Live Well Be Gorgeous

Reuters - Banning fast-food advertising on television in the United States could reduce the number of overweight children by as much as 18 percent, researchers said on Wednesday. Click on burger for full story

 Another reason to NOT overstuff yourself this holiday season:

Once regarded as an elite disease, gout has been democratized, scientists say. Rising rates of obesity, diabetes and metabolic syndrome likely have led to at least 3 million U.S. sufferers.

Doctors baffled by an unexplained rash on people’s ears or cheeks should be on alert for a skin allergy caused by too much mobile phone use, the British Association of Dermatologists said. Click on picture for full story

The economy isn’t the only thing that’s sagging — so are faces, breasts and bellies as would-be cosmetic surgery patients increasingly opt against costly nips and tucks because of tough financial times. Click on picture for full story

 Gorgeous ones: Eat your Broccoli!

According to experts, it will help you achieve a smoother skin. Chicken could give you a healthy glow, salmon and walnuts could help give fewer wrinkles . Click on picture for full story

The world is crazy! Wall Street people are in panic, which make others panic, and a boatload of loudmouths preaching of doom , global depression , the end of the world and what not all of a sudden are given 15 minutes of fame on the news… and why not? it sells

While the rest try to find their bearing and regain their center do what is best and restore your own calm, your own sanity.  Impossible? Not for the most wise people on the planet. What they do in time of turmoil is the same as we can do while others are panicking: a tad of what you love best

Although it’s different for every person the top five Fav’s from the LWBG team that can be done in 10 minutes are as follows, and please, don’t feel guilty for spending or treating your self to a little luxury, after all  this IS your SANITY we are talking about

A GOOD cup of Tea:

either green, chai, decaf, darjeeling or herbal a GOOD cup of tea hits the spot every time. Get a Pot, a cup whatever you can, use fresh clean pure water , and sweeten with honey, raw sugar, artificial sweetener. Pour into your cup and sip, while you inhale the aromas… Don’t gulp it!  Take a full 10 minutes to enjoy.

Teavana Perfect Tea Mug        This beautiful glass mug holds up to 16oz of tea with a frosted Buddha and one of four quotes on the Teavana lifestyle. This glass mug exactly fits with our Perfect Tea Maker.

Chocolate: in any way shape or form

There’s no denying we love chocolate, so treat yourself to 10 minutes of pure indulgence and have some DARK chocolate . By the grace of the goddesses who heard our pleas, we managed to combine two of our favorites for when on a diet  try calorie free CHOCOLATE tea!

Loose Dark Chocolate Tea      This is certainly a surprise, and one that works very well. A firmly dark and delicious chocolate flavour in the tea creates a most enjoyable taste - and it is nearly without calories. It is essential not to brew this wonderful tea too strong, or the Black Tea will take over. Using just one teaspoon of leaves for a 6-cup teapot to create a stable reviving brew with scrumptious chocolate flavour. Sweeten with honey! The tempting flavour comes from cocoa bean kernels and chocolate pieces. Ceylon and China Black tea, chocolate pieces and cocoa bean kernels, flavouring. GBP1.95 per 100g

Or get a bite of the best chocolate known to womankind made the old fashioned way…

WARNING!!! this is no ordinary candy bar, it comes in classic and delights such as cinnamon, ginger, chili, coffee, pistachio, orange and wonderful vanilla.

Casa Don Puglisi Pure Chocolate from Modica - Classic      We are pleased to introduce this luxurious chocolate bar, courtesy of the renowned Don Giuseppe Puglisi of Modica, Sicily. Puglisi’s chocolate bars are made in the Aztec tradition, creating a rustic, brittle chocolate untainted by modern machinery and artificial flavorings. The chocolate’s opaque patina comes from its cold production process which maintains the full flavor of each ingredient. The cocoa is cold-pressed with sugar granules , rather than heating the cocoa and corrupting the purity of its flavor. Delicate and speckled with reddish blooms, the brittle chocolate crumbles upon disturbance. The unusual texture is the antithesis of mass-produced chocolate. Thanks to a painstaking handmade method, the quality of the ingredients is allowed to shine through. This treat will be a find for any chocolate lover! *Available in 8 flavors: Classic, Chili, Coffee, Cinnamon, Ginger, Bergamotto (Orange Essence), Pistachio, or Vanilla.

Light some Mango Grapefruit Candles, the mango soothes and the grapefruit promotes a “positive energizing” sensation

Brazilian Mango Grapefruit Candles - 1 1/2″d x 2″h (Votive; Burn Time - 15 hours)     Rich sultry fleshy mango is blended with bright tart grapefruit. Reminiscent of summer tropical paradises and hot days this delicious fragrance will make your mouth water. Buddha prized mangoes so much he was given a grove in which to meditate. The Mango plays a sacred role in India it is a symbol of love and some believe that the Mango tree can grant wishes. To see or eat a mango in your dream symbolizes fertility sexual desires and lust. Brazilian Mango Grapefruit Aromatherapy Candles are a favorite with it’s sweet tropical undertones and fresh grapefruit notes. It will bring summer into your home.

