Blog

From Lackluster to Luscious; How Joico’s Defy Damage Line Transformed My Hair

August 8, 2019 By lyndsinreallife 2 Comments

My hair is usually a huge mess. It’s summer in Las Vegas, which means daily temps are over 100°F. Take that heat, add in humidity during Monsoon Season (AKA now), and like I said, my hair turns into a HUGE MESS. My long hair becomes frizzy and unruly. I have dry, damaged hair, yet I have oily hair at the same time (what?!). Not to mention, the sun strips my hair dye at alarming rates. I need a really good shampoo, conditioner, conditioning masque, and heat protectant to manage my long locks. Luckily, I discovered the Joico Defy Damage hair care line!

Disclosure: I received a sample of Joico’s Defy Damage hair care line, in exchange for an honest review. No monetary compensation was received. All opinions are 100% mine.

I wasn’t familiar with Joico, so I was excited to do some research on this amazing company, and their life-changing hair products (that are sulfate and paraben free!). I was generously offered the Defy Damage Protective Shampoo, Defy Damage Protective Conditioner, Defy Damage Protective Masque, and Defy Damage Protective Shield. I’M IN LOVE!

I’m pretty picky about my hair care products. I don’t like greasy heat shields, oils (usually), and well, okay, I don’t really like any hair products besides shampoo and conditioner. However, I need a masque and heat protectant. I’m being totally honest: these products are PERFECT, especially because they smell so, so good!

I use the masque once a week (at night), and it leaves my hair SO SOFT. Even my boyfriend noticed the difference (he’s been brushing my hair lately, because I had neck surgery, and my shoulder is essentially useless). The protective shield gives my hair the perfect amount of protection from my straightener and the sun, in addition to strong, shiny hair, without feeling oily or greasy.

Look how gorgeously smooth and soft my hair is in this picture!

From the Joico website: “Protect all hair types from the ravaging effects of daily heat styling, UV exposure, and environmental pollution that lead to dry, dull, lackluster locks with Joico’s NEW Defy Damage haircare system. This damage-defying breakthrough helps protect and strengthen hair bonds for a healthy-hair transformation you can instantly see and feel.” Defy Damage products have SmartRelease technology. They continually release Rose Hip Oil, Arginine, and Keratin.

I’m really glad I’ve been introduced to Joico’s Defy Damage hair care line; I’ve easily become a regular customer! I bet you’ll feel the same way, too. 🙂

Buy a Joico DD Trial Kit at Ulta! And don’t forget to visit Joico’s website, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.

Have you used Joico products?
What do you look for in quality hair care? Comment below!

Thank you for reading!

Keep in touch on Instagram 🙂

Health

Family Matters – Oldest to Youngest

July 14, 2019 By lyndsinreallife 2 Comments

No one likes to think about something terrible happening to their family, and often, that is why millions of us are unprepared. We all want to take care of our families, to provide for them in the long and short-term. With each new addition that joins your family, a lot of love follows them – but so do financial responsibilities.

Those responsibilities aren’t just yours; they belong to everyone. However, it is essential that you do everything you can to make sure it all goes as smoothly as possible.

Photo by Jake Thacker on Unsplash

Smallest

The beautiful thing about children is that you have a clean slate. You can start saving for them; you can start growing a nest egg. A simple savings account with a few dollars a month can help your children pay towards college, books, meals, travel, and more when they reach an age that they really need it.

The most important thing and the one money can’t buy is, of course, time. We all have free time that we don’t always use to the best of our ability. Moreover, is there anything better than spending it on the smallest members of your family? Maybe they are your kids, and perhaps they aren’t – but spend the time, and you will feel those rewards for years to come.

Middles

There are probably more family members in the 18-58 age bracket. Usually, this age group has the most modern pressures. The young end of that spectrum have exams, job stress, trying to afford a home, and sometimes they can feel like others are too busy being successful, or living their own lives to check-in. So take the time to say hi, grab a coffee, and just listen.

It is nice to ask ‘Are you okay?’ it’s more helpful to ask ‘hey, do you need help with anything, what can I do?’.

Emotional and mental support is a big deal, and all it takes is to make sure that you are there. Also, the kind offer of helping with week of grocery shopping, or even a monetary offer, usually won’t go amiss.

Elders

The elder members of your family need just as much love and support as the younger ones – but it might need to be in a different form. The 58+ bracket sadly comes with more ailments and illnesses. If you can, start talking about their will, and if they don’t have one, it might be time to get one written up. Talk about what might happen if they can no longer care for themselves, and check out in home health care professionals so that they can stay in a place they are happy.

It isn’t a surprise really, but the best way to take care of people is to be there for them, through the good and the bad.

•How do you and your family take care of each other? Please share below in the comments section!

Thank you for reading!

Fitness

Finding The Perfect Gym For You: 4 Helpful Tips

June 12, 2019 By lyndsinreallife 2 Comments

Pixabay (CC0 Licence)

While it is possible to work on your fitness at home, a gym membership undeniably has its advantages. A gym is a dedicated workout space, so your home can be reserved for relaxation; the equipment is more likely to be high-end. There’s a range of different classes available for when you feel you need to shake things up, and help will be on hand if you run into any difficulties.

However, it’s fair to say that the experience of visiting a gym can vary. Some gyms are excellent, offering a wealth of benefits to their members that more than justifies their fees. Others… aren’t so excellent, and in the worst cases, could actually harm your ability to meet your fitness goals.

If you’re on the lookout for a new gym, here are four tips that can help to make sure you find the perfect gym for your needs.

#1 – Time Your Visit Carefully

Touring a gym before joining is highly recommended. Make sure you plan your visit around the same time as you would usually be working out. Doing so allows you to get a rough idea of how busy the gym is, and allows you to assess the atmosphere and conditions based on what you are most likely to experience if you sign-up.

#2 – Check the Machines Thoroughly

During your visit to a gym you are considering, take the time to check the machines in detail. First and foremost, look at safety aspects; do the machines look modern and well-maintained, or are they in the kind of disrepair that suggests using them may result in needing to call a personal injury attorney in future? In addition, assess the cleanliness; good gyms tend to ensure that their equipment is thoroughly cleaned regularly, so any sign of accumulated dirt will make that gym a no-go.

#3 – Examine the Existing List of Classes and Ask How Popular They Are

If you are considering a gym because they offer a range of classes you are particularly excited to try, it’s important to ask a member of staff how popular each class actually is. Gyms often cancel classes that have relatively few attendees, so you’ll need to make sure that the class you want to try will actually be available. On the flip side, if the classes you are interested in are bordering on too popular, you may find yourself having to join a waiting list before each class – so it may be worth trying a different gym to see if they have better availability.

#4 – Read the Fine Print

It would be impossible to discuss finding a great gym without a discussion of the contract you will be asked to sign, especially given that gym membership contracts have a tendency for being difficult to break.

*Just ask my boyfriend: Planet Fitness will only allow him to cancel his membership by GOING TO THE GYM HE SIGNED UP AT, which mind you, is in California! We live in Nevada now. Ugh, it is so frustrating. Don’t fall into that trap.

Always ask for time to read through your contract in full before signing, paying particular attention to the clauses related to canceling the contract. Hopefully you won’t need to cancel anytime soon, but it’s always important to make sure you know exactly where you stand before you sign on the dotted line.

