B-cause We Care

How Exercise Reverses Aging | Fitness Goop

2011-02-22T15:25:00.000-05:00

Are you worried about looking your age? Are you trying every anti-wrinkle cream out there?

How about trying what really works?

There is nothing more effective than good old exercise. Not only does it reverse the symptoms of aging, it restores energy and vitality to your life.

Tell me what anti-aging cream can do that?

Want the science behind it? Read this article and learn about a study conducted in which 5 men actually reversed the symptoms of aging and regained their health!

How Exercise Reverses Aging | Fitness Goop

If these men can do it - you sure as heck can too!

Skip the anti-aging creams and go with the sure thing.

LIFE GOES ON: Mindful Weight Loss | Connecticut Watchdog

2011-02-14T12:14:00.000-05:00

Use your clothing to provide weightloss motivation - great easy and quick tips.

LIFE GOES ON: Mindful Weight Loss | Connecticut Watchdog

Migraine Relief Workout | JulieAnnPrice

2011-02-11T11:36:00.000-05:00

Migraine Relief Workout | JulieAnnPrice

Great way to alleviate bothersome migraines.

Vitamin C - The Beauty Vitamin

2011-01-28T15:18:00.000-05:00

The Beauty of Vitamin C - Eat Your Way to Healthy Skin

Vitamin C is one of those amazing “beauty vitamins.” Vitamin C helps to support healthy skin by building protein used in the skin’s fibers. By strengthening the skins natural fibers, called collagen, fine lines and wrinkles may become less apparent.

The wonderful antioxidants that you hear about all the time are abundant in Vitamin C. These antioxidants minimize the damaging effects of the sun on your delicate skin by trapping free radicals.

Vitamin C is also reported to minimize the appearance of acne and shrink pore size. Improvements in skin texture have also been reported with increased intake of Vitamin C.

So reach for your citrus fruits like oranges and grapefruit. You will not know but you also get a nice dose of Vitamin C from spinach, tomatoes, peppers and potatoes.

Do your best to get Vitamin C directly from food sources instead of supplements. That way you will get the “real” thing plus dozens of other essential vitamins and minerals.

Eating your way to beauty - good for your skin and good for your overall health - it’s a win-win for you!

New Store

2010-07-27T12:17:00.001-04:00

There's a new store coming you way. I am switching over to a new platform so look for an all new and updated website in about one week!

Are you on a runaway boat?

2010-07-06T10:31:00.000-04:00

Where are you going on your summer vacation? What will you do with your time off?

Are you aware that while you are away, your life is rushing forward like a runaway boat with no one in the driver's seat?

Do you realize that you are living by default? If you deal with problems as they arise then you are merely reacting to your world - not shaping it.

If you change your routine only when some factor beyond your control forces you to change it then you are again, not the one who is in control of your life.

If you are not in control, then who is? The answer is scary so brace yourself...no one is. You are living by default buffeted by the waves of life. You go where and when the waves take you. Just like a boat with no driver.

What have you done to make those “someday” dreams come true? How are you navigating your life to take it where you want to go?

While you are on vacation, I want you to take the free questionnaire I am going to give you at then end of this article and start plotting a course for your life.

I challenge you to stop living “by default” and make a plan this week or weekend for how you are going to reach the lifestyle you dream about. I will give you a free “fill in the blank” plan that will get you started in just 5 minutes.

I was reading book the other day about the richest kids in America. I was shocked at how much they had accomplished before the age of 22. Wow, they have done so much. What have you and I accomplished with our time? What were we doing at 22?

I can bet that you were having fun but not living the life of a millionaire. What do these kids have to reach their dreams that you don’t have? The answer is amazingly simple - a plan.

Why don’t you have a plan? Because you are busy. You have kids to take care of, meetings to attend, a job to do, yard work to get done. The list never seems to end.

You are probably thinking, “Yeah, these kids don’t have anything else to do so they can plan and build a million dollar business. They don’t have any responsibilities.” I would agree that they have much less on their plate than you and I but I have to be brutally honest with you, you are just making an excuse for your lack of drive.

These kids had an idea and did not let fear of failure stop them. They didn’t say, “I’m just a kid. I can’t run my own business.” They didn’t let their age or inexperience hold them back. You can’t say the same.

As harsh as this may be for you, take a real hard look at your life. Do you tend to do the same routine on a daily basis. Do you plan your week and your vacations and stop there?

This is what living by default looks like. Without a plan, you tend to do the same things over and over. In the back of your mind however you are expecting your life to get better but how can it when you are not doing anything new to make that happen?

I am going to ask you to describe your dream lifestyle and I will bet that for a majority of you, you will come up blank! You don’t know what you really want because you have not defined it.

You may know things like, I want to have more money to pay the bills, to be able to afford to send the kids to college, to own a car or a house that is better than the one you have now or something similar.

Those are not lifestyle goals however. Let me give you an example of a lifestyle goal by telling you what mine are.

