also mechanisms that actually can turn off our fat creating genes. In this workshop, you will learn: How to ‘re-program’ your genetic code to stop the storage of excess fat; How to boost your metabolism not only for weight loss now but lasting weight control; Concrete solutions (not tricks, not using your will power) for controlling your appetite and cravings; Which foods turn off your fat creating genes and which foods interfere with your ability to burn fat; Ten simple things you can do every day to keep your metabolism burning brightly; How to tell if your thyroid is creating weight problems for you and what to do about it; Major sources of hormone mimicking chemicals; How they can be making you fat and how to get rid of them.

THYROID INFORMATION WORKSHOP: Things to Know, Ask & Do

Are you one of the millions of Americans who suffer from low thyroid function? Fatigue, weight gain, depression, anxiety, arthritis, rising cholesterol levels, foggy thinking, inability to focus, thinning hair, skin, digestive problems, abnormal blood pressure, reduced sex drive, and heart palpitations are only some of the symptoms for low thyroid. In this workshop, we’ll discuss: how low thyroid function can make any illness worse; the 5 things that need to be measured (but usually never are); why the most commonly prescribed hormone may not be helping you at all; different treatment options; how thyroid malfunction can be the source of joint aches and pains, including fibromyalgia; foods that can help or hinder thyroid function; commonly misunderstood rules for when and how to take thyroid meds; environmental triggers; new TSH recommendations from The Amer. Assoc. of Clinical Endocrinologists; if you are someone who currently takes thyroid medication but are still gaining weight and still have a variety of symptoms, there’s more you need to know; info you need to discuss with your doctor. Once your thyroid function is tested and treated properly, your quality of life may improve dramatically. You deserve to feel strong, be healthy, and live fully. This workshop is a source of information only and should by no means be considered a substitute for the advice of a qualified medical professional.

THE ART OF DE-AGING: 20 Simple, Scientifically Proven Things You Can Do Right Now To Peel Years Off Your Biological Age

Your chronological age is the number of years lived. That is a fixed number and cannot be changed. Your biological or body age, however, is measured by how well all of your organs and body systems work. And there are many things you can do to affect your biological age. You have more control over how your body ages than you may think. Research has shown us that you can peel years off your bio age. In this workshop, you will learn 20 simple, scientifically proven things you can do right now to decrease your body age. Help yourself look better, feel younger and age with health and vigor.

FIT & FABULOUS IN YOUR 40’s, 50’s and Beyond

Researches are predicting that lifespan for people who are now in their 40’s and 50’s is anywhere from 90-100 years. The goal is to live longer and be healthy enough to enjoy it. You can’t change your chronological age but you CAN shave years off your BioAge. Studies show you can be 50 and have the physiology of a 30 year old, (and vise versa), depending on how well you take care of yourself. What you do now greatly affects future health and well-being. Nothing beats good health! In this workshop, we’ll discuss simple steps to help make you as healthy as possible; how to shave years off your biological age; dumb health mistakes even smart women make: 10 easy metabolism boosters to get rid of extra weight; what tests to ask for at your yearly physical; how to stop the stress to belly fat cycle; how to look and feel your best, plus more.

ARE YOU A CARBOHYDRATE ADDICT?

Do you crave starches, snack foods, and sweets and find the more you eat, the more you want to eat? Is your snacking out of control? In this workshop, we will discuss a two week plan that will STOP your cravings (no kidding!), help you lose weight and help keep your insulin levels balanced. Overcoming carb cravings is not a matter of willpower but a matter of biology. Learn how you can stop the vicious cycle of food craving and weight gain. No hype - just the facts.

TURNING BACK THE CLOCK: Super Nutrition for Health & Wellness

Research is showing us that we can set back our biological clock, like rolling back the miles on a car’s odometer. Unlike the age reflected on your driver’s license, your biological age (how well your body actually functions) can be radically altered. What you eat every day influences your body’s health and risk for disease as well as its aging process. This workshop will show you how to stay younger and healthier longer by giving your body exactly what it needs!

VITAMINS & HERBS: FACTS AND FALLACIES

Confusion abounds about vitamin supplements. Do you need them? Which ones are best? How do you choose? In this workshop, you will learn the 7 guidelines that determine if a supplement is well balanced or a waste of money. (The instructor DOES NOT sell any supplements). Also, we’ll discuss what current research says about: antioxidants, phytochemicals, anti-aging nutrients, colloidal minerals, chelated minerals, sustained release formulas, and herbal preparations such as St. John’s Wort, Ginkgo, Ginseng, Echinaccea, & DHEA.

JUST BREATH: Techniques To Increase Health & Well-Being

Scientists are studying and beginning to understand what ancient civilizations knew long ago - that breathing in specific ways can have amazing and powerful healing benefits on mind and body. Breath work is the single most powerful thing you can practice for improving energy levels, health and well-being. In this workshop, you will learn a complete course of 8 ancient breathing exercises that will: neutralize stress by reprogramming your nervous system; increase energy and vitality; increase brain function; improve immune response; decrease depression and anxiety; strengthen connection between body, mind and spirit; awaken creativity and intuition and actually help strengthen your back and abs from the inside out. The simplest and most powerful technique for optimum health of mind and body is absolutely free and literally right under your nose.