The four tips above should help you to find the best gym for your needs. Once you find one, come back here and share which gym you chose! I’d love to hear more about it.

This post was a collaboration.

Thank you for reading!

Health

In Our Right Mind: Getting Free From Addiction Using The Right Tools

June 11, 2019 By lyndsinreallife 2 Comments

Picture

Suffering from any addiction is crippling in the mind and body. When we suffer a problem that we can’t appear to overcome, is it about mind over matter? Our mindset has a lot to do with overcoming any obstacle in life, but can we use this to break free from addiction? When we have numerous bad habits in life, from biting our nails to smoking cigarettes, it’s mostly about the power our brain has. So does this mean we’ve got to put our brain into gear to get over some sort of addiction? It appears so, right? How can we use our mindset, or acquire one to ensure that we put a stop to an addiction that is harming us?

Assessing Our Current Mindset

The big problem that we have in terms of addiction is that we stand in our own way. Maybe we don’t have the ability to admit that we’ve got a problem. As is the usual procedure, when we need help, it has to be us that instigates the fact that we need some sort of support. By assessing our current mindset, it could very well be done independently. When it comes to quitting something, we have to look at which mindset we currently have. Tolerance is one of those mindsets that are connected with addiction. It’s a physical and psychological process. But what happens is, when a behavior is repeated, you become less sensitive to something. You develop a physical or mental tolerance. And on the flip side, we experience withdrawal, either in physical or mental symptoms. And it’s these two things that can get in the way of truly addressing our addiction.

Looking At Our Fixed Mindset

If we have a fixed mindset, this provides a major obstacle to overcoming any addiction. It’s about being immovable on a subject. We may embody a fixed mindset in a very black and white way. For example, if we fall off the wagon, we consider ourselves to be a failure. We may feel our abilities right now determine that they cannot be moved. This is something that provides a major barrier to overcoming any form of problem in our minds, not just addiction. Once we start to establish that we have a fixed mindset and that these things can be moved, this is when we can start to make progress.

Establishing A Growth Mindset

A growth mindset is all about progression. In a simple way, it’s about positivity, but having a growth mindset allows you to progress forward. In a biochemical sense, it can help to create extra neural pathways. It’s all about this idea of habit. We’ve learned new habits throughout our life, but it’s about breaking the ones that don’t help us. Sometimes it’s by assimilation; we could go to a group therapy practice, or involve ourselves in a sober living community so we are influenced by others that are going through the same issues. Because we stand in our own way of success, when we see others undergoing the same problems, or are just far along in the recovery process as us, it’s humbling, but it’s also a perfect way to provide stimulation and motivation. A growth mindset is vital for recovery, and it’s something that can be harnessed. Counseling is one approach; especially with counselors who provide cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT).

Developing New Thoughts

Because we have specific thought patterns that we may think are fixed, this is what will lead to a more negative mindset. Issues like a self-fulfilling prophecy, negative opinions of oneself will begin to cloud our judgment. A growth mindset is not just about training yourself in terms of new thought processes; it’s about undertaking the right practices that will help you on the road to recovery. This could very well be about getting rid of certain pressures in life. It could be through social situations, or friends that are a bad influence on you. Once we start to liberate ourselves of our old thought patterns, we can begin new thoughts, and grow to become a completely different person.

Making It Work Together

Naturally, all of these things are fantastic in theory, but can be difficult in practice. The most important piece of information that we can all learn in life is that it takes as long as it takes. When we are learning a new skill, or overcoming a dependency on something, we’ve got to break free of the antiquated notion that we are “limited.” That there’s only so much we can accomplish. Time and time again, it’s been shown that the mind and body are more than able to overcome obstacles, either by highlighting the effect that neuroplasticity has on our brains, or the fact that our body is a machine, and was built for physically demanding situations. When it comes to making all of this work together, it is mind and body, but also spirit. Whether you are religious or not is beside the point; once we equip ourselves with the tools, it’s about making it all work together according to what we want.

Like they say in rehab facilities, “we provide the tools, but it’s down to you to make sense of them.” Nobody can hold our hand through a unique problem like addiction, because we are suffering from it in our own heads. We can ask for help and guidance, and we can be given the tools, but it’s down to us to make it all work. Learning as much information as possible about overcoming something, disregarding the irrelevant tools, and making the most of the relevant ones can be a lengthy practice; but it’s all about ensuring that you are going in the right direction.

Is It Mind Over Matter?

It’s such an antiquated expression, but it is mind over matter when we have the tools at our disposal. Getting “over” an addiction isn’t about taking a magic pill. Addiction is something that can stay with us long after the physical symptoms have gone. This means that we have to develop a sense of inner strength, but also equip ourselves with all the necessary information and tactics. In this respect, it is mind over matter.

•Have you struggled with an addiction? How were you able to overcome it?

•If you’re still struggling with addiction, what are some tools that would help you be successful in breaking that addiction?

This post was a collaboration.

Thank you for reading!

Health

Is It Time For A Full Body Detox?

June 5, 2019 By lyndsinreallife Leave a Comment

Image Source. Licensed under Creative Commons.

Our bodies are designed to naturally get rid of all the bad stuff. However, we can often end up shoving so much of this bad stuff into our bodies that they cannot cope with the demand. Undertaking a full body detox can help to flush out the backlog of toxins in our body, allowing us to feel fresh again. Here are just several ways in which you can go about giving yourself a full body detox.

Cut Out the Bad Stuff

In order to stop all the bad stuff from piling up, you need to temporarily stop putting this stuff into your body. Some of the biggest culprits include alcohol, caffeine, nicotine, refined sugar, and trans fats. Try going a week without consuming these ingredients or try significantly lowering your intake – while the cravings may make you feel worse at first, you’ll feel so much better a few days in when these unhealthy ingredients are no longer in your system.

Get a Good Night’s Sleep

It’s when we’re asleep that our body does most of its natural detoxification. If you’re not getting 7 to 9 hours of sleep per night, you’re likely not letting your body complete this process. By upping your sleep for a week, you could help to rejuvenate your body. You’ll also recharge your energy reserves, making your brain feel much more alert and your body feel much more limber.

Drink More Water

Drinking lots of water will help to flush out all the toxins in your body. Focus on trying to drink 8 glasses of water per day. You can also try other drastic rehydration methods. To get all the toxins out of your bloodstream, you could consider IV hydration. Meanwhile, if you’re constipated and bloated, you could give colonic hydrotherapy a go.

Consume More Probiotics

Probiotics are your body’s source of healthy bacteria. These are needed to balance out the unhealthy bacteria in your gut. Too much unhealthy bacteria could be affecting your ability to digest food, your ability to absorb nutrients, and your ability to fight bugs and infections. Probiotics can be found in various foods such as yogurt, kefir, miso, and sauerkraut. They can also be taken as supplements.

Stay Active

Exercise is also important for detoxing your body. When we are active, our blood flows faster around the body, allowing antibodies and nutrients to get to the right places more quickly. Exercise helps us to get oxygen into our bodies faster and also helps to speed up our digestive system. All in all, it’s essential for a full body detox.

How do you detox your body? How often? Share below!

This post was a collaboration.

Thank you for reading!

Health

Surprising Causes of Headaches and How to Stop Them

June 4, 2019 By lyndsinreallife Leave a Comment

Did you know that it isn’t just stress and colds that can cause headaches? Sometimes little things, like cleaning your home or even sleeping in, can cause them too. If you want to help yourself then here are the top surprising causes of headaches.

