SugarFreeSheila.com / SFS.com: Motivation & Beauty Tips Page

Winter 2007

If ever there is any topic I'm e-mailed about most, it is this one.

Here are a few FAQ's:

Where do you get your motivation and how do you stay so motivated? See below.
Do you ever slip or gain weight? Never - not after what I've been through to get here! After years of tireless calorie and fat
gram-counting with the daily cardio I have done since the 5th grade while inexplicably never losing an ounce (which is why I actually
envied yo-yo dieters, because at least they lost the weight to begin with!), and after finally, FINALLY finding my ace in the hole of
staying permanently slim, energetic, and incredibly content with my physique, I'm sure you can understand my utter unwillingness to
backslide. Forget it! These 36-24-36 measurements I've worked diligently for are here to stay.
How do you stay away from foods you know you're not supposed to eat? Easy: I just do.
Again, it's a choice. Plus, it doesn't hurt that I have regular "Fun Days" every 3 weeks to keep me in order! For maintenance, this
absolutely works for me.

The fact is, motivation for me is innate. While I've always had it, it only increased as I committed to Atkins. If I want something, it's
mine ... and trust me, it's not because it is given to me or comes easily. I simply give everything I do in life 100%, and there are no
excuses. Excuses are ultimately sabotaging, self-inflicted roadblocks, and I don't let them get in my way of personal achievements.
Why should you?

My "secret" may be a bit of a letdown - but the fact is, motivation comes entirely from within. You have to decide which it is you
want more, and you must be ready to make that permanent commitment.

BUT IT'S STILL A CONSTANT EFFORT FOR ME!
I will say this, however: nighttime after dinner is by far the hardest time for me, because at times I want to nosh on things like nuts! Even
though I have nothing whatsoever against nighttime snacking (good thing, since I partake in it often! A shake, bunless burger, shirataki
noodles, Greek yogurt, or chicken breast are just a few examples of extremely low-carb snack options) and allow healthful foods like nuts on
a daily basis, I'll want to snack on more than what I know is my personal daily carb limit of 90-110 grams. I literally have to talk myself out of
the higher-carb nut temptations - and thankfully, lower-carb nuts like walnuts, pecans, almonds, sunflower seeds, and pumpkin seeds often
come to my rescue! I call pumpkin seeds my "Slow-Mo Nuts," because a 16-carb bag will last me for an entire movie!
The above said, I have to say that keeping slim is so easy (i.e., with Atkins, I do not restrict calories, fat, or portions), and yet at the same time
it is most certainly a daily endeavor for me - and this interesting little contradiction is so very important to reveal here on my website, because
my visitors need to know that while I've successfully lost weight and maintain it with a vengeance, this has not changed my urges for
overdoing the carbs at night!
Also, when it comes to low-carb baked goods, I reserve eating low-carb chocolate and/or my favorite low-carb treats - in reasonable amounts,
of course - for weekends when I bake my desserts. Knowing this is ahead, it keeps me on track on all other days of the week.
There is no "spiraling out of control" when it comes to maintenance and the way I eat; that is a path I make a conscious choice not to go.
Done. It's not magic; that's all it takes!

Regarding motivation: there is more to it than simply "having" it, because believe it or not, there is more to feeling and looking your best than
merely getting to a lower number on the scale. Boy, that only scratches the surface in terms of achieving your absolute potential. What I am
trying to say here is that if you find yourself not having motivation, drive, and feel utterly uninspired, then honey, this simply means that it is up
to you to GENERATE it! Cultivate it! So essential is it to enhance and illuminate every facet of your own unique beauty in the meantime -
and that is where objectives such as excellent Skincare, Makeup, Hair, a doctor-approved Fitness Regime, Teeth, Nails and more come in.
Self-improvement in all areas will heighten your confidence, magnify your self-esteem - and ultimately makes backsliding and plateauing
catalyzed by cheating and binging (which is essentially self-disrespect, in my opinion) out of the question!

My philosophy on beauty is this: be high-maintenance so you can afford to be low-maintenance. Be meticulous about fitness and beauty
routine, and you will find your appearance - particularly hair and makeup-primping time - to be beyond minimalistic. Nothing better than a
wash & wear beauty!

There are so many areas to address for looking your best, and to get your wheels turning, I will address just a few of them on this page.
Enjoy!


	August 29th, 2007 - New Jersey Exhausted at the airport ... and *not* ready for my closeup A cloche is essentially the only type of hat I like - and I've had this one for years.