I want to have enough money coming in from residual sources to more than cover my bills so that my husband and I don’t have to work for anyone but ourselves. I want to have complete flexibility over my schedule so that I can attend all of the kids events. I want to be able to go on vacation three times a year to warm tropical destinations. Finally, I want to help other women find their lifestyle goals and reach them within in 2 years of starting to work with me.

So to summarize my lifestyle - it must be flexible, rewarding financially and spiritually and includes warm sunny beaches.

Have you got the idea? Great - now to get your head wrapped around what you really want, click this link to download your free - DREAM LIFESTYLE Starter form. It is a short fill in the blank form that will only take you minutes to fill in. You may however spend a good portion of this weekend pondering your answers.

Take some time by the pool or while you are lounging on the beach to think about what it is you really want. Remember you can’t expect things to change when you keep doing the same things. Stop living by default. Click here to access the DREAM LIFESTYLE Starter form.

When you return from your vacation, I want you to know what you want and judge if your activities are moving you toward your goal. Download the form and start thinking about the future that is just waiting for you to grab it.

Take control this 4th of July weekend

2010-07-02T08:09:00.002-04:00

Fourth of July weekend

What will you do with it?

yard work

go see fireworks

go to a picnic

I challenge you to stop living “by default” and make a plan this weekend for how you are going to reach the lifestyle you dream about. I will give you a free “fill in the blank” plan that will get you started in just 5 minutes.

I was reading an article this morning and the writer mentioned that Hallmark was holding an event to unveil this year’s Christmas ornament in a few days. I thought, holy cow! I just threw out my receipts from last Christmas the other day. What do you mean stores are already gearing up for another season?

Where has this year gone? It is already half over!

For most of you this coming weekend is a long holiday weekend. In the States we are celebrating our Independence. Several times this week I have been asked, “Got any plans for the holiday?” My answer was, “No, not really. We don’t have anything planned.”

In my mind, I was thinking, I’ll probably do some housework, go grocery shopping and go walking in the local park. My husband will most likely mow the lawn and do batting practice with the kids.

All in all, not a bad weekend but this is what every weekend looks like for us.

This is what living by default looks like. Without a plan, you tend to do the same things over and over. In the back of your mind however you are expecting your life to get better. How can it when you are not doing anything new to make that happen?

I am going to ask you to describe your dream lifestyle and I will bet that for a majority of you, you will come up blank! You don’t know what you really want because you have not defined it.

You may know things like, I want to have more money to pay the bills, to be able to afford to send the kids to college, to own a car or a house that is better than the one you have now or something similar.

Those are not lifestyle goals however. Let me give you an example of a lifestyle goal by telling you what mine are.

I want to have enough money coming in from residual sources to more than cover my bills so that my husband and I don’t have to work for anyone but ourselves. I want to have complete flexibility over my schedule so that I can attend all of the kids events. I want to be able to go on vacation three times a year to warm tropical destinations. Finally, I want to help other women find their lifestyle goals and reach them within in 2 years of starting to work with me.

So to summarize my lifestyle - it must be flexible, rewarding financially and spiritually and includes warm sunny beaches.

Have you got the idea? Great - now to get your head wrapped around what you really want, click this link to download our free - DREAM LIFESTYLE Starter form. It is a short fill in the blank form that will only take you minutes to fill in. You may however spend a good portion of this weekend pondering your answers.

It’s a long weekend. Take some time by the pool or while you are waiting for it to get dark enough for the fireworks to start to think about what it is you really want. Remember you can’t expect things to change when you keep doing the same things. Stop living by default. Click here to access the DREAM LIFESTYLE Starter form.

Come Tuesday, I want you to know what you want and judge if your activities are moving you toward your goal. Download the form and start thinking about the future that is just waiting for you to grab it.

Taking the Cake - Literally

2010-06-28T17:38:00.000-04:00

There is something very wrong with our children. Are we raising them in the absence of manners or do they just not care about anyone but themselves?

Case in point, last week we had a birthday celebration for a co-worker. Wanting something summery and decadent, we went out and bought a Friendly's Reese's Peanut Butter Ice Cream Cake.

I don't even want to know the number of calories in it - boy was it good. Everyone in the office tried to be good and took small slices so we had half the cake left over.

We put it in the leftovers in the freezer for the next day. When I came in the next morning there were dirty dishes covered with peanut butter ice cream left out for the catering staff to deal with. I'm sure you can guess what happened.

Someone ate the cake! Right out of the freezer. The culprits were a couple of high school kids working the evening shift at our building.

Now I don't really care about the cake - but who the hell did these kids think they were to take something that they clearly knew didn't belong to them and devour it? Further to leave their mess for someone else to clean up!

Now who does that - especially in a business environment? Perhaps you are saying - "I did way worse when I was a kid." I agree I was no angel but I always had manners. I was raised to respect others and treat them the way I would want to be treated.

These kids had no respect and no clue as to how others would react when they found out. I believe kids today do not think past instant gratification. Technology allows kids to get to what they want instantly. They do not take the time to think about repercussions because the world moves way too fast.