Relaxing

Do you find that headaches strike you more on the weekend? Especially on a Saturday morning? If this is the case, then there is a very good reason. As you relax, the tension from the week subsides, and your stress hormones start to drop. This can cause a release of neurotransmitters, which sends out impulses to the blood vessels in the brain. When this happens, the vessels constrict and dilate. This can cause serious headaches, and it may cause you to suffer all weekend as a result. If you want to stop this, then try to avoid the temptation of sleeping in on the weekend. Instead, go for a yoga class or a walk.

https://www.pexels.com/photo/photo-of-woman-raising-both-hands-1556691/

Pent up Anger

When you are angry, all the muscles that are in the back of your scalp and your neck really tense up. Of course, this will cause you to experience a constricting sensation around your head, known as a tension headache. If you want to try and stop this from happening, then try to breathe in deep and slowly. Also, focus on breathing in through your nose and out through your mouth. This will relax your back and your neck.

https://www.pexels.com/photo/man-in-blue-and-brown-plaid-dress-shirt-touching-his-hair-897817/

Poor Posture

Poor posture can create a lot of tension in your upper back. This can cause you to experience a headache, and you may find that you get a throbbing pain in the back of your skull. If this is the case, then avoid sitting in one position for a long period of time. If you get pain behind the eyes, this could be because of an eye problem. If this sounds like you, then check out Biotrue ONEday for astigmatism. I have astigmatisms in BOTH eyes, so I know the pain and frustration associated with it.

Perfume

If you think that housework gives you a headache, there is a high chance that you could be right. Cleaners, fragranced air fresheners, and strong perfumes can all contain chemicals which are notorious for bringing on headaches. If you want to fix this, then try and avoid heavy perfumes, and also make sure that you keep your windows and doors open as much as possible. The same applies to your workplace as well. When someone is spraying perfume, open the window and always make sure that you turn on your air conditioner where possible.

Bad Weather

If you are prone to getting headaches, you may find that they are brought on by high humidity, increasing temperatures, and even grey skies. Pressure changes can trigger electrical and chemical changes in the brain and this can irritate your nerves. This can then lead you to developing headaches and other side effects. If you want to stop this, try and take some pain relief for when bad weather does strike. I get terrible migraines, and they’re almost always due to the barometric pressure (or a change in air pressure). High humidity causes mine, as well. When in Ohio, where it’s always over 50% humidity, I get severe migraines. Here in Las Vegas, the humidity is almost always under 10%, and I get fewer migraines!

Do you get headaches? How do you combat them? Comment below!

This post was a collaboration.

Thank you for reading!

Fitness Health Uncategorized

Why Helping Yourself On Your Fitness Journey Isn’t A Bad Thing

May 29, 2019 By lyndsinreallife 6 Comments

Pexels

Like anything people can become passionate about, the fitness community can sometimes have those who take everything they do with utmost seriousness, and can become quite draconian when imparting advice. Of course, when this comes to matters of health and safety, or when it comes to actually promoting what works, this is completely fine. However, sometimes you may be intimidated, thinking that unless you are following ‘the perfect way,’ you’re not following a way at all.

Fitness is a metaphor for our life, in that if we want something, we have to stay committed and work for it. However, over time this can prevent you from making the progress you want despite putting work in. Fitness, like anything you do to better your life, should be enjoyable and something you look forward to when it’s at its best. If you hate every gym session, every healthy meal, and feel as though you simply have to suffer through it – you’re not going to last very long at all.

This is why, especially in the beginning, helping yourself out on your fitness journey isn’t a bad thing at all. After all, if you want to climb a mountain, it’s a good idea to bring climbing gear.

Consider:

A Shoulder To Lean On

A gym can be an intimidating place to be your first time there. You likely do not know what most of the equipment is outside of the obvious fixtures, and trying to navigate a busy gym during peak times can be a nightmare. This is why it can be important start with a gym induction, and to simply walk around the place to see what you can and can’t do. Asking questions such as what the weightlifting chalk policy can help illuminate what actions you should be taking.

Sometimes, it can be hard to simply get in a routine schedule. If you haven’t gone to the gym for some time, what makes your current need so different? Also, how might you ingratiate yourself into the fitness lifestyle well? We’d recommend that finding a shoulder to lean on could be a great idea. Perhaps you could look online at a forum dedicated to your local area, and try to find a gym buddy that way. Perhaps you might ask one of your friends to start this new lifestyle with you, if they have also suggested that they wish to become fitter.

When you have someone waiting on you as you’re waiting on them, both of you will find it much harder to let the other person down. This can help you both enjoy one another’s company and also gain a stronger and more dependable approach when helping each other overcome their lifts.

There’s absolutely nothing wrong with doing this. In fact, it can be a much safer method of attending the gym. For example, having someone ‘spot you’ on the bench press can help you avoid being punished by gravity if placing too much weight on the bar. You can also both help each other with scheduling, your diets, observing the other’s form, and giving one another safety pointers. In fact, the more specialized an athlete becomes, the more they will have to rely on the opinions and help of other people. So as a novice, there’s absolutely zero shame in finding this for yourself, and the same goes for the use of excellent personal trainers.

Getting Active & Alert

While many of us love attending the gym, getting up at an early hour in the morning, walking to the gym in the pouring rain, and having to wake yourself up on the treadmill or by lifting weights can be enjoyable, yet a little rough to experience. Sometimes, we might wake up feeling full of energy and well rested. Other times, we might feel the complete opposite.

Does that mean we should cancel our gym session the moment we feel just a little tired? Of course not, that would be rather ridiculous. But it might also be that we need just a little help in getting active and alert each morning. For example, it might be that you decide to homebrew beautiful filter coffee to keep you alert and active each morning. You might also decide to use pre-workout to help you get in the zone. You might decide to run to the gym in order to wake up, or perhaps join a certain specialized class you must attend in order to get the blood moving. On top of that, ZMA supplements can help you feel more alert after a great night of rest.

Getting active and alert is the key to success with your fitness lifestyle. We would recommend you consider the powerful benefits of doing this. You never know just how much it could help.

Supplementation

Added supplementation can be a wonderful thing. From using Vitamin C and D supplements to help your immune system (preventing you from catching something such as a seasonal flu from gym equipment,) purchasing T5 fat burners to help you drop weight naturally, and also fulvic acid can help you gain minerals you might have lost out on before.

Protein supplements can help you repair your muscles after an intense gym session, and help you meet your daily macro requirement. On top of that, weight shakes can help you bulk up and put weight on, allowing you to exceed your daily need for certain calories if hoping to build muscle. BCAA’s can help your muscles repair even more appropriately, as they are literally providing the amino acids necessary to help you heal in the most fundamental manner possible.

If you have a fitness issue, either hard work, readjusting your schedule, sleeping, eating better, or supplementation can help it. But supplementation is often a dirty word, because of all the questionable products that can be sold, especially overseas. But enjoying the use of these, if properly vetted, can help you get to the next level of your fitness life. To that extent, this can be a net positive.

With these tips, you’re certain to help yourself on your fitness journey!

This post was a collaboration.

Thank you for reading!