Do you tan using either the sun or tanning beds? Stop immediately - it isn't that sunbeds are just as bad as
tanning in the real sun. They're worse! UVA (aging) & UVB (burning) rays damage the DNA in the skin
surface cells and contribute to skin cancer - and UVA rays damage even more deeply, damaging the
layer under the skin surface, where damage to precious collagen and elastin can occur, leading
ultimately to loss of elasticity of the skin. (Read: facial sagging.)

As you can tell from all other parts of this website, I don't mince words, so I'll lay it on the line here: Ever
notice the often leathery, frighteningly wrinkled faces of the 20-something workers behind the counters of
many tanning salons? Consider UVA rays responsible for this - and to add insult to injury, UVA rays
notoriously contribute to melanoma. Think you're not getting damage as long as you don't burn? Any
tanning of the skin, by its very virtue, is skin damage - no matter what the high school students behind
the counter at tanning salons try to tell you.

But aren't I tan in some of my photos? Well, I'm naturally quite fair, but just love how I feel when I have
some color, so I get bronzed the UV-free way in the summertime. Mystic Tan is a great spray tan, which
I have been doing since the late '90's - and it's come a long way in both the process and the color result
since its inception!

My tips for Mystic Tan?
Exfoliate thoroughly (and also shave for even better results) the entire body from head to toe not merely
the day of your Mystic, but 2-3 days in a row beforehand. This will lessen chances of unevenness, and
will enhance your tanning results, giving you a beautifully seamless color. Right before stepping in the
booth, saturate hands/heels of palms & feet with lotion, rubbing in completely so it will not function as a
barrier cream. Use barrier cream you don't rub in on palms & fingernails only, and make sure the heels
of your palms are not "globbed" with it as to avoid an obvious line of demarcation. Add a bit of lotion to
the elbows, Achilles tendons, & knees as well, rubbing in completely, before stepping in the booth.
When I do Mystic, I never get anything darker than the lightest Level 1, and ask for "no bronzer" since I'm
just going home anyway! Tip: Don't let yourself get wet for at least 8 hours; wash only hands with soap
and water, and moisturize feet with ordinary lotion about 2 hours after your spray-on tan. This keeps your
hands and feet from getting too dark. I like my feet to match my face!

You'll wake up the next morning with a gorgeous tan - but with no repercussions from UVA damage. The
best of both worlds!

SELF-TANNERS I RECOMMEND
I have a spray-on tan every 2 weeks in the summer months. To keep myself tan in between these
sessions, my favorite body self-tanner is Coppertone Endless Summer Foam - with no tint/color
indicator, as well as Neutrogena Micro Mist Tanning Sunless Spray for hands and feet. Why do I do it
this way? Given that I'm far from an expert when it comes to application at home, doing a spray-on tan
first provides a fail-safe, even "base." Gradual tanners aren't for me, & I've tried starting from scratch by
applying self-tanners - even those meant for light complexions - on my fair skin. It isn't pretty. I could
never get it right, so I don't try to! Starting off with a spray-on makes the entire process stress-free & fool-
proof.
Note: I use latex gloves for body application, and reapply every 4 nights. Once the color begins looking a
bit imperfect, I either let it fade on its own, or loofah with baby oil 2 nights in a row if I have an event
coming up, then start the process all over again. For the face: Lotions/gels are my preference for the
chest, neck, and face, and I adore L'Oréal Sublime.

SMOKING, DRINKING
S moking and drinking are personal choices - but know that they can wreak havoc on your skin. As if
yellowed teeth and bad breath weren't enough, smoking damages skin cells by depriving them of
oxygen (read: WRINKLES). With excessive drinking comes the semipermanent flush on the face,
puffiness in the skin, bloodshot eyes, and more. So ... are you ready for your close-up?
On a more personal note: people who do not know me too well might wonder to themselves if I choose
not to drink because of religious reasons, permanent pregnancy, maybe I have an early morning, or
because I'm "recovering." The boring truth is that I've simply always lacked a taste for alcohol - and for
the reasons cited above, certainly lack the inclination to push an acquired taste for it.

SUNSCREEN
If you make the choice not to tan, congratulations! But that's only half the battle since it isn't necessary
for one to lay out by the pool or at the beach for the skin to experience sun damage - and this is where
incidental sun exposure comes into play. Frankly, your skin cares not where you are, so never leave your
house without sunscreen! In fact, you can experience sun damage by sunlight creeping in through the
blinds of your windows. A good rule of thumb: if there's enough sun inside to read without a lamp,
there's enough sun to damage.

