Make sure to check out all the episodes in this series! You can do all the supersets in sequence, one after the other, for a GREAT equipment-free workout!
Author drstaceynaito
Philosophy Turbo Booster C Powder
I am a big believer in the power of ascorbic acid (better known as vitamin C) for bringing out the best in skin. Vitamin C is excellent for smoothing out skin tone and for lightening dark spots which are formed from sun exposure or acne scars. It is also effective for reducing the frequency and severity of acne breakouts. However, make sure you get high quality forms which are bottled in dark glass so that the potency of vitamin C is maintained. Though most vitamin C treatments are formulated as serums, my absolute favorite vitamin C product is Turbo Booster C Powder by Philosophy. It is reasonably priced and is the most versatile vitamin C product out there. Turbo Booster C Powder comes with a tiny spoon which you use to scoop up the granules, then mix with a moisturizer of your choice. The key to ensuring potency is to mix the powder into the moisturizer each time you use it, rather than dumping the entire bottle of powder into a jar of moisturizer.
If the idea of a powder is not appealing to you, there are many excellent serums on the market. You can even mix up your own homemade version:
http://www.delightedmomma.com/2012/09/skin-care-tip-of-week-diy-vitmain-c.html
Some individuals may experience redness, stinging or burning when they first begin using any vitamin C product. If this is the case, use the vitamin C product every other night until your skin acclimates.
I am especially enthusiastic about promoting the usage of vitamin C on facial skin in individuals over the age of 30 because it can brighten and rejuvenate the complexion beautifully without causing the flaking and dryness that is often seen with retinol and glycolic acid based products.
All Those Bodybuilding Organizations!
I realize that it can be confusing for those who are not involved in bodybuilding, or who are just learning about it, to sort through all the bodybuilding federations and organizations which exist. Though the International Federation of Bodybuilders (IFBB), the National Physique Committee (NPC), and the World Bodybuilding Federation (WBFF) are the organizations which come to mind for most people, others are lost in the sea of abbreviations which denote other organizations. Some of the other organizations you may have heard of are Muscle Mania, ABA, PNBA, INBA, and CBBF. There is also a site which lists all the bodybuilding organizations which are designated as natural:
http://www.naturalbodybuildingevents.com/orgs.htm
If you are thinking of entering a competition and are against doing so in the NPC (which is without a doubt the largest, most competitive and most highly respected amateur bodybuilding organization in the world), you may want to investigate the events which are hosted by other organizations. However, I will ALWAYS stand by the NPC and the IFBB and recommend that people compete at those events. While I can understand switching organizations because one format may be a better fit for a competitor, I am puzzled by the fact that some competitors switch only after they do not get a desired placing at a national event. I have competed for five years in the NPC and have NEVER consider jumping ship in order to get a coveted placing. Do I want to achieve Pro status? Absolutely. Will I shift allegiance to reach my goal? NEVER. The NPC and the IFBB feature the BEST bodybuilders around, and the fact that these organizations are so competitive actually enhances their appeal.
In keeping with my complete allegiance to the NPC and the IFBB, I am posting links to NPC News Online and to the IFBB Pro site:
I go for the best and the greatest challenges and feel that those who are truly driven and competitive should do the same.
Muscle and Body Magazine Best Body Contest 2013…Please Vote For Me!
Please go to http://www.MuscleandBodyMag.com during the month of June to cast your vote! Every vote counts!
Fitness People: A Different Species
Janet West at almost 52 years of age with me at 46! Taken at the Arnold in March 2013.
Fitness people DO NOT GIVE UP. They will work tirelessly at reaching their goals, whether they be new athletic achievements, weightlifting records, or contest goals. They are beasts in the gym, working through the pain of intense workouts that would make most people walk away. They have a language of their own which I now know fluently and feel completely comfortable speaking. They experience frustration and anxiety when they are unable to get to the gym. Plastic and glass storage containers are their standard dishware, and they know all too well what it is like to eat meals in cars. Fitness people find it very difficult to eat meals in restaurants and strike their non-fitness friends as being ultra-picky.