As parents what should we do? We have a responsibility to build a solid foundation for our kids. One the includes respect, manners and common sense. It is so simple - don't do something you wouldn't want done to you.

Why is this so hard for anyone to grasp regardless of age? Are parents failing their kids? Are the hectic schedules, the reliance on technology and the extremely fast pace of daily life costing us in ways we are not expecting?

If kids today want respect, they need to earn it. In my book this group lost major points but their parents lost quite a bit as well. You get once chance with your kids - don't blow it!

Teach them to consider others. Teach them to stop and think. It will pay off for them in the end.

My parting point to the kids - you are always "interviewing" for your future whether you think you are or not. The world is an unbelievably connected which makes it "smaller" than ever before. Very few offers are going to come the way of self-centered and un-mannered graduates - Have fun getting stuck at minimum wage!

If I have to read another boring article...

2010-06-25T15:10:00.000-04:00

Have you noticed how many boring articles there are out in the blogosphere?

After you read a few, don’t you just lose interest?

There is no need to be so serious all the time. How about a little quirky humor? I myself have a very dry sense of humor mixed with a touch of sarcasm - but just a touch.

I have been re-reading many of my own articles and uggh, I am so “type-A”.

I am the type of person who scores next to nothing on the social skills area of a personality test. I am great on crafting a plan but boy do I suck at making conversation.

You know my type, the one who dreads going to parties because she can’t make small talk to save her life.

Yes, that’s me. So please don’t invite me over unless you want to talk “shop.” I am great when we are discussing business, self-improvement, coaching, marketing and such.

As for future articles, I promise to make them more interesting for you to read. If I insult you with my dry humor, I apologize in advance.

So let me finish this article with a little such humor...

Q: Ever wonder about people who pay $2 for a bottle of Evian water?
A: Just spell "Evian" backwards!

Trashy Romance Novels and Summer - 2 of my favorite things.

2010-06-24T18:22:00.000-04:00

(When reading the title, please humm "Favorite Things" from the Sound of Music - HA HA:)

Ok, this post is for the ladies...

Trashy romance novels and summer just go together - am I right?

If I worked at a Borders, I would put a display of suntan lotion and i-Tunes gift cards at either end of the romance aisle. I would even buy scented "suntan lotion" candles to set the mood.

I love sitting by the pool with good tunes and a great romance novel. Don't you?

I do have a bone to pick though with the publishers of these books though.

Why the tacky covers?

I really have a good imagination and don't need "Joe Hunk" on the front cover. He's just fake looking. I can build a nice little image myself from the authors words. My preference is for the long black glossy hair look myself. (God I hope my husband never sees this post.)

These covers just scream "Trashy Romance Novel Here." I always walk with the book cover facing me or I lay it cover side down on the towel just so I don't advertise what I am reading. I know you do the same thing - don't lie.

I really don't want my kids to see the covers and ask me, "Gee mom, what's this book about?" Oh, nothing just sex and treachery and good stuff like that.

And the titles, come on! Really, in this day and age, can't authors come up with something a bit more original? Does ever title have to have "dark, "passion," "fire," or "hunter" in it?

What I would really like is a nice plain jane cover and an intriguing title. Spend some time on a nice description on the back cover and leave it at that. Am I asking too much?

Ah well, I will keep buying the books and publishers will keep making trashy covers that I have to disguise. Such is life.

If there is an enterprising woman out there, you should consider making slip on covers that fit paperbacks:)

What are your favorite romance authors? I like Shannon Drake, Christine Feehan, Karen Marie Moning, Colleen Houck and Kat Martin. I am always looking for a good author so please share!

Should you be offended?

2010-06-23T17:45:00.001-04:00

I was reading my tweets today and I came across one where the writer describing how she was upset by a Subway commercial. In the commercial, average people are seen eating fast food. The scenes that follow show these same people breaking a diving board as they jumps, breaking a chair as they sit, etc.

The point Subway was trying to make is that eating these foods would weigh you down and cause you to gain weight.

The writer of the blog felt the commercial was poking fun at fat people and as a result was offended. What do you think? Have you seen the commercial?

The writer felt that the ad was saying it is ok to make fun of fat people and compared it to making fun of someone based on their nationality or skin color.

I really think that analogy was going too far. No one can help the color of their skin, their nationality, or any physical or mental challenges. These things just are and so no, I don't believe someone should poke fun at their expense.

On the other hand, being overweight is avoidable for about 97% of the overweight population. There are very few people who legitimately cannot lose weight. For everyone else, weight problems are self imposed. No, I don't think you should be made fun of but I think you should have you hand slapped for making bad food choices.

If you have a weight problem, the last place you should be eating is McDonald's. If you make bad food choices, be prepared to gain weight. I think that is what Subway was trying to say in a vivid way.

Maybe their message was unclear but then again, maybe some folks are too sensitive. So I ask you, what do you think of the Subway commercial?

Punish All to Deal with One

2010-06-22T10:28:00.001-04:00

This post is inspired by Seth Godin's post about snowglobes. His post talks about putting up a sign in everyone's way alerting travelers at airports that snowglobes are not allowed onboard the plane.

