sexiest figure

Breakfast may indeed be the most important meal of the day -- as long as that meal is not a doughnut -- a study suggests.

Using data from a national health survey of U.S. adults, researchers found that people who ate lower-calorie foods for breakfast tended to have a higher-quality diet overall.

Furthermore, men who ate a healthy breakfast generally weighed less. Among women, breakfast eaters -- regardless of the food involved -- tended to weigh less than those who skipped the morning meal.

The findings, reported in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, give some support to past studies finding that breakfast eaters are less likely to be overweight -- and that eating a high-quality breakfast, rather than grabbing a pastry, is the key.

Research has shown, for example, that people who eat a bowl of cereal for breakfast have a lower average weight than either those who skip breakfast or those who sit down to a plate of steak and eggs.

What's "unique" about the current study is that it suggests that breakfast foods low in "energy density" -- low in calories for a given amount of food -- "appear to predict better food choices for the rest of the day and may help with better management of body weight," Dr. James Rippe, one of the researchers on the work, said in a written statement.

Fruits, vegetables and high-fiber whole grains, for example, are low in energy density, while confections like Danish pastries and doughnuts have a high energy density.

The current findings underscore the importance of choosing low-energy- density options for breakfast, according to Rippe, a cardiologist with the Rippe Lifestyle Institute in Shrewsbury, Massachusetts.

The Rippe organization manages the Breakfast Research Institute, an industry-sponsored group that funds health and nutrition research. The BRI financed the current study.

The findings are based on responses from more than 12,000 U.S. adults who took part in three federal health surveys between 1999 and 2004.

Overall, people who reported eating a low-energy-density breakfast in the past day were more likely than their counterparts to choose lower-calorie foods for the rest of the day as well. As a group, they also had a higher-quality diet -- eating a wider variety of foods and more vitamins and minerals.

Among men, those who ate a breakfast low in energy density tended to weigh less, even with factors like exercise and income considered. For women, any type of breakfast was related to a lower likelihood of obesity -- though the calorie density of other meals did seem to be important.

More research is needed to confirm those particular findings, Rippe's team notes. For now, they suggest that men should be encouraged to eat a breakfast low in energy density, whereas women should eat breakfast but also focus on choosing low-energy-density foods throughout the day.

source: American Journal of Clinical Nutrition

When you get that perfect new mini skirt or little black dress, the whole outfit is ruined by hairy legs. Do you want to shave your legs and get them as smooth and silky as possible? Follow these tips for super smooth, sexy, sleek legs that will have the opposite gender gawking at you.

Steps

1. Make sure the shower (or bath) is warm to open pores, which will give you a closer shave.

2. Use shaving gel to get a closer and smoother shave. Squirt a nice, plump dallop into your hand and lather up on your legs as if it were shampoo. It should create a nice thick cream, like a second skin.

3. Use a loofa and run water over it to get a closer shave by removing the dead skin cells. Once you have massaged in the exfoliation cream, use the loofa to wipe off any remaining residue.

4. Use a good razor to shave your legs, making sure you do it carefully so that you don't cut yourself. Shave up your legs, not down your legs.

5. Rinse your legs with cold water to close the pores, pat them dry with a warm towel.

6. Put on some moisturizer and massage it in well.

Tips

* Be careful around ankles and knees. These areas are uneven and difficult to shave. You may want to use cream for these areas.
* If you don't have a shaving foam, use conditioner. It works just as well!
* Take your time, don't rush, or you could end up making a very bad job of it.
* If you do nick yourself while shaving, try dabbing on some antiseptic cream or lotion to help heal the cut faster.
* There are other methods of hair removal: waxing (it hurts a lot at first, but you will get used to it), using hair removal creams (there is a myth that all hair removal creams smell, but there are nice smelling creams out there!), and bleaching the hair on your legs. For first timers, try shaving, but since there are down-sides to shaving such as re-growth and stubbles, you may want to consider getting them waxed. Gather up your courage and get an appointment today - you won't regret it! You'll have silky smooth legs that last for four months! No more messing around with razors in the shower!
* Try not shaving your legs for 2 weeks; it will be smoother when you shave.
* Make sure your exfoliation lotion has solid beads in it, bursting beads and moisture beads won't really work.
* If you're not that good with shaving your knees and you nick yourself a lot, try using something like nair so it will be smooth and nick-free and will not have as bad stubble!
* If you have pretty dry legs you NEED to moisturize otherwise when the hair starts to grow back it will feel rough and unpleasant.

Warnings

* A sharp, newer razor works best. Don't use a blunt or rusty razor. Dull razors require more pressure, which causes a more likely chance of cutting.
* Don't shave when your legs are dry! It is extremely bad for your skin and will create more scrapes if you don't use soap or shaving cream.
* Be careful using hair-removal creams. Half of the ingredients of Nair and other hair removal products are there to repair the skin damage that the hair removal agent caused in the first place.