On that note, keep in mind that you need BROAD-SPECTRUM protection. A high SPF (I use one all over
the body, every single day by Vichy, La Roche-Posay Anthélios, Avène, Bioderma, or Ombrelle - the
latter a Canadian L'Oréal brand) is one of two components to look for when considering a particular
brand - the other being, most importantly, the proper active ingredients. Simply looking for a high SPF on
a sunscreen is not sufficient, as this only refers to UVB (or burn) protection; however, keep in mind that
you do not have to go high-end in order to get a high-quality sunscreen. I never do! I get all of my
sunscreens from pharmacies (drugstores). Again, an excellent sunscreen is all about its Sun
Protection Factor (SPF), and especially its active ingredients. So, which active ingredients to look for?

Below are the 3 American FDA-approved active ingredients ensuring the most effective protection:

Titanium Dioxide (Physical protection - UVA & UVB filter)
Zinc Oxide (Physical protection - UVA filter)
Avobenzone ... also called butyl methoxydibenzoylmethane or "Parsol 1789" (Chemical protection -
UVA filter)
Helioplex (Not as UVA-protective as Mexoryl, Helioplex is the U.S.'s answer to Mexoryl. You can find this
ingredient in Neutrogena sunscreens.)

Terephthalylidene Dicamphor Sulfonic Acid & Drometrizole Trisiloxane ("MEXORYL SX" &
"MEXORYL XL," respectively) - a chemical UVA filter, not yet FDA-approved. These are just two of the
active ingredients found in the sunscreens I use every single day, and I will NOT expose my skin to
sunlight without it - which means I must order them directly from a pharmacy in Europe. The
sunscreens I use contain Mexoryl SX, Mexoryl LX (or Tinosorb, depending on brand), titanium dioxide,
Parsol 1789, and sometimes zinc oxide as well - all in one bottle. To top it all off, the levels of these
active ingredients are each dramatically more potent than U.S. sunscreens. I highly recommend them.
Tinosorb - Another not-yet-FDA-approved chemical active ingredient. This is in Avène sunscreens!

Make sure the active ingredient in a sunscreen you purchase is listed first & foremost in the Active
Ingredients list - not last. If you're going to spend the money, you may as well get your money's worth!

Sunscreens I recommend:
La Roche Posay Anthelios - Not yet available in the U.S. [Note: I have no intentions of buying/using the
new La Roche-Posay Anthélios SX SPF 15 , which made its U.S. debut in the fall of 2006, as the
ingredients are nowhere near as potent as the original European Anthélios. It is a step in the right
direction; however, this sunscreen has got a long way to go. [I sent L'Oréal/La Roche-Posay this letter in
November 2006. No response.] I use (European-only) La Roche Posay Anthélios SPF 40 or 50+ all
over the face and body. It amazingly contains both physical - titanium dioxide - and chemical -
Avobenzone / MEXORYL XL / MEXORYL SX - sun protection. Unfortunately, this is unheard of for a U.S.
sunscreen ... for now.
La Roche-Posay Anthélios W Gel SPF 40 - Not yet U.S.-available. I wear this one on gym days since it's
not as matte for regular day wear as the La Roche-Posay Anthelios SPF 40 spray I wear otherwise. No
white cast with either of these Anthélios sunscreens, though the Anthélios W Gel SPF 40 is quite shiny.
For daily wear, Avène Emulsion and BioDerma Photoderm Max Fluide SPF 50 are also great and
comparable in protection. I wish the FDA would hurry up and approve both Mexoryl SX and XL as well as
Tinosorb already, as this would save so many of us a bundle with ordering them from overseas on the
Internet! Until then, the only use I have for an American sunscreen is on my back & legs (I use a 3%
Avobenzone Neutrogena SPF 70 spray, which also contains Helioplex.)