Health

The Relationship Between Work & Health

May 28, 2019 By lyndsinreallife Leave a Comment

You have heard plenty in the past about the work/life balance – but what about the work/health balance? While it is not necessarily clear cut to say that working more means having less health, there is something of a link there which is worth looking into if you want to try and make the most of your life. Your health is obviously the most important thing to you in the world, and as long as you are living in a way which pays respect to that, you should find that you are moving in the right direction. But there are many ways in which your work can get in the way of that, and it is a good idea to try and look into what you can do to stop that from happening too much. In this post, we will look at some of the ways in which your work and your health are related, and what you can do to make sure you find the right balance.

Image

Choosing A Job

Let’s be honest: most of the time, people choose jobs based on circumstance and chance rather than a top-down kind of objective approach. That is the nature of working in the world today, and that is the reality for most people. But that doesn’t mean that you can’t choose to try and put a little more effort into finding a job that you will hopefully love, and one which is not going to cause you too much strain or trouble with your health. If you are thinking of switching jobs or getting a job, you will want to keep your health at the forefront of your mind. As long as you do that, you should find that you are much more likely to get hold of a job that will be fairly good for you, or at least not do you too much harm. Again, this is not always possible to do, but insofar as it is, you should make sure that you are happy to make the right choice and always put your health first ahead of any job.

Image

Working Safely

An important way to make sure that your work is not going to negatively affect your health is by focusing on what you need to do to work safely. The more that you are able to work in safety, the more likely it is that you will keep your health where it needs to be, and that’s obviously what we all need and want. There are many things to consider here to make sure that you are working as safely as necessary. For a start, there are likely to be a number of health and safety rules which you need to adhere to in your workplace, so make sure that you are aware of these and that you appreciate what they mean and really entail. You should also make sure that you approach your work with common sense and don’t do anything unsafe on purpose, and that you don’t do anything physical which you know you probably can’t do. Remember that your employer has their side to keep up here too, and if they don’t then you should seriously consider contacting a personal injury lawyer to get their legal assistance. As long as you do that, and you work safely, you can at least be sure that your work won’t cause you any actual injuries, which is a hugely important thing to be aware of on the whole.

Taking Regular Breaks

One of the ways in which work can affect your health is if you work too much, an affliction which many people find that they adhere to from time to time. If you do work too much, then it will only mean that you are going to cause your body and mind to experience much more stress, and that will inhibit the function of your immune system to the point where you are considerably more likely to develop an illness at some point in the future. This is clearly no good for you at all, and absolutely not worth the extra working hours. Instead, you should aim to take regular breaks wherever you can, so that you can be sure you are going to keep that stress as low as necessary, and not allow it to become too much. There will be a legal requirement for break time which you should follow, and hopefully your employer will let you take a little more too, so make sure that you are happy to do that if you want to really look after yourself. Taking breaks is essential for your health.

Image

Eating Well

Many people fail to eat properly when they are at work. This might be because they are rushed off their feet and they don’t find it easy to get hold of good food, or it might be that the stress of the day means that they crave fast food. Whatever the underlying reason, you need to try and make sure that you don’t go too far down that hole. Instead, try to make a point of eating as well as you possibly can when you are on lunch break and other breaks. You can do this by preparing a healthy meal at home which you bring in, or simply by making sure that you make a point of making better decisions when you buy your lunch. The healthier you eat during the working day, the better off your health will be on the whole – and you will also find that it makes it much easier to carry on working without getting too overwhelmed or stressed too. Food is one of the most important parts of this whole process, and you should make sure that you treat it as such. Your diet is the central pinnacle of your health, especially when you are already stressed from work.

Understanding the relationship between work and health and taking the steps above will help you to lead a much healthier and happier life!

•How do you balance your work and health life?

This post was a collaboration.

Thank you for reading!

Health Nutrition Reviews

Food Intolerance Testing with York Test Labs Pt 2: Results

May 28, 2019 By lyndsinreallife Leave a Comment

A couple weeks ago, I shared about Part One of my food intolerance testing with York Test Labs. Quick summary: I was given the opportunity to take an at-home food and drink intolerance test. I sent two little cotton swabs of blood to be tested for over 200 common intolerances. Note: this blood test checks for intolerances (some are possible intolerances), not allergies.

Disclosure: Lipton Publicity provided a sample, and the opinion I express is 100% my own.

I’m back to share my results with you! Via email, I received these results:

The top red ones (in the first photo) with the black dots are what my blood reacted to. The only one I’m sad and surprised by is the cocoa bean! I’ll definitely have to get more info on the specifics of that. If I can’t have chocolate ever, what kind of life would that be?! 😉

I’m not surprised by the milk and eggs (including yolk). I’m bummed about beef, because I love a good cheeseburger. With the eggs, it’s funny: exactly 5 years ago, I started eating food that only felt good in my body, even though some of the foods I couldn’t eat were considered healthy. Here’s the post:

That post was specifically talking about eggs! Eggs have always made me feel bloated, despite never feeling full. It felt good reading these results and knowing it wasn’t all in my head.

The yellow food/drinks with the black dots are things my blood sort of reacted to. Those are possible intolerances, but not a “for sure.” Everything else, I didn’t have a reaction to! Pretty awesome.

Had I taken this test a year ago, I’d be so sad about the intolerances to wine. But, luckily, I no longer drink, so it’s not a big deal to me.

•••

After receiving the results, you’re given a phone number to call and schedule TWO 30-minute nutritional therapy sessions! You’ll talk with a professional to better understand your results and ask any questions. You’ll also receive a food diary and guidebook.

I feel extremely satisfied with the testing process with York Test Labs, and the results I received. I highly recommend checking out their website to learn more, & to purchase your own kit! There’s nothing more important than your health.

PS: There’s currently a SALE happening! Use code MAY20 to receive 20% off!

Thank you for reading!

Keep in touch on Instagram 🙂

Personal

15 Ways of Honoring Your Lost Loved Ones

July 9, 2020 By lyndsinreallife Leave a Comment

Image Credit Pixabay.com License CC0

Losing someone that you’re close to can be a heartbreaking and overwhelming experience. You may feel considerable loss, and grief can affect all of us in many different ways. But there are ways that you can honor the life of those that you love and care about after they’ve departed.

Here are 15 ways that you can remember your lost loved one.

1. Have a Bench Dedicated in Their Honor

Is there a favorite place that your loved one liked to spend their time? Maybe a view that they particularly enjoyed, or a park that they liked to walk through?

Everyone has their favorite places. If there are park benches anywhere around their favorite place, see whether you can have one devoted to them. Many park owners will allow plaques to be added to their benches.

2. Plant a Tree in Their Honor

Many people take comfort in the idea of the circle of life. The idea is that when one person dies, another is born. Planting a tree is representative that life goes on and new life will grow. You may not get your loved one back, but having a tree growing in a favorite spot will be something that will help you remember them.

Pick a tree that will flower. Then, every year when the tree flowers, you can go and take trimmings from the tree to decorate your home with, that way you can remember and honor them continually.

3. Scatter Their Ashes in Their Favorite Place

Work out where your loved one enjoyed spending their time- it may have been a town or somewhere in the countryside or maybe the beach. Take family and friends on a trip out there and remember your loved one as you scatter their ashes in a place that held significance to them.

4. Get a Cremation Ring Made

If someone was close to you, you may want to carry them with you forever. You can do this by having rings for cremation ashes made. That way, you can think of your loved one every time you look at the ring and they’re never far away. There are also necklaces that can be made that hold ashes of someone you loved.