 Play that funky tune! : either Marley, Madonna, Nora Jones or Kiss ( are they still around?)  whatever is your favorite crank it up to your delight, close your eyes  and get carried away from the craziness. We highly recommend a personal mp3 player such as the Apple Ipod over the imitators, it’s sleek, comes in colors such as turquoise and purple and do not require a Masters in Engineering to use and load music and change . Plus the sound is GREAT!

Apple iPod shuffle, 1GB - Purple - MB233C/A    Free Shipping, Free Engraving on All iPods. Apple iPod Nano 8GB Blue. iPod shuffle, 1GB - Purple. A new gig for iPod Shuffle. Now in 1GB and 2 GB. The new iPod Shuffle. Born to be worn. - Clip on the world’s most wearable music player and take up to 240 songs with you anywhere. Choose from five colors including four new hues to make your musical fashion statement. Random meets rhythm. - With iTunes autofill, iPod shuffle can deliver a new musical experience every time you sync. For more randomness, you can shuffle songs during playback with the slide of a switch. Everything is easy. - Charge and sync with the included USB dock. Operate the iPod shuffle controls with one hand. Enjoy up to 12 hours straight of skip-free music playback.

Well, not the infamous one with bacon and such, but the one that claims by eating a grapefruit a day (without changing your diet or exercising) you will lose 2 to 4 pounds in a month.

It’s not much, but then again there is no effort involved. A friend gave me two bags of grapefruit from a neighbor’s tree, what do I have to lose? A month will pass either way, and since I do not take any medication that could react with grapefruit, I’ll go for it.

Does it work? Was it bad? He’s a day by day chronicle

Day 1:
My clothes are tight from Valentine’s leftovers and inactivity.
I haven’t had a grapefruit in quite some time, so it was appetizing to just peel it and eat it as an orange ( with some Splenda). Oh yum!

Day 2:

SUNDAY ! otherwise known as pizza from scratch and pasta day at home. Can this really work?
I eat my grapefruit as part of my breakfast as the pizza is baking, Splenda to the rescue!
Incredibly turns out that at the end of the day, my clothes are not tight( despite the pizza and pasta) I’m puzzled

Day 3:

Bad, bad day at work and I forgot to pack my grapefruit! Ate my regular food plus a bag of salted peanuts! I get home juice couple and make a cocktail with a little vodka and some Grand Marnier. Oh…. I hope this works!

Day 4:

Had half of a glass to grapefruit in the morning and was actually looking forward to another half glass in the afternoon.
Humm… my face does not seem as “bloated”.

Day 5:

This morning I fit in my “skinny pants”! Maybe it is working? I had a glass of juice in the morning. Then went to work, where there was free breakfast. I could not resist scrambled eggs and bacon. In the afternoon someone gave me chocolate. When I got home I has another grapefruit in juice. I wonder if today I offset all other days.

Day 6:
I had a glass of juice in the AM; by midmorning I don’t feel as grumpy and groggy as I usually do; so I skip the midmorning coffee with cream. Before going home, I stopped by the supermarket (to pickup more grapefruit) and weighed myself….2 lb. less that last week? Maybe it was water weight.

Day 7:

Left the house in a hurry, without having ANY grapefruit. There was chocolate candy at work, so I sacrificed my self and ate some, for our experiment’s sake, since I’m not supposed to modify my diet or routine in any other way. Had a glass at 6PM once I was back, funny I’m not desperately hungry as I usually am in the evening.

Day 8:

Had glass of juice mid-morning. It’s funny how I’ve grown to enjoy the fresh scent of the fruit as I cut it. After lunch, I did another weight check and confirmed the missing two pounds, now almost 2 and one half pounds.

Day 9-16

Was on business trip, still managed to have a glass of GF juice (who knows if from concentrate or what kind). Of course, did not watch what I ate, not a scale in site. I guess I’ll assess the damage once home.

Days 17-21

I must admit the grapefruit curbed my appetite a bit and that I feel less bloated. I did not gain an ounce on the business trip despite the extra goodies!

And now the million dollar question: did I lose weight?…. YES! a minimal 5 pounds, not bad for the effort!

If all I came out a tad healthier on account of the extra vitamin C and antioxidants, and it gave real motivation for trying to modify my diet.

So: is it worth it?  If all you can do is a minimal change, then try it, you have nothing to lose. 

Do NOT expect a miracle, but think about it: it’s unlikely you will not gain weight and we can all use a little extra vitamin C

Lots of youngsters on your street? Watch out: Flu may strike your community sooner and harder than it hits the hip singles neighborhood down the road.