A Word About Application:
1.) Shake for 20 seconds before applying. Annoying, but necessary!
2.) A sunscreen's protection takes at least 20-30 minutes to take effect. Please take that into account, and time your
applications accordingly - in other words, not as you are running out the door.
3.) How much to apply? A quarter or teaspoon-sized dollop for just the face alone is required. For example, if you're
applying just an eighth of a teaspoon of an SPF 45 sunscreen, even one with 2-3% of chemical active ingredient
Avobenzone/Parsol 1789, you're actually getting about an SPF of 10 - at the most. Apply another quarter-
sized/teaspoon amount to the neck. As for the body: a shotglass-sized amount (at least!) is required to cover
everywhere else.
4.) "Waterproof"? "Water-resistant"? No such thing. The second you get out of the water, reapply!
4.) How often to apply even if you stay dry? Every 2 hours, as this is the extent of protection for even the most
amazing-ingredient, highest-SPF sunscreen. Since I personally don't want to bother with reapplication, I simply limit
my daily sun exposure to well under 2 hours a day. Plus, I have Llumar UVShield in my car.

MY NIGHTTIME SKINCARE REGIME FOR THE NON-SUMMER MONTHS
I'm sure you all know to wash every stitch of makeup off your face before going to bed. I use an olive oil-
based cleanser in the morning, and Olay Foaming Face Wash, which washes off even eye makeup. My
routine outlined below is an anti-aging one, and is quite easy and affordable:

After cleansing, I apply Gly Derm glycolic acid cream to the face, neck, chest, arms/hands a couple of
times per week - I always apply all of my actives all over the face and upper body. (Why should the face
alone get all the benefits?) The only moisturizers I use are either inexpensive non-synthetic Vitamin E oil
(antioxidant d-Alpha Tocopheryl), or AEA-certified, fully-refined Emu Oil. (I don't recommend any
particular brands, so long as the oils meet the aforementioned specifications.) As for Retin-A Micro, I
alternate this every 2-3 nights - again, only in the non-summer months, since I like to self-tan then!
Unfortunately, glycolic acids do not mix with self-tanners unless you are going for the Vitiligo look. I tried
that once years ago; fortunately, it was during the weekend!

The important thing is that I do only what my skin can tolerate - and everyone is different. If I feel that
actives are beginning to be "too much" (always use your judgment!), I pull back for a day or two and use
only sunscreen and the above oils at night.

I do not use eye creams; my daily La Roche-Posay Anthélios SPF or Bioderm Photoderm SPF,
SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic (a Vitamin C serum applied every third morning), Retin-A, glycolic acid, &
Vitamin E / emu oil are all applied to this area and are therefore all the eye products I need. Another
chief reason I decline to use an eye cream is because a few hours after applying even the richest ones,
the skin around the eye area feels as though I applied nothing. Come to think of it, this is always the
case for face creams, too - yep, even the $130/ounce ones. So, this is where my oils come in; 8 hours
later when I wake up the next morning, they're still doing their work. Let's just say I'm even further
encouraged to sleep on my back so as to not ruin my pillow!

Note about prescription retinoids: Tretinoin (Retin-A / Renova) is fabulous for stimulating collagen
production in the underlying layer of the skin (dermis). Sunlight inactivates retinoids, so make sure to
apply these at night. Visit your dermatologist to find the right percentage of Tretinoin is right for you.
Note about potent glycolic acids: Using these alternately with prescription retinoids further enhances
benefits by encouraging cell turnover and thoroughly exfoliating and smoothing the top layer of the skin
(epidermis). It's like having the Marines and Navy working for you at once! No prescription needed, but a
strong formula may be necessary to heed truly visible results.
Note about SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic: I cannot rave enough about this Vitamin C serum. Not only does
it provide an instant glow almost comparable to a light tan (again, I apply it all over!), it offers 8 times the
protection your sunscreen provides alone. Not only that, since it cannot be washed or rubbed off after
application, one does not need to reapply daily. Lovely!

One very interesting thing I have heard from more than one dermatologist: "I can always tell which side a
patient sleeps on the second they walk in the door." Yikes. Imagine making a grimace for 8 hours every
night the way you do when you sleep scrunched on one side of your face. So, sleep on your back, ladies!
**For those of you who ask: I do not have facials/treatments. While I do have an aesthetician, this is only
for sports massage and waxing. Since I am into advanced skin care, I'm no-nonsense and head
straight for my derm if I have any concerns.**

SUPPLEMENTS
For the skin, in addition to the other vitamins I take daily (detailed in my FAQ), I also include 2,000mg of
Vitamin C, as well as 25,000 I.U. of Vitamin A (Beta Carotene), and 1,000 I.U. Vitamin E. I feel it's best to
take care of your skin externally and internally with antioxidants! (With Vitamin E, avoid the synthetic dl-
Alpha Tocopheryl Acetate form, and instead look for its more-absorbent natural form, d-Alpha
Tocopheryl.) Heliocare is also a great product, recommended by many dermatologists.

