Everyone enjoys feeling good about themselves. We all dress up for special occasions, groom our hair, try to stay fit and even wear makeup. But, staying sexy comes from the inside out. It's about having health and a positive attitude. Sure, some people are born with great genes and have to do very little to look good. However, we can all change the way we look by how we treat ourselves. Wanting to look great doesn't have to be superficial; it can come from a place of self love and respect.
So, here are the top ten ways to keep your skin looking young and your waistline trim:
1. Eat a mostly raw, plant-based diet. This will likely show up on a couple of lists this week, because it's one of the best things you can do for yourself. Eating 80% or more raw, plant-based foods tremendously affects every aspect of your health. Whole, raw plants are full of antioxidants that keep your skin young, life-giving water that cleans out your body, and fiber that keeps your waist smaller. The plant kingdom has a variety of macro- and phytonutrients that have everything to keep you alive and well. Make sure that any cooked food your eat does not clog you up. Make smart choices like quinoa, brown rice or miso soup.
2. Do some form of exercise or activity daily. A sedentary life wages war on the waistline, the skin and mood. Nobody really enjoys hanging out with a couch potato. If you have a desk job, motivate yourself to get outside or to the gym. Even moderate exercise comes with a range of benefits. Your skin will look better from sweating; the flab around your middle or backside will start to melt away; and you'll notice a difference in your attitude toward life. Now that's sexy!
3. Drink plenty of fresh, clean water. Water is the catalyst to nearly every function in the body. Dehydration equals bad skin, poor organ functioning and toxic overload. Staying hydrated will help push accumulated toxins out of your body and boost your metabolism. As a result, your skin will glow and you'll move toward your ideal body weight.
4. Get plenty of rest. We all know people who don't get enough sleep at night. Either they have high stress lives, are very unhealthy or they are not disciplined enough to get into bed early. You may even be one of these people. But, spending another hour surfing the internet robs you of one of your best allies: beauty sleep. Yes, that's right, sleep does make you more beautiful. Getting enough sleep at night helps the body function better and keeps your hormones in balance. So, say goodbye to the bags under your eyes and hit the sack early!
5. Keep positive. Negativity earns a double whammy on our sex appeal. First, it creates ill health. Constantly focusing on the negative weighs heavy on the mind and creates stress for the body. In turn, worriers look worn out and tired, because they are. Second, negativity repels others. Most people don't want to hang around complainers and worriers, unless they are guilty of it themselves. Surround yourself with positive people and keep your thoughts, words and actions in check. You'll attract positive people and positive things into your life.
6. Take care of your skin. Because of all the toxins we are exposed to every day and the poor diets we typically eat, our skin becomes wrinkled, blemished, or poorly colored over time. An overabundance of free radicals can really damage the skin. Eating right is key, but there are things we can do from the outside. Look for skin products that are made with amazing ingredients or find oils that help the skin. Coconut oil and Shea butter are two of my favorites, as both are therapeutic and moisturizing. They also protect the skin from sun damage. Aloe Vera gel is very healing with anti-fungal properties and anti-aging components. Aloe can be a bit drying, so make sure to moisturize later.
7. Eat food or take supplements that have a lot of antioxidants. As previously mentioned, an army of free radicals in the body is your skin's worst enemy. Free radicals are necessary (they are one of your body's first lines of defense against disease), but modern life creates a surplus that causes all kinds of issues. Eating food rich in antioxidants is your best bet. If you read through many of my blogs, I mention a lot of foods that have antioxidants in them. Go for the deep colors like purple (dark berries), red (cherries and beets), orange (carrots, goldenberries, etc.) and yellow. If you don't think you are getting enough antioxidants, try a whole-food supplement that has a good spectrum of them.
8. Avoid the things you know you should avoid. You know what they are. Stay away from junk food. Keep alcohol out of your house and your life (okay, an occasional glass of wine or beer might be okay). Stop smoking. Don't overeat. Throw your television out with the garbage. Etc. Etc.
9. Manage your stress. I've blogged about this many times. There are so many ways to reduce the stress in your life. See my article here. So, learn how to react to situations. Take a yoga or meditation class. Breathe into stressful situations. Eat better. And Exercise.
10. Smile. Nothing is sexier than a smile. No matter what you think about your personal appearance, smiling can only enhance it. Research also shows that smiling and laughing sends certain signals to your body that keep your healthier. Whenever you're feeling depressed or stressed out, stop. Take a deep breath and think of something that will make you smile. You'll start to feel sexier immediately.