When you take in more calories than you burn off, you gain weight. How you eat, how active you are, and other things affect how your body uses calories and whether you gain weight.

If your family members are obese, you may have inherited a tendency to gain weight. And your family also helps form your eating and lifestyle habits, which can lead to obesity.

Also, our busy lives make it harder to plan and cook healthy meals. For many of us, it's easier to reach for prepared foods, go out to eat, or go to the drive-through. But these foods are often high in fat and calories. Portions are often too large. Work schedules, long commutes, and other commitments also cut into the time we have for physical activity.

There is no quick fix to being overweight. To lose weight, you must burn more calories than you take in.

Miss Russia has been crowned Miss World 2008 at a glittering ceremony in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Miss India Parvathy Omanakuttan has finished as the first runner up. Miss Trinidad and Tobago is the second runner-up.

Among the other five finalists are Ms Angola, Ms Trinidad and Tobago, Ms Russia and Ms South Africa.

The final round was being held in Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg and the country was said to be expecting one billion-strong TV audience for the event aired on Zee Cafe

Exuding charm in her white gown, Parvathy cat-walked confidently on the stage to answer her question in the final round. She was asked what being in South Africa meant for her. To this she compared the "similarity in the cultures" of India and South Africa and thanked the locals for their hospitality. She also compared legends Nelson Mandela and Mahatma Gandhi and how inextricably linked the two countries' fates have been.

Earlier, a collective cheer went up in the audience when Paravathy’s name was announced at the end of a 15-name long list of semi finalists.

Other semi-finalists included Ms Trinidad and Tobago, Ms US, Ms Guatemala, Ms Venezuela, Ms Ukraine, Ms Croatia, Ms Brazil, Ms Angola, Ms Kazakhstan, Ms Puerto Rico, Ms Spain, Ms Russia and Ms South Africa.

Who is Parvathy?

Twenty-one-year-old Parvathy stands tall at 5 feet 9 inches and hails from Kerala.

Two days before the final round, she appeared sure of her victory and said she was confident of carrying forward the legacy of India’s glamour queens Reita Faria (1966), Aishwarya Rai-Bachchan (1994), Priyanka Chopra (2000), Diana Hayden (1997) and Yukta Mookhey (1999).

"I am very much confident about my victory. Femina Miss India World is not merely a crown of joy for me. With the crown, the responsibility of upholding the name of the country has also fallen on my shoulders," she said in a statement.

Asked on December 11, about her preparations for the pageant, Parvathy said, "Preparations have started ever since I won the Femina Miss India contest in April this year. Apart from just concentrating on my appearance, I am trying to be a stronger person to face the contest." "I'll try my level best to make every Indian all over the world proud," Parvathy said.

Born on July 23, this Cancerian charmer's "never say die" attitude has helped her conquer one beauty pageant after another- be it the Navy Queen contest held in connection with the annual Navy Ball or Femina Miss India, South held in Hyderabad last year.

Today's lifestyle is super hectic for everyone! You have the kids, the spouse, work, bills... The list just never really stops. Here are a few smart lifestyle changes that can help you charge your batteries back up and make it through the day!

* determination to change your current habits

Step1
The first thing your body needs in order to recharge is sleep. Small steps you can take to make sure you get enough sleep include setting a relaxing routine for bedtime. Make sure you go to bed and get up at the same time every day (even on weekends). Make sure you finish eating two to three hours before bedtime for a more restful sleep. Keeping your body on a set routine decreases the amount of energy you waste when your body is required to adjust to "schedule" changes.

Step2
Eat for energy, not just to eat. Be sure to eat breakfast every day to start yourself off with an energy source. Drink plenty of water to transport the nutrients throughout your body. Eat lean protein with each meal to help keep blood sugar levels stable and prolong the feeling of being satisfied with your meal. Eat slowly to give your body time to feel full. Overeating will increase your fatigue.

Step3
Get moving! Exercise, even just ten minutes, eases pent up stress, relieves muscle tension, sends oxygenated blood to the brain and boosts the efficiency of your heart and lungs. It's best to try for thirty or more minutes, but even just ten minutes is better than none at all.

Step4
Incorporate these simple lifestyle changes into your life and, within days, you'll start feeling much more energized and feel much healthier!

You can make a daily highlighting shampoo by simply adding 6 tablespoons of fresh squeezed Lemon Juice to 1 cup of your regular shampoo and mix well. Depending on the length of your hair and how much shampoo you use within a 2-3 day period, you may want to half this recipe. It also helps to extend the life of the shampoo to store it in the refrigerator.

Reason? All the hunks of Bollywood — Salman Khan, Sanjay Dutt, Suniel Shetty, Ajay Devgan, Ranbir Kapoor — will be steering their wheels towards their fave hairstylist Aalim’s new salon that opens up on that day.