STRESS-BUSTING STRATEGIES FOR BUSY PEOPLE

Do you have too much stress in your life? Stress not only causes a multitude of physical and emotional problems, but it will age you quicker and more efficiently than time itself. In this workshop you will learn: the damaging effects of stress on your nervous system; how to keep stress from ageing you; one minute stress busting techniques that can easily fit into your busy day; breathing techniques to calm the nervous system; ways to decrease stress hormone levels; how different types of foods, colors, surroundings, and even music can increase or decrease stress.

ANTI-STRESS FOODS: Learn How To Counteract The Harmful Effects of Stress

Simply defined, stress is any physical, mental or emotional strain placed on your body. In this day and age, who among us is not stressed? Every day we deal with jobs, kids, spouses, houses, the economy, terrorism, etc. Stress can be very damaging because, among other things, it uses up your vitamins and minerals at a rapid rate. Stress left unchecked can deplete us and grind us down. In fact, all the symptoms associated with stress - irritability, racing heart, headaches, high blood pressure & insomnia actually have been found to be deficiency symptoms of all the nutrients depleted. In this workshop, you will learn which nutrients are depleted and which foods can counter-act and reverse the harmful effects of stress. We’ll discuss simple stress reduction techniques that can easily fit into your day.

HEART HEALTH FOR WOMEN

Heart disease is the #1 killer of women. In fact, heart disease kills ten times more women each year than breast cancer. Symptoms are different for women than men so many symptoms are ignored or go unrecognized. You have the power to control, prevent and, in some cases, reverse heart disease. In this workshop, we’ll discuss all the things you need to know: signs, symptoms and risk factors of a heart attack; hormones and your heart; foods that can help prevent and reverse heart disease; nutrients that are particularly helpful for heart health; exercise and the 4 numbers you need to know that could save your life.

PERIMENOPAUSE, MENOPAUSE & HORMONE HEALTH

Information Every 40+ Woman Should Know For Health & Balance

Perimenopause actually starts around the age of 35 for most women and can last 10-15 years. Common symptoms include: fatigue, mood swings, weight gain, water retention, depression, sleep disturbances, joint aches, hot flashes, migraines, fibroids, and exaggerated PMS. These symptoms are not “in your heat”. They are real and irritants you don’t need to live with. If you are experiencing any of theses symptoms, it is probably because you have a hormone imbalance going on. In this workshop, we’ll talk about how to get your hormone levels measured - blood test vs. saliva test and what to do with the results. We’ll discuss the latest research findings on traditional HRT and what that means for you. We’ll talk about safer alternatives to traditional HRT; synthetic vs. bio-identical hormones; the use of herbs for relieving symptoms; which vitamins and minerals are needed in greater quantity and guidelines for choosing a well balanced multivitamin and mineral supplement. Learn some simple ways to restore health and balance.

OSTEOPOROSIS WORKSHOP: Building Better Bones

There is an estimated 25,000,000 Americans who have osteoporosis and another 34,000,000 people with bone density low enough to be at risk for fractures. Even women in their thirties, when given bone density scans, are already showing significant bone loss due to poor eating and lifestyle habits. Bone loss doesn’t begin in your 60’s or 70’s but can actually start in your teens. This workshop is filled with practical information that women and men of every age need to know to help build stronger bones and/or regain lost bone mass. We will discuss the latest research findings on foods that are best for your bones as well as ones that are worse; substances that can weaken your bones on a daily basis; which forms of calcium and magnesium are best absorbed; other important nutrients like vitamin D, K and trace minerals; which forms of exercise are the best bone builders; which tests are available to assess bone density, and much more.

SOOTHE THOSE ACHY JOINTS

Do you have joints that ache - a knee or hip or back or shoulder? Whether you have arthritis, bursitis or just creaky, noisy joints, this workshop is for you. Joint lubrication exercises are quite simple and easy to do yet produce rather remarkable results by helping to free your joints of pain. We’ll also discuss the latest research findings on nutrition and joint health. Wear loose, comfortable clothing.

POSTURE & OSTEOPOROSIS WORKSHOP

This workshop is for those who want to learn how to improve their posture and stop the rounding over that occurs with age. Have you ever caught sight of your reflection in a window or mirror to see that your head just forward from your shoulders? You’ll learn simple techniques to stand straighter instantly. We will do specific exercises to help flatten your upper back, unround your shoulders and flatten your tummy. We’ll talk about how to reduce the risk of osteoporosis and osteoporosis related injuries. We’ll discuss the latest research findings on nutrition. Wear loose, comfortable clothing.

SUPER NUTRITION FOR SENIORS

Can good nutrition delay or even reverse some of what happens to our bodies as we age? Research is showing us that when you feed your body what it needs every day, you can reduce your risk of heart disease, stroke, cancer and other illnesses that hit older people the hardest. Did you know that you can have the body of a 65 year old but have the physiology (how your body actually functions) of a 35 year old? In this workshop, we will talk about what good nutrition is, nutrients that older people have a greater need for and super foods that provide those nutrients.