AGING GRACEFULLY

Really, how old is she? It would be difficult to answer this question if these women weren't so famous and constantly present in the media. They're simply ageless: Demi Moore, Cindy Crawford, Julia Roberts, Nicole Kidman, Halle Berry, Monica Bellucci, Madonna, Sharon Stone, Suzanne Somers, Sophia Loren, to name a few. Even in their 40’s, 50’s, 60’s and 70’s, their sensuality and seductiveness are stunning. Their beauty is characterized as perfect and “ageless”. That's why their appearance inevitably leads to the conclusion that satisfaction with life is not measured by numbers, but by beauty, energy and optimism.

So, what's the secret?

Could it be that all of their fame and money provide them with the best and most expensive cosmetic treatments? Unlimited amounts of dermal fillers such as Juvederm, Radiesse, Botox, Sculptra? Or other, overpriced revitalizing treatments - Fraxel laser treatments or Veneers Hollywood smile costing thousands of dollars? Does the secret lie in a certain regime of life or genetics, or is it hidden somewhere out of our reach?

An anti-aging therapy with bio-identical hormones is mentioned in the latest sequel of the movie “Sex and the City.” It actually reflects the benefits of bio-hormone therapy on Samantha (one of the main characters). Samantha overcomes all the inconveniences caused by menopause and remains the same vital, energetic, sexy woman she has always been. Perhaps, this is where the secret is hidden?

A bit of truth can be found in all the things mentioned above. Beauty always means taking care of ourselves, where all the possible ways for doing this are individual. Taking care of wrinkles and our physical appearance is necessary, but not crucial. A universal recipe doesn't exist, beauty lies in originality.

Now in her late 70’s, Sophia Loren still fascinates with her appearance and says the key to her beauty lies in the everlasting love of life, spaghetti and olive oil baths. She points out: "If the most beautiful young woman is not disciplined and does not take care of herself, she will eventually lose her beauty. On the other hand, as time passes, an average looking woman, who takes care of her body, becomes more and more beautiful.” The messy lives of today's young, rich and famous starlets like Lindsay Lohan and Britney Spears add credibility to Sophia Loren’s statement.

A healthy lifestyle which implies taking care of our own body, spirit and mind is the key to everlasting beauty. Take care of yourself and love yourself. You’re worth it!


Zvesdana Stosljevic, Ph.D., Adult Education
July 26, 2010

TEN BENEFITS OF EXERCISE

An energetic life is a happy life. It requires constant growth, change and action. You can be smart, attractive, rich and witty, but you can't be successful unless you have the power to turn your ideas into actions. What distinguishes us as successful or unsuccessful individuals is energy.

Whenever I'm tired, sad, angry, or running out of power, I choose exercise as the best remedy…running, walking, kickboxing, tennis, Pilates, golf, and hiking. Sometimes I exercise at home using exercise DVD’s, sometimes in a gym, on the beach, in the pool, or sometimes I enjoy taking a jog in my neighborhood.

Now in my 40’s, I attribute my good looks, positive energy and youthful appearance to
exercise, which has become an integral part of my life.

We are all familiar with the benefits of exercise. Still, we're not able to motivate ourselves to commit to it on a regular basis. People make excuses such as lack of time or money, tiredness and so on. There are no excuses! One can always choose the right time and place for exercise. Exercising on a regular basis will make you feel better, and promote a healthier lifestyle and a longer life. Below are ten important reasons why exercise should become an integral part of your life:

1. INCREASES YOUR ENERGY LEVEL. Our body is supplied with oxygen and it stimulates the circulation of blood, heart and lung function more efficiently, thus creating energy that enables us to perform everyday activities with pleasure.

2. IMPROVES OUR MOOD. Most people who exercise feel better and achieve better results at work. They're happier regardless of their age. Exercise encourages the release of epinephrine and norepinephrine (hormones) and endorphins (neurotransmitters) that are responsible for creating a good mood.

3. STIMULATES BRAIN FUNCTION. During exercise, our body releases nitric oxide, a powerful stimulator of brain functions. This process refreshes our memory and improves our concentration and thoughts.

4. IMPROVES SLEEP QUALITY. If you have trouble sleeping, you should make sure you exercise regularly. Exercise is one of the most effective "remedies" for insomnia.

5. INCREASES SELF-CONFIDENCE. People who exercise regularly look younger, have better posture, and they're more fit. Good looks definitely enhances our self-confidence.

6. GIVES YOU THE OPPORTUNITY TO SOCIALIZE. Exercise enables us to look deep into ourselves, to face our deepest thoughts and feelings. On the other hand, it gives us the opportunity to spend some quality time with those who share the same interest.
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7. RELEASES STRESS. The level of cortisol reduces the amount of stress hormones in our body during physical activities and creates a sense of spiritual peace.