AVOID PAYING RETAIL WHEN POSSIBLE
Any links provided here are to demonstrate a visual - I am not a customer. Aside from prescription
retinoids, I get all of my pricey anti-aging actives items from reputable websites. As for my sunscreens?
To avoid the notorious Internet price-gouging for them, I order direct from an overseas chemist I visited
while overseas. To find rock-bottom prices for skin care products or anything, check Froogle.com.

AVOID BEING RIPPED OFF ONLINE
In addition to owning a current copy of the brand's official price list, while in Europe, I notice that a La
Roche-Posay sunscreen never retails for more than €18, TOPS. Americans, please arm yourself with
this information while choosing an online seller. Many sellers ask for an astounding $40-$60 for an
$18.50 bottle of Anthélios sunscreen, using their own overseas shipping expenses as a bogus excuse
for their price-gouging. As someone who has shipped heavy items to and from Europe and knows what
standard foreign shipping actually costs, I find this practice shameful. La Roche-Posay is high-quality
indeed, but it is in fact a drugstore sunscreen - so please, expect it to be priced as such.

Kindly Note: I do not recommend any sellers or vendors for any of my personal product purchases.
Also, if a specific brand isn't cited alongside a product I use (e.g., Vitamin E oil), this means there are a
plethora of other brands I've found that are just as good. A sunscreen, glycolic acid, retinoid, and Vitamin
C serum have got to be extraordinary to get a mention here, as I'm an ingredient and value girl!

* Also, if you are interested, I have a few reviews available on MakeupAlley, one of my favorite websites.
Just search for "SugarFreeSheila"!

At Bergdorf's Bar III in NYC
I had the Lobster & Crabmeat Salad, with
the brandy chive sauce on the side.

July 2005 - Boston Market in Dallas, Texas

July 2005 - Plano, Texas
It's easy to eat low-carb anywhere.
At Boston Market, I usually get the
"Quarter White, Double Green Beans
or Double Mixed Veggies," and Diet
Coke with lots of lemon wedges!


	June 18th, 2005 Sailing out of Kirkwall, Scotland (but this green dress is from Hong Kong) A bit worn out after a long day of sightseeing!

While I was always into my skin, hair, and makeup before I lost the weight, I never really became truly
interested in style and accessories until I met my goal weight. Until then, I was more of a Gap girl:
plain shirts, jeans, boots. Really, I was just glad something fit me - and if it was reasonably priced,
SOLD. Well, I'm considerably more choosy now!

There is just something about buying clothes in beautiful colors and fabrics that work for you that make
you feel beautiful; for me, it serves as major motivation to stay on track. After all, if you've spent time
and money on those flatteringly snug jeans you plan on wearing tomorrow, the absolute last thing you'll
want to do is spoil all of your diligent work by deviating from your low-carb plan the night before! Eat for
tomorrow - an offbeat credo, but it does help.

I may or may not personally be into the following, and may discuss here & there my own fashion
preferences. Going more for style rather than all-out trendy, here are my recommendations to save you
the precious time spent flipping through magazines. It's all right here! Some things remain on the
runways from seasons past. You may have noticed that the flashy "bling-bling" trend has long fallen by
the wayside, making way for less ornate flash, and more sophistication and understated elegance.

So, what's in style, and more importantly, wearable, for 2008?

Tops : Sleeveless shifts remain. Lots of sheer for tops lately, Victorian. Ladylike styles. Cropped
jackets and structured vests. 3/4 sleeves - my personal favorite and GREAT for showing off your favorite
bracelet or watch. White and lace are lovely and so feminine. Victorian-inspired blouses. Ruffles.
Over-sized tunics cinched with a gorgeous belt. "Gauzy" tops. Femininity reigns supreme!

Belts. Skinny belts remain a good choice, as are the wide, 2-3" ones. Patent leather belts. Cinch the
waist you work so hard at keeping tiny with a belt! They look sharp paired with a plain long dress or
minidress, or over a fitted blazer. Experiment!

Handbags. Hobos. Structured bags. Crescent shapes. Still seeing metallics.   Note: I've always
noticed that 90% of the designer handbags I ever see are by Coach - you know, the ones with the LOUD
360º cloth logos. That's it. Please explore bags without logos!   I recently came across this site , & it
articulates my thoughts beautifully.

