5 tips on how you can look younger - No botox or surgery required.
So many beautiful people seem to be searching for eternal youth. The ability to look unaffected by the passage of time. Wrinkle free faces at 50. The body of a 60 year old that looks like that of a svelte twenty year old. You see that quite often in Hollywood.
First, there was plastic surgery Now there is botox. Where a toxin is injected into your face to paralyze your facial muscles, to erase the lines on your face.
Scary isn't it? Then again, if you were gorgeous in your youth, if your face were your fortune, wouldn't you do everything possible to preserve your youthful appearance for as long as possible.
Time is relentless. You get older every year. Your face and your body will age. But you can age beautifully. If you keep fit, exercise and watch your diet, your body can still be svelte late in life. It would get harder with time, but with enough discipline and effort, you can still keep your figure.
It is harder when it comes to your skin. Sure, there is botox and plastic surgery. An alternative you can turn to when nothing else works. Until then, there are less invasive, needle free means to erase wrinkles, or at very least to appear younger than you really are.
#1 Microdermabrasion
Have you ever tried clinical microdermabrasion. It is like a facial where the doctor blasts tiny crystals onto your face, to smooth your skin. You have to go for a few treatments but it is effective. Lines diminish. Even acne prone skin improves with this treatment. Best of all, the treatment does not burn your skin with acid and you don't look like an escapee from a horror movie during recovery time.
These days, you can even do that at home. There are even do it yourself microdermabrasion kits you can use in the comfort of your own home. Here is where you can find home microdermabrasion kits to smooth away the lines and to clarify your skin.

Other than physically erasing the lines on your face, you can appear younger if you dress, and act younger. An exuberant woman, full of life looks years younger than she actually is. Look at Diane Keaton, born in January 5, 1946 which makes her almost 60 years old. She certainly doesn't look her age. That brings us to the next few tips.
#2 Hairstyle
Rather than stick to a conservative hairstyle, go for a younger, more carefree look. You'll look years younger that way. It can be as simple as a change from a conservative side part to a younger, carefree center part. Or you can visit your hairdresser for a younger makeover.
#3 Fragrance
A young vibe makes you appear younger. A young fragrance makes you seem much younger than you really are. In a study, women who wore pink grapefruit perfumes appeared, on average, 6 years younger than their actual age according to the men who were surveyed.
#4 Lighting
Finally, the lighting you appear in can make you look older or younger than you really are. In harsh bright, unflattering light, you could look years younger. In soft, gentle, flattering light, you look younger. Everyone looks better by candle light. Installing light dimmers on every light in your home allows you to look younger at home.
#5 Makeup
When all else fails, cheat. Use a makeup primer after your moisturizer to fill in all the lines on your face. Then apply makeup in a color that matches your skin tone exactly, over the primer for that flawless look. You might want to mix 2 makeup colors together for that ideal shade.
The writer is the webmaster of www.getyouthful.com


Ten Questions About Pregnancy You Might Not Want To Ask Your Doctor
TEN QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT NOT WANT TO ASK YOUR DOCTOR ABOUT PREGNANCY

Q1. Can I get pregnant following oral sex or heavy petting?
No. You can only get pregnant from full sexual intercourse.

Q2. How will I know if I am pregnant?
If you have had sexual intercourse since your last period and you are late for your current period, you may be pregnant. Following implantation of the fertilised egg menstruation should not occur, hence for women who have been sexually active and who have previously menstruated regularly, the absence of a period should be put down to pregnancy.
The most common way to confirm a pregnancy is to purchase and undertake a home test. These are relatively cheap and can be done in the privacy of your home. The manufacturers claim they are over 95% accurate.
If the home test has a positive result, you should make an appointment to see your doctor.

Q3. Is it safe to have sex during pregnancy?
For most couples it is normal for them to enjoy an active sex life throughout the pregnancy. Sexual intercourse will not harm the development of your baby as it is cushioned by a bag of fluid in your uterus.
Sex during your pregnancy may also help you both unwind and should help you maintain a strong bond with your partner, ready for the months ahead.