8. BODY DETOXIFICATION. By sweating, toxins are released from our body.

9. DISEASE PREVENTION. Regular physical activity can influence the prevention of high blood pressure, cholesterol, osteoporosis, cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes, depression, and some types of cancer. It affects the increase of HDL (high-density lipoprotein), known as “good cholesterol” and lowers triglycerides and LDL (low-density lipoprotein), also known as “bad cholesterol.”

10. AFFECTS HORMONE FUNCTIONS. Stimulates the secretion of hormones:

Growth Hormone: Responsible for the synthesis of proteins, bone strengthening, muscle tone, and fat burning.

Endorphines: Reduces appetite, anxiety and depression.

Testosterone: Affects muscle tone and metabolism, breaks down fats and increases confidence.

Estrogen: Stimulates fat breakdown, improves mood, and increases libido.

Thyroxine (T4): Accelerates metabolism.

Adrenalin Secreted in the adrenal gland it is responsible for pumping blood from the heart to the most critical parts of the body. It stimulates the degradation of sugar and fat reserves, which further contributes to the reduction of excessive body weight.

Insulin: Regular exercise reduces insulin levels and increases the sensitivity of our cells to insulin, especially with people who suffer from excess weight, which contributes to reducing those extra pounds.

I sincerely hope that I managed to motivate you and convince you to start exercising. It doesn’t matter if you run, dance, take a walk along the beach, swim, or ride a bike...just be sure to do it regularly. You'll be amazed with your results which will inspire you to do many other beautiful things in your life.

___________________________

SLIM, HEALTY & HAPPY

Most of us follow a particular diet throughout our life. Low Fat, High Protetin, Low Carb, Bio, Turbo, Chinese, Japanese, Indian, Slang Products, Atkins Diet, Factor 5 Diet, Hollywood Diet, Lemon Diet, Medical Diet, Grapefruit, Tea or even Honey Diets. We’ll try anything for a slim figure. We stay on our diets for ten days, a month, a year. We count calories and watch our fat intake. And…we suffer!

I was one of those who had a few excess pounds. I hated my “waist belt”. It made me feel terribly uncomfortable. I had a feeling that it flashed like a neon sign, and I was sure everyone noticed. I tried various diets. After a period of brief excitement, I would become bored, give into temptation, and go through another disappointment. I never seemed to find the right combination of diet and exercise where I saw results and remained excited and interested at the same time.

Ultimately, I gave up dieting and formed my own personal nutrition program…and it worked! Here are a few tips that help me stay slim, healthy and satisfied. Perhaps, they can help you as well.

1. DON'T SEEK HAPPINESS IN FOOD. We are all familiar with the fact that what we eat affects the way we feel. Chocolate, certain kinds of pasta and meat, refined foods, etc. affect the secretion of brain substances such as dopamine and serotonin (“happiness hormone”), which evoke pleasant feelings. Gradually, the necessity for these “pleasure producers“ grows (similar to heroin or cocaine addiction) when they tend to produce less pleasure and excessive weight.

2. NURTURE YOUR HUNGER NOT YOUR APPETITE. We tend to eat even when we're full. We feed our appetite, not our hunger. We feel hungry when we become aware of the lack of energy, and our appetite increases each time we see, smell or think of a certain kind of food, when we are sad, lonely, or when we can't sleep.

3. EAT LESS AND BE ACTIVE. Excessive intake of calories and lack of activity lead to many
diseases, premature aging, and depression. The most critical daily periods are between 2:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. and between 8:00 p.m. and 11:00 p.m. During these peak periods, most people have an increased necessity for food. That's why you should undertake a certain activity during these periods such as walking, running, dancing, painting, sewing, or any activity that interests you.

4. CONSUME FOOD WITH HIGHER NUTRITIONAL VALUE. Avoid empty calories and processed foods which contain lots of calories and little nutritional value. My suggestions are fruits, vegetables, and nuts. Read food labels. Pay particular attention to serving sizes noted and Nutritional Facts, and the order in which the Ingredients are listed on a food label. For example, ingredients are listed in order of how much of an ingredient a food contains. If sugar is the first ingredient listed, the food is made up of mostly sugar and, therefore, would not be a very wise choice. It's your choice. Check for additives, calories, fat content, sodium, sugar, cholesterol, carbohydrates, fiber and protein. Check the percentage of Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Calcium and Iron. These should all be taken into consideration when choosing what to eat.

5. EAT WITH YOUR HEAD, NOT WITH YOUR HEART. Each bite has the ability either to revitalize you, or it can do the opposite and make you feel tired, cranky, short-tempered and contribute to loss of focus. Food and feelings are closely related…the food you eat can change your mood. Take a few minutes, read the labels, and put a little thought and time into your food choices.

6. GIVE UP “DIET” AND “ZERO” PRODUCTS. The majority of diet products are bogus. In most cases, they contain aspartame, the chemical substance that stimulates the appetite and has a number of side effects (migraine, nausea, numbness, muscle spasms, and weight gain, to name a few).