Pants:   Skinny jeans are still in, tapered rather than flared - these are practically a necessity for tucking
into high boots. Straight-cut jeans is the only cut of denim I personally wear, and hit the middle of my
(always high!) heel. They make the legs look miles longer! A slightly higher waist for pants is a
welcome break, as is the wide-leg jean. I stick with a lower waist, and the wide leg look is a fun shift; I
just make sure to keep the top a rather thin, close-fitting fabric. My aim is to work with my proportions
rather than against them.

Skirts/Dresses: The pencil skirt!! Knee-length dresses: silk, sheath, belted, empire. '50's-inspired
dresses and full skirts, silk, lacy, ruffles, jewel tones. Full circle skirts are still in.

Shoes. Bright colors and metallics. Patent leather! Stacked heeled and round-toe. Peep-toe heels.
Flats; ballet flats are still around & spruce up a casual outfit.

Earrings. Bejeweled, rich styles. Diamond studs never go out of style; these are a staple for me, as I
tend to wear very little accessories.

Necklaces:   Now necklaces, I'm into.   Long, layered necklaces have gone by the wayside. Chunky
necklaces in jewel tones or earth tones. Knot necklaces. Department stores have an excellent
selection of fun fashion jewelry, so there is no use in spending a bundle.

Gold! It's a nice little break from platinum & goes especially beautifully with warmer, darker skin tones.
Bangles are a great idea. Fancy-looking layered gold necklaces paired with an otherwise ultra-casual
outfit looks hip and current.

Sunglasses: Big shades are still around. I just love them!

Quick tips regarding hot pieces to avoid looking like the dreaded fashion victim,
regardless of the season or fashion: Of course, only buy what suits YOU - not simply because it's
"hot." Use the information provided here to create your own personal, unique look. Have FUN with it!

- Wear one trendy item/piece at a time - if at all.
- You're an individual and so should be your own personal style.   Take inspiration from what is out there
& form your own style, but for heaven's sake, never mimic someone else.   A stranger should never be
able to look at you & correctly guess your favorite singer/actress. On that note, if there is a ubiquitous "It"
bag by a specific designer that everyone has/wants ... isn't that enough reason not to get it?
- Ostentatiousness is the antithesis of elegance. Tiny insignias are one thing - but if you cannot bring
yourself to buy or wear a designer piece unless loud logos are splashed at 360º, ask yourself why. You
have nothing to prove - so wear your labels on the inside!
- If you feel wearing something would embarrass you in 5-10 years if you were caught in a photograph,
skip it.
- Look ahead of the times - not behind! In other words, never go by what you see the masses wearing
at the mall. Classics, so long as they are current, are always a go - which marks the distinction
between transient, copycat fashion & a timeless style that is all your own.
- Conversely, when it comes to deciding what's acceptable to wear and what isn't, YOU make the call.
For example, take the scrunchie. I saw the same 2003 "Sexy & the City" episode everyone else did
about the scrunchie - and though I haven't seen these little elasticized fabric rings worn out in public
since I was in junior high, the aftermath of women everywhere emphatically parroting this anti-scrunchie
sentiment abruptly after the episode aired practically had me wishing I liked them so I could run out and
buy one to wear myself. lol The moral: when the chips are down, don't hang on anyone's word but your
own with respect to what you wear. Besides, one cannot lead from the crowd!

General Clothing, Shopping, & Tips For Fit:
Fit is everything. Everything. It can make an inexpensive outfit look incredible, and a pricey outfit look
dimestore. It may be wise to invest in a good seamstress to take things in and up if it is necessary. I
have to go to mine constantly for alterations.
With longer skirts, the most flattering length is right above or below (rather than right at) the knee.

If you are in a boutique & notice that the tops on the mannequins are severely pinned in the back, run.
This is the sign of a very poor cut and fit. Vanity sizing is to blame for this - and it is only getting worse.
Don't think it's a real problem? Consider the late Marilyn Monroe, whom women today are constantly
trying to tout as overweight or "plus-sized." Not bronzed and excessively buffed like many of today's
actresses? Certainly. But she was by no means a "big girl" & appeared to be in great shape to me.
(Here is a link to outtakes of a 1962 shelved film shot just 3 months before her death. Beware: it's
campy!) The fact is, according to her dressmaker & studio's claim for her widely-published
measurements (35-22-35 & 37-23-36, respectively), the 5'5", 120-pound actress would have easily fit
into a today's Gap size 0. My own waist and hips are 24 & 36 inches respectively, and even I can fit into
most size 0's. Did you know that a 24-inch waist used to be a size 6 in the early '90's? Va nity sizing is
getting that out of control.

