The Prevention and Treatment for Stretch Marks

Stretch marks - no one likes having them. But we're afraid ladies they are just a part of life.

They can happen to anyone, at any time and they aren't genetic. In fact, just because you avoid them during your first pregnancy doesn't mean they will stay away during your second pregnancy.

And the bad information  is - once you get them, you can't get rid of them without surgery.

But don't worry - you can prevent them and you can reduce the appearance of them too.

Why do we get stretch marks?

Stretch marks can appear when your skin is stretched over a short space of time. What happens is the middle layer of your skin breaks in a few places, so the deeper layer of your skin shows through.

There are three main causes of stretch marks - pregnancy, weight gain and puberty.

When you're pregnant your skin stretches a lot over a short space of time. On top of that, your body produces special hormones to soften the ligaments in your pelvis for childbirth, but those hormones also soften the fibres in your skin, making you even more prone to stretch marks. About 80% of pregnant women get some form of stretch marks - they tend to be on your tummy, thighs and breasts.

Rapid weight gain can also cause stretch marks. They should become less obvious as you lose weight but that's not always the case. Also, if you diet a lot, and are therefore putting on and losing weight often, you're more likely to get stretch marks, so try to lose weight gradually.

Finally, puberty, a stage when your body is growing quickly, can cause stretch marks.

Prevention not cure

Once you've got stretch marks there's little you can do to get rid of them without resorting to surgery.

You can reduce their appearance, it's normally possible to turn them from red to white, but that's about it.

That's why experts say with stretch marks it really is about prevention rather than cure. So how can you prevent them?

Moisturising and massaging

One way to prevent stretch marks is to make sure that you skin stays really hydrated.

You can do this by using moisturiser and drinking lots of water, especially around the times when you're most likely to get stretch marks, like during pregnancy. This will help to make your skin more resistant to stretch marks.

Massaging, which you can do as you apply the moisturiser, can improve circulation and is therefore also pretty useful.

Gels

As well as using moisturiser, you can also try some gels that are specially designed to reduce the chances of getting stretch marks and also helps to get rid of them once they are there.

You need to look out for products that have the following ingredients - Vitamin E, Vitamin B5, Chamomile and the less well known Centella Asiatica.

The last resort

The last resort is, as you've probably guessed, surgery. If your stretch marks are really bad then you might want to resort to this.

There are a few different types of procedures on offer - dermabrasion, where surgeons wear away the top layers of skin, and laser treatments are just two options.

It might be that a tummy tuck to remove the skin which has stretch marks on it is best, but that's a pretty expensive procedure.

If you think surgery is your only option you should have a chat with your doctor.

Foods for Beautiful Skin

Shea Butter

 

Shea butter is commonly used to combat stretch marks. Besides that, it is also a great moisturizer and absorbs UV radiation.




Nuts

 

Nuts are a great source of vitamin E. This antioxidant protects skin from sun damage and helps skin hold in moisture.




Goat Milk

 

The lactic acid in goat milk is a natural exfoliant and a great source of vitamins A and E. Goat milk also has Caprylic acid which creates a lower pH in the skin, protecting it from bacteria and infection.




Whole Grains

 

Choose whole grains or processed grains for better skin. Whole grains are a good source of the antioxidant rutin, which fights skin damage.




Vegetables

 

Veggies are a common source of vitamin A which keeps your skin fresh, moisturized and young!




Oatmeal

 

The list of skin benefits from oatmeal is very long! Oatmeal helps fight itch, keeps moisture in, and protects the skin from outside elements. It also has antifungal and antibacterial qualities.

 

 

 

 

Citrus Fruits

 

 

Citrus fruits give your skin a significant amount of vitamin C, which helps produce collagen. This is a very important protein that maintains the structure of your skin.

 

 

 

 

Eggs

 

 

Both components of eggs are important for skin care. Egg yolks help your skin repair itself and are a great source of biotin, which contributes to healthy skin and nails. The white has 40 different proteins and water.

