Does Being On Medifast Make You Tired Or Sluggish?

I sometimes hear from people who are concerned about certain things that they hear about the Medifast diet. Often, they are interested in the diet but they are concerned about the perceived side effects. One example is that of sleepiness or fatigue. I heard from someone who said: "I have a dear friend who has had a lot of success on Medifast. I am interested in going on it myself, but I am concerned about fatigue. When my friend first went on the diet, she was sleepy and tired for the first week or so. This is a big concern of mine because I have a very stressful job that requires for me to have a lot of energy. Will I be sleepy or tired of Medifast?"

It's nearly impossible for me to predict what someone's experience might be. I have heard many variations on different people's experiences. I have heard some people say that they were initially a little more tired. And I have heard some say that they actually felt more energy. There are many theories about why this happens, but here is mine.

First all of, you have to understand that when you use this diet as designed, your body should eventually go into a metabolic state called ketosis in which your body is burning its own fat. When this happens, your body is working very hard. That might be why they suggest not exercising or at least taking it easy for the first few weeks. Your body is already laboring and may not be used to this process. That's why I think that some feel fatigue, because their body is working harder than usual. However, some people report feeling extra energy as well as a lack of cravings when they hit ketosis. Again, there are a range of possible responses.

I also think that some people report having more energy on this diet is because many of the foods are lactose and gluten free and are extremely easy to digest. For people who have had digestive issues, this can make them feel much better and have much more energy since their body hasn't had to labor through digestion. Along that same line of thinking, many people go from eating three main meals to eating six smaller meals on the diet. This too can make digestion much easier.

On the flip side, some find that they have less energy from taking in fewer calories. However, since you should be eating every few hours, this becomes less of a problem because of the frequency. But to answer the question posed, it's possible that you could feel less energy when first starting the diet. But it's possible that you could feel more energetic also. Whatever you experience, most people only need to adjust for the first week or so. After that, you get used to the diet and find that you experience what is your new normal.

Wellness Benefits of Visiting a Spa

There are countless types of spa options, all of which specialize in one homeopathic remedy or another, but each one has the same general purpose and goal: to heal and relax your mind and body. The services offered at the spas provide an affordable method to distress and unwind, as opposed to booking a flight to a tropical island somewhere and sipping margaritas for a week.

A therapeutic massage at your local spa is a perfect way to relieve stress and tension. Therapeutic massages have been known to help increase your physical and emotional state. By encouraging relaxation and improving overall circulation, your body begins to increase the blood flow throughout and reduces blood pressure. Relaxing muscles and improving flexibility, as well as range of motion is another key benefit to receiving a therapeutic massage.

A pedicure and foot massage actually has many health benefits as well, since your feet carry the 'weight of the world' each day. Maintaining the health of your feet is as essential as maintaining the health throughout the rest of your body. Request an exfoliating foot massage during your next visit to remove all the dead skin cells and encourage the regrowth of cells, which will create smooth skin. The massage given with special oils and lotions during a foot massage will relieve pain and increase the circulation within the feet and calves.

A detox service at your local place will rid your body of excess fluids and toxins within your body that are harmful and cause an increase in cellulite. Most offer several options for body detoxification, from colonic detox therapy to body wraps. Internal detoxifying also alleviates back pain, skin issues, bad breath, fatigue, bloating, and gas. The goal with any detox service is to bring balance to your entire body, both internally and externally. Taking care of your body internally will promote better health externally.

Most of them offer Yoga and Pilates to members at a discounted rate, to promote wellness and healing. Yoga and Pilates not only increase your body's flexibility, but strengthen your respiratory system which will allow you to breathe better and flow more oxygen to your brain, even during the most stressful situations. These solemn poses and stretches will free your body and mind of the chaos and stress that you are suffering from and increase your ability and sleep performance.

While most people see a visit to the spa as a frivolous and costly luxury, the health benefits that they offer clients greatly out weight the price tag associated with the services. Your mind and body are connected in many ways, one of the easiest ways to care for both at once is to invite your girlfriends to one of the locals spas for a therapeutic pamper party.