Quick tip for saving lots of dough:
If I spot something high-end at a boutique, I take note of the brand, style name/model number, and
purchase online later on - in new condition, of course.
Most importantly of all:
Never, ever pay retail for high-dollar items. It's the 11th Commandment.

February 2006 - Frisco, TX
Having my Tall House Blend with
1 ounce heavy cream, 1 packet of
Splenda, dash of ground cinnamon
at Starbucks. If it's warm that
day, I ask for a Venti cup of ice
and a straw & transfer it over.

August 2006
Ft. Walton Beach, Florida

March 24th, 2008
At Target looking for a new
blender. I only use Oster!

My personal fitness regime is outlined in my FAQ, but I will list it here for convenience sake, and in
greater detail. Before hitting the gym, I have my Flax/Psyllium(for fiber)/CLA/GLA/Omega/Borage Oil
snack (recipe in my FAQ). When I get home, sometimes I have an SOS Shake, nuts, fruit, or salmon
sashimi as a little post-workout snack, then lunch later at around noon. For the record, I have never
had a trainer. No desire or need for one.

3 mornings a week, a 10-minute abdominal DVD. I alternate with Winsor Pilates Ab Sculpting,
Basic Ab Workout For Dummies, & the ab segment of the "Slim & 6 Pack" video with Debbie
Siebers.
2-3 mornings a week, I head to the gym, where I do 40 minutes of full-body resistance training
using light weights & high reps. With that & 20 minutes of cardio, I am in and out of the gym in
exactly 60 minutes. I work out solo and my rest periods are short, so I cram in what is outlined
here in a snap.
3-4 mornings a week, 20-25 minutes treadmill-walking, 4.1-4.4 mph. (I never use an incline, &
walking has always been my only form of cardio.) Sometimes I do cardio on my resistance
training days; sometimes not - depends on how busy my day is!

Resistance training I do in the gym: 3 sets of 15. There is always improvement to be made, so I like to
add/change a new machine or two on a regular basis. But below are the basics of what I do:

Leg press, I do 135 pounds
Hip Abductor, 175 pounds
Hip Adductor: 65 pounds
Tricep Extension, 20 pounds
L ateral Raises for lateral deltoids, 10 pounds
Lever C hest Press - 10 pounds
Lever Seated Row for posterior deltoids & lats - 10 pounds (keeps bra bulge - i.e., back boobs - at bay!)
L ever Seated Leg Curl for hamstrings, 55 pounds; ditto for L ever Leg Extension for Quadriceps.
L ever Kneeling Hip Extension for the glutes, 90 pounds

I also wholly recommend Callanetic s, which I don't currently practice as such, but have been a fan
of for years. To this day, I'll use the 3-minute abdominal component as my ab work when I
travel. For more information & reviews, click here. Also, if I'm in the mood for doing dumbbells
instead of the machines for upper-body, I've been doing the 20-minute upper-body portion of
Jackie Warner's new workout video featured on my DVR's On Demand, using 3-lb dumbbells &
skipping the 1-minute "cardio" segments. Her 20-minute ab workout is good, too!

I must be cautious of how I train, as I'm petite and the epitome of a Mesomorph. The truth is,
since every woman is built differently and may or may not be predisposed to building larger
muscle mass that what she prefers. Just as importantly, women have different goals, so you must
cater your resistance training to your own specific body type - and unfortunately, sometimes this
takes some trial & error. Should you choose to use a trainer (I have never used one), it is
crucial that he or she keeps this in mind. This is why I keep resistance training very light in
areas I know I must, with repetitions high, as I personally build muscle very easily. Here is more
information on the 3 different somatotypes. It's very interesting! See if you can spot your own ...

I love "self-improvement" fitness videos with no cardio component, as aerobics or any kind of
choreographed or high-impact cardio is so not for me. I see these DVD's as fun and more
relaxing than anything else - and should they result in a further firming somewhere in the process,
all the better! The Bar Method Body - Designer Sculpting is something I like to incorporate
when I travel. Among my favorites are the exercises targeting the front and back of the arms and
shoulders, the moves crafted to lift and carve out the "seat," as well as th