 

 

 

 

Honey

 

 

It’s not only for the bees’ benefit! Honey can attract moisture to your skin and help lock it in. You can also use it as an antibacterial agent.

 

 

 

 

Seafood (Omega-3)

 

 

To reduce dryness and inflammation, count on Omega-3. This agent is found in seafood and if you aren’t getting enough of it, you may experience eczema and psoriasis.

How to Determine Your Skin Type

Skin Types

Your skin is one of the first things people notice about you, and it can make or break your appearance. There are countless products on the market promising to fix every skin from wrinkles to acne to oversized pores. But the first step in proper skin care is to know your skin type. It's likely you fall into one of the basic categories:

• Normal -- People with a normal complexion have the ideal skin type. The skin is not too oily or dry, and it appears smooth, clear and healthy. Normal skin has a nice balance of moisture and oil, with good elasticity. The pores are minimally visible, and the skin has an even tone.

• Dry -- Many people have a dry skin type. Dry skin does not retain enough moisture, which causes wrinkles and fine lines to develop more easily. A lack of oil makes the skin flaky and fragile and reduces its ability to act as a protective barrier. As a result, the skin is much more susceptible to the effects of external elements such as pollution, UV radiation and extreme weather. Small pores are another characteristic of this skin type.

• Oily -- Some people have oily skin, particularly during adolescence. The skin has large pores and produces too much oil, which gives it a greasy, shiny appearance. People with an oily complexion tend to develop lots of blemishes, pimples and blackheads, and the skin looks plump because dead cells do not shed as quickly.

• Combination -- People with a combination skin type have both dry and oily areas. The skin is usually most oily in the T-zone -- the forehead, nose and chin -- with dry patches on the cheeks and around the eyes. Combination skin can be difficult to manage because the various areas of the skin require different treatment.

• Sensitive -- This skin type is the most fragile. People with sensitive skin tend to burn easily, and the skin is prone to irritation and redness

Skin Type Test

Plenty of products on the market are designed to meet your skin care needs. But deciding which ones to use can be a bit overwhelming. The key to any good skin care regimen is to figure out which skin category you belong to and choose your creams, cleansers and other treatments accordingly.

There are a few ways to determine what type of skin you have. For some, simply reading through the descriptions of the various types will make it obvious. For example, if you have flaky skin on your face every morning, afternoon and night, you've got dry skin. If the flaky patches appear on your cheeks, but you wake up with a shiny, greasy film on your nose and chin, that's combination.

If your skin type isn't so easily defined, there are some other simple tests you can do to figure it out. All you need for one of them is a clean piece of tissue or some face blotting strips. When you wake up in the morning, immediately use the tissue to blot your face and take a close look at the results.

If the tissue has lots of transparent spots, then you probably have oily skin. People with oily skin are prone to blackheads, blemishes and breakouts, so cleansing the skin on a regular basis is an absolute must. After washing the skin, use a toner to unclog pores and remove dead skin cells from the face. An oil-free moisturizer can then be applied to hydrate the skin.

If the tissue is clean and your face feels tight, then you have dry skin. People with dry skin are prone to premature signs of aging, which makes proper skin care particularly important. A good moisturizer with SPF protection should be worn on a daily basis. Use a gentle face wash to cleanse the skin, and apply a night cream before going to bed to seal in moisture.

If the tissue only picks up a tiny amount of oil in the T-zone, then you probably have normal skin. Even though the skin appears smooth and clear, people with a normal skin type need to practice good skin care techniques to maintain the health of their skin. Wash your face daily with a good cleanser and moisturize the skin with a lotion that contains SPF protection.

If the tissue has oil spots from just your forehead, nose and chin, then you have combination skin. Combination skin can be hard to manage because different areas of the skin require different treatments. Wash the skin daily with a good cleanser and use a toner on your T-zone to remove oil and dead skin. Apply an oil-free moisturizer all over your face, but make sure to concentrate on particularly dry areas of the skin.