Best Home Treadmill - Things To Consider Before Buying a Treadmill

In case you prefer to spend your cash in a cardio workout machine than a gym membership, purchasing a treadmill is certainly a clever choice. The treadmill in your home offers immediate access and convenience. In case you are wanting to purchase a treadmill, there are a variety of things of which you must be informed. Listed below is a list of considerations to aid you in making the right buying decision.

Cushioning is a shock-absorbent layer under the belt created to minimize the impact of your feet on the device. A proper cushioning on a treadmill helps secure the ligaments, joints and the spine while working out. A bad cushioning could cause an injury and discomfort. Individuals have had significant injuries after using ill-cushioned treadmills; some even find it hard to walk on it. Excellent cushioning is specifically crucial for prolonged workouts, such as running 5k on a treadmill. Rubber is one of the most common material used in treadmill cushioning systems, and that's good, due to the fact that it's what you want to have. The best treadmill for running would use rubber elastomers, that are placed between the deck and the frame at different areas.

An important aspect of any kind of motorized treadmill is the hp rating of its motor. A more powerful motor can deal with bigger, heavier individuals, and a treadmill with a wimpy motor will not survive as long as one with a larger motor. Most treadmill motors vary from 1.5 HP to 3.0 HP with the more economical treadmills offering lower power motors that simply will not last. Treadmill producers use 2 types of motor ratings: some list horsepower (HP) and others list continuous horsepower (CHP). You ought to look for the continuous duty rating. Some producers unfairly blow up ratings by pointing out peak horsepower-generally a greater number and not appropriate for joggers, who require continuous power for their treadmills. A good entry-level model will certainly have at the very least 1.5 horsepower continuous duty. If you run a lot on your treadmill you might wish to obtain a 2.5 HP motor.

The treadmill belt dimension is an important component in your treadmill. Belts could be single ply or 2 ply. Look for a 2 ply surface belt with a minimum width of 17 ins. You will discover belt and deck lengths from around 45 inches to over 60 inches. In case you are a jogger, get a running or belt surface length of 60 ins as a minimum. In case you only wish to walk on your treadmill look for a minimum belt surface length of 48 ins. The longer and wider a running belt is, the more comfy and positive you will feel on the treadmill.

Before you fall in love with a treadmill and its components, you need to first fall in love with the warranty. The best home treadmill generally covers about 30 years for the structure, a minimum of 5 years for the motor and about a year for other components and labor. The longer the duration of the warranty, the better is the quality.

With all of the attributes available on the market now, selecting a treadmill may be a difficult experience. Now that you have these suggestions you can begin shopping with assurance and find the best home treadmill.

All-Or-Nothing? No Way

Are you finally ready to lose weight; for good? Well then, it's time to ditch the diet mentality once and for all, and make a genuine lifestyle shift. In other words, lose weight in a way that is sustainable rather than extreme and unrealistic like most diets. The key is to find a balance in eating and exercise that you can keep up for the rest of your life.

Powerful Weight Loss Tip...

Ditch the diet and strive for balance.

Use these tips to achieve your personal best weight and stay there for good.

• If you eat it, you own it. Whether you write it down in a journal or use an app like 'My Fitness Pal', keep a record of what you are eating and how you are feeling. Not only will this give you a way to keep your eating in perspective, it will help you stay focused and in touch with what, where, when, and why you eat.

• Take a 'no-guilt' approach. Look at the big picture. Having a set-back once in a while is not going to make or break your overall healthy eating and weight goals. The sooner you realize that the big piece of cake you ate today was only a small part of your overall week, the sooner you will be okay with it and move forward.

• Stand in your power. Labeling food as 'good' or 'bad' gives it too much power. Remember that the food is not in control, you are. Choosing not to eat something rather than telling yourself you can't have it because it's a forbidden food, puts you in the driver's seat where you belong.