The point of the post is that because one careless person didn't think to check a snowglobe with his luggage, all travelers need to be alerted to the potential problem. How many times have you traveled with a snowglobe?

I have to say it is has never happened to me.

Look around you though at all the signs, warnings and rules we have because one person did something stupid. I love the warnings that say "do not eat" on those little freshening packets that come in your sneakers. Can you picture someone being dumb enough to say, "Oh wow, my new sneakers came with a snack!" I mean really...

I understand that children could be confused but does everyone need this warning? Or how about "Do not eat toner" on a package for copier toner. Did someone really try it?

Here is a list I found of really unnecessary warnings. Take the time to read this, they get funnier as you go down the list. I think one of my favorites is, "Do not use orally" on a toilet brush. Are you kidding me?

My suggestion for a one size fits all warning is, "Please use common sense when using this product. If you do not have common sense, please don't leave your home. The world is just too dangerous for you."

I think that sums it up well.

What stupid warnings, rules and labels have you come across? Please share your favorites as a comment.

Fat People eat at Taco Bell

2010-06-21T10:38:00.001-04:00

A little while ago I went with my family to Taco Bell. My kids love tacos but I am a vegetarian so I am not a big fan of the place.

There is nothing on the menu that I will eat so I just sit and sip water while my family eats. So to pass the time, I studied the people who were in the restaurant and what they were eating.

OMG, everyone was grossly overweight. It was like an ad for “why you shouldn’t eat at Taco Bell!” I watched men and women eating six tacos or more, chips covered with gooey cheese and slurp gigantic sodas.

My family was by far the skinniest there. We actually stood out. I was completely grossed out by watching the people around me. I kept thinking, “this is why America is fat.” Look at what we eat.

I got a good laugh from reading the fine print on the frozen juice drinks. They contain something like 3% juice. The rest is sugar and water. Gee - can’t wait to have some of that.

I wanted to run to each table and pull the food away. STEP BACK FROM THE TACOS.

I mean no offense to Taco Bell fans but really, you are what you eat. If you eat that junk on a regular basis you are probably overweight.

It’s time for Americans to stop lying to themselves and accept responsibility for their weight. If people demanded healthy food, the fast food industry would be forced to change. Since most folks accept it just the way it is, the money keeps rolling in and the junk food keeps rolling out.

I hope if you read this, that you think twice about going to Taco Bell. If you must eat fast food, go to Subway or Moe’s. You still have to choose wisely at these places but at least you have a chance.

There is no such thing a healthy food at a Taco Bell!

Admit it if you do go there. Admit you just don’t give a @#$() what you put into your body.

If you do care and just can’t help yourself then let me help you. I would love the opportunity to give you a swift kick in the butt and get you on to a healthy diet.

Health coaching is great for anyone who truly desires to change their unhealthy diet but lacks the momentum to get started. I will get you started in a positive direction and keep you moving that way.

The choice is yours. What are you going to do?

Recharging

2010-06-18T15:34:00.001-04:00

As I sit here and write it is Friday afternoon. I am enjoying my last few minutes of quiet before my son gets off the bus and the daily family chaos begins.

I am feeling pretty good because I just finished a great week of working out. Saturday is my rest day and I am really looking forward to it.

The one thing I want to share with you today is to take time to recharge and enjoy moments of doing nothing. If you are like me you get a sense of accomplishment from barreling through your "to do" list.

Sometimes I get compulsive about checking things off so I carry my list around all day just so I can make my mark right away. My list is always full of things to do and it is never completely "done." There is always something new to add.

But there must be balance - there must be times of doing nothing. Strive to carve out some recharge time. This is your time to be quiet and still. Read a book, watch a movie or just "be."

If you have to, put "recharge" on your to-do list.

Just like your body does with working out, your mind needs a rest period from mental activity. Resist the temptation to do little chores during your recharge time. Don't pick up a few papers and clothes from the floor. Don't just throw in a load of laundry.

This is your time to do something for you. And since you only carve out one time a week, it is your guilt-free time. You give your family and your work the rest of the week.

The bus just pulled up...and so it begins. But tomorrow there will be two hours of "my time." I encourage you to schedule you recharge time right now. Enjoy!

Entropy - The Disuse Syndrome

2010-06-17T14:02:00.003-04:00

By Tom Venuto - author of Burn The Fat, Feed The Muscle

Do you know what the word “entropy” means? In Webster’s, entropy is defined as, "The degradation of the matter and energy in the universe to an ultimate state of inert uniformity." Put more simply, entropy is the tendency of all matter to fall apart, wear out or disintegrate into the substance from which it came.

In some cases, using material things wears them out faster. Your car, for example, accumulates wear and tear and loses it's value when you put a lot of miles on it. Entropy occurs in the human body in the opposite fashion: It falls apart when it is NOT used. Differently stated, “Use it or lose it.”

Dr. Walter Bortz, author of “Dare to Be 100,” refers to aging as “the disuse syndrome.” That’s a great definition.

