You want to have a brighter complexion that’s free from fine lines, dry, flaky bits, spots, acne and red blotchy patches; skin that doesn’t feel as though it’s dying a slow and painful death from exposure to all manner of evil elements. The answer, my friend, is waiting in your fridge.

What you eat every day has a powerful effect on the way your skin looks and feels. Yes, you can nurture your skin with products designed to protect it on the outside, but it’s the internal nurturing you do that will really help make a difference. We have known for some time that our skin is a reflection of our nutritional status. What’s really exciting, though, is that we are beginning to understand much more about the best foods to consume to improve the health, functioning and beauty of our skin. Remember, you only get out of it what you put into it.

Here’s my guide to beautiful, healthy skin you’ll be proud of.

1. CARROTS: help protect against skin cancer
Carrots are an excellent source of the antioxidant group called carotenoids, the most common being Bcarotene. During prolonged exposure to UV rays, blood levels of B-carotene decrease
which can increase the risk of skin cancer. Studies have shown that consuming 30mg of B-carotene per day (that’s the equivalent of about four carrots) for two weeks before, as well as during, a “holiday in the sun”, prevents the drop in B-carotene associated with increased cancer risk. It may also increase the reflective capacity of the skin. The combination of increasing the amount of carotenoids in the diet, and using sunscreen, appears to enhance the protective effects of both.

2. FISH: involved in calming inflammation of the skin
Fish contains dietary compounds valuable for the skin. It’s a rich source of omega-3 fatty acids that combat free radicals that damage collagen networks within the skin. Omega-3 is a substance that will invade areas with infected pimples, helping to reduce inflammation. Some studies also confirm its benefits for reducing inflammatory skin conditions such as dermatitis and psoriasis. Oily fish, such as salmon, mackerel, sardines and tuna, are excellent omega-3 sources and need to be consumed about three times a week to ensure a good intake of omega-3. If you are allergic to fish or don’t like it, see the list below for some alternative sources of omega-3.

OMEGA OPTIONS
If you are not a fish eater, add one of the following for the same amount of omega-3 fats as a 150g salmon fillet:
2 tablespoons (40g) walnut oil
2 tablespoons (40g) wheat germ oil
2 tablespoons (40g) soy bean oil
1 1/2 tablespoon (30g) canola oil
3 1/2 tablespoons (18g) linseed
4 tablespoons (60g) walnuts
1 1/2 cups (300g) soy beans, uncooked

3. DARK-GREEN LEAFY VEGETABLES: rejuvenate skin
Nutrients in dark-green leafy vegetables such as spinach, silver beet, Asian greens and dark-green salad mix have many skinrejuvenating properties. These foods contain the anti-oxidant B-carotene (that is also found in carrots), which has the capacity to destroy cell-damaging free radicals. Iron is also present in these vegetables, and together with the vitamin C they contain, ensures that oxygen is transported to the skin’s cells. An iron deficiency can result in large dark circles forming under the eyes. Broccoli also contains the anti-oxidant vitamin C, which helps to cross-link collagen fibres and prevents collagen from being destroyed by free radicals. Collagen networks support the skin, help promote elasticity and stop it from becoming loose. Collagen also reduces bruising. To enhance the absorption of B-carotene, drizzle a little nut, olive or seed oil over raw or lightly steamed vegetables. Remember that overcooking will destroy the vitamin C.

4. CITRUS FRUIT: keeps your skin elastic
These fruits, which include oranges, lemons, limes, grapefruit, mandarins and tangelos, contain two compounds that are beneficial for skin health: vitamin C and limonene. Vitamin C works to preserve collagen. Short-term supplementation, under medical supervision, with high daily doses of vitamin C (3g), together with vitamin E (2g), has been shown to reduce the effects of acute sunburn. Limonene, an anti-oxidant found particularly in the peel, may help to reduce the risk of skin cancer.