• Keep moderation in mind. No matter what you are eating, you need to be mindful of portions. This is especially important if you are having something that is a special treat. If you want it, have it; but pay attention so you end up feeling satisfied rather than guilty.

• See the bigger picture. Healthy eating and exercise is part of your life, but it's not your entire life. Keep your desire to be healthy and fit in perspective.

• Nourish yourself throughout the day. Establish a regular eating pattern to help regulate your blood sugar and appetite. And then if you decide to have some ice cream, you're more likely to stick to one serving rather than going overboard.

• Plan for indulgence. When you are in the mood to indulge, think it through beforehand. A spontaneous indulgence can easily turn into a pity party after you eat too much of something you didn't really want or even enjoy.

• Know your triggers. Be honest about what leads you to overeat. If you need help dealing with your emotions, seek it out. Until you do, managing your weight may always be a struggle.

The most important aspect of achieving your personal best weight is to establish a healthy relationship with food. There is no right or wrong way to go about this. It's very personal and there are as many ways to do it as there are people. Your task is to create balance and find an eating style that feels nourishing to you. Yes - you can enjoy all the foods you love, lose weight and get healthy.

Should You Try Exposed Skin Care? Is It Worth the Price?

Exposed Skin Care - Quality Product or a WASTE OF MONEY?

At this point, most of us have read many of the Exposed skin care reviews. In fact, they were part of the reason why I decided to buy and try the product line -- well, that and the fact that I suffer from a fairly significant acne problem.

It started in my first few years of high school and has plagued me for years. I hate taking pictures, meeting guys is a nerve wracking experience and makeup just doesn't do enough.

So like most of you, I've tried most of the acne products out there. Most recently I tried the Exposed skin care line. And now I know what most of you are wondering: exactly what Exposed skin care is like and whether or not it lives up to its claims of being one of the best acne products out there today.

The Product

For those of you who aren't familiar with Exposed skin care, it's a line that has been around for a little over a year. It comes with 9 of what they claim are the best acne products, period.

In fact, Exposed promises to clear your skin in 30 days as part of their one-year money-back guarantee.

The trouble is, we've all heard these promises from "best acne products" before. And often those products don't work very well. Or, they work for a while and then stop. These false promises really shake your faith in acne products in general.

But that's not what I found with Exposed. In fact, most of the positive Exposed reviews are true. I tried the Ultimate 90-day skin-care kit. I've now been using Exposed for well over 90 days, people comment on how clear my skin is now and I've already ordered my second 9-piece kit. It really is one of the best acne products on the market.

And now I'm here to add to the other skin care reviews and give you the skinny on how the product line works. Not every Exposed skin care kit comes with all 9 pieces.

There's a 60-day 5 piece kit and a 60-day 6 piece kit. Plus you have the option to just buy the products one at a time if you're still skittish about jumping in feet first. So I'll give you a quick run-down of my experience with the products in my kit and you can make your decision from there.

The Facial Cleanser and The Microderm Scrub

In the morning and evening, I washed my face with the facial cleanser. It is designed to take all of the dirt, oil and bacteria off of your face. But for me, it did much more than that: it balanced my skin out.

Many acne-fighting facial cleansers dried my skin out. First, my dry skin would be shiny making my acne look redder and more noticeable than before. Then my skin would overproduce oil and break out even more than before.

But the facial cleanser returned my skin's moisture levels to where they are supposed to be. After a week or so of using the product, my skin was soft and supple. The redness and inflammation subsided.

Even if you don't buy the rest of the line, I highly recommend this face wash. I don't think I'll never use another face wash again.

The Exposed line also has a Microderm Scrub. I wasn't really a fan of this. I've never thought scrubs were the best acne products. They irritate my face, especially my existing pimples.

Some of the Exposed skin care reviews I read raved about this product but I disagree. If you use this at all, I would wait until the other Exposed products clear up your face. Otherwise you may find the scrub uncomfortable.