People with sensitive skin should look for hypoallergenic facial cleansers and lotions to avoid irritation. Read the next page to learn about the factors that affect skin type.

Skin Type Factors

Why is it that some people have beautiful, radiant skin while others battle constant blemishes and breakouts? There are many factors that influence skin type. One of the biggest factors is heredity -- your biological predisposition to a particular skin type. And while you might not be able to alter your genes, the good news is there are many factors that you can control to manage your skin type. Hormone imbalances, for example, can affect skin quality by causing an increase in oil production, which often clogs pores and leads to acne breakouts. Many women combat this issue by taking birth control pills to reign in the hormones' activity.

Environmental conditions, like the weather and exposure to UV radiation, can also influence skin type. During the winter, for example, both the cold wind outside and hot air from indoor heaters can push your skin into the dry category. In the summer, the sun also dries and burns the skin, causing fine lines, wrinkles and other signs of aging. Long-term exposure to UV radiation can also cause more serious problems, like skin cancer. Always wear a moisturizer with SPF protection on your face and neck, even in cold weather.

A diet rich in antioxidants can act as a barrier against free radicals caused by environmental pollutants, and a good moisturizer usually helps keep your skin from getting dried out in any season. It's also important to wash your face daily to get rid of excess oil, dirt and dust particles on your skin.

Everyone wants great, healthy-looking skin, but few are born with it. By knowing your skin type and the factors that influence it, you can have beautiful, radiant skin. And you don't have to stumble upon the fountain of youth to get it.


NOTE : Smoking is not just bad for your health; it is bad for your skin. Toxins in cigarettes cause major skin damage, including discoloration, a leathery texture and wrinkles

What Men Find Sexy In Women?

Men instinctively know a sexy woman when they see one, but what is it about a hot woman that oozes allure?

1. Dress

 

If you ask a man to pick out the sexiest dress on the rack, he'd probably reach for the skimpiest of the lot. Well, technically, he's right. But every woman wears a dress differently, and what looks sultry on someone else may not work well for you, or vice versa.

The secret to wowing your date? Pick a dress that accentuates your best body parts. Whether you have a gorgeous back, incredible thighs, or lovely collarbones, stock up on designs that not only fit but also highlight those attributes.

2. Lingerie

It's a scientific fact that men are visual creatures, and one way to appeal to their visual side is lingerie.

Men like just about anything when it comes to lingerie, so you literally have tons of choices. Think matching bras and undies -- whether it's lace, silk, cotton or even naughty latex. Lingerie needn't be expensive, but they should be sexy, which means those five-pack of high-waisted granny panties are banned.

3. Confidence

The thing that men (and women) find sexiest about the opposite gender is confidence. And this confident quality has nothing to do with beauty or looks.

You've probably come across a woman with only-average looks at a party, but men love her anyway: She's engaging, stands tall, smiles, laughs and makes eye contact when she speaks to others. She's not doing anything outrageous or even out of the ordinary; what she is doing is showing a genuine interest in the people around her and welcoming people into her world.

4. Hair

A woman's hair is one of the sexiest female assets from a male perspective. And it doesn't matter whether you wear it straight or wavy, casually tousled or perfectly blown-dry -- men love your hair, and they love it long. Socially, your hair is a cue that tells men about who you are.

Long locks tell the world that you're a sensual woman, that you take care of your hair because sensuality and looking sexy is important to you.

5. High heels

Men's attraction to stiletto heels is undeniable, but heels are more about what a woman looks like in them than about the shoes themselves:

Wearing high heels pitches a woman's body forward, lifts her buttocks 25 percent, arches her back, makes her breasts stand at attention, elongates her calves, and causes her hips to sway seductively when she walks.

BMI Calculator

Body Mass Index is a calculation that takes into consideration both a person's body weight and height to determine whether they are underweight, overweight, or at a healthy weight. It can be calculated in inches and pounds (in the United States), or meters and kilograms (in countries that use the metric system).