5. SOY: keeps your skin looking youthful
Phytoestrogens in soy foods, such as soy drinks, tofu, soy and linseed bread, have been found to act like the hormone oestrogen. They help to delay the onset of dry skin and the wrinkling associated with the ageing process. Another important component which is present in soy products is vitamin E, which boosts new cell growth. The exact quantities of phytoestrogens that need to be consumed in order to reap the benefits are unknown. However, including soy products in your diet several times a week is probably a good starting point.

6. WHOLEGRAIN CEREALS: eliminate toxins
The skin is a reflection of your internal health, and toxins within the body can result in unhealthy looking skin. Fibre found in wholegrains acts like a purifying system by filtering wastes out of the body. This helps to boost the skin’s potential to be healthy and clear. Calcium may also have a role to play in the removal of toxins. So the combination of a wholegrain breakfast cereal and calcium-rich milk or soy may offer additional benefits. Isovitexin, which is an anti-oxidant found in wild rice, in particular, has been touted as having antiageing properties for the skin and is also found in some skin creams.

7. TOMATOES: fight collagen damage and premature wrinkling
Tomatoes are the richest source of lycopene, which has the potential to decrease collagen damage deep within the skin’s tissue, which is where wrinkles are formed. Many skin treatments and creams now contain lycopene, but there appear to be enhanced benefits from eating foods containing lycopene, such as tomatoes, watermelon, guava and pink grapefruit. The redder the tomato, the higher its lycopene content. Cooking tomatoes increases this level.

8. BERRIES: slow down the ageing process
Anti-oxidants called anthocyanins have anti-ageing abilities, as they are believed to protect the body against chemical carcinogens and ultraviolet light. They are found in berries such as strawberries, blueberries, blackcurrants, raspberries and cranberries. These fruits also contain the anti-oxidant vitamin C, which helps to reconstruct damaged collagen. Berries can be eaten all year round. But if fresh berries are not available, try buying them frozen from supermarkets or drink blackcurrant juice to boost your anthocyanin intake.

9. PLANT AND SEED OILS: healthy glow, reduced dryness
Oils from olives, nuts and avocados provide the skin with a healthy glow. The essential fatty acids found in these foods reduce clogged pores by thinning out the oils secreted by them. It has been suggested that people affected by eczema have an abnormal essential fatty acid metabolism and may benefit from an adjustment of the types and quantities of the fat in their diet. However, this sort of dietary manipulation is complex. The presence of vitamin E in these oils ensures the production of new cell growth, keeping the skin supple, smooth and moist. The combination of this antioxidant vitamin with others such as Bcarotene is believed to protect against erythema (redness of the skin) and therefore may be useful for diminishing sensitivity to ultraviolet light and the effects of sun damage. How much do we need? Including small amounts of these healthy oils in your diet every day would be advisable for healthy skin.

10. SHELLFISH: promotes clear, smooth skin
The acne terminator zinc, found in oysters and other molluscs, decreases acne flareups. It also plays a major role in helping break down damaged collagen, allowing new collagen to form which, in turn, makes the skin look youthful. One of the clinical signs of zinc deficiency is dry, flaky skin. Most people need 12mg of zinc per day, so try some of these foods: ‘/2 dozen oysters (19mg), 100g lean lamb (Smg), l bowl of fortified breakfast cereal (2mg), 1 cup of baked beans (1.Smg), 1 cup of cooked spinach (lmg), 1 slice of wholemeal bread (0.4mg).

Just wondering, why men don’t want sex? Hope this post could educate more women

1. You’re fat
2. It’s the 4th quarter or overtime
3. You’re not that good
4. We’re about to eat
5. We just ate too much
6. We’ve got a better looking girl or more nympho girl on the side
7. We just got off the phone with your annoying mother
8. You’re still not in shape
9. Having sex with a condom is like eating food without taste
10. We took care of ourselves all ready
11. I’m tired of doing all the work while you just lay there

Other close reasons are: Hormonal levels, Medications, Lack of sleep, Identity issues, Fear of intimacy, Turn-off to aspects of the sex, Difficulties functioning Sexually, Disagreements with the bitch, Stress, Stabbings, Burnings, Food Poisoning, Crying.

