Living (and loving) Life

Many people believe they can trim down fat layers in certain areas of their bodies and sculpt them into the shape they desire by doing exercises that target those specific areas of the body.

This is why so many are tricked into buying abdominal exercise devices that claim you’ll be able to create six-pack abs in a matter of weeks, only to end up being greatly disappointed with the results.

Simply put, targeted weight loss (aka spot reduction) is the process of choosing which parts of the body we want to remove fat from. Unfortunately, this concept goes against the actual science of weight loss. [Read more…]

Think that hair loss is something that happens strictly as a matter of genetics? Think again. While it is certainly true that hair loss can often be a product of one’s genetics, there are also many external factors that contribute to it as well.

There are a number of practical, real-world steps women can follow to ensure their hair stays as thick and full as possible, for as long as possible.

Here are five easy ways you can prevent the onset of hair loss, and ultimately enjoy those thick, lustrous locks without worry!

1 – Are you familiar with antioxidants? These nutrients are commonly talked about in weight loss supplements and even skin creams, but their efficacy goes beyond helping you burn calories or repair your skin.

The bottom line is that antioxidants help protect against free radicals, which are often responsible for hair loss. By getting plenty of antioxidants, you can ward off the hair loss. The food that has the highest concentration of antioxidants, according to the FDA, is blueberries! [Read more…]

In the last decade, protein has received more attention as an essential element for weight loss. Just what does protein do for our bodies? How much do we need? How does protein intake affect our fitness plans? These are important questions to answer for the health-conscious and those who want to lose weight.

What Is Protein?

Simply put, proteins are what make up all living tissues. Proteins are involved in every cellular process and help regulate biochemical reactions. All of this science talk means that eating protein is giving our bodies extra materials to build with.

To process the energy stored in food, our bodies have to first convert it into glucose. Proteins take longer to break down than carbohydrates and this property gives protein some unique nutritional benefits. [Read more…]

Moles are clusters of cells called melanocytes. These cells produce the pigment in the skin and hair which gives them their color. Under normal circumstances, the melanocytes are spread out around the skin evenly but in some cases they may clump together, causing a mole.

Moles are fairly common in many people. Professionals believe that people are predisposed to getting moles before they are even born but most people are not born with moles.

By the age of 20, most people who have moles will have gained the vast majority of moles that they will have for life. They are no more common in men than they are in women; however, there are certain factors which could cause moles to appear.

Causes of Moles

• Genetics – Most people who suffer with moles will have close relatives who also suffer, leading experts to have the opinion that genetics are in some way involved with the occurrence of moles, hence the thought that some people are predisposed to contracting them even if they don’t appear until later on in life. [Read more…]

Rock climbing is an excellent sport, especially for people who love a challenge. Whether you’re challenging yourself to climb the route faster than your buddy, challenging yourself to drop the extra pounds, or challenging yourself to just finish the climb, you will feel the great reward that comes with accomplishing a goal.

Here are a few reasons why you should try this great sport:

It Gets You Outdoors

For anyone who works a demanding job and has busy children its really hard to make “outdoors time”, even though we are all aware of the many benefits that accompany getting outdoors. So by making climbing a hobby, you will be forced to make time to get outdoors. Make a schedule and find some cool destinations to climb and you will never find yourself trying to skip a workout again. [Read more…]