Thursday 31 May 2012

Arm Exercises

In my youth, I had a body-builder boyfriend.  He gave me a simple arm workout, and soon I had scrawny but well defined arms.  Thirty pounds and thirty years later, it's time to get those arms back. 

I have always had trouble with the backs of my arms - my tricept muscles.  The Standing Wall Pushup is an easy beginner's exercise.  I can do it, and I have a wall.  No excuses here.  You stand facing a wall, about an arms length away.  Put your arms out until your hands are flat on the surface of the wall, directly in front of you at about shoulder level.  Lean forward inhaling, bending your arms at the elbow, as if you were doing a push up.  Exhale and push back away from the wall.  It's like doing a push up without being on the ground.  You can't beat that. 

Now make a plan for how often you will be doing this every day, and how many repeats.

Remember to use the chant "I must, I must have arms like Madonna"   or maybe this will work "I must, I must be able to wear sleeveless tops".  Whatever works.

Here's a link to a Youtube exercise video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gqgud0M2eTo&noredirect=1
 from Personal Trainer Ellie Johnson.

Wednesday 30 May 2012

L'Oreal Age Perfect


I have been experimenting lately with a variety of anti-wrinkle, anti-aging products.  My favourite so far was the Vichy Liftactiv Serum 10.   But it
seems a little pricey, so I thought I would like to
try another Serum - because maybe serums are the
magic solution for my wrinkly eye area.

My drugstore price was about $55 for the Vichy.
I found L'Oreal Age Perfect Serum at the drugstore
for about $19.  Way more reasonable. 

The L'Oreal Age Perfect comes in a dropper bottle, but I seem to get more or a blob than a tiny drop or two from the dropper.  The product smelled nice, but I'm not sure I need any smell to my face creams.  The product had a little bit more of a creamy texture than the Vichy serum, but it did go on nicely and disappear.  I do feel a tiny bit of a sting after I apply the product, but no irritation or redness.  All in all, I like the L'Oreal product, I do have some wrinkle reduction, and I like the price.  But if the Vichy product were the same price, I'd choose that instead.  So if I'm really worth it, I should spend the money on the Vichy Liftactiv Serum 10.

Tuesday 29 May 2012

What I Bought?

So as promised, after I lost my first 5 pounds, I bought myself just a few new warm weather clothes, just a few, because I need to keep cool in this hot weather, but I also need to lose more weight before I can get the whole new wardrobe.  I bought two new pairs of capris - not shorts.  My legs are too jiggly yet to come out of hiding.  Really.  I also bought two new t shirts - the arms are a little hider to hide my upper arms,  they are also a little looser around the middle to avoid highlighting my muffin top, but not baggy to avoid hiding in my clothes.  So, five more pounds and something else.  I am still stuck at seven pounds off, but things are good.

More Products

Today, I tried Olay Revitalizing Eye Gel, and L'Oreal Nutri-Sleek Anti-Frizz Serum.  The eye gel worked to depuff my enormous pre-shower undereye wrinkles. The texture though is gooey - like hair gel on my face.  So the verdict is that it did work, it did the de-puffing job, and did not irritate my skin.  I don't think it replaces the Vichy Lifactiv Serum10 that I tried the other day.  That's still my favourite so far.

My teenager constantly straightens her thick hair and applies various shine serums.  My thin hair requires no straightening, and is flyaway, but the shine is still great.  The L'oreal product has a nice texture, and you only need a drop, but really isn't the right product for my hair.  If anything, it weighed it down a bit and made the surface a bit oily.   Not for me, but my daughter loves it.

Monday 28 May 2012

Down Seven Pounds

In my overall drive to lose 20 pounds, I want to let you know that I have now lost 7.  This is difficult to do having survived two warm weekends and the barbecuing that goes with them.  I have been able to do this by moderating what I eat, and trying to avoid the things that are my weaknesses - peanut butter, juices, cheese and junk foods.  It's a struggle.