We do not have to experience the effects of aging as most people perceive it in our culture. We do not have to succumb to disease. We get old and decrepit because we don’t exercise enough and because we believe its normal to become decrepit. We think "old thoughts" and “old thoughts” lead to “old people” behaviors.

Through societal suggestion and life experience, our paradigms are formed. We see others age so we believe its normal. We see others slow down as they age, therefore, we slow down and “take it easy” too...
... and then proceed to fall apart, deteriorate, and decay.

A human body not used will waste away into a frail, weak shell. You must USE IT or you are going to lose it:

* Bones not challenged to bear weight will become soft and brittle. If you’re inactive, your bone mineral density will gradually begin to decline at around age 35 and this decline will accelerate after you turn 50. One out of three women and one out of six men will suffer a hip fracture by age 80.

* You begin to lose aerobic capacity within just days after you stop exercising. After less than two weeks of inactivity, your cardiac output, blood volume and maximum oxygen consumption all drop by 15%. Hearts and lungs not stressed to pump blood and transport oxygen will slowly deteriorate to the point where walking up a single flight of stairs will leave you breathless and gasping for air.

* Most people over the age of 70 have a noticeably restricted stride and gait pattern because disuse causes a decrease in the size and strength of tendons and ligaments. If you don’t USE IT you may even lose the strength and flexibility to perform mundane household chores that involve twisting, squatting, bending or extending.

* By age 65, people who haven't exercised regularly can show a decrease in muscular strength of as much as 80%. According to Dr. Patrick O’Shea, professor emeritus of Exercise & Sports Science at Oregon State University, 28% of men and 66% of women over age 75 cannot lift an object heavier than 15 lbs. Imagine not being able to lift your suitcase or move your furniture! You will get weaker and weaker every yearunless you USE IT!

* People who don’t work out with weights lose up to 40% of their muscle mass by age 65. This decline starts early. The average inactive person loses as much as five pounds of muscle every decade after age 20 if they don’t exercise. This age related muscle loss, called sarcopenia, causes a decline in metabolic rate and calorie burning. For every pound of muscle you lose, you burn 50 calories less every day. If you burn 50 calories less every day, you will gain an extra pound of fat every 70 days; 5 extra pounds of fat every year; and 50 pounds of fat in 10 years.

If you’re in a panic now because you’re 50, 60, or 70 and you haven’t been exercising, don’t worry because here’s the good news:

It’s NEVER too late!

Research by Dr William Evans conducted at the US Department of Agriculture’s Human Nutrition Center on Aging at Tufts University has proven that the muscles of elderly people are just as responsive as those of younger people.

One 12-week study of 60 and 70 year old men showed not only substantial increases in strength (their lifting ability increased by 93%), but also larger, leaner muscles. In another study on 87 to 96 year old women confined to a nursing home, the subjects tripled their strength and increased their muscle size by 10 percent in only 8 weeks.

Based on decades of research, Dr. Evans has concluded that “much of the loss of muscle as we age is preventable – and even reversible.” He was also quick to point out that his findings were not aberrations - they were the norm.

Rest is exactly what aging people DO NOT need!

Nature intended us to live lives of vigor, health and activity – to the exact degree we desire - right up until the day we peacefully pass on after the purpose of our brief pilgrimage here on Earth has been fully realized.

You can start at any age, and the sooner you start the daily exercise habit, the easier it’s going to be to keep going.

The proof is indisputable:

TED CORBITT has held American records for 25-, 40- and 50-mile marathons. Corbitt ran 199 marathons and ultra-marathons during his career and was a member of the 1952 U.S. Olympic marathon team.

At the age of 50, Ted set an age group record for 50 miles, running 5 hours and 34 minutes. He also ran 100 miles in 13 hours 33 minutes at age 51, and in 1973 he completed an amazing 134.7 miles in 24 hours in at the age of 56.

Today, Ted is 82 years young and he is widely considered the “father of distance running.” As he approaches his 83rd birthday, he has toned down his distance running a bit, however he still takes regular “short” 31-mile walks around Manhattan.

GORDON BORGES, at age 75, has 18.5" biceps, a 47.5" chest, a 17.5" neck and weighs 209 muscular pounds!

He’s worked out consistently for 58 years through seven children, 14 grandchildren and two years in the Navy. "Maturity can be a banquet when fed by exercise," says Gordon.

In 1953, BILL PEARL won the Mr. California, Mr. America and Mr. Universe title. He then went on to win the Mr. Universe title three more times. His last bodybuilding competition was in 1971, where at age 41 he won convincingly at 241 lbs and in the best shape of his life.

Today at age 73, Bill is retired from competition, but he has not retired from bodybuilding. Pearl still gets up a 3 am every morning to train, just like he has for the past 50 years. Bill squats 325 lbs for ten reps…easy, and he looks 20 years younger than he is. He is still working, happy, vital, energetic and enjoying life.

After 20 years of being their own "case study" in the area of weight training and fitness, mother and daughter bodybuilding duo KELLY NELSON (75) and COLLEEN FISHER (46), have succeeded in staying lean, healthy and youthful.