The celebrity hairstylist already runs a salon in Bandra but his hi-fi clients find the drive too long. So, by popular demand, Aalim decided to open one in Versova, where most of the stars live. Another of his clients Abhishek Bachchan won’t be there for the opening but that’s not an issue at all, as Aalim will be flying to the south where the actor is shooting for Raavana, style his hair and fly back for the opening of his salon. It’s so much more easier for these hunks to let their hair down now, isn’t it?

PS: Aalim’s father Hakim used to style Amitabh Bachchan’s hair. His look in films like Don, Kabhi Kabhi, Natwarlal was done by Hakim and now Aalim continues to style Abhishek Bachchan. It’s ‘hair’editary!

Being sexy is often perceived to be a key essence of femininity. And, now a new study has found that women feel most sexy at the age of 34.

Researchers have based their findings on a survey of over 1,000 women who were questioned about their sex lives - the majority of respondents said that it was at the age of 34 when they had felt more sexy.

The survey also revealed that middle-aged women have half as much sex as they did when they were younger - in fact the researchers found that that on average women aged 45 to 60 have sex 4.5 times a month, compared to 10.4 times a month in their 20s and 30s. However, 56% of the respondents said they enjoyed it now more than they did when they were younger, British newspaper the Daily Telegraph reported.

Sex and relationship advisor Dr Catherine Hood said: “Many of us make the assumption that older people have less sex than the young, and this research appears to confirm this.

However, it does show that women are still enjoying great sex lives as they get older.

“Women’s sexual needs, libido and lifestyle change over time, but there is absolutely no reason why older women can’t enjoy an extremely fulfiling sex life in their middle age and well into their senior years.

“The fact that over half of those quizzed said they had better sex now than in their 20s and 30s suggests that these women are more confident and self-assured than they were in their younger days and aren’t afraid of getting what they want.”

The research commissioned by moisturiser brand Astral questioned 1,031 women about their sex lives.

Thousands of years ago, a man sat with his eyes closed, deep in meditation, yet aware of the connection between all beings. When he opened his eyes, he noticed a beautiful, strong tree. But instead of breaking the meditative state and experiencing the tree as "over there," he had a shift in perception.

He saw, for the first time, that there was no separation between himself and the tree. They were made of the same molecules, they breathed the same air, and they could not live without one another -- they actually were the same being in different physical forms.

The man spontaneously stood up, balanced on one leg, and shot his arms into the air in a passionate expression of the bhav (feeling) of the tree. He had channeled his tree-ness, and was so overtaken with compassionate feeling that he couldn’t help but spring into the pose to experience being the tree: "I know how it feels to be you, it feels like this..." This was the beginning of hatha yoga.

Beyond words, yoga is the experience of union that we once thought was outside ourselves. The yogis pictured here went on a personal journey within to channel their own nature of asana. And because the focus of this issue is on our environment, we especially wanted to explore yoga’s connection to nature.

Women prefer males with deep voices because it signals strength, dominance and good genes, a new research suggests.

The research among African hunter-gatherers found that men with deeper voices attract women more than those with squeaky ones when they are at their most fertile. Deeper-voiced men are deemed better hunters who offer more protection, the study claimed.

According to the study, women who were nursing a child prefer higher-pitched male voices than fertile women who had not recently given birth, reports New Scientist. Coren Apicella, an anthropologist at Harvard University and leader of the study, said the Hadza - hunter-gatherers native to northern Tanzania - have limited exposure to the mass media.

Cut off from the daily bombardment of advertisements, pop songs and newscasts that''s typical in much of the world, they were an ideal population in which to study innate sexual preferences, Coren said. To reach the conclusion, the boffin spent six months studying vocal preferences among Hadza men and women.

She tested the vocal preferences of 88 Hadza men and women. They heard a member of the opposite sex saying the Swahili word "hujambo" - loosely translated as hello - in a computer-altered high and low register. Women were asked whether the voice belonged to someone likely to make a good hunter and husband, while men rated the voices in terms of skill as a forager and suitability as a wife. Apicella found that the Hadza men judged deeper-voiced women to be better foragers, but they fancied the highest-pitched women.

Nursing women favoured higher-pitched tones, while fertile women showed a slight preference for the deeper voices, she found. When Hadza women start breast-feeding, their foraging falls off. "They rely on men a lot more to bring in food and resources. Maybe a higher-pitched voice is signalling pro-social behaviour,” the expert said.

Wearing the blazer Winter's here and you must make the blazer work to get the look perfect this winter. Here are a few pointers:

A denim blazer works well for daytime. Pairing it with a fine knit sweater makes it casual yet stylish. For the evening, put it over a bold woven shirt – stripes, spots or plaid in bright colours. A Tweed or Herringbone blazer in classic brown or black is hot this season. Pair again with vivid colours. You can also pair the blazer with a dark washed denim for the party or friends' gathering at the pub. Keep it informal, though. Ultimately, remember that the look to put together isn't fussy, but makes you feel comfortable and relaxed.