In inches, the formula looks like this:

[

weight in pounds (height in inches) x (height in inches)

]

x 703

A person who weighs 180 pounds and is 5 feet 8 inches tall has a BMI of 27.4.

[

180 lbs (68 inches) x (68 inches)

]

x 703 = 27.4

In meters, the formula looks like this:

[

weight in kilograms (height in meters) x (height in meters)

]

A person who weighs 99.79 kilograms and is 1.905 meters (190.50 centimeters) tall has a BMI of 27.5.

[

99.79 Kg (1.905 m) x (1.905 m)

]

= 27.5

 

BMI Table

Let's check out the BMI table ......Are you "underweight, Healthy or Obese?"

The essential superfood combinations of the day

Engineer your daily diet at home with these winning combos and find out which home-engineered food combinations can deliver double the benefits to enhance every meal.

9am: Eggs + ginger = hunger-busting breakfast (+ lean muscle)

Take the classic breakfast protein of athletes as the control. Now, rather than administering pepper or Tabasco, add ginger and stand back. You have just created an instant-acting breakfast that will speed protein and energy to your muscles after the eight hours of food-deprivation referred to as ‘sleep’. Ginger stimulates muscle contractions in the stomach which helps your body digest the nutritious eggs faster. The food is moved through your intestines more efficiently, halving the time it takes for nutrients to become available to your muscles and allowing you to break your fast biologically faster.

11am: Cheese + sweet potato = 1,000% extra cancer-proofing (+ all day energy)

The sweet potato packs high concentrations of cancer-fighting beta-carotene and lutein, but splice with a matchbox-sized amount of cheese and you create a supercharged cancer-killing strain of mid-morning snack. Beta-carotene and lutein with a dose of fatty acids (aka cheddar) mean you absorb 1,000% more of the cancer-proofing carotenoids. That sweet spud also has a lower GI than the starchy, white variety, which means it provides you with a slower release of energy. So whether you’re working out at lunch or working through it, cancer will be the one that gets really worked over.

2pm: Tuna + lemon = muscle-building protein (+ 4% immune system boost)

The healthy genome of tuna is well documented – lean protein for muscle repair, omega-3 to enhance joint flexibility and less excess fat than a Paris catwalk. But the addition of lemon juice does more than just enhance your steak’s flavour, it also gift-wraps another of its nutritional offerings – iron. The ascorbic acid in the citrus fruit converts iron into a more absorbable form, providing a 4.1% higher uptake that increases your dose of the key mineral. The extra iron charges your blood with more oxygen to feed your muscles and mind, and more red blood cells to bolster your immune system. Pump iron after the gym and you won’t get sick from all that heavy physics.

4.30pm: Bread + peanut butter = complete protein (+50% muscle growth)

Building muscle by eating more protein per sitting is flawed. You cannot enhance the bioavailability – the extent to which your body can access nutrients – of your favourite muscle-building block by adding another block on top. Instead concentrate on eating complementary proteins. Peanut butter with wholemeal bread combines a variety amino acids to create a ‘full spectrum’ protein more readily consumed by your muscles, and a 50% increase in protein synthesis. All without the extra calories of a full meal of meat.

7.30pm: Salad + green tea = +4% night-time fat-burning (+ vitamins + nutrients)

Experimenting with hot and cold will turn the heat up on your metabolism to keep you lean and give you more vitamins per bite. A low-carbohydrate salad limits the storage of redundant energy as fat while you sleep, and the natural compounds in green teas resulted in a 4% higher calorie burn over 24 hours. The longevity of the Chinese and Japanese has been linked to their tradition of having hot drinks with cold foods, with the warmth aiding digestion and helping your body to absorb more nutrients from each and every gram of your dinner. So you can go to bed healthy and satisfied and wake up to the leaner, fitter, and more powerful product of your own superfood science – you.

Better Digestion

Many digestive complaints and symptoms appear even in apparently healthy people.  Symptoms such as gas, bloating, diarrhea, constipation, belching, flatulence, food sensitivities, indigestion, malabsorption, irritable bowel syndrome, and the list goes on, are so common that they are seen as normal.