The Derm-X Cloth

This is probably one of the best acne products in the line. It's a rough cloth that acts like a scrubbing face wash but gentler. And it actually lifts black and white heads off of your skin as you scrub.

It's such a great exfoliation tool that my sister stole my first one and I had to order a second.

The Clearing Tonic and the Acne Treatment Serum

These two products are designed to be used together and they are where the real acne treatment begins. The clearing tonic goes on first, right after you wash. While the facial cleanser softens and balances your skin, the Clearing Tonic removes the excess oil and dead skin cells that clog your pores and make you break out.

The best part about the clearing tonic is that you can actually feel it working right after you put it on your face. It's a cool, fresh feeling that I look forward to every morning.

Next the Acne Treatment Serum goes on. It's a benzoyl peroxide solution that is designed to kill the acne-causing bacteria on your face.

I didn't read about this in the other product reviews but to be honest, the Acne Treatment Serum tingles just a little. If you've ever used any benzoyl peroxide product on your skin -- even from some of the best acne products available only at dermatologist offices -- then you know that that's just a part of the experience.

But unlike other serums, the Exposed Acne Treatment Serum contains a mix of other ingredients that soothe your skin. So you won't get any of the irritation or tightness that you find with other products like this.

The Clear Pore Serum

I like to call this stuff my secret weapon. Is it just me or does most acne strike overnight? For so long I dreaded that first morning look in the mirror. It was always right before school or before a date that night. And finding a new pimple or that red, swollen skin that means a big one is coming later could make the rest of the day really terrible.

If you've ever had that happen to you, you've got to get the clear pore serum. You simply rub it in before you go to bed at night. And then, while you're sleeping, it fights the bacteria and oil that leads to morning pimples.

I haven't had a nasty morning surprise since I started using it. And this is another great product that you could really just buy on its own to use with your other regimen.

The Moisture Complex

If you're going to use the Exposed skin care line, you really need the Moisture Complex. When used together, the products in this line do dry your skin out. It's kind of a drawback. But honestly, I haven't used a product that doesn't dry you skin out at least a little bit.

If you feel dry and tight or you feel like your skin might flake, just put on the moisture complex. It won't make your skin oily and it will prevent the irritation that could lead to redness and breakouts. And if you use it regularly, it really helps to permanently balance out the moisture level in your skin.

The Clarifying Mask

This is sort of the emergency treatment contingency plan in the Exposed skin care line. You put it on when there's a flare up. It's pretty heavy duty stuff. Also, it doesn't smell great. But if you feel a breakout coming on or you need to battle existing pimples, it's a great treatment.

The Probiotic Complex

The best acne fighting systems that I've tried all have some sort of supplement that helps balance your skin from the inside out. I'm not 100% sure what the probiotic complex does but my acne is finally gone so I'm not going to stop taking it anytime soon.

Review Summary

What I like about the Exposed skin care system is that I feel like they care about the quality of my skin, not just burning or drying the acne away and leaving me with irritated itchy skin.

Bottom line? The Exposed is well worth it. This is a great product.

Here's How Medical Spas Can Help You Lose Weight

The snow has melted, and the sun and heat are here! That means it's time to shed the winter weight and start looking amazing before you hit the beach - and luckily, medical spas offer numerous options to help you trim some weight in the nick of time.

These treatments include body shaping, zerona lasers, or individual medical guidance on diets that fit your lifestyle and weight loss goals. Indeed, if you just want to shave a few pounds for the summer, or if you're looking to start a journey to a healthier life, medical spas have something to offer you. This article will explore some of the most popular non-invasive weight loss options to help you make the right choice.

New Body Shaping Innovations: A Quick Way to Shape Up

TruSculpt Body Shaping is an incredible new technique that you'll find at top-notch medical spas in major cities. This non-invasive procedure targets cellulite in and around your thigh, buttocks and stomach. It's ideal for addressing specific areas, and uses radio frequency pulses to break down and remove fat cells, as well as shift cellulite to reshape desired areas.

