2010 June | Health & Wellness | fitGLOSS

The ABC’s of Skin Cancer

skincancer 298x300 The ABCs of Skin Cancer About 68,720 new cases of melanoma were diagnosed in the United States in 2009 –- which is the deadliest form of skin cancer. If you pay attention to your skin, you may be able to detect the signs of melanoma at an early stage – and if caught early, the chances of survival are far greater.

What changes do you need to look out for? The most important factor is to learn to pay attention to your moles. Learn the ABC’s:

Asymmetry - if your mole is not symmetrical
Border irregularities - if the border seems uneven
Color variations – if it’s not one consistent shade
Diameter – if it’s bigger than an eraser of a pencil
Evolution – if it changes or just recently popped up

If you notice any of your moles have any of the irregularities as mentioned above, consult your dermatologist. You should go for a full body mole-mapping at least once a year. To keep yourself protected year round – make sure you wear an SPF of 15 or higher with UVA and UVB protection.

Gloss Find: Deadline Fitness

51KVGv6TIPL. SL500 AA300 Gloss Find: Deadline Fitness I have a few trips coming up this summer including jetting down to Miami and a getaway to the Hamptons — both of which have been my main motivators for hitting the gym. Bikini time! If you have an event or vacation on the horizon that you want to look fabulous for, I’m sharing my secret to my workout plan – a book called “Deadline Fitness: Tone Up and Slim Down When Every Minute Counts” by Gina Lombardi.

Lombardi’s been a trainer to many celebrities in Beverly Hills and she’s not kidding when she says “deadline.” The book outlines several eating and exercise plans for those who are trying to meet a deadline and whip themselves into shape. It’s easy to follow and photos illustrate each exercise.

The best part – it doesn’t matter if you have 3 months until your wedding or 2 weeks until a tropical vacation. There are plans for your deadline.

Deadline Fitness: Tone Up and Slim Down When Every Moment Counts — available at Amazon.com for $21.33

Fit Tip of the Day: Interval Train

stopwatch 215x300 Fit Tip of the Day: Interval Train Do you normally hit the treadmill and just go at it for about 30 minutes –- running or jogging straight through? I do, but studies show that if you kick up your cardio routine by interval training, you’re guaranteed to burn more calories by almost double.

“Interval training also keeps your metabolic rate higher throughout the day after you’re done with your workout,” explains Michele Olson, Ph.D., Professor of Exercise and Science at Auburn University at Montgomery in Alabama.

Next time you’re about ready to face the treadmill or elliptical machine, do a two minute warm-up then go hard for three minutes. Keep varying your speeds according to what fits your needs for 2-3 minutes at a time until you meet your half hour goal.

Not into the treadmill or elliptical? No problem. You can interval train by doing any type of cardio – or you may want to switch it up by circuit training. You can even take it outdoors by running, climbing stairs and jumping rope. Do each activity for two minutes each for at least twenty minutes.

Celebrity Fitness Secrets: How Jennifer Love Hewitt Got Her Body Back

hewitt1SPLASH2811 468x457 300x292 Celebrity Fitness Secrets: How Jennifer Love Hewitt Got Her Body Back Like most of us, Jennifer Love Hewitt has had her highs and lows when it comes to her body. The pressures of Hollywood have gotten to her over and over again and the paparazzi has tracked every pound. Today, the starlet is looking better than ever and after about a two-and-a-half year struggle with her weight, she’s got her body back and is happy.

“I was in a relationship, a homebody and working 15 to 16 hours per day,” Hewitt comments on why she gained weight, as told to People.

Now that she has a new outlook on life, she’s hired a personal trainer, travels with workout videos and even brings resistance bands along with her on the road. One of the biggest changes she made was “always saying no to the bread basket” when dining out and skipping deserts.

Tell us — what changes have you made that worked best for you as far as long-term health and fitness? Share your tips in the comments!

New Study: Botox Freezes Emotions

botox 298x300 New Study: Botox Freezes Emotions You may want to think twice before injecting your face with the magical wrinkle eraser, Botox. Yes, it can instantly freeze the lines in your forehead, rid crows feet and make you look about ten years younger, but recent studies show that the youth may turn you into a robot.

Some who have faces full of the injectable aren’t able to show their emotions on the outside – well, little did they know – it’s also been effecting their emotions on the inside.

“With Botox, a person can respond otherwise normally to an emotional event, like a sad movie scene, but will have less movement in the facial muscles that have been injected, and therefore less feedback to the brain about such facial expressivity,” researcher Joshua Davis, a psychologist at Barnard College in New York, told LiveScience.

Davis then compared a group of Botox patients with a group of Restylane patients and found that the Restylane fans’ emotions weren’t affected.

Night-time Eating: A New Disorder Defined

Rarely ever is dinner the last time I put food into my mouth before bed, but it should be. Depending on what time I eat dinner, I often find myself snacking afterwards and sometimes indulging in ice cream as I continue to work into the wee hours of the morning –- I bet you can relate.

Besides the occasional after hours snacking directly effecting your waistline, it can also effect your overall health. Dr. Albert Stunkard of the University of Pennsylvania identifies this condition as the “night-time” eating syndrome. In patients in a study who ate excessively at bedtime and the woke up in the middle of the night to consume more food, there was a direct relation to their obesity.

Even though most Americans don’t take nighttime snacking to a high level, it’s something to be aware of. A good guideline is not to snack after dinner and if you do get the munchies and simply must eat something before bed, make a healthy choice — a piece of fruit, a small portion whole-grain cereal or a piece of whole-grain toast with sugar-free jam or peanut butter should do the trick!

Sex & Relationships: Couples Yoga

couplesyoga 300x197 Sex & Relationships: Couples Yoga Every relationship is unique in its own way, but they all have one thing in common – the sparks that keep them alive. If you’re looking to add some fuel to the fire and create a stronger bond between you and your man (plus steamy sexual tension) try couples yoga.

“Correcting his alignment and letting your partner follow your movements without your voice – just by eye contact – will help to create a deeper connection,” says Yoga and Fitness Expert, Juli Rathke, B.S.

Any extended period of eye contact is known to strengthen a bond, but the physical activity of yoga combined with the various positions is sure to stimulate physical chemistry too. So, take it to the mat and get ready to get it on. After all, it’s all about the mind and body connection, right?

Need some inspiration? Check out these couples yoga DVD selections:

Amazon.com Widgets

Eat This to Help Prevent Skin Cancer

salmonmedley 200x300 Eat This to Help Prevent Skin Cancer Being a huge beauty junkie and health freak – I will never tell you not to apply (and re-apply) your SPF. However, research shows that what you eat can also help protect you from sun.

If you’re a fan of Mediterranean food, then you’re in luck. The diet consisting of fish –- which is filled with omega-3 fatty acids –- veggies and herbs may help prevent you from getting melanoma. Studies in the International Journal of Epidemiology suggest a Mediterranean diet, which has a host of other health benefits as well, can actually cut your risk of getting deadly skin cancer in half.

The news sounds as delicious as the meal. One of my favorite Mediterranean inspired meals? Salmon Medley — it’s simple to whip together, low-fat and oh-so-good for you: 4 oz. grilled salmon coated in pistachios, 1 cup of spinach, 1/4 cup of carrots, 1/4 cup of cucumbers and a 1/2 cup of wild rice.

Yum!