There you have it. Ten ways to feel and look great. Be healthy!
Mystic Merman
So, here are the top ten ways to keep your skin looking young and your waistline trim:
1. Eat a mostly raw, plant-based diet. This will likely show up on a couple of lists this week, because it's one of the best things you can do for yourself. Eating 80% or more raw, plant-based foods tremendously affects every aspect of your health. Whole, raw plants are full of antioxidants that keep your skin young, life-giving water that cleans out your body, and fiber that keeps your waist smaller. The plant kingdom has a variety of macro- and phytonutrients that have everything to keep you alive and well. Make sure that any cooked food your eat does not clog you up. Make smart choices like quinoa, brown rice or miso soup.
2. Do some form of exercise or activity daily. A sedentary life wages war on the waistline, the skin and mood. Nobody really enjoys hanging out with a couch potato. If you have a desk job, motivate yourself to get outside or to the gym. Even moderate exercise comes with a range of benefits. Your skin will look better from sweating; the flab around your middle or backside will start to melt away; and you'll notice a difference in your attitude toward life. Now that's sexy!
3. Drink plenty of fresh, clean water. Water is the catalyst to nearly every function in the body. Dehydration equals bad skin, poor organ functioning and toxic overload. Staying hydrated will help push accumulated toxins out of your body and boost your metabolism. As a result, your skin will glow and you'll move toward your ideal body weight.
4. Get plenty of rest. We all know people who don't get enough sleep at night. Either they have high stress lives, are very unhealthy or they are not disciplined enough to get into bed early. You may even be one of these people. But, spending another hour surfing the internet robs you of one of your best allies: beauty sleep. Yes, that's right, sleep does make you more beautiful. Getting enough sleep at night helps the body function better and keeps your hormones in balance. So, say goodbye to the bags under your eyes and hit the sack early!
5. Keep positive. Negativity earns a double whammy on our sex appeal. First, it creates ill health. Constantly focusing on the negative weighs heavy on the mind and creates stress for the body. In turn, worriers look worn out and tired, because they are. Second, negativity repels others. Most people don't want to hang around complainers and worriers, unless they are guilty of it themselves. Surround yourself with positive people and keep your thoughts, words and actions in check. You'll attract positive people and positive things into your life.
6. Take care of your skin. Because of all the toxins we are exposed to every day and the poor diets we typically eat, our skin becomes wrinkled, blemished, or poorly colored over time. An overabundance of free radicals can really damage the skin. Eating right is key, but there are things we can do from the outside. Look for skin products that are made with amazing ingredients or find oils that help the skin. Coconut oil and Shea butter are two of my favorites, as both are therapeutic and moisturizing. They also protect the skin from sun damage. Aloe Vera gel is very healing with anti-fungal properties and anti-aging components. Aloe can be a bit drying, so make sure to moisturize later.
7. Eat food or take supplements that have a lot of antioxidants. As previously mentioned, an army of free radicals in the body is your skin's worst enemy. Free radicals are necessary (they are one of your body's first lines of defense against disease), but modern life creates a surplus that causes all kinds of issues. Eating food rich in antioxidants is your best bet. If you read through many of my blogs, I mention a lot of foods that have antioxidants in them. Go for the deep colors like purple (dark berries), red (cherries and beets), orange (carrots, goldenberries, etc.) and yellow. If you don't think you are getting enough antioxidants, try a whole-food supplement that has a good spectrum of them.
8. Avoid the things you know you should avoid. You know what they are. Stay away from junk food. Keep alcohol out of your house and your life (okay, an occasional glass of wine or beer might be okay). Stop smoking. Don't overeat. Throw your television out with the garbage. Etc. Etc.
9. Manage your stress. I've blogged about this many times. There are so many ways to reduce the stress in your life. See my article here. So, learn how to react to situations. Take a yoga or meditation class. Breathe into stressful situations. Eat better. And Exercise.
10. Smile. Nothing is sexier than a smile. No matter what you think about your personal appearance, smiling can only enhance it. Research also shows that smiling and laughing sends certain signals to your body that keep your healthier. Whenever you're feeling depressed or stressed out, stop. Take a deep breath and think of something that will make you smile. You'll start to feel sexier immediately.
There you have it. Ten ways to feel and look great. Be healthy!
Mystic Merman
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