Clutches for Less

Archive for June, 2009

Congratulations are certainly in order I am sure you are a proud mother right now. What a truly wonderful experience and proud moment especially for a new mom. But how will you ever get rid of this new tummy and lose your pregnancy weight? Pregnancy changes your life in various ways and most of these affect your body. I’m sure you have seen or maybe heard that some women come home from the hospital almost as slim as before they got pregnant. Hate to be the one to tell you but those women are in the minority and may not exist. The truth is almost all women will experience some body changes during and after pregnancy. This is not the time to beat yourself up; enjoy your new baby and motherhood experience then read on for some tips that will help you get back in shape. For more information go to Lose Pregnancy Weight.

Understanding the Changes

Chances are that once you have had your baby you will probably still look and maybe even feel you’re still carrying your baby. This is totally normal; it is expected that your body will require time to recover. Your stomach will keep your pregnancy shape probably several months after you have given birth. It will more than likely take you about four weeks for your uterus to return to previous size. Your body may also require time to get rid of excess fluid if you are the type of woman susceptible to retaining large amounts of fluid during pregnancy. The good news is your stomach will be busy getting your back to its pre-pregnancy shape; however in most cases it takes time to lose your pregnancy weight so be patient.

Exercise is your friend

You may have even realized that your belly was not the only part affected perhaps your hips and thighs may also be a bit bigger. Relax, there is good news here, with a little patience and some exercise you can once again take control of your body. Before you know it, you will be back where you started. The most important thing you should consider is getting an OK from your doctor prior to starting an exercise routine after you have allowed your body 4-8 weeks to recover. If you must accelerate your routine for what ever reasons be sure you do it gradually and safely. Don’t push yourself initially especially if there were complications or you had a C-section. Break up your exercises into smaller sessions and spread your sessions out through the day. You can incorporate additional exercises and intensify your routines once your body is responding well to the exercises.

Keep your exercises basic and something you can do at home during your baby’s naps. It will be tough initially to find time as newborns tend to keep you going all day; just do the best you can. When starting your exercise routines you should not be alone in case you experience unforeseen problems. Need a Weight Loss Plan

Calories are important

You will really need to watch your calories especially if you made the decision to breastfeed you new baby. You will probably burn an additional 500 calories during breastfeeding. A reduction in the number of calories you consume is not recommended as it is likely to have a negative impact on your child. Your new baby will need all the nutrients it can get through your breastfeeding efforts. If you decrease your calorie intake, you may decrease your available milk supply. It may also cause you to drop weight too quick potentially impacting the quality of milk for your newborn. Your health is important for you, your baby, and your family, so take your time and lose pregnancy weight safely. For help with other fitness and health issues try Shed Some Lbs.

You might have heard of those so-called strategies on gaining weight that have been given to you by some people. Though many people follow these methods to achieve their weight-gaining goals, these are really bad ideas that you should not follow. So, let's take a look at these wrong strategies? Here are some that you might have heard of.

Bizarre Tip No. 1: Gaining More And More Calories Is Great For Gaining Weight

If you’d look at this tip, you might say that this would make sense, right? But the reality is that it's only partially true. It should be noted that foods can differ in terms of calories… and this means that they vary in terms of the effects when they reach into your body's system. As the food you have consumed would then enter your bloodstream, two things could happen: either they can affect you healthily or unhealthily! So, rather than eating up just any food out there with calories, you should choose carefully the foods you eat before adding them to your list.

Bizarre Tip No. 2: Taking Up More Carbs Are Effective For Gaining Your Weight

It might be right to say that food with carbs such as white toast, frosted flakes, pasta, etc., can add up to your weight… but the reality is that this isn't healthy at all for you. Why? It's because eating these foods with refined carbs can result to the endangerment of your health (setting you up as a “candidate” for coronary heart diseases, diabetes and certain cancers) as well as leading you to a quite unattractive body figure.

Bizarre Tip No. 3: Eating Fatty Foods Is The Way To Go For Weight Gain

Now, this one is a big no-no! This is very, very wrong and will endanger your heatlh! You see, if you consume a lot of these kinds of foods, what will happen is that the fats will clog up your arteries (which can cause heart diseases in the process). Eating these fats does not mean that they'll stay within your system, and if by chance the do stay, getting them to where you think they should go in your body is unlikely to occur!