My friend gave me another list:
1. You spent a good portion of the night scratching your balls.
2. You’re not that hot.
3. Your photo in your profile is a few years old when you were thinner and had more hair.
4. You’re in desperate need of laser hair reduction on your neck, chest, and belly.
5. She’s really just using you to get to your supa-hot friend.
6. The night’s still young and she still has a chance of going home with someone better.
7. You ordered a bottle of chablis at dinner and pronounced it chab-less.
8. You’re wearing way too much cheap cologne.
9. When you kissed her, you tried to force your cold, wet, slobbery tongue down her throat, and she could guess right away you didn’t have enough experience to make anything else worth her time.

What do you think??? Let us know leave your comment below……..

What’s your inclination for a Romantic Day meal: elegant and involved or fast and fun? Culinary speed queen Rachael Ray and domestic authority Martha Stewart recently sat down with The AP to chart out their ideas for the perfect at-home dinner for a Romantic Day.

Hoping to ease some of the Hallmark moment anxiety couples new and old face on this day defined by hearts and cards, both agreed that the perfect ending to the perfect meal is a snuggle on the couch accompanied by a good movie; some options are Casablanca or When Harry Met Sally, Ray’s picks, or Out of Africa or the 1940 version of Pride and Prejudice, as Stewart suggested.

“Cards have to be sent. I love cards and I send them to every man I care about, whether they’re boyfriends, former boyfriends or business colleagues,” Stewart said. “And I make up silly cards because I think Valentine’s Day is a silly holiday.” Before the meal, Stewart would serve a cocktail or rose Champagne. And she likes the idea of a duet, a meal the couple plans and prepares together. “Some men don’t like to cook at all, so you just let them get drunk,” Stewart said, laughing.

Start the dinner with a salad of gently roasted vegetables, perhaps wild mushrooms and baby asparagus tossed with fresh herbs, mache (a salad green) and sliced endive. Then move on to pasta, such as fettuccini Alfredo with shaved white truffles. If white truffles aren’t your thing, or are out of your budget, Stewart suggests a Parmesan souffle. Then continue the theme into dessert with a pistachio soufflz with a molten chocolate center.
For a special touch, Stewart enjoys making a heart-shaped box, which she fills with chocolates, candies or pastries. The directions for making such boxes appear in the current issue of Stewart’s magazine. And don’t forget to set the mood with an attractively set table, flowers and, of course music. Stewart opts for Leonard Cohen.

For this dinner, Ray suggests starting with a salad of caramelized onions and toasted hazelnuts over baby spinach and plum tomatoes.
Pair that with a skillet steak with a cognac sauce, a good opportunity to impress your date by getting fancy with flames in the kitchen. It’s also a good chance to end the evening in the ER, so don’t get too cocky. And for dessert, chocolate cups topped with fresh whipped cream.
Most importantly, don’t stress. If the meal tanks, get takeout.
“Even if you burn everything, even if it looks like charcoal briquettes or there’s too much salt or if you brought a cassava melon home instead of a spaghetti squash, it doesn’t matter because the effort was made,” Ray said.

Hi All,

Time for some Fashion Trivia.

Brocade seems to be the trend this season. So, all you fashionable women out there ‘Go for Baroque’ this fall.

Look at a few trend tips for Female fashion 2006/7 I managed from the net:

If tweed was the fabric of the past few years and velvet is the current love, then brocade is the next big fashion fabric.

Brocade Parade
Get ready for a “brocade parade” as we head into the holidays. This gorgeous printed fabric is at the top of every fashionista’s must-have list — consider a pair of shoes, a slim clutch handbag, a scarf or shawl — or even a fabulous suit. You get extra trend points if your brocade piece is embellished with faux fur, jewels or velvet trim — or all of the above!

Season’s Hottest style - Go for Baroque - This rich and opulent trend includes lush fabrics like velvet and brocade in deep jewel tones mixed with gold.