The differences between fitness and non-fitness people become glaringly obvious at big fitness events such as the Arnold Sports Festival, when bodybuilders, fitness enthusiasts and athletes of all kinds descend on Columbus, Ohio and bump elbows with middle America. Fitness people look like real-life superheroes, beautifully muscled, spray tanned, and wearing body-baring outfits which the average person would not even consider wearing out in public. To put it bluntly, fitness people are spectacles, walking wonders, and incredible sources of inspiration. It is truly an honor to be included in this amazing community.
Please Check Out The New Fitness TV Show I Am A Part Of!
https://www.facebook.com/FitnessCaliforniaStyle
Fitness California Style is now in post-production with great episodes designed to help you attain the highest levels of fitness!
I Am Part Of Some Exciting TV Productions! Check One Of Them Out Here…
Please click on the link below to check out one of the projects I am involved in which is currently in production. Ian Lauer IFBB Pro, CSCS is the host of this exciting new show!
Japanese Good Luck Darumas
From the time I was a child I was fascinated with the slightly scary Daruma dolls that I would see in the Japanese stores my mom would take me to. I knew that they were good luck and that if you added the right pupil while concentrating on your wish that it would lead to the fulfillment of that wish, after which you could paint in the left pupil. I did not have a daruma until I was an adult and wanted to remind myself of specific goals which I had set for myself.
The Daruma doll is modeled after Bodhidharma, the founder of the Zen sect of Buddhism. Bodhidharma was a Buddhist monk who lived during the 5th/6th century CE. He is traditionally credited as the transmitter of Ch’an (Zen) to China. One legend claims that he sat facing a wall in meditation for a period of nine years without moving, which caused his legs to fall off from atrophy. Another popular legend is that after falling asleep during his nine-year meditation, he became angry with himself and cut off his eyelids to avoid ever falling asleep again.
It is quite powerful to see a Daruma with one pupil colored in, because it causes you to recall your goal. The custom is partially explained through a promise to Daruma-san to give him full sight once your goal is attained, thus motivating him to grant your wish. I believe in the power of these dolls because they serve as a constant reminder of whatever goal or dream you have chosen and keep you on track so that it comes to fruition. I had a Daruma when I was in medical school which helped me to maintain focus during the most arduous times during my education and training. The day that I was able to paint in the other pupil was a very powerful one indeed. Now I have a Daruma sitting on my desk with the right pupil painted in which is a representation of my goal to attain IFBB Pro Status. I see this Daruma daily and am more fixated on this goal than I have been in the entire five years that I have been competing. Painting in that left pupil will be a delicious reward indeed.
Clarisonic Brushes For Clean Skin
I am very skeptical of any gadgets which emerge in the world of skincare and do quite a bit of research before applying my stamp of approval to them. However, I have used a medical-grade Clarisonic Pro brush for over two years on my own skin and wholeheartedly stand by this device. The Clarisonic uses sonic energy to loosen oil, dirt and makeup and only takes 60 seconds to use. When skin is well cleansed, moisturizers and serums which are applied afterwards are absorbed much more efficiently, and the texture and tone of the skin will improve with continued use. In fact, I recently visited with a friend who had begun using the Clarisonic brush system at the beginning of the year, and her skin was glowing from regular usage. She looked younger and more rested than I had ever seen her.
There is no question that the Clarisonic brush cleanses the skin much more thoroughly than when you just use your hands, and since the brush heads are very gentle, there is little to no risk of stripping or overcleansing the skin. Each time you use the Clarisonic brush you will be rewarded with glowing, clean skin. I say this without any vested interest in the company and do not have anything to gain financially or otherwise by encouraging the use of the Clarisonic brush.
Here is a Google link which will lead you to several sites where you can purchase the Clarisonic Pro. The investment is well worth it!