Saturday 26 May 2012

Vichy Liftactiv Serum 10

I just tried Vichy Liftactiv Serum 10.  I just needed a very small amount.  The product is very light and clear.  I applied it to my undereye and cheekbone area.  The verdict?  I like the texture, and it reduced the deep vertical wrinkle that I have below my right eye, as well as the small eye area wrinkles.  They're not all gone, but are somewhat improved, and I seem to have no irritation.

Friday 25 May 2012

How We Got Here

I am fifty-one.  This blog is for those of us hitting fifty and looking ahead.  Many of us are moms.  If you are like me, I have spent the last seventeen years or so thinking about the needs of my kids, husband, and my own mom before I think about myself. I have been so engrossed in other people's lives that I have not paid attention to my own.  So here I am, in the stage of life where I am less important to my kids, just the feeder, driver and scheduler now, and I am looking plain, old and tired.  So, while it's hard for me to put aside my conservative taste and cheapness, I must push the envelope a bit and try spoil myself and try new things.  That goes for you too.

Thursday 24 May 2012

The First Five Pounds

Well,I have achieved the first goal.  Down five pounds.  I'm sure I could have done better, but there were problems along the way.  My husband bought Doritos, beer and other assorted things on the weekend.  I was able to avoid most things, but the Doritos and beer are hard to refuse on a hot long weekend on the patio. I found that the lean cuisines did not work for me for dinner at all.  I was still really hungry after having them.  So I tried low fat soups that were high in fiber - bean and vegetable versions.  They were probably higher in calories, but I needed to feel full to avoid snacking. Oh - and the reward - I went to buy myself two pairs of capris - just to wear in warm weather.  Maybe if I lose five more pounds, I'll buy some shorts.  I need them.

Monday 21 May 2012

More Wrinkle Repair

I have tested, again unscientifically, Neostrata Wrinkle Repair.  I do love the texture and I'd like to imagine that there has been some wrinkle reduction, but I can't say for sure.  I am looking for magic.  I do not feel the tingling and puffiness that I experienced with the night cream from ROC, but results, I'm not sure.

Friday 18 May 2012

Fighting Wrinkles

I've been testing a few skin care products, not scientifically, testing on one side at a time for six weeks - none of that.  Just desperately grabbing products and samples whenever I can.  Recently I tried the ROC
Retinol Correction Deep Wrinkle Repair Night Cream.  It went on nicely, left a bit of an oily sheen, as night creams often do.  I have not yet seen the reduction in my crows feet that I am looking for, but I did notice my under eye bags puffed up a bit, and I got some minor pimples/bumps on my cheeks.  I am just a tad stingy now, so hopefully I won't get red and puffy.  I'm sorry to say that I am going to call it a night with this cream.

Tuesday 15 May 2012

I am so hungry

I am so hungry,but I am substiuting a banana and milk whenever I need a snack.  By the way, I have lost 3 pounds.  I confess though to having one light beer yesterday, and dipping into the peanut butter today.

Monday 14 May 2012

Inspiration

I am no Madonna.  But wow, if you are looking for inspiration to keep fit when you are past 50, check out Madonna.  Yes, she works out like a madwoman, but look at her..... Oh, she must have had plastic surgery, botox, whatever... Who cares?  She works out hard and there is no faking that.

No jiggly arms or muffin top here.  Too much?  She shows that it can be done.  Go Madonna.

When we workout we can chant to ourselves - "We must, we must have arms like Madonna"

Sunday 13 May 2012

To Start

I would like to lose some weight.  I would like to buy some new clothes for the warm weather.  Here then is my motivation.  I would like to lose 5 pounds over the next two weeks or so.  Then I can buy myself something.  Motivation is good!

To start with I will be eliminating a few bad things from my diet.  It's not that they are really bad for you, it's just that I over indulge in them.  For example, peanut butter, cheese,  and juice are off limits for the next week or so.  I am starting on Slimfast, Lean Cuisines, whole grained cereal and fruit.  Lots of water too.  Wish me luck.

Saturday 12 May 2012

Before

Today I am in good health or so I think, thank the lord.  But I could lose 20 pounds, lose the muffin top and jiggly arms.  My hair is boring and witchy and my skin is looking a tad wrinkly.  My wardrobe?  Blah, black, blah, etc.   So I have a long way to go.