Brocade is a rich and elaborate couture fabric with a raised and embossed texture. It is widely used with a satin and silk background to accentuate hand beading, tonal metallic threading, and embroidery. Brocade is extensively used for dresses, shoes, handbags, scarves, stoles, home furnishings.

Gold, Gold and Even More Gold Brocade!

This fall and winter expect to shimmer and glimmer in golden yellow colours. Tones through lemon, melon, chartreuse to sand, honey, bright yellow, mustard, butter, corn, straw and gold abound. You will find these golden colours in every fabric among wools, wool jersey, silk jersey and satins. Sparkling opulent brocade fabrics go right across the colour range from the creamiest of honey to the most lustrous golden copper sheens. –

U.S. researchers have put out a new warning which states that permanent makeup can lead to disfigurement risk of “serious, long-term disfiguring reactions” for the 8 million women who use it. The warning comes from the CDC’s Masja Straetemans, PhD, and Martin Belson, MD, along with the FDA’s Linda Katz, MD, MPH. They have long known that allergic reactions can occur with such ink injections, women usually use this permanent makeup in the form of injections which can be used to enhance the eyebrows, eyelids, as well as lips.

The problem with it though is that the side effects are vast and apparent already. Masja Straetemans of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention stated that the findings they have now show that permanent make up can result in “serious, long-term disfiguring reactions.
“Permanent makeup” — a kind of tattoo of the lips, eyelids and eyebrows — can for years disfigure patients who suffer allergic reactions. “Of the 92 women [included in the study], 89 had used ink shades from the specific company in at least one procedure after June 1, 2003, before the development of health problems,” the study’s lead author, Masja Straetemans, a senior epidemiologist at the Robert Koch Institute in Berlin, Germany.
More than 9 out of 10 had swelling and tenderness, nearly that many complained of itching, and more than 4 out of 5 had bumps.

They found that the allergic reaction lasted anywhere from five months to more than three years. “In 68% the reactions had not healed at the time of the telephone interview,” said Straetemans. Like a regular tattoo, the permanent makeup procedure injects pigment into a deep layer of skin called the dermis, according to the American Academy of Micropigmentation (AAM). The epidermis is the layer of skin which is visible, and the one that constantly sheds and renews itself.

Straetemans’ team notes that the ink product line associated with most of the reactions reported by the patients they studied was recalled in September 2004. The researchers point out that they don’t know how many people have gotten permanent makeup, so it’s not clear if adverse events are rare or common in those people. Straetemans and colleagues ask consumers and medical professionals to report adverse reactions to permanent makeup procedures to the FDA.

The body sees the pigment as a foreign body and reacts to it, causing a chronic inflammatory reaction,” said Dr. Ellen Marmur, chief of dermatological surgery at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York City. “The area gets swollen, bumpy and red. It looks like a bad, bumpy scar. It’s very unattractive.” Marmur said it’s impossible to know ahead of time who will have a reaction on the tattoo and who won’t, although most of the people interviewed for the study — 74 percent — had a history of allergies. Additionally, the study found that people with allergies took twice as long to heal, on average, Straetemans said.

Marmur suggests to reduce the risks and to ask for a list of ingredients in the inks to see if there’s anything likely to cause a reaction. Also, the patient should know beforehand whether that particular ink can be removed at a later date. Some red inks, which could be used in a lipstick tattoo, turn black and become permanent if they’re exposed to the lasers commonly used to remove tattoos, she said.

Adopting some of these special lifestyle moves will pay off quickly.

1. Pour On The Milk
Researchersin the Us discovered that women who consumed 1,000 milligrams of calcium a day lost almost eight kilograms more than those who did’nt. Calcium turns off one of the hormones responsible for making fat. (Low fat and skim milk are high in calcium, so drink up!)

2. Drink Water
Cut out high-joule beverages (soft drink, alcohol, juice) and drink water instead. You’ll consume at least 1,200 fewer kilojoules a day.