Bizarre Tip No. 4: If You’re One Of Those With Fast Metabolism, Eat More Food And Build Up Your Muscle To Gain Weight

As for eating more food, it might work out for some, but the reality is that for some of those individuals their fast metabolism, they just end up dissolving and dissolving the food they have consumed even before they get filled up! When it comes to gaining more muscles, it's kind of awkward for women, right? You wouldn't want to look more muscular than your husband or boyfriend. You see, to gain weight efficiently without bulking up your appearance, you have to combine weight-gaining methods with exercise, but these won't ask you to put up some muscles in your body.

Bizarre Tip No. 5: Sit Down All Day And Then You Get It… You Add Up Weight Instantly!

Now, this would again depend on an individual’s metabolism. It might work for some people, but those who are just skinny by nature will not benefit from the lack of activity and motion, which could affect their goals negatively in gaining the weight they want to have.

So, you now know that these strategies are the ones that you should avoid in the first place. Now, if you want to have the right tips on how to gain weight, what you should go for are those effective yet safe guides in gaining a healthier and more attractive figure!

I recently heard from a woman who told me that her gums bled frequently. She said that she has blood in her mouth when she wakes up in the morning. She also said she couldn’t afford to go to the dentist.

I told her that she must go. Chances are she has gum disease, but she needs a dentist or doctor to diagnose the situation and rule out anything more serious.

This brings up an important point. Bleeding gums are not normal at all. Usually, if your gums bleed while brushing or flossing it is possibly indicative of gum disease.

One tool that might be useful is the hydrofloss . It works by using a stream of water to reduce bacterial and plaque build up.

Those crazy little bacteria might find their way into the bloodstream via those openings. Whether that situation can lead to something worse or not is still being studied.

The hydro floss is actually an oral irrigator with special properties. It uses a patented technology that allows it to do a more effective job than a ‘regular’ irrigator

In any case, the possibility of losing one’s teeth is real. And that is a situation that should be avoided.

In my personal experience, I was the patient of the same dentist for years. I knew my gums bled during those every-six-month cleanings but I didn’t know that meant I had gum disease. They didn’t tell me that. I believed it was normal, as do a lot of people. Then one day they suggested that I have a scaling and root planing treatment. They also told me that I had lost bone mass and that if things progressed I could lose my teeth.

Fortunately, I had enough sense to do a little research. This is why I like to write about the about the hydrofloss . I believe it is a powerful tool for dental health

This article is for information purposes only. If you have gingivitis, gum disease or think you might, go to your dentist right away for advice,diagnosis and treatment. Keeping your teeth is important. Getting rid of gum disease is desirable. The USFDA has not evaluated statements about products in this article.

Relax, there is good news if you have this condition. Gingivitis is the reversible form of gum disease. If discovered early enough it will not progress to the advanced stages of periodontal disease. If you only have this mild form of the disease, you should be able to reverse it and prevent tissue loss.

How did you get it? There are many types of bacteria in our mouth. When you think about it, you might realize that the mouth is one of the dirtiest parts of your body. You could never fully get rid of these bacteria.

First, when you try to wipe them out, you never get all of them. Second, you are always eating or drinking – every day. Therefore, new bacteria can enter your mouth relatively easily.

The key point is that not all of the bacteria in your mouth are ‘bad’. There are only certain species of bacteria that will cause problems like gum disease or bad breath. In fact, I think scientists are still discovering which strains of bacteria are a problem and which are not.

There are several strains that may cause gingivitis. Here is what typically might happen. You build up plaque daily. Plaque is a sticky substance that forms as a combination of things such as bacteria, saliva, very small food substances, etc.

Some items that may help:

1.Home ozonators  can be a powerful tool for dental health that may help you to stop gingivitis before it gets a chance to take hold. You could simply ozonate wate and use it as a mouthwash.

2. Therabreath might help with special mouthwash that was designed for fighting gum disease.

Another item that might be useful is the essential oil blend called ora md.

Once the plaque forms it develops a nice place for the ‘bad’ bacteria to live, grow and reproduce. When the plaque grows it creates a barrier against oxygen, something this type of bacteria doesn’t like. They then secrete toxins that harm your teeth and gums.