A new study, conducted by researchers at University College London, has revealed that diets and creams claiming their antioxidant properties could slow ageing, have little or no effect.

While conducting a study with Nematode worms, the researchers found that even those given enhanced antioxidant powers to deal with tissue damaging "free radicals" did not live longer.

The researchers said that there was "no clear evidence" they could slow ageing.

Antioxidants are a staple of the beauty and health industries. This has been based on a 50-year-old theory.

In 1956, it was suggested that ageing was caused by a build-up of molecular damage caused by reactive forms of oxygen, called superoxides or free radicals, circulating in the body.

This is known as oxidative stress. Antioxidants supposedly worked to mop up these free radicals, minimising their damage.

However, the new could help explain why many studies aimed at proving the theory have been inconclusive.

The research team, led by Dr David Gems, genetically manipulated nematodes so that their bodies were able to "mop up" surplus free radicals.

However, these worms lived just as long as the others, suggesting that "oxidative stress" is less of a factor in the ageing of our cells and tissues as some have suggested.

"The fact is that we don't understand much about the fundamental mechanisms of ageing - the free radical theory has filled a knowledge vacuum for over 50 years now, but it doesn't stand up to the evidence," BBC quoted Gems, as saying.

"It is clear that if superoxide is involved, it plays only a small part in the story - oxidative damage is clearly not a universal, major driver of the ageing process," Gems added.

He said a healthy, balanced diet was important for reducing the risk of many "old age" diseases, such as cancer, diabetes and osteoporosis, but there was no clear evidence that eating antioxidants could slow or prevent ageing, and even less evidence to support the claims made by antioxidant pills and creams.

Actors barely get to talk about things other than denying their hook-ups and then denying delivering bad films.

At the recently held Longines launch event in Mumbai, Ash however transformed herself from an actor into the Miss World she used to be few years ago!

She obviously spoke about hubby Abhishek and her Bachchan family but what she also commented upon was the ongoing ‘global economic crisis’!

Shedding weight and being roaring fit is not an easy task at any age, especially when you are 40!

Having said that, certain 40-over celebrities can put any 20-year-old to shame with their fitness levels, and not to mention their sexy bods.

Not only are they slim the healthy way, but they are fit despite all the physical changes their body is going through.

And what are these changes? Fitness Trainer and Wellness Coach Amit Sharma says, "After the age of 30 a woman's body undergoes certain changes, she faces a change in her body structure, hot flushes, mood swings, growing hair in her upper lip and starts feeling less attractive."

And yet, these beauties still manage to look so hot.

We let you in on the fitness mantras of celebrities over 40 years of age who are fit as a fiddle. Also, you get tips from experts on what you can do at home.

Whatever she wore at the sets of the series of the hit sitcom 'Sex and the City' was a worldwide fashion rage.

She can carry off anything from a figure hugging outfit, a tube dress, skimpy attire to casuals with great aplomb all thanks to her well toned body. You only have to see the latest movie 'Sex and the City' to believe it.


Her fitness mantra

* Walks instead of taking a cab

* Eats small portions of food

* Eats a high protein low-carb diet

Expert Advice

* In case you do not have the time to exercise for 45 minutes a stretch due to your schedules, you can break it up into exercising 15 minutes thrice a day, advices Fitness Trainer and Wellness Coach Amit Sharma. Studies prove that this is just as effective as a continuous 45-minute workout.

* While a high protein, low carb diet always works for weight loss, do not follow any diet fad blindly. Nutritionist Shweta Shahaney says, "Everybody has a different body type, what may work for a celebrity might not necessarily work for you. It is advisable to seek the guidance of a dietician."

* Another thing you have to remember according to her is that at the age of 40 your body is preparing to fight menopause, so it is essential that you have all of your nutrients and micro nutrients.


She rocked the 80s with her pop music. 20 years later she is still in the groove.

Check her out in her latest single, 4 minutes, with Justin Timberlake. Dancing with someone half her age, certainly deserves some accolades. And she is over 40!


Her fitness mantra

* To prevent bulking up of muscles, she changes her routine. She mixes up various types of cardio training along with various types of crunches and weight lifting with her dancing.

* Avoids diary food, processed food and spices.

Expert advice

* Fitness Trainer and Wellness Coach Amit Sharma says that weight training is essential for woman at this age. They are the only form of exercise that can prevent and reduce the risk osteoporosis. Calcium can be stored in the body, only till a particular age. After that the bones start becoming brittle.

* Nutritionist Shweta Shahaney elaborates that at this age you should not shy away from taking calcium supplements. Your daily calcium intake might not be able to meet the requirement. You can consult a doctor or nutritionist for the right dosage.