Q4. Does vaginal discharge increases during this time?
Yes, unfortunately it does. Vaginal discharge may well increase during all stages of your pregnancy and should be similar to the discharge you have previously had before a period. It is only if the discharge becomes very thick, smelly or blood stained that you need to seek medical assistance. If the cause is an infection, it can be easily treated with creams or tablets.

Q5. Will I get piles/haemorrhoids?
You may. Although people laugh and joke about piles, they are no laughing matter.
During pregnancy the walls and veins in your anus swell and blood flow becomes sluggish, causing the affected veins to throb and become painful.

There are precautions you can take to help reduce the chances of developing piles, such as:
 Eat a high fibre diet and drink lots of fluid to avoid constipation.
 Try to relax on the toilet and not strain.
 Undertake regular exercise and pelvic floor exercises to help blood flow around your anus.
If you do get piles, your doctor, midwife or pharmacist will be able to suggest a suitable cream to ease the pain.

Q6. What is the best contraception to use after birth?
This will depend on how soon you wish to have another baby. If you want another baby soon (within one year), then short-term measures such as the cap or condom, ideally with the use of a spermicide, are probably the best contraception.
Long term, methods such as contraceptive injection, hormone implant and 'the pill' may be your best options.

Q7. How soon can I have sex after birth?
It is advisable to wait a few weeks after a normal delivery, and up to three months after a caesarean, as healing may take this length of time. It is important however that both you and your partner agree: neither should feel pressured into it.
Be aware that you may feel dry; though by using water-based lubricants there is no reason why sex should not be as enjoyable as before.

Q8. How will the midwife measure cervical dilation?
The midwife will measure how dilated (or open) the cervix is by gently inserting two fingers into the vagina. She assesses how open the cervix is by opening her fingers and feeling around its perimeter. She will also be feeling the position of the cervix and how soft it is.
She will always try to be gentle but sometimes the process can be slightly uncomfortable. Try to stay as relaxed as possible: the tenser you are, the more uncomfortable the procedure will be. Hold your partner's hand while the midwife examines you and ask him to try and distract you.


Q9. How will the hospital staff break my waters if they need to?
The midwife will discuss with you why you might need your waters breaking. Remember though, if you are not comfortable with this you can decline. If you fully understand the need to have your waters broken, and are happy to go ahead, the midwife or doctor will perform a normal vaginal examination then insert a long thin plastic hook that is a little bit like a crochet hook. The hook will be brushed over the bag of waters, which will usually be enough pressure to break it. The cervix does, however, have to be sufficiently open for this to be carried out.

Q10. If I have an episiotomy or perineal tear, how will it be repaired?
It is not always the case that your perineum (the area between the vaginal entrance and the rectum) will tear or need to be cut. Moreover, if it is, there is no way of knowing if you will require stitches. Some studies have shown that perineal massage can help prevent trauma. Your midwife will be able to advise you on this. Sometimes if a small tear has been sustained, it will be left to heal naturally.
If the area does require stitches, the midwife who has been looking after you will usually do it. You will be given local anaesthetic to numb the area before the midwife starts and she will check that you are unable to feel any pain before commencing. These days, stitches are almost always dissolvable and will not need to be removed.

Want to know more?
If you do want to know more about pregnancy, from conception to labour, you should take a look at 'Pregnancy for Beginners' – a comprehensive guide for the new mother-to-Be. Written by a State Registered Midwife, it is a simple, easy-to-understand, yet comprehensive, book you can download to your computer in minutes. See www.pregnancyfacts.org for full details of this invaluable guide for the newly pregnant woman.