Be advised this article is for information purposes only and does not intend to offer diagnosis or treatment advice. If you have or think you might have gum disease or any other type of health problem, visit your periodontist or physician for advice, diagnosis and treatment. The USFDA has not evaluated statements about products in this article.

Savvy shoppers know that the best mineral makeup can be difficult to spot at first. There are myriad reasons to buy mineral makeup, including:

* Mineral makeup can ease symptoms of adult acne and rosacea

* Mineral makeups’ natural SPF is 15

* Mineral makeup looks more natural than other types of cosmetics

* Mineral makeup can be worn heavy or light as you prefer

* Mineral makeup is more durable than other cosmetics

* You can safely sleep in some types of mineral makeup products

You should know that just buying a product labeled “mineral makeup” is not enough.

To get all the benefits, you need the best mineral makeup available. Do not worry because this does not mean that these cosmetics are the most expensive. This does mean however that they have special qualities other mineral makeup products do not.

Here are several things to look for to spot the best mineral makeup on the market:

* Look for a total lack of artificial colors and fragrances - There will be no artificial colors or fragrances in the best mineral makeup. This does not mean you have to give up bright cosmetics. It just means that you should not see ingredients like “yellow dye # 5” in the ingredients list.

* Try to avoid talc - Lots of makeup lines have labeled themselves “mineral makeup” because they contain large amounts of talc. Talc is a mineral. Of course, it is also frequently used as a “filler” to bulk up makeup products and it is a common allergen. The best mineral makeup companies do not use talc excessively.

* Look for Mica, Zinc and Titanium - Mica reflects light away from the wrinkles in your face, thereby camouflaging them. Zinc and titanium are natural sun barriers and create a natural SPF of at least 15. These are all “earth minerals” which means that they have not been processed with chemicals.

Frequently the best mineral makeup products will only contain these minerals and a few other ingredients.

* Look for short ingredients lists - The best mineral makeup products will be simple. You should aim to find products that reflect this. Some mineral cosmetics have as few as five ingredients.

For more colors, you might need a few more components. The rule in general is simpler is better.

Doing a little research will help you get the best in mineral makeup.

This article originally published at http://www.BeautyCtr.com and republished here by popular demand.

Are you getting recurring yeast infections? If this is the case, it’s critical to evaluate your stress levels. When stressed, our hearts race at a fast beat, and we break out in a sweat. When we’re constantly tense, we tell our brains that something is amiss, the ‘fight or flight’ state . Consequently, the brain floods our bodies with huge levels of stress hormones for an extended period of time, which lowers the immune system, causing ailments like UTI infections. It is important to stop this chain of unhealthy living, learn how to strengthen your immune system and cure the Candida infection.

Learn How To Get Rid Of Painful UTIs HERE.

Weakened immune systems are unable to control infections, like thrush infections, rashes and itching, and skin infections – which adds even more stress. Symptoms of stress, like headaches, irritability, muscle pains, can develop into more severe immune system diseases like heart problems, depression, diabetes, and others, if left untreated. These infections serve as timely EARLY ALERTS to you that you have a weakened immune system and to take corrective action soon.

The yeast fungus, which is present in the skin, mouth, digestive organs, and vagina, can be resisted by a healthy, strong body. But it’s not possible for your weakened system to fight off too many infections all together.

From our unique situations we respond in varied ways to the same event. The same event can be stressful for one person but exciting for another person, like job pressure , or giving a live presentation. What causes you stress? Is it maybe work related, or to do with paying bills, bothersome neighbours? For me one is certainly traffic noise and alarms of all kinds. It’s sometimes difficult to get to the point of slowing down and evaluating of the stress points in your life. However, doing it will bring you big rewards mentally and physically .

Discover the Secrets to a Candida Infection Free Life HERE.

In effect, do it right now by taking a deep breath and considering your present state of health: do you suffer from any symptoms like recurring yeast infections, aches and pains, tiredness, memory loss, etc? What action can you take now that will build your immune system? It’s important to get the correct information and learn how to cure recurring cystitis infections naturally by supporting the immune system, without aggravating the condition with drugs.