She makes the list at 35 in FHM's 100 sexiest women in the world list. Even after the birth of her child, she is not far away from the sculpted body she had when she emerged out of the water wearing a skimpy bikini in the Bond movie Die Another Day.


Her post pregnancy fitness mantra

* She works out for 60 minutes, five days a week. Her fitness program includes cardio, strength training that focus on the abdomen and leg. Her cardio activity is divided in to three parts - on the elliptical, kickboxing and stairs or hill climb.

* Includes lots of veggies in her diet along with lean proteins, complex carbohydrates and a lot of water.

Expert advice

* Fitness Trainer and Wellness Coach Amit Sharma says that you should include cardiovascular exercises in your daily routine as it improves the heart and lungs functioning and also gets more oxygen into the blood. This is especially important at this age. According to reports from AP, as we age, the pumping capacity of the heart decreases, causing an increase in the resting heart rate. The body's ability to process oxygen efficiently decreases by one to two per cent each year after the age of 40.

* And here's another fact of the matter! Veggies and fruits are most important in your diet. Nutritionist Shweta Shahaney says that no matter what age, veggies and fruits are a sure shot way to lose weight and keep fit. Also keeping in mind that your body is preparing for menopause, you need to have veggies and fruits which will provide you with a lot of nutrients.


One of the original supermodels, her beauty and well toned body has made her grace the cover of many magazines, get major ad campaigns and roles in movies and TV. She has managed to remain fit all these years even after having two kids!


Her fitness mantra

* Follows the Zone diet which involves eating small portions at regular intervals, and having a ratio of 40 per cent carbohydrates, 30 per cent proteins and 30 percent fat.

* Has a fitness regime of 20 minutes of cardiovascular and 40 minutes of free weights. Also incorporates yoga in her daily routine.

Expert advice

* According to Fitness Trainer and Wellness Coach Amit Sharma, as you age, your body loses twice the amount of muscle mass that it used to. This is one of the reasons for the decrease in the metabolic rate. Once again weight training comes to the rescue!

* A very simple and easy way to increase your metabolism is to have a cold glass of water, according to Amit. Try to have 500 ml to a liter of water once you get up in the morning. Drink at least 3 liters of water a day.


Being in front of the camera since infancy, the world has more or less watched her grow up. She has always remained fit and off late we have seen how her masculine appearance has toned down. What's her secret?


Her fitness mantra

* Whenever possible, she tries to do any physical activity for an hour everyday, it can be anything from spinning to hiking.

* She avoids weights for it can end up making her look bulky. She keeps her muscles toned with yoga.

Expert advice

So how can you manage to do all the forms of exercises without hurting your body? Fitness Trainer and Wellness Coach Amit Sharma gives you a schedule:

* Weight training 3 to 4 times a week.

* Cardiovascular exercises two times a week for 45 minutes.

* Stretching exercises 10 to 15 minutes before your weight training and cardiovascular exercise.

source:ibnlive.in.com

They are a natural skin condition, but nobody likes them: stretch marks. And in this segment of Wrinkle Free Friday, doctors give us advice about how to fix a very common complaint about the skin on the body. Sooner or later they will affect just about all of us.

"Ninety percent of us have stretch marks on us somewhere, so it's not even a disease, it's just a common marker of human beings," says Metairie dermatologic surgeon Dr. Bill Coleman.

Any fast growing skin is susceptible: hips, thighs, buttocks and breasts of maturing teenagers, the belly of an expectant mom, the chest and upper arms of a body builder and the body of anyone who gains weight. And something you have no control over, they tend to be hereditary.

"If when your mother was pregnant she got a lot of stretch marks, the chances are good you will have the same problem," says Dr. Mary Lupo, a dermatologist in New Orleans.

So what are these unattractive lines?

"A stretch mark is basically a rupture in the skin. Think of a fabric that's torn and the little elastic fibers pull back. That's what happens to your skin," adds Dr. Coleman.

The doctors agree. The only way to try to prevent them is by not gaining a lot of weight during pregnancy or puberty.

"You can rub all the cocoa butter in the world on your tummy and that's not going to stop you from getting stretch marks necessarily," says Metairie dermatologist Dr. Patricia Farris.

"All of this these myriad of creams that are being sold to treat stretch marks, they do not remove stretch marks and that's the bottom line on that and I don't care if they cost $10 or $100. It doesn't make any difference. It doesn't work," says LSU Health Sciences Center dermatologist Dr. Elizabeth McBurney, who practices in New Orleans and Slidell.

But there is something that makes stretch marks worse, taking steroids for legitimate medical reasons or illegally.

"A very common scenario we see is men who come in and tell us 'Look how great I look,' and they show us their big muscles and on top of them are these huge stretch marks and then they have acne too from taking the steroids and they are going bald and on balance they don't look very good," adds Dr. Coleman.