7. BALANCED MEALS. Each meal should contain approximately 45% of carbohydrates, 35% of proteins, and 20% of fat. This balance stabilizes the amount of insulin which evokes the feeling of hunger. In this way, we are able to control this feeling. It only takes a bit of discipline and knowledge for you to become slim, healthy and satisfied. Try it…it's not so difficult. We all like to look good. Slimness, beauty, health and happiness go hand-in-hand.

I'M MY CHOICE

Life is made up of countless decisions. Each and every day, we are bombarded with all kinds of offers through mail, television, telephone solicitations, newspapers, e-mail, and in various places - on the streets, in the mall, on our beaches, etc. We are constantly receiving offers and enticing specials to purchase food, clothing, new cars, travel, new homes, education and many, many other things. Everywhere there is someone who wants to sell something to you. It's no wonder we become more and more indecisive in what is important and what is a priority in our lives.

While returning home from shopping or even after on-line shopping, I often regret some of my own choices in my purchases. Sometimes, after taking only a few steps, I will often find something better, more beautiful or at a more reasonable price and regret my previous purchase. Fortunately, in America, we are able to return or exchange our purchases, however, in my native Serbia, we could never return or exchange our purchases.

Just think about how many brands of water there are in our supermarkets. Which one to choose? The one with more calcium or magnesium, with selenium, vitamin water, natural, filtered, plastic or glass bottles, domestic or foreign brands, Smart, Fiji, Evian…and the list goes on. Using water is just one example, but this is also true for so many other products, especially, for me personally, clothing. For example, how much time do we waste deciding what we should wear?

The same thing happens when it comes to important life decisions. Many things are changing in my life…life is no longer a matter of simple choices, for example, a new job or a relocation to another part of the country. Presently, my daughters are researching which colleges they would like to attend, which takes so much energy, time, research and decision-making. It seems to be difficult and more complicated for me in making final decisions. In today’s modern world, it is even more difficult than ever. Having a choice is a privilege, but having too many choices can make life more complicated.

Sometimes, our decisions may not be the best or right choices. This does not mean that one should be hesitant in making their decisions. On the contrary, determination is a trait that stands out as an important characteristic of successful people. Personality Characteristics and Management in Education was my doctoral thesis, and look at me…at times it seems that I do not know how to make decisions effectively. When we were children, our parents, teachers, coaches and other adults in our lives were making decisions for us. Now that we are grown, we make decisions not only for ourselves, but for others, as well. I have two teenage daughters, and I am always making decisions with and for them. I have to admit, I often doubt the decisions I am making, but here are some "rules" that help me and, perhaps, can help you decide more effectively.

1. FOR AND AGAINST. Almost every choice has both for and against arguments which should be considered.

2. TRUST YOUR INTUITION. Intuition is a part of internalized external experiences and you should listen to your own intuition. Intuition has never let me down. This especially refers to situations when having two equally good choices. Your intuition should determine which choice you make. Flip a coin, and while it falls your inner voice will determine which choice!

3. YOUR DECISION IS A MATTER OF PERSONAL CHOICE. What's good for others may not always be good for us, and vice versa. Other people's opinions and choices should be considered, but decision-making is always a personal choice.

4. DON'T THINK TOO MUCH. One should not rush into things, but too much thinking leads to indecisiveness.

5. “PERFECTION” SHOULD NOT SPOIL A GOOD CHOICE. While making our decisions, we should try to answer the question: “What is good for us?” Not everything should be perfect.

6. BELIEVE IN YOUR DECISION. We can ponder any decision, however, that's not the point. Action follows the decision.

7. FEAR SHOULDN'T DECIDE. Most often, we decide to do or not to do certain things because of the fear of change. We shouldn't be afraid of change…change can be liberating. Although sometimes stressful, change is an inevitable part of our growth.

8. HAPPINESS AND SUCCESS ARE DECISIONS. Despite all the mistakes and ups and downs we experience daily in our lives, it is most important to choose happiness and success in accordance with your lifestyle. I'm my choice! I am who I choose to be!

Love, Zvezdana
P.S. No matter what, be happy, be successful, stay positive and keep smiling!!!!!

AMAZING

Girls are like apples on trees.

The best ones are at the top of the tree.

Most men don't want to reach for the good ones

Because they are afraid of falling and getting hurt.

The apples at the top think something is wrong with them

when in reality, they are amazing. They just have to wait

for the raight man to come along, the one who is brave enough

to climb all the way to the top of the tree.

The man who truly wants you will do anything to get you.

A women emerged from the ribs of man

not from his leg to be stepped on nor from his head to be more powerful,

but from his side to be equal, under his hand to be protected,

and near the heart to be loved.

GIRLS, BE AMAZING!!!!