5. Have Some of Their Clothing Framed

Is there a piece of clothing that they wore often that really said something about who they were, or reminded you so much of them? If so, you could have it framed and put on your wall. That would be a fitting symbol of their importance to you in your life.

6. Have Their Ashes Pressed into Vinyl

Was music important to your loved one? If it was, you could consider having their ashes pressed into vinyl. Think about their favorite songs and have their ashes made into a recording of it. You could either have the disc framed or you could enjoy listening to it on your record player.

7. Wear An Item of Their Clothing

There is a comfort in wearing the clothing of a deceased person that you loved. Even if it is just a small and symbolic item, when you wear it you’ll get flooded with fond memories of that person.

8. Send Their Ashes Into Space

There’s something that can be done with your person’s ashes, and it’s pretty “cool.” You can have their ashes sent on a journey of a lifetime into space. By adding their ashes to a giant helium balloon, you can send them into space.

9. Get a Tattoo in Memory

A popular way of remembering someone that has died is to get a tattoo for them. This could be a portrait of them, or it could be an image that is more personal to you and your loved one.

Think for awhile about what you want before you have the ink put to your skin, and make sure that you go with a tattooist whose work you are happy with. It would be very disappointing to have a memorial tattoo ruined because you went with a bad tattoo artist.

10. Have Your Loved One Literally Tattooed Into Your Skin

Some people will opt to have a tattoo of a deceased loved one’s face tattooed onto them, but there’s also another option. You can have your loved one’s ashes added to tattoo ink. This way, you can have a tattoo that is made of their actual ashes.

11. Have a Portrait Painted

Why not commemorate your loved one with a beautiful painting of them? You might have a favorite photo that you want turned into a piece of artwork that you can enjoy forever.

12. Have Them Made into a Fireworks Display

If you want to have a spectacular send-off for your loved one, you might want to consider having their ashes made into a firework. You could either opt to have the ashes scattered during your own private fireworks display (if fireworks are legal where you are), or you could approach a professional company and ask if you can have the ashes scattered there.

13. Have the Ashes Added to a Paperweight

If you don’t like the idea of an urn holding your loved one’s ashes, you might consider something that is a little more useful and ornamental at the same time. You could choose to have their ashes made into a paperweight.

14. Have Their Favorite Clothing Turned into a Teddy Bear

If you want to be reminded of your loved one by the way that they dressed, you could have their favorite item of clothing stitched into a teddy bear. Having this piece of comfort around will allow you to hold their memory close.

15. Hold a Party Once a Year in Their Honor

Remembering your loved one, and celebrating their life and the time that you had together, is an important part of grieving. Having a party in their honor every year, either on their birthday or on the day that they passed away, can be a beautiful and fun way of keeping their memory alive.

In many cultures, remembering the dead is not a somber occasion, but a joyous one where you celebrate the life that you had together.

•How do you remember and honor your deceased loved ones?

Health

10 Grown Up Ways To Take Care Of Your Health

July 8, 2020 By lyndsinreallife Leave a Comment

Your health is important, and it’s your responsibility to take care of it. Being responsible for your health is part of being an adult, but it can be easy to neglect when you’re too busy having fun!

It’s time you took your wellbeing more seriously; here are 10 grown-up ways to take better care of your health.

Image Credit: Unsplash under Creative Commons

1. Ditch your bad habits

There comes a time when enough is enough. If you’re smoking, drinking too much, and/or eating fast food more than a home-cooked meal, then it’s time to change your ways and start adopting some more grown-up habits!

The good news is that it can be easy to break bad habits when you put your mind to it. Address the behaviors you want to change and start making some changes to make sure you put your health first from now on.

2. Learn what healthy eating really means

Understanding healthy eating can help you make better choices when it comes to food. Many people think of healthy eating as going on a diet, but it’s actually about finding balance with the food you eat. A healthy diet should involve a balance of carbohydrates, protein, and healthy fats, as well as vitamins and minerals. You can start with little changes to make your nutritio n healthier, helping to give you the energy you need while also keeping your body strong and healthy.

3. Educate yourself

They say ‘ignorance is bliss’, but that’s not true when it comes to your health. Firstly, it’s important to understand how different choices can affect your health, while also understanding what to do if you encounter a health problem.

Your female health is one place to start. From understanding how to check your breasts for lumps to how to get a medication abortion, you’ll feel more empowered by understanding your health. There are a lot of online resources to help you, as well as friends and family you can speak to; although the best medical advice will always come from a professional.

4. Get yourself checked out

It’s important to keep up with your health checks. From going to the dentist regularly, to visiting your gynecologist, or getting an STI (sexually transmitted infection) check, you should plan regular checkups to make sure your health is in order. It’s easy to neglect these sorts of appointments when you have a busy schedule, but with prevention being better than (possible) cure, you never know when you could benefit from one of your regular appointments.

A visit to the dentist or doctor is always an opportunity to ask questions too, so if you’ve got something you need to know, make sure you ask during your visit.

5. Focus on getting more sleep

Do you get enough sleep? Eight hours is what’s recommended, but many people rarely get the right amount of sleep each night. There are multiple benefits to getting enough sleep, including feeling more alert and focused, while also helping you to look younger and healthier. Your sleep quality affects your weight, as well. If you’re struggling with weight loss, consider doing a sleep study (or using a Fitbit that tracks sleep).

If you find getting 8 hours of sleep is a struggle, you should try changing your habits. Some of the ways you can sleep better include avoiding screens too close to bedtime, having a cut-off for caffeine, and making sure you exercise during the day to help burn off excess energy.

6. Workout and be active

Exercise is important for your health, not just to help you maintain a healthy weight, but to keep your body strong and ensure a healthy heart and lungs. Exercise can be enjoyable once you start getting into it, and it can help you form a balanced routine.

Focus on workouts that work on your cardiovascular system, as well as those that boost your strength. It’s also important to add stretching to your routine to help your muscles stay strong and flexible.

Being fit doesn’t just have to be about exercising daily. Making little changes such as walking more and taking the stairs can make a big difference to your overall fitness and leave you feeling great.

7. Learn first aid

Would you know what to do if you witnessed an accident, or became injured yourself? Having some basic first aid skills is important; you never know when you might need them. Some workplaces provide first aid training, and you should take advantage of it if you can. Knowing how to treat basic injuries and illnesses can help you avoid multiple trips to the doctor, saving those appointments for those who really need them. Knowing first aid and the Heimlich Maneuver might help you save someone’s life if something happens in your presence.

Don’t forget you can visit your pharmacist for minor illnesses and injuries to help you treat them yourself at home.

8. Open up about your mental health

As well as being more responsible for your physical health, don’t forget to care for your mental health. Mental health is a hot topic right now, and deservedly so – the more we talk about mental health, the more the stigmas and misconceptions can be broken down. If you’re struggling, make sure you talk to someone about what you’re feeling as this can be a good way to prevent problems from building up.

There are all kinds of mental health resources out there to help those who need them, so try your best to take advantage.

9. Learn to cope with stress

Life can be stressful. From work to our home lives and relationships, there are all kinds of things that can cause stress in our lives. Stress affects people in different ways, but by learning to relieve stress and avoiding your trigger points, you can stop it from having a serious impact on your health.