So how can you get rid of stretch marks?

Dermatologists say there's good news and bad. The good news is the prescription tretinoin cream, called Retin A, that is used for acne and wrinkles, can make a difference.

"If you come in while the stretch marks are still red you've got a very good chance, maybe as high as 70 percent with topical treatments alone getting results and that will save you a lot of money," says Dr. Lupo.

"I think the best time to treat a stretch mark is when it's early young stretch mark as we call them those are the red stretch marks. We like things that generate collagen alpha hydroxys and particularly tretinoin, Retin A, has been shown to improve stretch marks even when used alone," says Dr. Farris.

But doctors caution these creams should not be used during pregnancy.

The other good news is that doctors are starting to see some results with lights and lasers. One is that non-ablative Fraxel laser that's been used on the face that heats up but doesn't burn the skin.

"When they are in that early stage I do think that certain laser procedures help and I usually use a combination. I like the IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) because I think that does the best job in taking the red out and then you can generate new collagen with the non-ablative fractional lasers," adds Dr. Farris.

"If your stretch marks are red or slightly brown, they, and the reason they are because they are usually newly formed and they have an inflammatory reaction underneath the skins surface that causes them to be red, with those, those are probably the only situation in which I think the lasers make a significant difference," adds Dr. McBurney.

Most of the doctors agree treating them early will give best results, while the older ones are there to stay.

But dermatologist Dr. Mary Lupo says she is seeing some results treating the older ones.

"Once the stretch marks have that silvery or white color the only thing that I have found that has been successful is the Fraxel Restore Laser. This is a non-ablative laser. There's no down time to the procedure. It can be used on all skin types," says Dr. Lupo.

But five or six treatments are needed, which can get costly. So while there is help, doctors say the bad news is they have nothing in their arsenals to make them invisible.

"The Fraxel treatment shows promise but it still is not going to completely remove it. It is going to improve it maybe about 30 percent, 40 percent," says LSU Health Sciences Center plastic surgeon Dr. Kamran Khoobehi.

“All of the lasers that are out there now a days, including the Fraxel Restore, are all going to be good at getting the red out but not the white so you still have a white stretch mark, you still have a little valley there in the skin and that has not changed. We need a way to weld the skin back together. We just don't have it right now," says Dr. Coleman.

Doctors say it can be very embarrassing for teens to have stretch marks and they should be treated as soon as they get them.

Doctors also say one trick to covering up the older light stretch marks is to temporarily cover them with a bronzer.

source:wwltv.com

* "It is very important to follow a sensible food plan that suits your body constitution. Some people might be allergic to milk and milk products, others might take well to non-veg food. So you have to eat according to what your body needs.

* Exercise regularly, ideally in the morning. Go to sleep latest by 10 and wake up by at least seven the next morning."

* "To achieve anything, you must have a positive and strong state of mind. Work towards that first. Then comes time management. Eat your meals at the right time. Don't eat breakfast at 12 in the afternoon. Eat smaller, frequent meals in an adequate portion size.

* Have well-balanced meals that consist of carbs, proteins and multi-nutrients. Exercise at least 4-5 days a week. Keep yourself active… walk, swim, do yoga."

* "The body reacts in two ways… If you eat a lot, you put on weight and if you eat too less then again, you put on weight.

* To avoid this, eat smaller, more frequent meals probably every three to four hours. Don't fill yourself to the brim. Eat healthy and be physically active."

* Along with the food plan, you need to exercise regularly. It could be just a 40 minute walk in the evening."

* "The first and most important thing to do is to get into an absolute detox and cleansing program. Regulate your lifestyle… correct your eating, drinking, sleeping and exercise habits.

Cosmetic surgery patients who think facial fillers are a magical antidote to aging must be better informed of possible risks, government health advisers said Tuesday.

A panel of independent advisers urged the Food and Drug Administration to revise information for consumers and doctors — called the product label — to include the risk of long lasting reactions such as bumps under the skin, blotches and scars.

"This is almost a no-brainer," said panel member Dr. Michael Bigby, a Harvard Medical School dermatologist. "The current label is not adequate." The panel of doctors other experts unanimously agreed on the need for more safety studies.

The gel-like fillers have become immensely popular with baby boomers. Injected into the face, they smooth away wrinkles. Most patients get a couple of touchups a year, at a cost that can easily exceed $1,000 each.

Manufacturers and plastic surgeons say fillers have an excellent safety record. But Tuesday's FDA hearing raised questions about unapproved uses, untrained technicians giving injections, and a lack of long-term safety data. It was a first step as the FDA considers whether to regulate fillers more closely.

Plastic surgeons pledged to help find a new consensus on how to track safety, improve training and provide clearer information to consumers. "We feel it's time for medicine to step up and take the lead," said Dr. Richard D'Amico of New Jersey, representing the American Society of Plastic Surgeons.