3. Spice It Up
Add chilli to stir-fries and pastas. studies indicate that this little red bean really bumps up your metabolism, increasing your kilojoule burn - and nutrtionists say it may also help to curb your sugar cravings.

4. Eat Air
A recent study found that air-filled foods fill you up faster, so you eat less. Try popcorn or puffed cereals.

5 Opt for Appetisers Over Alcohol
When researchers had subjects drink an extra 1,885 kilojoules a day (that’s two gin and tonics), they gained weight. But when the subjects added the same amount of kilojoules as food, their weight didn’t change. It’s a good excuse to choose the prawns over the pinot noir, anyhow.

6. Eat In, Not Out
Women who eat restaurants more than five times a week consume nearly 1,255 more kilojoules a day than those whoe eat out less frequently, according to one study.

7. Beware The Buffet
In one study, subjects were given a high-fat meal before going to a smorgasbord. Those who were overweight ate 56 percent more at the buffet than their leaner counterparts. but when offered a low-fat meal first, no-one overate. (It may be because physically fill you up, so you eat less).

8. Stock Up On Fish
In one study of overweight people, those who ate fish daily lost nearly 13 percent more weight than those who didn’t. Include tuna (canned in spring water) in your lunch to increase your fish intake.

Can chewing gum with sugar affect your day’s calorie allotment - and your weight-loss efforts? … and more of your questions answered here.

Every day I chew two packs of bubble gum containing sugar. (I don’t like sugarless gum.) Can chewing this much gum cause weight gain?
Yes. One piece of Bubble Yum has 25 calories, as much as one Hershey’s Kiss or two gumdrops. If you chew 10 pieces a day - two packs - you’re consuming 250 empty calories. Big Red, Doublemint and Juicy Fruit contain 10 calories per stick.

Although Sugarless Bubble Yum contains 20 calories a piece, most sugar-free gums contain just 5 calories a stick. “Give sugar-free gums another try,” says Gail Frank, Dr.PH., R.D., a nutrition professor at California State University, Long Beach, and a spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association. “There are several different sweeteners, and you might find one you like.” If you switch from a brand that contains 25 calories per piece to a 5-calorie brand, you’ll save 200 calories a day, enough to lose 1 pound in 18 days.

Gum can be a low-calorie way of satisfying a sweet craving, but it can be tough to determine how many calories are in the gum you chew. While most sugarless gums have a nutrition label on each individual pack, most gums with sugar don’t. That’s because on small items like gum, the government requires labels only on the box, not on each pack. At some stores, the gum might not be displayed in the box it came in

I eat an apple in the car on the way to the gym every day after work. But after 40 minutes of cardio and 20 minutes of weight training, I’m absolutely starving, and I eat way too much for dinner. Should I choose a different pre-workout snack?
Your problem may not be your choice of snack - an apple is a fine choice - but rather that you have gone too long without eating. “What you eat earlier in the day can influence your hunger after your workout,” says Cindy Moore, M.S., R.D., director of nutrition therapy at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation. Are you eating a substantial breakfast and lunch?

In addition to snacking on an apple in the car, Moore suggests a midafternoon snack, such as a whole-grain granola bar, another piece of fruit or lowfat yogurt. As a rule, don’t go more than three hours without eating. “If you eat earlier in the day, you’ll be more in control after your workout and won’t experience nearly the degree of hunger afterward,” Moore says.

A Web site I visited claims applecider-vinegar tablets are a “natural way to jump-start weight loss.” Is this true?
Sorry, the claims on the Web site are false. “The way to evaluate any product is to look at research published in scientific journals,” says Seattle nutritionist Susan Kleiner, Ph.D. You won’t find any valid research to back up the claims about vinegar and weight loss.

Although it is illegal for companies to make false claims, the Federal Trade Commission simply does not have the manpower to shut down every misleading Web site that touts quick-fix weight-loss products. “The responsibility lies with the consumer,” Kleiner says. There is simply no shortcut to weight loss. The old standby formula - regular exercise combined with nutritious eating - is the only one that works.