10. Don’t be too hard on yourself

Finally, try not to be too hard on yourself. We all have bad days or times when eating healthy or working out is simply not on today’s agenda. What’s important is that you pick yourself up and try again. Making healthy lifestyle changes will take time, and it’s the effort you’re making that counts. Over time your new habits will become the new norm, giving you a fresh perspective on your health.

Learning to take care of your health is important, and the sooner you start, the better. Consider the ways you could improve your health to help you enjoy a better lifestyle and look forward to a brighter future!

Thank you for reading!

Health

5 Reasons You Need To Start Drinking More Water Now!

July 7, 2020 By lyndsinreallife Leave a Comment

Photo by Vitalii Pavlyshynets on Unsplash

People are always telling you that you need to drink more water, but you just keep forgetting, or maybe you find that a Diet Coke is better for quenching your thirst than plain, tasteless water.

The reason we keep hearing this advice is because it works (and it’s 100% necessary for survival). Staying well-hydrated on a regular basis really does give life-changing benefits to your body, both inside and out.

Getting Your H20

For those of us lucky enough to have clean water supplied directly to our homes, there’s no reason that we shouldn’t be drinking our gallon+ per day. If you’re not sure about the quality of water in your home, invest in a water filter jug or special tap that filters the water at the source. Take a look at this article to find out what could be causing your water to taste weird and what you can do about it.

Still skeptical? Here are just five of the many benefits of drinking more water:

Improve Your Memory

Our bodies are made up of about 60% water so it’s important that we keep our levels topped up. Even just being slightly dehydrated can affect your memory and ability to concentrate.

So if you want to get that mental edge at work, you know what to do!

Reduce Headaches

Headaches can strike for a number of reasons, so if you’re a person who finds themselves getting frequent headaches and migraines, make sure to reach for a big drink of water (as well as the ibuprofen). *I’m not a medical professional and this is only a recommendation from my opinion.*

Control Your Appetite

Your body often finds it difficult to distinguish between hunger and thirst. The problem is, we often reach for a sugary treat before we think about reaching for a glass of water. When you feel hungry, try drinking a glass of water first, and see if your hunger subsides. I’ll be honest, this happens to me all the time!

Being hydrated is also an important part of weight maintenance and weight loss. Having water before and with meals can help you feel full quicker, so you’ll (generally) eat less.

Lower Your Risk Of Bladder Infections

Women get a raw deal when it comes to bladder infections; we are much more prone to urinary infections than men. Luckily, drinking water can reduce the frequency and severity of cystitis and kidney infections.

So remember to drink a lot of water and urinate frequently during the day! This is the best way to push out the bacteria. *If you feel like you have an infection, see a doctor as soon as possible. Antibiotics are needed when an infection is present.

Improve Your Performance At The Gym

Exercise makes us sweat, and most of us know to rehydrate after a workout session. But it’s important that we hydrate before exercising, too! Hydration makes a big difference in how we feel during and after a workout.

Having a good level of water in your body can be the difference between a mediocre session and a great one. The more water you drink, the more stamina you’ll have to get through your workout.

How Much Water Do You Need?

The general consensus is that the average adult needs half of their weight in ounces of water per day (ex: if you weigh 200 pounds, you need to drink 100 ounces of water daily). Ideally, this should be plain water, but other drinks without sugar are acceptable. Try not to drink too many diet drinks as even though they contain fewer calories, they are full of synthetic sweeteners.

If you’re exercising or in a hot climate, then you’ll be losing much more water through sweating, so you will need to up your daily intake.

•Do you drink enough water? What do you do to make sure you’re consuming enough water?

Thank you for reading!

Fitness Health

5 Import Reasons To Incorporate Stretching Into Your Daily Routine

July 6, 2020 By lyndsinreallife 1 Comment

While people rave about the many benefits of yoga and meditation (and rightly so), stretching tends to be forgotten about and is often an overlooked part of many people’s fitness routines. Even if you aren’t a professional athlete and are new to exercise, stretching should be a part of everyone’s daily routine due to the many short and long-term benefits. These include improved flexibility, posture and a reduction in body aches and stress, to name but a few. Here are 5 reasons why you should incorporate a 5-10 minute stretching routine into your day.

Image credit

Greater Flexibility

Improved flexibility is probably one of the things that stretching is most famous for and one of the first things that come to mind. Lots of research has been done into stretching, confirming that it can help to improve flexibility significantly as well as the range of motion of the joints and can even help to delay reduced mobility that comes with aging. Stretching increases blood circulation to the muscles, decreasing the risk of injury when exercising, and improving the performance of physical activities as the muscles work more effectively. Improved flexibility and healthier muscles also improve balance, but it’s essential to ensure that all stretches are done safely and using correct techniques to avoid injuries.

Improves Posture

If a typical day for you includes being hunched over a laptop for hours on end, you are not alone with sedentary jobs having increased up to 83% since 1950. Sitting for so many hours a day isn’t only detrimental to our fitness, but also our postures. Nine times out of ten, most of us are sitting incorrectly, slouching, and hunching over, leading to weakened and shortened back, core, neck, and shoulder muscles. Over time our bodies start to adapt to these poor postures, leading to potentially significant health problems, not only with our physical form but impacting blood circulation and how the body produces hormones. Once we have gotten into the bad habit of slouching, it’s tough to get out of. With just five to ten minutes of stretching a day, you can strengthen your back muscles, improving postures and encouraging proper alignment. Not only will you feel better and stronger physically, but you’ll also appear taller.

Relieves Stress

We all know that stress has a significant negative impact on our bodies and general health. Long periods of stress can contribute to problems including high blood pressure and a weakened immune system as well as obesity, diabetes, and heart disease.

When experiencing stress, no matter the level, your muscles’ response is to tense up. Stretching is, therefore, a great stress reliever, helping you to release much-needed tensions in areas prone to holding stress such as the neck and upper back. Stress also causes your breathing to be narrow and short but can be combated by a few daily stretches. These relax the body, encourage you to be calm, and help you get a better night’s sleep – and the benefits are often immediate.

Reduces Pain After Exercise

If you’ve ever experienced stiffness and soreness after a workout, to the point where it hurts to walk or even move, you’ll know just how painful delayed onset muscle soreness can be. This is especially true if you’ve been applying the muscle mind link when weightlifting or practicing Calisthenics. Even though it is necessary to break the muscles down to repair themselves stronger than before, the immediate after-effects can cause tiredness and affect coordination, which isn’t always ideal in our daily lives. The key to reducing delayed onset muscle soreness is to prepare your body through performing dynamic stretching before you exercise rather than after. This makes it easier to deal with any pain you might experience afterwards and helps to prepare your muscles for physical activity. It is also recommended to stretch after a workout when warming down; however, if you have pulled a muscle or are incredibly sore, then you should stop. Remember that stretching doesn’t actually heal your muscles post-exercise, but just like with stress, it is a great way to release any tension or tightness that you might be feeling.

Calms the Mind

Much like meditation, stretching regularly has a calming effect on the mind, providing a mental break for the stresses of everyday life. The production of stress hormones is slowed down as stretching stimulates the nervous system’s receptors while improving the circulation and flow of blood throughout the body. Combine stretching with meditation techniques and exercising to recharge your batteries and feel calmer.

•Do you stretch? Share your routine below!

Thank you for reading!

Health

How Are Your Health And Your Age Connected?