Women, and some men, are drawn to fillers by the promise of youthful good looks for less cost and trouble than a face lift. It's also a boost for deflated middle-age egos.

Different from Botox, which is derived from a toxin that acts on facial muscles, wrinkle fillers are like the biological equivalent of a bit of spackle, except they're injected. They include such products as Juvederm, made by Allergan, Inc., and Restylane, from Medicis Aesthetics Holdings.

FDA officials are concerned that fillers are being used for purposes they were never tested nor approved for, not just erasing wrinkles.These include plumping the lips, cheeks and breasts.

"The trouble is that once this material is in the hands of physicians, there's really not much control over how it's used and where it's placed," said Dr. Scott Spear, a Washington plastic surgeon. "That creates the potential for a certain amount of mischief.

"But the good news is that, by and large, these are very safe materials," Spear added. "They have a very healthy risk profile."

The FDA also has questions how darker-skinned patients fare with the beauty treatments. More black, Latino and Asian patients are trying plastic surgery, and some information suggests they may be susceptible to unsightly blotches and other complications.

Plastic surgeons performed some 1.5 million cosmetic surgery procedures with fillers last year alone.

The FDA presented data on 823 patients who suffered serious reactions after treatment with fillers between 2003 and this September. Nearly all were women, and the most common age group was 50- to 60-year-olds.

Although no deaths were reported, the complications were troublesome enough that 638 of the patients required follow-up medical treatment.

"Patients don't want to get rid of wrinkles and end up with large bumps on the face instead," said consumer activist Diana Zuckerman, president of the National Research Center for Women & Families.

Most cases reported to the FDA involved complications that could be foreseen, such as swelling and redness. But there were also "serious and unexpected" reactions, including facial, lip and eye paralysis, disfigurement, vision problems and some severe allergic reactions.

Nineteen patients went to the emergency room with life-threatening allergic reactions. Twelve developed infections that required hospitalization.

Some problems reported to the FDA may be due to unapproved or "off-label" use of fillers. For example, the FDA does not recommend them for plumping the lips, but some doctors see no problem with that.

Another challenge is the sheer variety of fillers. Most are eventually absorbed into the body, but one type contains tiny, round, smooth plastic particles that the body does not absorb. Some are made from natural substances and others are not. That means they may react differently in the body.

"Some of these products don't have a lot of adverse events and some do," said Zuckerman. "How are we going to help patients make decisions without more information?"

Keen to lose weight, but no time to hit Weight loss the gym?

"It often happens that we end up missing on time to indulge in calorie-burning in an anticipation of triggering off a full-on fitness regime," says fitness exert Kiran Swahney.

So, why not dig out occasions some where in the course of the day and cash in some real time to burn the fat. We recommend you 20 physical and foodie alterations for weight loss... embrace them and staying fit won't be a long cherished dream any more!

"On foot is a stylish way to exercise as its easy, versatile, kind to your joints and doesn't require conjuring too much of paraphernalia. So involve walking as much as you can in your routine." says L.Balasubramaniam, Technogym Olympic Master Trainer.

1. Get up and walk around your office or home: This should happen at least every two hours for 5 minutes. This brisk five-minute walk every two hours will give you an extra 20-minute walk by the end of the day without making any special efforts.

2. Wash something thoroughly once a week: Be it the floor, a couple of windows, the shower stall, bathroom tiles or your car...anything that makes you don your cleaning gloves and exert some pressure on your hands and elbows burns nearly four calories for every minute spent on cleaning. A washing session of 30 minutes and you've worked off nearly 120 calories.

3. Drop a movie for an active date: Yes, it's a weekend and you're planning to spend time with your love. Why not head to the local park rather than sit idle in a movie hall? This will not only give you a chance of walking hand in hand, but will also avoid the calories that a large bucket of butter popcorns holds in. What's more? Explore other active dating ideas like cycling together; enjoying a tennis match or a swimming championship...even losing to your love will be fun here!

4. Take a walk before dinner: Yes, you are reading it right! Walking post dinner helps in digestion and burning calories, walking before gorging on your favourite dinner cuts down on your appetite. "Twenty minutes of walking reduces appetite and increases sensations of fullness as effectively as a light meal," informs Balasubramaniam.

5. Make the most of your TV time: This one is for the cricket crazy men and soap obsessed women who spend hours being a couch potato. Now make the most out of the commercial breaks to burn some calories and tone-up your body with the following set of exercises:
• As the break starts, do 25 jumping jacks.
• Then jog on the spot for the count of 30.
• Do 25 abdominal crunches.
• Lastly, get on the floor and place your feet up on your coffee table and do 25 hip lifts. By the time the break ends, you would have burnt a major chunk of calories.