With so much discussion these days about skincare and aging it seems like washing your face would be a no-brainer. Not necessarily so, according to the recent survey, which found that while nearly three quarters of all women wear makeup, 40 percent of these women don’t always bother to remove makeup before going to bed. The reasons for this beauty blunder varied: 12 percent of makeup wearers say they don’t need to wash their faces because most of their makeup wears off on its own during the day, while another 12 percent find makeup removers to be drying to the skin.

“This is a huge mistake,” says Rachel Weingarten, makeup artist and beauty consultant. “As important as it is to apply makeup correctly, it is just as important to remove it effectively every night, whether you wear a lot of makeup or just a little.

“Women open up their skin to a host of problems if don’t cleanse their faces before going to bed each night,” Weingarten warns. Issues range from blackheads and clogged pores, to a dull complexion that can result when dead skin cells aren’t properly exfoliated. “You may even wake up with red, irritated eyes, as flecks of mascara loosen while you sleep,” she adds.

Weingarten’s s other beauty faux pas include the following:
1. Stuck in a Rut
Although it’s not necessary to change your overall makeup style each season, you do want to update it enough to look fashionable. “If you prefer neutrals, play with texture instead,” she advises. “For instance, if you like a particular shade of eye shadow, stick to the same color family, but explore creamier textures or a bit of shimmer to make eyes sparkle.” This small change will get noticed, but won’t be too dramatic a change from the norm.

2. Lipstick Disasters
Dark lip liner with light lipstick is a big no-no. Lip liner is best when it doesn’t look like it is outlining your mouth. “Try applying a sheer, frosty gloss over your regular lipstick to give a similar appearance to lip liner, with a more elegant and subtle look,” advises Weingarten. Another lipstick mistake is donning dark or bright lipstick on an otherwise bare face. “Wearing lipstick without any other makeup is fine-in fact, it’s a great minimalist look,” adds Weingarten. “However, don’t overdo it by wearing a dark or bright shade.” Instead, she suggests wearing a sheer pink for light complexions or earthy tones for darker skin for a less severe look.

3. Raccoon Eyes
Today’s waterproof and smudgeproof mascara may last longer, but it is also harder to remove at night. “Nothing makes you look more tired and worn out than having residual mascara left under your eyes in the morning,” adds Weingarten. Use a makeup remover to get hard-to-remove makeup off.

4. Concealed Weapon
A common misconception is that concealers can be used over the entire face. “A concealer should only be used in specific areas, such as around the eyes to help hide flaws or dark circles,” says Weingarten. Use a concealer to hide a zit or camouflage under-eye puffiness from lack of sleep, but don’t use it as a substitute for a good foundation, since the color tone of concealer is not ideal for the overall face.

5. Copy Cat
Who hasn’t tried to copy the look of a celebrity and found that it doesn’t make the cut? “I always tell people that copying the look of a celebrity is really a waste of time because those celebrities have an entire team of people whose job it is to make them beautiful,” says Weingarten. “Find your own look that you can put together easily each morning-and go with it.”

6. Lack of Moisture
According to the survey, only about a third of women (37 percent) under the age of 54 apply a moisturizer after removing makeup at night. “Removing the makeup is just the first step,” explains Weingarten. “Adding moisture back into the skin is key to keeping an even, supple complexion and to help minimize the appearance of fine lines as we age.”

The Step Diet is based on five principles that Hill and colleagues have determined underlie successful efforts to shed pounds and keep them off:

1. Maintain the proper energy balance.
2. Small changes drive success.
3. Start with physical activity.
4. Anticipate success, but not instantly.
5. The maintenance of weight loss is more important than the speed or amount of weight loss.

“The whole book is based on small, incremental changes,” Hill says. “You can get people to make big changes, but they’re not sustainable.”

The first step is to strap on a pedometer and find out how active you really are: how many daily steps you take on average during a week. The result might be a shock, because it’s easy to confuse being busy with being active. Busy parents, for example, might be exhausted after a day of ferrying kids hither and yon, even though they’ve walked only the 50 steps from the house to the car and back.