As you probably know exercise is an excellent immune system builder – even if you don’t want to be told so again – as it helps you get rid of the yeast fungus . Think of an exercise that you would like to try, and start today at a specific time and program that time in your routine regularly! An easy one is simply to start walking. You can walk in nature with a good friend, do your neighbour a favor and walk his dog, all the while breathing deeply, amongst many possibilities. I know that once you’ve started on your healthy life with exercise, that you can improvise and try different ones later on. This simple exercise is just one of many you can choose to begin your new healthy life style!

Get the Latest Cystitis Infection Cure HERE.

Anti wrinkle products cash in on the most common of fears that affect women- aging takes the cake in any such contest with remarkable ease. Most women are immensely conscious of how they look and find it very difficult to deal with the fact that at one point, their youth will fade away and they will have to embrace age.

But no one wants to give up a fight and thus, a large number of women around the world are fighting against the signs of aging by using various anti wrinkle products that will help them stay young. Thanks to the advancement in the field of cosmetics, nowadays, there are many ways to combat wrinkles, the most definitive sign of aging.

However, it is very difficult to choose from the large number of products available. There are so many products and services available in the market today that someone looking for a good anti wrinkle cream will be confused when he or she sees the options. But you need to pick up that one “right cream” for yourself.

In order to make the choice, you can do a basic search on the internet in order to find out what kinds of anti wrinkle creams are most effective. Apart from the quality, you also need to see the budget. It is likely that you will not be able to afford the entire range of anti wrinkle products available in the market. This helps you in narrowing down your choice.

To get a fair idea about the various products,list them down and check for their effectiveness. The optimal method is to read customer reviews. A search on the net will provide you with the customer reviews published in various websites. By looking at the customer reviews, you will be able to gauge about the effectiveness of the anti wrinkle products.

So when you are looking for a good anti wrinkle product, you need to keep certain things in mind.

Andrew Smith is research analyst for anti aging products : Dermapril | Dermitage | Resveratrol

There are many symptoms of Bacterial Vaginosis (BV) that a woman should watch for. For instance, if you should detect a vaginal discharge, especially after sex, it is very possible that you have contracted Bacterial Vaginosis (BV). The vaginal discharge associated with bacterial vaginosis is usually grayish in color but has been known to be white or yellow. the discharge is usually thin watery grayish discharge. When ever you have any abnormal discharge from the vagina it is always best to get it looked at and treated. Any normal discharges from the vagina will be totally odorless.

Other classic symptoms include a very unpleasant, foul fishy smell, which could become worse during or after intercourse, intense itching around the vulvae, swelling, and irritation. You can get quite bad irritation in asnd around the vagina if left untreated. Bacterial Vaginosis can also cause painful burning during urination. Some women have experienced stomach pains, which feel like severe menstrual cramps. The symptoms mentioned are all of the most common associated with bacterial vaginosis but over half the women with the infection have no symptoms at all.

It is easy to confuse bacterial vaginosis with a yeast infection an even doctors have been known to do this. Some of the symptoms are similar with some other sexually transmitted diseases especially Trichomoniasis. It can also be misdiagnosed as a urinary tract infection or even a vaginal yeast infection.

Should you have any of the symptoms listed above and they do not disappear with a matter of a few days, it is very important to see your GYN. If you do nothing about these symptoms, it is very possible that serious conditions will develop, such as pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), reproductive tract infections, or reproductive tract inflammation. BV is a very troublesome and frustrating condition that women who are sexually active have to try to circumvent.

Should you become pregnant while you have BV, this could lead to several complications. You may be pregnant and show no symptoms at all, or you may have persistent symptoms. If you are pregnant and showing no symptoms, it is very likely that you will deliver the baby early, which could lead to infection. BV also increases your chance of miscarriage. It is also very important, should you need a c-section that you do not have BV, which could lead to infection. Either way, you should ask your OB to test you to make sure that you do not have BV.

If you have had an abortion or hysterectomy scheduled, you should be tested prior to the procedure to be certain that you are not suffering from BV. Women that have pelvic procedures such as a hysterectomies, or abortions are far more likely to develop a pelvic infection should they have BV.