Just as importantly, TruSculpt Body Shaping is safe, largely painless, can be performed on-site at reputable medical spas, and requires no anesthesia. It's also incredibly quick, which means that can have it done during your lunch break and then head back to work! It's a great way to shape up quickly, without rearranging your life. Results generally appear within 1 to 3 months, so get started early!

The Zerona Laser Treatment For Fast Results

With results visible in just a matter of weeks, the Zerona Laser has become one of the most popular non-invasive weight loss methods available at medical spas. It uses specially calibrated light energy to safely penetrate outer layers of skin and target cells with excess fat. The fat is then emulsified, and leaves the cell to be reabsorbed by the body. This allows you to target fat cells in a specific area, leading to body shaping effects -- in addition, of course, to shaving inches off where it counts. Typically, you can expect a treatment every 2 days, for a total of about 9-12 treatments. If you're in a hurry to slim down for summer, then definitely consider this treatment, which is available at top medical spas.

A Healthy Lifestyle is the Best Way to Stay Lean

Treatments like TruSculpt Body Shaping and the Zerona Laser are great ways to slim down and look great, but you also need to lead a healthy lifestyle in order to maintain the results. Fortunately, top medical spas can get you started on the road to feeling and looking great via personalized weight loss strategies. These are a great to compliment your treatment, to make sure that old eating habits don't creep up.

Plus, leading medical spas across Canada offer comprehensive services for patients, which include a full medical checkup by a doctor trained in Bariatric medicine. This includes going over your specific needs, taking into account your health history, medical conditions, dietary restrictions, and so on. From there, you'll receive a personalized action plan that includes medical treatment options, lifestyle suggestions, and personalized diet plans to help you achieve your goal.

Facts About Acne in Skin of Color

It's finally time to discover some facts about acne and it's affects on skin of color. With all the misunderstandings about acne as a whole, it is important to understand how and why we get acne pimples in order to more effectively address this very common skin condition.

Contrary to popular belief, most acne causes are not the result of eating chocolate, fried foods or anything like that, so relax. However, more so than not, the acne break outs can also have a lot to do with and may be the result of an internal culprit called hormone imbalance. This can be the result of a congested liver.

No one's immune to this condition. Men, as well as women can experience hormone imbalance. If the liver functioned to it's full potential, hormone levels would become more balanced and acne break outs would be less of a problem. This will be discussed later in an upcoming article.

Now externally in many skin types, including skin of color, the most common causes of acne are:

• Excessively oily skin
• Skin inflammation and irritation
• Bacteria
• Dead skin cell build up

Facts about acne: An overview of the causes

1. Excessive oiliness

The sebaceous gland within the skin produces a natural material called sebum (oil). Sebum is what provides our skin and hair natural and necessary moisture. This is a good thing. However, too much oil is what you don't want.

When the oil gets trapped inside the pore due to inadequate shedding of dead skin cells, the sebum or oil then fills the pore and mixes together with the dead skin cells. This causes bacterial infection and inflammation, resulting in acne bumps.

2. Skin inflammation and irritation

We have a tendency to over stimulate and irritate our skin by using harsh skin care products. This activity can contribute to break outs which are only one (although very common) of many acne causes.

Also, we sometimes over cleanse our faces in an effort to rid our complexions of oily shine, and dirt. You may not believe it, but dirt is not the culprit either. However, it doesn't hurt to maintain a clean pallet.

More than likely, many of us with acne break outs have clean skin because we over cleanse thinking this is going help. In actuality, this doesn't. Over cleansing or harsh scrubbing only makes matters worse by causing unnecessary skin irritation which usually results in acne break outs.

This is your skin's natural response to inflammation and irritation. This can be a common acne cause. Skin of color is highly reactive (negatively responsive) to irritation. Unfortunately in darker skin types, acne often leads to dark spots, because it imposes irritation to our skin. This is due to the hypersensitive nature of our skin.