During the same week that you’re counting steps, you also need to keep track of what you’re eating and how much you’re eating-that is, portion size.
“We’re not overweight because we’re eating the wrong foods,” Hill says. “We’re overweight because we’re eating too much of everything.”

Once you’ve figured how much you’re walking, add 2,000 daily steps. Although that might sound daunting, it’s only about 15 more minutes of walking. Then set realistic weight-loss goals.
During the 12 weeks of the diet, there are only two requirements: Eat 75 percent of what you normally do, and every week, increase your steps by 500 a day. You can expect a 1-to 2-pound weekly weight loss, and by the end of the three months, you will have added 8,000 daily steps.

Figuring out how many steps you need to lose weight and then maintain the loss is part of the program. The idea that 10,000 steps is ideal came from a Japanese media campaign to promote the use of pedometers. It’s not really equivalent to the surgeon general’s recommendation of 30 minutes of activity most days of the week.
Depending on stride, most people cover a mile in 2,000 to 2,500 steps, so 10,000 steps in 30 minutes would mean covering a mile in less than eight minutes.

Hill’s not a fan of the 10,000-step concept, partly because surveys show the average person walks about half that a day. “If you say the goal is to get to 10,000, you’re asking them to double or triple their level of activity. People get discouraged if you give them that big a goal,” he says. On the other hand, Hill says, 10,000 steps a day might not be enough for some people to lose weight and keep it off.

There’s certainly evidence that 10,000 steps makes a difference. A recent study showed that middle-age women who took at least 10,000 steps a day on average were much more likely to fall into normal ranges for body fat and weight, while those who took fewer than 6,000 a day were more likely to be overweight and carry their weight around their middle-a sign of increased risk for heart disease.

The study of Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, the official journal of the American College of Sports Medicine, followed 80 women ages 40 to 66 who wore pedometers to keep track of their daily steps. After one week, researchers put them in three groups: inactive (women who took 6,000 or fewer steps), somewhat active (6,000 to 10,000) and active (10,000-plus). The active women had, on average, 26 percent body fat and fell into recommended ranges for body fat versus lean tissue, while those in the inactive group had a body fat percentage of 44 percent and fell well into the overweight category.

Determining how many steps you need to reach a weight-loss or maintenance goal is a matter of arithmetic, Hill says. The book contains a 13-step formula that could scare anyone without an advanced degree in mathematics, but it’s about to get easier.
The person who’s going to be most successful at the Step Diet is probably someone who has been unsuccessful at maintaining weight loss in the past, Hill says. “Now they’re ready to roll up their sleeves and do what they need to do,” he says.

Just because we’re not up for the catwalk, doesn’t mean we can’t always look our best.
Those fashion spreads in glossy magazines may be lovely to look at, but for every person they inspire there’s another who sinks into gloom Not only are the models improbably slender and depressingly pretty, they’re also so unbelievably well-groomed. For real-world people whose wardrobes consist of a mishmash of mostly chain-store purchases that are usually snowing fair signs of wear (washed-out colours, stretched cuffs and stains in al the wrong places), replicating those high-fashion looks appears an impossible dream.

But while we may never look like fashion models - or own their wardrobes there are plenty of things we ordinary folk do to keep ourselves looking smart. Stylists those invisible magicians who create the glossy spreads, are full of good ideas for keeping clothes in good order.

“Every day I style fashion and I’m put into situations where I have to think or feet and use the resources around me. says Melissa Gadsden, who’s worked as a stylist on everything from corporate campaigns to music clips. “Garments need to be taken care of not just on the body but off the body as well. And there are lots of things you can do at home to keep your clothes at full potential.”

The first thing she suggests is to follow the washing instructions on the label. It sounds simple, but we all know how tempting it is to throw that ‘hand wash only’ into the machine - and rue the consequences. “And don’t dryclean things too often,” Melissa says. “It’s a chemical treatment that eats away at fabric. Try hanging jackets out to air and spot-clean instead. I get all my winter jackets dry-cleaned at the end of each winter, then place them on a wooden hanger enclosed in two suit bags with some cedar balls (a beautiful-smelling alternative to mothballs) and put them in the back of the cupboard until next year.”