Truth Behind A Pregnant Woman's Food Craving and How to Control It
Cravings are feelings desiring food combinations which women either do not normally eat or may even stomach under usual eating conditions. In a survey conducted recently, expectant mothers usually crave for "something sweet" like an ice cream (40%), most often called the "middle-of-the-night" urges. Coming in second is the salty snacks (33%). They also go for spicy foods (17%) and lastly, the lip-puckering sour foods like tarts and citrus fruits (10%).
While no scientific explanations could be given, some reasons offered by physicians include:
• strong hormonal changes;
• deficiency of nutrients;
• a conscious or subconscious response to emotion;
• food with special meaning, religion and cultural reasons;
• maybe nutritionally based; and,
• expectations about getting cravings.
On the other hand, food aversion is the opposite of cravings. These are the most hated foods by the expectant mother. Reports state that red meat is the most common aversion of would be mothers.
Expectant mothers need all the nutrients in the right amount to stay healthy and to help their babies develop and grow normally. Cravings may help would-be moms achieve this by desiring nutritious food over those with excessive calories which they sometimes fill their bodies with. Most pregnant women also have a strong yearning for chocolates that stimulates the release of "feel good" brain chemicals in the body. This sometimes helps pregnant women to feel better and manage their
moods even for only a short period of time.
Most popular cravings are: apples, melon, cheese, eggs, milk, olives and pickles, peanut butter and nuts
Experts break down the food cravings of women into trimesters during the pregnancy:
First Trimester – a strong bitter taste; this may be a signal of the body that warns the expectant mother of the presence of high toxic substances in plants and fruits.
Second and Third Trimesters – a craving for sour tasting foods like pickles (this helps women to get a varied diet later on in her pregnancy); urges for sweet and sour foods make fruits a popular craving for pregnant women.
As the pregnancy progresses – an increased preference for salty foods like potato chips; as the blood volume increases in the
body of a pregnant woman her need for sodium also intensifies.
Other Cravings
Unusual cravings are called the "pica" phenomenon. These are cravings for inedible substances such as dirt, chalk, laundry powder and coal, etc. Pica is the Latin name for Magpie, a bird that eats almost anything.
Pica is said to be a sign of an underlying physical or mental illness. If you develop a craving like this, resist it and award yourself with an ice cream, a bar of chocolate or a piece of cake. Remind yourself that the craving will pass and not to stress yourself about it. You shall not give in because this would mean mental problems for the child, impaired hearing and low motor skills development.
Healthier Options
During pregnancy, there's no harm in giving in to food urges but, just don't make it a habit that will endanger you and your child.
Here are some healthy fixes that you can substitute your sinful cravings with:
Ice cream – opt for a nice cold fruit smoothie, non-fat frozen yogurt, sherbet/sorbet or popsicle;
Cola/Soda – flavored seltzer, mineral water with fruit juice or lime juice;
Doughnuts and pastries – whole-grain bagels or toasted bread with jam;
Potato chips – low-fat or baked chips, pretzels or light microwave popcorn;
Chocolate – have a few squares only, chocolate milk, fat-free hot cocoa or make some trial mix with a small handful of chocolate chips, dried fruits and nuts; and,
Cakes and cookies – low-fat banana-nut or zucchini bread or try an Angel food cake topped with fresh strawberries, Graham crackers with a little peanut butter.
Suggestions to control your cravings:
Cravings lose their intensity while the pregnancy progresses. But here are some ways to help you manage your food yearnings:
1. Eat breakfast everyday to lessen the intensity of your cravings.
2. Understand your cravings to help find healthier substitutes for your food urges. Try to take time breaking your cravings down: What are you longing for: something cold, smooth, creamy, and sweet? This will aid you in identifying more nutritional substitutes.
3. Keep a food diary and review whether you're eating a balanced diet or not.
4. Work out to help you curb hunger.
5. Have lots of emotional support from loved ones.
6. Think small in terms of the amount of intake.
7. Always consult your doctor.
While pregnant, keep in mind that this is no time for dieting but a time to experiment with foods and make eating fun as it should be. Have assortment in your foods, balance your diet well, and make eating fun, not weird.
Note: This article may be freely reproduced as long as the AUTHOR'S resource box at the bottom of this article is included and all links must be Active/Linkable with no syntax changes.
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Elysiana Canlas 2005. For up to date links and information about Pregnancy, please go to: PregnancyClue.com
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