This is the same thing that occurs when your skin becomes injured, or inflamed and responds to this irritation by producing more increased levels of melanin to cause dark spots and other skin discoloration. Only this time, your skin is breaking out in acne bumps as a result.

Remember, all irritation is not painful. Even if you don't feel your skin is irritated, it may very well be. In this case, instead of signaling you of it's irritation through pain, it's signaling you of it's irritation by forming acne bumps on your skin's surface.

3. Bacteria

Bacteria is formed when the pores get filled with oil and is not able to be released, due to the presence of dead skin cells that haven't been shed from the skin's surface. Dead skin cells block the pores so that the oil cannot escape.

The oil then builds up within the pores, mixing with skin cells, causing the formation of bacteria. The skin becomes inflammed and soon after, acne break outs begin.

4. Dead skin cell build up

Another external cause of acne break outs, are the blockage of skin pores by the build-up of dead skin cells. Your skin's cell turnover occurs approximately every 28 days (give or take a day or two).

What this process does is help your skin to do it's job of bringing fresh, new, healthy skin cells to the surface. Also, when dead skin cells are removed from the skin's surface, sebum or oil build up is minimized, resulting in less acne break outs.

But first, you must exfoliate your skin for this to occur. To exfoliate, means you're starting down the path toward clear, acne-free skin. Exfoliation or removal of dead skin cells is the second most important skin care step after sun protection.

Easy Busy Mom's Playground Workout

Mom's live a hectic life. And most have made great sacrifices for their families including their own health and wellness. But moms want to look great, feel good, have energy and of course, keep up with the kids without feeling old and worn out. And it is those moms that find gym time, or a dedicated workout hour next to impossible. But what about a playground workout? Why can't mom get a workout while the kids do?

Recently a client expressed this very concern. With 5 kids, it was proving a big challenge to carve out that dedicated time for herself and do the workout program she had committed to performing. So we were looking for solutions and I love taking a problem, finding an answer and implementing it quickly for positive change. As we chatted, she mentioned that she takes the kids to the playground frequently during the week. Problem revealed, solution found!

The lights were on in the house... why not create a list of playground workout exercises she could do with the kids or while they played at any playground? So, I put my thinking cap on and came up with a list of some movements that I want to share with you today.

They are nothing extraordinary. Nothing profoundly unique or special. And there are many more to consider. But this list will get any busy mom started on the road to a healthy body. They are effective and fun. And when done consistently, just like keeping the kids active, they will transform you!

Hop Scotch

Run Skips Sprints

High Knees

Jog Sprints

Squats- Narrow Stance, or Sumo-Wide Stance

Bench Step Ups

Walking Lunges

Swing Pushups

Jack Squats

Hip Bridges

Sliders

Facing the base of a smooth-surfaced slide, place your hands on the sides of the slide (be careful of sharp metal edges on old-school models) and assume a pushup position. Walk your hands up the slide, with your feet following and without bending your knees, so you are shuffling up the slide (not climbing). Once you get to the top, reverse the movement. Repeat for 60 seconds. Make it harder by walking up the slide backwards so your upper body is now working harder against gravity.

Swing Mountain Climbers

Rope Waves

Take the list, mix and match, be inspired and create yourself some awesome, effective, fun, energetic playground workout activities that you can do alongside the kids.

You know my motto... NO EXCUSES, Just Do It! Kids included. Don't let your kids and your rightful dedication to them be your excuse o be overweight and out of shape. You don't have to be. They don't want you to be.

Take these playground workout activities and perform them in the local park or in your own backyard for that matter while the kids run around like spinning tops having the time of their lives. They laugh, you'll life. Everyone will get some sun and fresh air.

Come on busy moms! NO EXCUSES. Get out there with your playground workout plan and change your body and your life. And guess what you'll do in addition? You'll teach your kids a powerful lesson of personal responsibility for their health and well being! How can it get any better for you and the family than that?