But they can have negative effects: Consider that a sluggish bowel can retain pounds of old toxic fecal matter. This leads to a vicious cycle that taxes our defense systems and eventually leads to more serious disease.

The following are 10 tips for better digestion (remember to check with your doctor before making any radical changes in your health regimen).


1. Lemons
The first top digestion tip, is every morning before breakfast, freshly squeeze the juice of 1 - 2 lemons in 250ml - 500ml of spring or filtered water. This small but effective daily routine will help to cleanse the stomach of left over "debris" and remove any excess acid.





2. Have a Daily Drink Of Apple Cider Vinegar and Apple Juice
Another daily drink taken late morning or some time before lunch will complement the cleanse in Tip 1 to help your digestion. This can include between one teaspoon and one tablespoon of organic apple cider vinegar mixed with 250ml - 500ml apple juice (freshly squeezed is even better). This drink will balance digestive juices, specifically for low or high levels of hydrochloric acid (HCl).





3. Avoid Cold Drinks While Eating
Food is digested more efficiently if it's around body temperature; therefore, cold fluid can slow down the digestive processes. If you must drink while eating, try hot water or herbal teas. Caffeine can cause excess production of HCl so should be avoided, as should alcohol.





4. Bitter Herbs
Have you ever heard of Swedish Bitters? These can usually be obtained online or from good health food stores. The taste of bitter herbs, foods, juices, etc, 20 - 30 minutes before eating will increase digestive function by encouraging the release of digestive enzymes, juices, and acids.





5. Self-Massage
Specific self-massage and exercise techniques used as part of a daily routine will also contribute to better digestion.

Example 1: Liver Exercise
This exercise massages the liver and gall bladder, toning and cleansing these organs, helping digestion. It helps cope with abdominal wind and assists digestion.

Method: Place the heel of the right hand on the right side of the body under the rib cage, and just above the hip bone. The fingers should point straight across the body. Pressing firmly, move the hand slowly across the body to the middle of the abdomen; you should end up with the heel of the hand over the navel.
Repeat this action 10-20 times.

Example 2: Stomach Exercise
This exercise is similar to the Liver Exercise, but is applied to the other side of the body. It benefits the digestion, the spleen, and the pancreas, as well as the stomach.

Method: Place the heel of the left hand between .





6. Take Time For a Short-Term Fast
This is one way to allow the digestive system a well-deserved break. However, first-time fasters should try the process for a maximum of 24 hours. Remember always to drink plenty of fruit and vegetable juice during your fast. Plan your fasting for days when you will not be doing lots of hard physical work and can take plenty of rest.





7. Chew Thoroughly
One of the most important mechanisms of digestion, yet more often than not, the most forgotten! Chewing is the first stage of digestion. It not only physically breaks down foods, but signals the organs to secrete their digestive juices (pancreatic enzymes, stomach acids, etc.) in order to prepare for the incoming foods.





8. Combining Food
Combining food can work well for many people. Combining food involves the three main types of food/fuel, i.e., carbohydrates (bread, potatoes, rice), proteins (meats, dairy, nuts, soya) and fats (cooking oils, avocado). Experts think that one should not mix these types of food within one meal. For example, eat either carbohydrates alone or proteins alone, together with (non-starchy) vegetables or salad.






9. Colon & Liver Cleansing
Colon cleansing and liver cleansing through the use of herbs, foods, and supplements benefits the whole digestive system. These are two of the most popular approaches to getting started with detox, and detox benefits every part of the body by helping remove toxins that otherwise slow down every organ and all body functions.

10. Herbs
Listed are herbs that are known to help the process of digestion. These herbs include, but are not limited to: Slippery Elm, Bayberry, Wild Yam, Cardamom, Cloves, Fennel, Ginger, and Cinnamon.

Let's enjoy ......