Melissa’s a big fan of the wooden hanger for all your clothes: “They let the garment’s fabric hang better and won’t put nasty stretch marks on the shoulders like metal hangers do. Plastic will do just fine, but these days you can find great prices on packets of wooden hangers - it pays to shop around.”

Like the rest of us, she knows one of the real banes of a winter wardrobe is woollens. If things are starting to look a bit pilled and fuzzy, she recommends an ordinary shaving razor. Just go all over the jumper in a downward brushing motion. “It’ll come up looking brand new,” she says.

Wrapping masking tape, sticky side out, around your hand is a great way to get fluff and pet hair off things. And if hand-washed items are starting to lose their shape, Melissa recommends judicious use of a hair dryer. “It’s great for padded bras,” she says. “Grab your hair dryer and, carefully, wave it over each cup. That will bring it back into shape and smooth out any creases.” It’s also a great way to bring woollen cuffs and waistbands back into shape.

And finally, she loves an organised wardrobe. “Everything should have its own drawer, shelf or hanger,” she says.
Michelle Cammiade, fashion stylist with The Age newspaper in Melbourne, agrees. “And if space is an issue, it’s a good idea to have a section of your wardrobe with twin rails, one at normal height and one halfway down. This provides a row for trousers and a row for shirts and tops. You can fit twice as much into the same space.” Over summer, Michelle is a big user of vacuum storage bags (you can get them at Kmart and Target) to store her winter woollens. “Another great space-saver,” she adds.

And shoes? Don’t just pile them into the bottom of your wardrobe. Keep them in their boxes, stacked on top of each other, but cut out the side or end panel so you can easily see what’s on offer.
While Michelle laughingly confesses that her own wardrobe is not quite that organised, there are other little things that she really does do every day, both at work and at home.

“I think most people know about using clear nail polish to stop a run in your stocking,” she says. “I also love double-sided tape. It’s a godsend! You can repair a hem, keep a collar in the right position, stick a low-cut top to your boobs. I use it all the time.” Her other must-have is a container of good-quality facial wipes. “They will get any make-up stain out of clothes.”

As someone who loathes ironing, Michelle has made quite a study of how to do it efficiently - and how to avoid it. “At Lincraft or Spotlight, you can buy what I call a sausage,” she says. “It’s a tube of fabric stuffed with hard felting. You stick it into a sleeve and it lets you iron all around without creases.” She’s also a big fan of the steamer - a vacuum-like gadget (readily available at the big appliance chain stores) that shoots steam instead of sucking air. “It’s the only way to iron pleats,” Michelle says. “It’s great for suit jackets. And it’s also a terrific way to freshen up smoky clothes if you’ve been out in a bar or pub.” Linen water in your iron is another way to gently refresh stale clothes.

And finally: “Buy clothes that don’t need ironing!” she says.
Sophie Hexter, a Melbourne freelance stylist, couldn’t agree more. While she spends her days endlessly fiddling with other people’s clothes, when it comes to her home wardrobe, she’s strictly no-fuss.
“I am a big fan of the colour-coded wardrobe,” she says. “I like to have everything stored in colour groups, mainly because it makes it much easier and quicker to dress in the morning!” And although it sounds finicky, she’s also a keep-shoes-in-their-box girl: “It preserves them, but it also makes it so much easier to find them.”

Like Michelle, she’s enthusiastic about noniron clothes. As well as woollens and T-shirts, there are great cotton/elastane blends that will dry wrinkle-free on a hanger (so check the label next time you buy a new shirt). Most importantly, Sophie says we should enjoy our clothes. “Never save your favourite items of clothing for special occasions,” she says. “Wear them as often as you like. If you want to update a look, just buy some accessories - there’s no need to buy a whole new outfit.” And she knows from experience that we look better when we’re feeling good. “So always dress for comfort!”