6. Kiss your partner passionately: Lock your lips in passion at least 10 times a day. Not only it will keep your love life buzzing, but every minute spent kissing will burn 6.4 calories. Ten minutes a day of kissing can burn approximately 23,000 calories in a year...that's the power of love!

More lifestyle and food variations to help you shed the flab.

source:timesofindia

Radiant, luscious, gorgeous – these are just some of the words that come to mind while describing the skin of our favourite Hindi film actresses.

We got celebrity skin specialist Dr Aparna Santhanam, who heads the medical services at Kaya Skin Clinic in Mumbai, tell us some of their skin secrets.

Aishwarya Rai makes sure her skin regimen is never affected.

Rated one of the most beautiful women in the world by Hello! magazine, this blue-eyed stunner is naturally beautiful. No matter how grueling the shooting schedule, Ash makes sure her skin regimen is never affected.

Ash's secret: People close to her reveal that Ash is a water freak – she drinks at least eight glasses each day, if not more. A self-confessed naturalist, Ash also relies on natural products from the kitchen – cucumber to soothe her skin, gramflour to exfoliate and milk and yogurt to moisturise.

Dr Santhanam's tip: Sleep your way to a gorgeous, glowing skin.

Lack of sleep is the cause of most skin problems, dark circles, dull skin, pimples, you name it. Your skin thrives on oxygen, which it gets during sleep. So hit the bed at the first opportunity you get and catch up on some zzzzs.

The current heartthrob of the Hindi film industry (and actor Saif Ali Khan's, too), Kareena Kapoor is one of the luckiest stars -- she has inherited generations of peaches-and-cream complexion, a trademark of the Kapoor dynasty.

Kareena has lost oodles of weight and has acquired a natural blush, only possible with a regular exercise routine (and love, perhaps!). Kareena has often talked about her love for chocolate wraps, which is a known antioxidant to stop the skin from ageing.

Dr Santhanam's tip: A tiring session of any sort of exercise is the best facial you can get. Exercise increases the blood circulation in your body, and the blood gushes up to your face, to give you a happy glow. Exercise also rids your body of all the toxins, reducing pimples and acne.

Exercise can also work wonders in a short time -- just give it three days and you'll see your skin tone improve!

The moment she appeared on the silver screen in the hit film, Maine Pyar Kyon Kiya, her lovely looks and silky Indo-Canadian complexion won our hearts! Katrina Kaif's skin has the unique mixture of the essentially Punjabi texture and an Anglo-Saxon skin tone.

Katrina is often asked about the secret of her skin -- she says it's her addiction to the purifying apricot oil by Anne Semoin.

Dr Santhanam's tip: You need protein to keep your skin looking young - whether your proteins come from fish and egg or almonds, sprouts and soy and pulses to compensate for the lack of protein.

Make sure you include enough protein in your diet. Just to lose weight, don't give up on your nutrition.

t seems like model and actress Sushma Reddy has been around forever, yet she looks as fresh and young as she looked in her first ad film.

What's her secret? "I begin my day with a huge jar of watermelon juice. It is body cleansing. I also love to meditate -- it helps me find inner peace. I think that's the secret of my glow," she says.

Dr Santhanam's tip: Yoga is one of the most common ways to get glorious skin. Follow this five-minute routine every day, and see the difference -- relax your facial muscles through simple Pranayama. Close your eyes, take a deep breath, hold it in for ten seconds and exhale.

Deep breathing, for even half an hour every day, can delay the onset of wrinkles and other signs of ageing on your face.

Actress and dancer Yana Gupta personifies the term 'porcelain beauty'. Her skin always sports the freshly scrubbed, delicate look. Yana has a face, which looks even more beautiful without make-up on it than with make-up.

Yana's secret? Coconut water. "I drinks it more religiously than even normal water," says the beauty. Yana also uses no soaps, but just coconut paste to cleanse her skin.

Dr Santhanam's tip: Harsh soaps are a no-no. Exfoliate your skin at least once a week with oats, gramflour or any other scrub that suits your skin. Don't forget to cleanse thoroughly at least twice a day. Remember, sunscreen is your best friend, since weather in India is mostly sunny.

When model Aditi Govitrikar walks the ramp, it is impossible to believe that she is a mother of two.

"I think my skin is a product of my Rainbow Diet -- I am a vegetarian and I make sure I add at least three colours in my diet every day. Greens, reds and oranges are my favourite, since they are antioxidant-rich. And, of course, I never forget to moisturise," she says.

Dr Santhanam's tip: Follow this like a religion: cleanse, tone, moisturise.

Get your skin analysed at least once from a dermatologist to know what kind of products suit you. If you look at the ill effects of wrong products, a visit to the dermatologist is totally worth it.

Moisturising is necessary even for oily skin. Never leave home without your moisturiser and sunscreen. It is a healthy habit and not an indulgence!