 

 

 

 

A Full Body Workout in just 30 minutes

When you've only got half an hour to spare you need a workout that makes the most of your time while burning all that unwanted badness- that's why knowing how to get the most out of your full body workout is so important.

There's no two ways about it, the best way to get a fat-blasting full body workout is to do a bit of circuit training.

We know circuits are scary, but if you're looking for calorie burning and killer abs, there's no other way to find them so fast! 

So if you want to know how to whip that body into shape then check out these full body workout regime!

Timing

If you thought that sweating like a maniac in the gym for an hour or two was the way to burn off that fat then think again!

Circuits are the best way to make the most of a short exercise window because they get your heart pumping and work every muscle in your body.

Circuits increase your cardio vascular fitness, burn calories and boost your resting metabolic rate (the rate at which your body utilises energy and burns fat post work out).

So in that thirty minute window of cardio you can be burning way more calories than if you were pulling weights for hours on end.

 

 

Equipment

Before you get started you need to know what equipment you need to prep' your circuit.

You will need:

• A Mat
• Dumbbells
• Skipping rope
• Hula hoop

The idea is to do each exercise for 5 minutes, then repeat.

 

 

 

 

Exercise: Skipping

There's a reason why boxers choose skipping as one of their best exercises, that little rope can work you hard!

Main Muscles Worked: Lungs, Quadriceps, Hamstrings, Calves (Gastrocnemius), Bottom (Gluteus Maximus), Arms, Stomach (Abdominals).

Time: 30 - 60 second bursts for 10 minutes

With or without a rope, skip keeping your elbows in and landing on the ball of your foot initially quickly followed by your heel.

Make sure to keep your knees soft and core contracted the whole time for the best tummy-toning results.

 

 

Exercise: Lunge with dumbbell curl

Next move onto the dumbbells with a little lunge, it might not look like much but this exercise works a lot of muscles throughout your body and is a favourite of many a celeb!

Main Muscles Worked: Quadriceps, Bottom (Gluteus Maximus) and Biceps

Time: 30 - 60 second bursts for 10 minutes

Stand with hips and shoulders in alignment then lunge forward onto one leg.

Bend the leading knee and drop the back one so that it’s hovering above the floor. Both knees should be at a 90 degree angle.

Curl the dumbbells inward as you lunge and uncurl as you push off with the leading foot back to start position.

 

 

 

Exercise: Hula Hoop

The humble hula-hoop has become a bit of a fitness phenomenon, so get back into the nineties spirit and get swivelling those hips.

Main Muscles Worked: Arms, Stomach (Abdominals), Bottom (Gluteus Maximus)

Time: 3 x sets of 30 - 60 second bursts for 10 minutes

Stand with your feet slightly apart, with one slightly in front of the other to aid motion.

Hold the hoop with both hands above your hips and then throw/spin in a counter-clockwise direction with your hands, matching the rotation by moving your hips back and forth.

Keep your arms up and out of the way of the hoop and for added resistance, wear wrist weights!

 

 

 

 

The top ten Weirdest Museums in the World

Have you visited any museum? Maybe your parents were always telling you that you should spend more time in museums learning than out doing whatever it was that you actually wanted to do. Chances are these aren’t the kinds of museums they had in mind. Here is a list of the top ten weirdest museums from around the world. Housing the strange, the macabre, and the downright disturbing, these are museums you may actually want to explore.

sources from : http://www.smashinglists.com/top-ten-weirdest-museums-in-the-world/

 

1. Momofuku Ando Instant Ramen Museum, Japan



If you’ve ever gone through a financially lean time such as those scary college years when you’re too busy trying to make something of yourself actually be something, it is likely that you have indulged in a bowl or two of Instant Ramen. Who doesn’t love a hot bowl of broth and noodles? This museum contends that the answer to that is nobody. Created to honor the creator of the instant soup, this museum chronicles the history of the meal from when it was first developed as a cheap food alternative for the survivors of World War II to its honored place on the grocery shelves of today. You can even stop by the Museum’s kitchen and make yourself up a hot bowl of the chicken flavor, still considered the most popular.