Kelly did not start weight training until she was 52 years old, with no athletic background whatsoever! Colleen is a certified personal trainer and has been training people for the last 18 years. They have been featured in magazines and on television, including Rosie O’Donnell, Maury Povich and others.

Kelly just sent me an email yesterday and she wrote, "I have before pictures of the 38 yr. old girl I am training. She weighed 275 lbs one year ago and now is at 160. She is beautiful and has Muscle. Legs and lats and shoulders, triceps from her shoulder to elbow. Tom, I too get emails every day from 50 year olds wanting to start weight training, but ask, "Is it too late?" I tell them that 50 is puberty and they have a lot of time to become better and reach their goals."

The active bodybuilding lifestyle is not going to “halt the fall of the sand in the hourglass,” but it IS the closest thing to the fountain of youth that you’ll ever find.

If they can do it, so can you. So USE IT!

Warmly, your friend and coach,

Tom Venuto,
tvenuto@fitren.com
www.fitren.com
www.burnthefat.com

Author Tom Venuto

Tom Venuto is a bodybuilder, gym owner, freelance writer, success coach and author of "Burn the Fat, Feed The Muscle" (BFFM): Fat Burning Secrets of the World's Best Bodybuilders and Fitness Models. Tom has written over 150 articles and has been featured in IRONMAN magazine, Natural Bodybuilding, Muscular Development, Muscle-Zine, Exercise for Men and Men’s Exercise. Tom's inspiring and informative articles on bodybuilding, weight loss and motivation are featured regularly on dozens of websites worldwide. For information on Tom's "Burn The Fat" e-book, click here.

Your prayers to be fit have been answered

2010-06-16T21:31:00.001-04:00

Get fit and celebrate your faith with Body Gospel. This workout is unlike anything you have ever seen. Fitness and Faith. What a combo!

Order it here

Cures for "alligator" skin

2010-06-16T21:01:00.001-04:00

Do you have what I call "alligator skin?" That is when your skin is so dry lines appear that look like the pattern of alligator skin.

This can happen when you have been outside quite a bit or in the dryness of winter. This time of year it is most likely due to overexposure to the sun.

What can you do about alligator skin?

There are two main things - one is hydrate your skin and the other is to take preventive measures before it happens.

First off, if you already have alligator skin, you need to hydrate both on the inside and the outside. I would say the inside is the most important. If you are so dry that your skin is tight and lined, just imagine what is going on your inside.

Start by drinking lots of water. Recommendations vary from 64 to 92 ounces for a woman. I try to get between 70-80.

I find that I don't have time to drink more water than that or I will be up all night going to the bathroom - that does not do wonders for your beauty rest.

When I say drink water, I mean water. That does not mean flavored bottled waters, sports drinks or mixes like crystal light. The sugar in these drinks defeats the purpose of the health benefits of water.

You can flavor the water with lime or lemon if you like. Water is absolutely necessary to improving your skin's elasticity.

Next it is time to develop a healthy habit of applying a lotion or body butter. You may be wondering what is the difference between lotions and butters. The difference is the thickness and the "oily" characteristics of the product.

Butters are good for really dry skin. They have more oil in them and may apply a bit thicker than a lotion. If you have alligator skin, I recommend going with a butter.

After a few days of regularly applying a lotion or butter, then start a routine of exfoliating. I would suggest using a sugar scrub that is much more gentle than a salt scrub.

Be kind to your skin during these first few days of repair. Exfoliate very gently. You can even use a dry wash cloth or a shower loufa to do a very mild exfoliation.

Once the dry skin has healed itself, it is now time to work on prevention.

To make sure that alligator skin does not return, keep up your water intake. Make drinking 70-80 ounces a day a regular part of your daily routine.

Next you can use a stronger exfoliating product like a salt scrub, an exfoliating bar soap or even a body brush. Once or twice a week should be enough.

Also, make sure you apply lotion daily. If you have really dry skin try using olive oil. No this is not insane.

I really mean the stuff you get in the grocery store. Get a high quality extra virgin olive oil. Olive oil has great restorative properties and will do wonders for your skin.

You may need to apply lotion again at night if you have a very active lifestyle or very dry skin.

You are now armed to prevent alligator skin from coming back!

P.S. Get a free bar of wonderfully scented Cassia Clove soap with every order over $50 during the month of June. This soap isn't available on the website. You can only get it as an order bonus. Cassia Clove is a wonderful scent that is similar to cinnamon and is a great warm scent! Visit www.beautywithacause.com to place your order.