July 3, 2020 By lyndsinreallife Leave a Comment

Source

There’s no doubt that there are few things as important as taking the proper care of your health. Most of us would agree that we are relatively concerned with taking care of ourselves. However, one of the most common things that a lot of people forget about is the fact that your needs in regards to your health change as you get older. There are some things that will stay the same but the truth is that your body goes through so many changes as you age that the way you interact with your health can be seriously different at different times of your life. With that in mind, here are some connections between your age and your health that you should be aware of.

Your Lifestyle

When you’re young, it’s pretty easy to feel as though you’re pretty much invincible. You can eat whenever you want, go out every night, drink as much as you want, and none of it seems to have any negative impact on you. However, as you get older these kinds of things start to take more of a toll. Not only that but a lot of the things that you do when you’re younger don’t feel like they’re having an impact because of the fact that the consequences tend to be more long-term. Things like going to loud concerts or clubs are some of the most common causes of hearing loss but it’s something that you might not realise until it’s far too late. Much better to protect your hearing now rather than worry about it later.

Your Diet

Let’s face it, no matter how lucky you are in terms of being able to eat what you want when you’re younger, that’s something that’s almost certainly not going to last. If you want to take care of your health as you get older then you’ve got to get used to paying attention to your diet. Your body responds to food differently as you get older and not only can that result in things like weight gain but it can also involve pain and discomfort from certain foods. Obviously, if something has seriously changed then talking to a medical professional is always a good idea.

Joint Pain

Joint pain is something that most people assume is only really an issue as they get older, and to a certain degree, that’s true. However, even joint pain that only presents later in life can be caused by behaviours that have been happening for years. Staying active and keeping your joints strong when you’re younger can make a huge difference further down the road.

Now, none of this is to say that getting older means that you have to give up everything that you enjoy doing that’s even the slightest bit unhealthy. There’s no point in just giving up everything that makes life enjoyable. But it’s a matter of creating the best possible balance that you can. And if you can develop that balance as early as possible, you’ll end up having to give up far fewer things as you get older.

Thank you for reading!

Health

How to Help Your Aging Parents Stay in the Best Health

July 2, 2020 By lyndsinreallife Leave a Comment

Image Pixabay CC0 License

Seeing your parents age, and no longer as active as they once were can come as a shock. When your parents grow older, they may begin to experience health problems, and you may see your roles reversed. Instead of your parents taking care of you, you may now need to help care for them.

Helping your parents stay healthy can be tricky. They may resent your attempts to take care of them, or they may not believe that they need any help at all. It is vital to strike a balance between caring for them and not interfering. It is likely that your parents will want to stay independent for as long as possible, and won’t appreciate being told what to do. If you are too overbearing, you are likely to cause issues in your relationship, so talking things through with your parents, and being guided by them as to the level of help that they require is crucial.

Regular Checkups

To stay in the best health, your parents will need to have regular checkups. Along with the usual medical checkups, it is also essential to schedule hearing tests and eye tests. Many people experience a deterioration in both their hearing and their eyesight as they age. Both hearing loss and vision problems can impact on your parent’s sense of wellbeing and enjoyment of life.

Ensuring that your parents have regular checkups should help to detect the early onset of any problems, and steps can then be taken to resolve them. Hearing loss can make people feel isolated and can be frustrating for them. Not being able to hear conversations clearly, or able to listen to the radio and television can really impact on your parent’s quality of life.

If a visit to the audiologist shows that your parent is experiencing hearing loss, they may suggest that they have hearing aids fitted. Getting hearing aids can make a massive difference to your parent’s wellbeing and help them to feel more connected to the world around them. Nowadays, there are many different styles of hearing aids available. During the consultation, the audiologist will be able to recommend a style that best suits your parent’s needs, and will bring them the most significant benefit.

Keep in Touch

One of the most important steps towards helping your parents to stay healthy is to keep in touch with them either over the phone or in person. Communication is at the heart of all healthy relationships, and the parent/child one is no different. Contacting your parents regularly will help you gauge how they are feeling and gain a clearer idea of how they are doing. Being in regular contact will ensure you notice subtle changes to their health more quickly, and help them get these issues resolved.

Keeping in touch with your parents is especially important if they live alone, as they may feel isolated and lonely. Human connection and communication are crucial to everyone’s sense of wellbeing, and your parents are no exception.

Thank you for reading!

Nutrition

4 Bad Eating Habits You Need To Avoid

July 2, 2020 By lyndsinreallife Leave a Comment

Eating healthy is essential to living healthy. But as much as most of us desire to have a healthy eating habit, sometimes the will power is lacking, and we find ourselves falling back to habits that negatively affect our health. Some of these habits we may already know about, some we may not. So, let’s take a look at some unhealthy eating habits that we need to put an end to.

Eating Late At Night

Image Credit

This is one habit a lot of people are guilty of. Eating late at night contributes a lot to unhealthy weight gain and heart-related issues over time. It is always advisable to eat at least three hours before bedtime to allow for enough time to digest the food. Late-night eating can also lead to heartburns in the morning. A little trick that might work is to make a point of brushing your teeth earlier in the evening. This way, you may be discouraged from eating later at night after brushing. And if you’re struggling with heartburn, you can try relief medications such as Zanzole. Zanzole helps to control frequent heartburn by decreasing the amount of acid produced by the stomach. Visit https://www.zanzole24hr.com.au/zanzole-24hr/ for more information.

Frequent Snacking

Another habit most people are guilty of is frequent snacking. Whether it is munching on those high-calorie chips when watching a movie or digging into that delicious cake too often, frequent snacking mostly adds nothing but extra calories to the body. And unfortunately, this problem is not only limited to adults. About 66% of children in Australia below 16 years of age have snacks about two to three times a day. To fix this, purchase only healthy snacks and get rid of the cookies and potato chips that are not healthy.

Skipping Breakfast

There are a lot of reasons why nutritionists recommend breakfast as the most important meal of the day. However, our mornings can be so busy that we often forget to have breakfast, and thus, depriving our bodies of the essential energy and nutrients to start the day. Sometimes, you may not even feel hungry and decide to skip breakfast as a result. But without the needed energy to start your day, the chances are that you will be tempted to overindulge during lunch or supper. And next thing you know, you’re gaining unhealthy weight. To fix this, always have a healthy breakfast ready that you can take even on-the-go. Even when you’re not hungry, having a cup of smoothie, yoghurt, or whole fruit can make a difference.

Eating In Haste

Image Credit

You’re late for work and running out of time, and so, you’re wolfing down your meal in record time. It doesn’t matter what it is you’re eating – whether a simple snack or a whole meal. Aside from the fact that you’re likely to consume more than you can, might leave you with very uncomfortable stomach issues. The fix: Always take smaller bites and take your time to chew your food. Drink a lot of water during the day as well as during your meal. Never rush through your meal, no matter how pressed for time you are.

SoCal

Locking Up Your Bicycle: Rules & Regulations in Los Angeles

June 23, 2020 By lyndsinreallife Leave a Comment

So you finally purchased the women’s cruiser bike of your dreams and are headed down one of Los Angeles’ beautiful bike paths. Do you know and understand the rules of biking in LA? If not, take a moment to learn about the correct way to ride in the City of Angels.

