Guess What else works as a Sunscreen?

Did you know that eating a couple raw or slightly cooked bell peppers a week act as a sunscreen from within.  Still wear your daily sunscreen and I always use Solbar SPF 50, along with eating bell peppers and be safe knowing that free radicals will just bounce off your skin.  Fight cancer and aging.  Avoid this ladies, right?

I like to saute them with chicken or eat them raw.  Or prepare a salad with them.  The red and yellow are a little sweeter than the green. Anyone you choose will work.

Happy eating and fight away!!!!  XOXO Lily

Keep your Glutes Lifted!

What I like doing every other day is, 100 jump squats.  Yes, 100.  As we age our body parts start to sag due to gravity and loss of collagen and lack of exercise. Start in a squat position, feet forward, shoulder width apart and jump as high as you can and land in a squat.  Start with 5 at a time till you can do 10 jumps in a set. Until you reach 100.  Yes, these are hard but they work!! Your quads and glutes will thank you and so will your heart since this is a great cardio workout at the same time.

If you can only do 10 tomorrow, then that's great.  The next day go for 20.  Enjoy and have just have fun!!!!!  Lily  XOXO

Life after Hysterctomy

Three years ago I was having pain in my abdomen and my periods seemed to never end.  I kept dealing with it since I always had  difficult periods even on the birth control pill.  The Doctors I went to could not find anything and just kept me on the strongest birth control pill there is.  Finally, a year later I found a Doctor that found a tumor in my uterus, the size of a baseball and told me either I live with it till menapause, since it would go away on it's own or have a hysterectomy.

After much thought and talking to other women I decided to wait till menopause, that's what I thought would be a good idea.  I could not imagine being laid up for 6 weeks and not working out and who would help with the kids?  The husband? So, I waited, then last year October 2010 I could not stand it anymore.  The period was never ending and the pain was bad.  I hated feeling pregnant for a tumor.  I workout so hard and it would not get any better.  I seemed to have kept gaining weight and I eat clean so what's up?  I finally made a appointment with a great Doctor and decided to do it.  Finally, in November 2010 I had the surgery.  Apparently, the Doctor took a picture of my uterus, because, it was the biggest she had ever seen.

I was so happy to have it done!  Three weeks later I started running again.  Then three months passed and man did I feel great!  My workouts were better than ever and I lost 15 lbs of unwanted water weight gain and the  ugly uterus was gone with the tumor.  Now today, my body is better than ever and, do you know how nice it is not have a period?

Having a hysterectomy is a great decision as long as it's needed and don't think your hormones will go crazy and you will get fat.  Just get moving when ready and regain you again.  I am no longer in a jail cell within my own body anymore, and the black cloud is gone.  No more pain or weight gain, and the daily bleeding gone. Make sure you go to a Doctor that understands you and is there for you.   XOXO  Lily

Are you feeling chapped lips, or dry skin?

For chapped lips I stay away from chap stick, it only makes my lips more chapped and dry.  I do not go without Aquaphor Healing Ointment.  It makes my lips soft and never chapped or dry.  I also use it on my feet, knees and elbows.  You will find Aquaphor in any drug store in the baby section or lotion isle.  If you are used to using chap stick, try this and you will never go back.  I have a tube in my gym bag and in my night stand and bathroom  sink.  You will also notice that you won't need to apply over and over during the day like other lip repair items.  It's under $6.00, and it will last up to two months if you are buying the 1.75 oz size tube.  Keep your lips and skin nourished.  Great item now that winter is approaching, but, also great in the summer.

Are you washing your face at night?

Washing your face at night is so important.  Going to bed with makeup on or just not cleansing, will age you up to 6 days.  The free radical damage from pollutants is a sure way to get fine lines and deep wrinkles.  I like to use Natural Advantage from Jane Seymour.  It leaves my skin very soft and smooth not dry like some other cleansers.  It's also great for Rosecea skin and oily to dry skin. Please start now washing your face every night, don't be too tired or lazy.

Fight brown spots and wrinkles!

Do you want sun spots on your skin or wrinkles?  I hope you answered no. The best way to fight those horrible free radicals is to use a sunblock daily!  I mean, even when it rains. The one I use everyday is, Solbar and SPF 50 with UVA and UVB protection.  Make sure you get the cream not lotion.  You have to order it from the pharmacist. They used to carry it over the counter.  The cost is around $12.00.  I have used this sunscreen for years and I love it!  You can wear it over your moisturizer and under makeup.  It is not greasy and has no scent. Since I also have Rosecea, it does not affect it, actually it has helped.  Great for oily or normal to dry skin. Cover your face, neck and chest.  Don't forget the eyecream!  Love your skin and cherish it forever!!!!

Clean that dirt off your face

After a good, hard workout and you are sweaty and red faced, the best thing to get rid of the free radicals is to exfoliate. Rinse off your skin first with luke warm water, then use a good exfoliator. The exfoliator I like to use is Medi-Morphisis by Cosmedicine.  I find that this product cleans the best and leaves my skin silky soft. Gently massage it into the skin for a minute or two.  You can feel the little crystals go to work to clean off the dirt and remove the free radicals, which help prevents aging.  Lightly rinse with warm water and a clean wash cloth. Then, feel the nice soft silky skin. This is good for oily to dry skin.