Zig Zag Dieting and Listening To Your Body

2010-06-16T17:00:00.001-04:00

from The Straight Dope by Steve Edwards

Not to be confused with yo-yo dieting, zig zag is a technique that should be used any time you want to increase or decrease your daily caloric intake and can be used to find out what your caloric intake should be. Instead of moving straight to a new daily caloric number you move in smaller increments on a staggered schedule. Here’s an example of how it works:

Say, for example, you’re eating 1500 calories a day and have been for a period of time where you’ve lost weight. Now your weight loss has stagnated. This is one of our most common scenarios because the new, fitter you has a different body composition than the former you. You have more muscle and a higher basal metabolic rate (BMR). In order to continue your weight loss you need to eat more because 1500 calories isn’t enough—even though it once was—and now your body is reacting by slowing its metabolism and releasing cortisol in a protective response (often called starvation mode because this is how your body would respond to being starved).

At times this could be a lot more because huge caloric reductions can work in the initial stages of a program for deconditioned people. Let’s say that the individual in question runs a caloric calculation and figures they need 2,500 calories per day.

Weight times 10, plus 10-30% for daily activity depending on how active you are, plus the estimated caloric burn of your exercise, or just go here.

You don’t want to jump straight to 2500 calories. First, it would create some shock to your system and, second, it may be wrong as those calculators only give ballpark figures. The most effective thing to do is to zig zag your caloric intake. In this instance I would recommend eating 2000 calories per day for 3-4 days per week and 1500 calories the other days. Then you note how your body responds, which I would expect to be positively on the higher caloric days and by feeling famished on the low-cal days.

You want to be energized but not hungry, so after a week or two of this I would bump up to around 2200 cals for 4 or 5 days and 1500 cals on 2 days for, maybe one week. If I’m still starving on the low days try bumping them up to 2000 and see how you respond. Use this tactic until you regulate, which means that you’re energized but not hungry and also not full. You can tell when you’re eating too many calories because you’ll begin to feel full, you won’t digest your food between meals, and you’ll feel more lethargic at the beginning of workouts.

Zig zag dieting works whether you need to reduce or increase your caloric intake, and whether you need a subtle change or dramatic change. There is no numbers formula except to increase/decrease in small increments between 200 and 500 calories a day and to zig zag your caloric intake two to four times per week. Then you just listen and let your body tell you how much you should eat.

Why Yoga is a Good Part of Any Workout Regime for Women

2010-06-16T09:35:00.000-04:00

from Fitness News Magazine by Fit4Life

Being woman today is not all that easy. The days of staying home and taking care of the little ones and cooking dinner are over, we super women are now in charge of making half the money for our household, and on top of that we have a million other things we have to do.

The combination of being soft, beautiful, loved and understood in every moment of the day in the same time, includes performing of the most professional duties, to cook, to put some clothes and hygiene in the home, to cope with the problems of the children etc. These quiet heroines take care of their families and very often have no adequate form of quality use of their free time. In the world of football fields and gambling, loud cafes and fitness centers, the women must fight for their place.

When it comes to good health, despite the healthy and natural food, healthy lifestyle, it is underlined the importance of the physical activity. The exercises are important for all ages. When the organism starts to function well and balance the energies, wakes up the natural physical and psychological needs when the woman spontaneously begin to be interested in healthier lifestyle.

Since yoga has spread to the West, many women have become its supporters. Perhaps it can always find what they need moderate psychological activity, harmonizing personality, finding a healthier lifestyle, spiritual recovery.

It is known that the yoga releases stress, improves the elasticity and strengthens muscles. According to some medical experts, yoga can have significant role in the treatment of serious health problems.

The atmosphere in which yoga classes take place is calm and supportive. This is very good for pregnant women. These women want not to be disturbed, in complete peace and concentration to be in contact with their body and soul. The exercises provide better mobility and strengths, better circulation throughout the body, sense of balance and fulfillment with energy. During pregnancy, these exercises are a good friend for the future mother reducing the pain in the back and waist, sleeplessness, anxiety, variable mood etc.

The woman is fully involved in exercise and consciously harmonizes the activities of the body, mind and breathing. When she performs exercises her breathing is adjusted to the movement of the body.

Healthy lifestyle is the natural need of the body and mind, and that’s why yoga is the perfect addition to any woman’s workout regimen !

Hate soap scum in your shower? You can beat it!

2010-06-11T10:05:00.000-04:00

Have you stopped using bar soap because of it's faults? Or do you put up with them?

Here's how to salvage your soap and eliminate the shower scum and other negative side effects hard soap has on your shower.

I absolutely hate when soap builds up on my shower walls. I stopped using bar soap just to avoid it. I found liquid body washes don't leave the same residue behind so I switched.

I also hate that cold clammy feeling when you first pick your bar of soap up. And what is up with that gross goop that is left where the bar was sitting all day? Yuck!

As I was cleaning out my drawers the other day I came across some fabulously scented bar soap samples that I never used. They smelled wonderful and I wanted to use them but didn't want to deal with the mess.

Then I remembered a gift a friend had given me. It was called a leafa which is basically a loufa built to hold a bar of soap. It has a pocket for the bar to go in so the bar is self contained inside the leafa.

I tried it out and it worked great. I highly recommend finding one if you want to resurrect your hard soap collection. Using the leafa made the soap lather up just like a body wash and the best part is it came with a rope to hang over your shower handle.

No more cold clammy bars. No more messy soap dishes...and no soap scum.