Safety First

Before you start to ride, check LA’s rules for the safety equipment all bikes are required to have. Failure to equip your bike properly is not only dangerous, it can result in fines or citations. According to the law in LA, bikes must have the following:

• A brake that allows for a wheelskid on dry, level, clean pavement

• A permanent, regular seat

• Yellow or white pedal reflectors and a red rear reflector

• Handlebars that are not higher than the operator’s shoulders

• A white or yellow reflector on the front that is visible from the side

• A red reflector on the back that is visible from the side

If you plan on riding your bike at night, it must also have a white headlight. Alternatively, the rider can be wearing a white light that is visible from the front.

In addition, bicyclists may not wear earbuds in both ears or headphones that cover both ears. Riders under the age of 18 must wear an approved helmet, whether they are a passenger or the operator of the bike.

Security Second

A beautiful beach cruiser bike or trail bike can be a real temptation to bike thieves. Keep your bike locked up tightly to protect your investment. There is no such thing as a steal-proof bike lock. Any lock can be broken eventually. The object of the lock is to buy you time. The longer it takes the thieves to break the lock, the less likely they are to steal your bike.

There are four basic types of bike locks. Consider your options and choose the one that will offer your bike the most protectionfor your situation.

1. Chain locks. These have been around for a long time, and they’ve only gotten better. A strong chain that is at least 12mm thick will delay any would-be thieves the longest.

2. U-locks. These have the advantage of being the easiest to toss into a backpack or messenger bag. Be sure to use the U-lock on the wheel, not the top tube.

3. Cable locks. Lightweight and easy to carry, these are fairly easy to cut with bolt cutters, so they aren’t the best choice for most situations.

4. Folding locks. Another good lock to toss into a backpack, these locks are strong and designed to withstand cutting.

Remember, your bike lock is only as good as the pole you’ve attached it to. So when you’re trying to secure that electric fat tire beach cruiser, make sure the pole you’ve chosen is solidly in the ground and can’t just be lifted right out. Also beware of scaffolding as it comes apart quickly.

Do your research and invest in a quality bike lock to protect your fabulous set of wheels.

Thank you for reading!

Health

How To Stay Fit As You Get Older

June 22, 2020 By lyndsinreallife Leave a Comment

As we get older, our bodies need a little extra care and attention to stay fit and healthy. It is never too late – or too early – to implement a health and fitness routine.

Everyone – even the most glamorous and beautiful Hollywood movie stars will show signs of aging – a line here, a wrinkle there, a smattering of grey hair everywhere. It is an inevitable part of life, and while you can’t stop it, there are steps that you can take to reduce it. However, even more important than your appearance is how physically well and fit you are.

Being unfit dramatically increases the chances of heart disease, dementia, and various other conditions, so it is in your best interest to take action as soon as possible. Here, we look at some of the things that you can do.

Image credit: Pixabay CC0 License

Walk to keep your heart healthy

One of the best forms of exercise for everyone, but particularly for those who are of an advanced age, is walking. It is gentle enough not to put too much of a strain on the muscles, bones, and organs, but strenuous enough to make a difference. Try to walk for at least thirty minutes a day, five days a week.

Increase your bone density

According to the International Osteoporosis Foundation, osteoporosis-which causes brittle bones-affects about 22 million women and 5.5 million men aged between 50 and 84. Prescription drugs can slow it down but there is no cure. Start taking steps to prevent fractures and strengthen the bones right now: stair-climbing equipment, cross-training equipment, vigorous walking, weightlifting with mild resistance, exercising with resistance bands and even gardening will all help to minimize the rate of natural bone loss. United Healthcare silver sneakers are a great way to find classes and advice to help you with this.

Eat smart

Eating a healthy and balanced diet is encouraged at any age, but with more than nine million cases of dementia in Europe alone, it is vital to protect the brain as we get older. It does not have to be extreme-easy dietary choices like eating plenty of oily fish, olive oil, fruit, vegetables, and omega-3 fatty acids can help nurture your brain matter and give you plenty of energy to stay healthy as you get older.

Quit the bad habits

Contrary to popular belief, you do not need to be a big drinker to damage your liver. Just a couple of alcoholic drinks every day can cause issues. No one is saying that you have to ditch your favorite tipple completely, but keep to the limit and try to have at least three days a week without an alcoholic drink.

Smoking is a whole different story – if you can ditch it completely then do it. There are no benefits whatsoever to the habit and plenty of drawbacks, from increasing your chances of cancer, lung disease, heart disease, and strokes, to name but a few.

Staying fit and healthy as you age doesn’t have to be difficult. Taking a few steps as early on as possible can mean that you reap the rewards later on.

Thank you for reading!

Health

10 Tips To Get The Most Out Of A Detox

June 22, 2020 By lyndsinreallife Leave a Comment

Detoxification is the process of removing toxins from the body. If you’re planning to improve your health or aid weight loss with a detox, try these tips to get the most out of the process.

Image – free for commercial use

Quality H20. Drink more water during your detox. Your body is made up of 70% water, so you need between six and eight glasses of water a day to keep you properly hydrated. Water also helps to flush out toxins so should play a big part in a detox. If you don’t like the taste of plain water, you can add a squeeze of lemon for flavour and for an extra cleansing boost.
Go organic. Eat organic food where possible, in order to minimise your intake of toxic pesticides. Organics good gives you pure nutrients, allowing your liver to cleanse. Organic fruit and vegetables also have higher amounts of Vitamin A, vitamin C, and sulfur. All these vitamins all boost the cleansing effects in the body. You could also try a cleanse form someone like Kristen Blake Wellness.
Eat natural, and eat more greens. Stay away from processed foods, and try to eat less dairy, meat, and sugary foods. Instead, eat plenty of fresh vegetables and whole fruit. Greens, berries, apples, pears, and plums are all great choices for your health.
Exercise daily. Daily exercise improves your circulation while sweating releases toxins, so it’s a good idea to get your heart rate up. Exercise promotes detoxification and will boost all your body’s systems. As your exercise, your blood will circulate better, carrying essential nutrients to organs and muscles.
Cut out caffeine. Try to drink fewer caffeinated drinks and less alcohol, as these all dehydrate the body. Instead, swap your drinks for green tea, which gives the body many important antioxidants that it needs, in a more natural way than caffeine.
Cut out alcohol, tobacco, and processed foods. Aim to ditch these bad habits in order to encourage a healthier lifestyle. Over time, all these things can turn into toxins that the body can’t process properly. Processed foods are chemically enhanced, so they inhibit your body’s ability to cleanse itself naturally.
Eat plenty of fiber. Grains, cereals, brown bread, wholemeal pasta, fresh fruit and vegetables all help food to move through your digestive system. They also provide the body with more energy. Fibre is an important part of a healthy diet that aids weight loss but also helps the body cleanse.
Drink smoothies and juices. Leafy greens, fruits, and vegetables are tasty in smoothies and juices. Drinking them helps you to consume more alkalizing mPinerals, which detoxify the body. Smoothies are an easy way to add more superfoods to your diet.
Swap your cosmetics and cleaning products for alternatives which are non-toxic. Chemicals and toxins aren’t just found in food, after all.
Get plenty of sleep. Sleep improves the flow of cerebrospinal fluid to the brain. Your body also cleanses itself as you sleep, processing toxins and replenishing your energy levels. Both of these processes are important if you’re going to detox effectively.

•What are some ways you like to detox?

Thank you for reading!