2. Museum of Enduring Beauty, Malaysia



So what you think makes a woman beautiful? Is it itty-bitty tiny little feet squished into child size shoes? Or maybe it’s a perfectly conical shaped head that’s been molded since the time she was a baby? If you just can’t get enough of a woman with a neck stretched with brass rings or eat your lobes made huge with plates, this is the museum for you. On the third floor of the People’s Museum are exhibits dedicated to the extremes people go to to fit in with their cultures ideas of beauty.




3. Museum of Bad Art, United States



Have you ever looked at the refrigerator of the proud mother of a toddler who gushes over the artistic talent of her child? If you squint and tilt your head to the left these pieces of art just might come close to the pieces on that refrigerator. Located conveniently next to the toilets in a Massachusetts basement, this museum is dedicated to 600 pieces of the worst art ever created.




4. The Dog Collar Museum, England



Dog lovers of the world flock to Leeds Castle to view more than 100 unique items pertaining to dogs. Specifically, over 100 dog collars. This museum was inspired by the famous love of dogs of the last of the last owner of the estate. Some of us interesting items include dog collars that graced the necks of pets in the 15th and 16th centuries. Many of these are adorned with strips of spikes to protect said necks from attacking creatures.




5. Avanos Hair Museum, Turkey



Go exploring in the caves of turkey you might just stumble upon the Avanos Hair Museum. This not at all creepy museum is essentially just caves that have had the walls and ceiling completely covered in locks of human hair. Potter Chez Galip created the Hair Museum using hair from more than 16,000 women. Look a little closer and you’ll notice that each lock of hair is marked with the name of the woman and her address.




6. The Bread Museum, Germany



This museum might not be the greatest thing since sliced bread, but at least you can learn about one of the world’s most beloved foods here. There is a truly astonishing 18,000 exhibits here. Through these exhibits you can learn the fascinating history of 6000 years of bread featured in works of art as well as seeing ancient artifacts from actual bakeries that were in operation thousands of years ago. Don’t get caught up in the evolving technology and cultural lessons and get a hankering for a sandwich, however. You won’t find a single edible slice in the entire museum.




7. Celebrity Lingerie Hall of Fame



Located on the top floor of the famed Fredrick’s of Hollywood flagship store in Los Angeles, this museum is dedicated to more than
mentioning celebrities’ unmentionables. On display in this museum is the underwear worn by Tom Hanks when filming Forrest Gump, the underthings of the entire teenage heartthrob cast of Beverly Hills 90210, and Cher. You can even find a particularly interesting exhibit of ladies’ delicates worn by men in drag. This includes the training bra of Phyllis Diller thoughtfully marked “This Side Up”.
This museum doesn’t come without scandal, though. During the 1992 riots the museum was looted and a prized purple and gold brassiere that once graced the famous body of Madonna was stolen. The singer replaced it only after the company agreed to donate $10,000 to charity.




8. The Kunstkamera, Russia



What is the one reason that Russia would create its very first museum? Why, to dispel the widespread belief in and fear of monsters, of course. The problem with this plan is that they filled this museum with every medical oddity they could find. Though the museum’s contents are a bit tamer now, you can still find a decapitated human head that has been preserved for over a century in vinegar, an assortment of creatures that were born with extra limbs, and their prized collection of hundreds of deformed human fetuses. Nothing to be afraid of there, right?




9. International Cryptozoology Museum, United States



Cryptozoology is the study of animals and creatures that have not been verified by science, are doubted to exist, or who only exist in myth or legend. This museum is dedicated to offering everything you ever wanted to know about such mythological creatures as Bigfoot, mermaids, and the Loch Ness monster. Whether you are a believer or not you may find yourself scratching your head when you are presented with the “evidence”—casts of those famous enormous feet, perhaps?