Living inside the vagina are millions of bacteria and any number of them can cause an abnormal discharge or odor. if you think you may have bacterial vaginosis you need to visit your doctor to get checked out properly and they will provide a treatment plan for you.

Find out more about and see if you have any of the classic Bacterial Vaginosis Symptoms

Hair sun protection is vitally important and nearly always overlooked. If you are like most, you look forward to summer all year. However, your hair is probably not so excited. You probably love the warm glow that your hair gets from the sun each summer, but beach bunny blonde is hard on the hair. Hair that starts out summer with natural, sunny highlights can easily end in stiff, straw-like, dried out disaster if you do not take proper steps to protect your hair while you are enjoying yourself at the pool or the beach.

Here are some great tips for effective hair sun protection:

* Be careful and moisturize - Ocean salt and pool chemicals are very destructive when it comes to your hair. The best hair sun protection is to constantly moisturize. Like your skin, your hair needs lots of moisturizing to help it resist damage. Smooth in a leave-in conditioner or spray on a mixture of conditioner and water each time you leave the water.

* Keep watch for Octyl Methyoxycinnamate - Generally long chemical names are not what you want for your hair. In this case though, octyl methyoxycinnamate indicates serious SPF power. Also you can look for antioxidant vitamins A, E and C to defend hair from free radicals. Free radicals are highly charged molecules that can harm cells.

* Go Under Cover - A physical barrier between your hair and the sun is the most surefire way to get hair sun protection. Fix a scarf over your head for a classically glamorous and fully protected look. This is particularly important between 10 AM and 3 PM when the sun is strongest.

* Use the Right “Do” - A bun or pony tail protects the majority of your hair during unexpected sun exposure. Use a dollop of sunscreen to finish off your quick and convenient beach look.

Avoid damaged locks by protecting your hair. Good hair sun protection will help you get your tresses through the summer fun and into fall.

This article was originally featured on http://www.BeautyCtr.com and was republished here by request.

My husband will be celebrating a milestone birthday soon.  I would like to commemorate this momentous event by having a surprise birthday party for him. A quiet, reserved man, he certainly would not enjoy a large “todo.” The guest list will stay limited…our immediate family members and a few of our dearest friends.  Because my birthday boy has everything he could possibly need and since he would be extremely uncomfortable by opening presents, I have asked everyone to bring a funny card for him and, if they wish, to make a donation to their favorite charity in honor of him.

I plan to host this surprise birthday party at our home.  We have a spacious back yard which is well suited to entertaining.  There is plenty of room for our parents and brothers and sisters to sit comfortably on the patio, as well as a nice lawn for the younger children to cavort. Decorations will consist of strings of brightly colored patio lights, which will also light up the area nicely.  Easy-listening music will be heard via speakers from our outdoor CD player to create an ambience of serenity.

In the past, finding suitable birthday refreshments has been a challenge because my husband is not a lover of cake.  I have substituted with various treats like pudding cups, chocolate chip cookies, and candy bars.  Since this birthday has such significance, I have chosen a decadent turtle cheesecake to take the place of the traditional birthday cake.  The crunchy, salted pecans and rich chocolate and caramel swirls which drizzle over the creamy cheesecake will be a treat my husband will find scrumptious.  It’s a delicious alternative that will satisfy all of our guests’ cravings.

Flash forward:  With all of the planning of this surprise birthday party accomplished, the day of this celebration finally arrived.  Mother Nature provided a gorgeous evening.  Our parents, siblings, children and friends were in our back yard, waiting to shout the customary “Surprise!”, as I led my husband outdoors to enjoy the delightful weather.  Cards were opened, read, laughed at, and passed around for all to enjoy.  “Happy Birthday” was sung as I presented the turtle cheesecake, complete with a few lit candles, to my husband.  As I predicted, my husband and our party guests thoroughly enjoyed this birthday cake substitute.

It was an evening of quiet, comfortable pleasure; full of stimulating conversation, light-hearted jokes, and treasured fellowship of close friends and family…exactly the kind of celebration that my husband appreciates.

When the party was finished and everyone had gone, my thoughtful husband thanked me profusely for having the kind of party he truly appreciated.  I asked him if he had any suspicion about this surprise.  He replied, “I kind of suspected something was going to happen”.  At least the exceptional turtle cheesecake was a surprise!