10. Siriraj Medical Museum, Bangkok Thailand



Also affectionately known as the museum of death, the Siriraj Medical Museum is where you should go should you ever find yourself pondering what your lungs would look like if you got attacked by a crazed psychopath and stabbed to death. Some exhibits of note include hemorrhaged brains, examples of limbs that were severed or mutilated, and even skulls that had bullets puncture the bone and bounce around in there for a while.

The nutrition rules for a cover model body

You don’t have to starve yourself or break the bank on your weekly shop to get a cover model body. Here’s how to feast your way into the shape of your life ......

Nutrition rule 1: You Must Eat

 

No matter how keen you are to get lean, you won't help yourself by starving. You may burn fat for a few hours, maybe even a day, but after that your body starts to compensate by slowing your metabolism. Conversely, when you give your body a steady supply of clean-burning fuel, your metabolism runs smoothly. Eating lots of food and losing fat aren't just compatible; they're bedfellows.

Nutrition rule 2: Get your timing right

 

You should eat about every three waking hours. That works out at five small-to-medium-size meals a day, or three meals and two snacks. When you eat five times a day you keep your muscles fed with protein and you'll actually be less hungry at meal times, so less tempted to overindulge. You should also always make sure you drink plenty of water so you stay hydrated and your metabolism works at peak efficiency.

Nutrition rule 3: Rethink dinner

 

Two smart adjustments to your dinners can cut calories dramatically. First, stop thinking of it as your biggest meal of the day and front-load your calories, eating more earlier in the day.
Second, avoid starchy carbohydrates (that's rice, pasta, potatoes or any kind of bread) after 6pm. The fewer carbs you eat in the evening, the faster you will see results.

Nutrition rule 4: Eat for power

 

The best way to fuel your workouts is to ensure they fit around your five-meal eating plan. You should hit the weights an hour or two after you eat, then eat again as soon as possible after you finish.
You need to get some protein in every meal. A man who's doing a lot of strength training and wants to bulk up needs 2g of protein per kilogram of bodyweight, each day (or 1g per pound). So if you weigh 14st 4lb (200lb / 90kg), you need to eat 180-200g a day. If you don't want to build muscle, you can get by on less than this. But for anyone doing the workouts in this book this is a good guide.

Nutrition rule 5: Energise with carbs

 

Carbohydrates are your body's preferred source of fuel. During prolonged exercise, they help you burn fat. Sport scientists like to say that fat burns in a carbohydrate flame. Though fat is your body's best source of energy, carbs make it possible to use that fat.
However, different types of carbohydrate have very different effects on your body. Complex carbs, such as bread and pasta, are easy to eat too much of and give you far more fuel than you need in the evening, so your body stores the surplus as fat.

Nutrition rule 6: Keep fibre high and sugar low

 

The fibre in veg has amazing health benefits – it's been linked to weight control, heart health, and disease prevention. Fibre-rich foods help you feel satisfied during a meal, so you stop eating sooner.
On the other end of the nutritional spectrum are the simple sugars and sweeteners, such as sucrose (table sugar), which give you energy but don’t fill you up. Stay away from these completely if you can. If you do have sweets, make sure they're an occasional treat and, if you can, eat them on an empty stomach, when your body is far more likely to burn the energy they contain rather than storing it as fat.

Nutrition rule 7: Be wary of booze

 

Your body tries so hard to get rid of alcohol that it processes it preferentially, before any food you eat at the same time. So it can actually prevent your body from building muscle. That's not to say you can never drink. Depriving yourself completely of the things you enjoy will only cause you to begin craving those things.
So when you do have wine or beer with a meal, consider it your carbohydrate. Have two beers and a steak, and you can survive with your physique intact. Six cans with pizza will set you back.

Nutrition Rule 8: Don't ditch fat

 

Don't fall for the myth that all dietary fat is evil. Your body needs it. Your brain is about 70 percent fat; your manliest hormone, testosterone, is made from fat; and fat is vital to your body's cellular structures. A very low-fat diet is a bad idea for most people. Not only that, it's nearly impossible to stick to. Your body is smart. It won't let go of the fat it has if it's convinced that no more is coming.