The problem now is choosing between my favorite body washes and my favorite scented soaps!

I am so excited that I can again use my hard soap that I am offering a free bar of my Cassia Clove soap to all my Beauty with a Cause customers who place an order of $50 or more in the month of June. Happy Showering!

Magic Cream vs. Night Cream

2010-06-09T14:01:00.000-04:00

Today I got the question, "Which is better for aging skin - Magic Cream or Night Cream?"

I recommend going with Magic Cream. You get a denser product to carry nutrients to your skin. Olive oil and jojoba oil are the main ingredients which hydrate your skin's surface. Jojoba oil is very close to the natural oils produced by your skin. Olive oil is a wonderful friend to your skin. It contains antioxidants which help trap free radicals.

Free radicals are those nasty molecules that damage your good cells.

If you want more of a testimony for olive oil based products, consider this, Jeanne Calment, who holds the record for the longest confirmed lifespan, reportedly attributed her longevity and relatively youthful appearance to olive oil, which she said she poured on all her food and rubbed into her skin.

So in addition to using olive oil based products, look for ways to add extra virgin olive oil into your diet. As always, drink plenty of water and strive for 8 hours of sleep to give your skin the fighting chance it needs to repair itself.

You can find Magic Cream at www.BeautyWithACause.com.

What's in a brand

2010-06-07T14:24:00.000-04:00

What is in a brand?

Last night I was flicking channels. As I did, I came across several skin product commercials. The more I watched the angrier I became.

The deception and sneaky marketing targeted at young adults, teens and aging women was blatant. It was all smoke and mirrors.

When it comes to skin and beauty products you really have to look beyond the brand and the flashy ads. The giant cosmetic companies spend millions on establishing their brand. They show you beautiful airbrushed models and hire big named Hollywood stars to endorse their products.

That is what is in their brand. Fluff and false beauty. Do you really think someone like Drew Barrymore really wears CoverGirl make-up? I highly doubt it.

The claims are equally outrageous. "Use our products and your acne will go away." You can substitute the word "acne" for "wrinkles," "blemishes," or "fine lines."

A little truth here ladies...acne and blemishes are related to what you are eating or not eating, how much sleep you are getting and how toxic the products you use every day are. No skin care product is going to "cure" your sleep habit or dietary problems. If you want acne to go away, eat nutritious food, drink lots of water and get enough sleep on a regular basis. Ditch high sugar beverages like soda and those wonderful flavored waters.

If you have wrinkles - news flash - you are aging. I have yet to see a product that stops you from getting older. You want less wrinkles - avoid long exposure to the sun, drink water and don't use harsh skin care products. Take good care of your body with an active fitness program and balanced nutrition.

Look behind the brand. The ingredients in the department store brands are doing more harm to your body than good. Just check out the Dirty Dozen (REFERENCING YOUR SITE HERE). There are carcinogens, irritants, and ingredients that cause birth defects in those products.

So, my advice to you, use the "big" brands sparingly. Shop the small boutique and hand made brands. These companies are much more likely to spend their dollars on high quality ingredients. A test of a good product is if you can read the label and pronounce all the ingredients listed.

A trustworthy brand is one which identifies which ingredients are organic and what percentage of the entire product is organic. You might not get a splashly label and their website might not be the most professional looking site. Most handcrafters are specialists in their product and not marketers or webdesigners.

Look behind the glitz for good ingredients. After all, only the product is what comes into contact with your skin. So next time you are looking for a good cleanser or a great lotion, skip the department store and go online. That is where you will find the best variety of non-toxic skin care products that are made with care by actual people who wear the products themselves.

Visit www.beautywithacause.com for a diversified selection of non-toxic products for skin, hair, teeth and body.

National Donut Day

2010-06-04T10:15:00.000-04:00

Put the donut down

Don't panic - just step carefully away from the doughnut.

Did you know that Dunkin Donuts Boston Creme donut has 280 calories. Almost half of them are from fat. You get 1/4 of your entire day's fat allowance in that one doughnut.

In addition you get 16 grams of sugar.

Combine that with a small coffee with cream and sugar and you now have 1/2 your day's fat allowance. Let's be real here - how many of you get the SMALL coffee?

Now I know just how good a doughnut can be. Today is national doughnut day so it is tempting to make the exception and have just one...

If you do break down and have one, make sure the rest of your day is squeaky clean. Eat at least two pieces of fruit, have a big salad and avoid soda.

Sometimes it is ok to cheat. If this is the only time during the year that you have a doughnut, you are probably a saint. If you are a regular doughnut eater, however, it is time to make a change.

Take our 500 pound gorilla challenge and get a buddy system to help take the fat off.

If you ate the donut, then you have to do the "time" now. Take the challenge and take off the weight!

Another Boring Day!

2010-05-27T15:24:00.000-04:00

Are you starving for some excitement in your life? Does one day pretty much blend into the next with no real difference?

Do you spend hours idly watching TV or surfing the net?

You need a swift kick in the butt in a good way. You need someone to get you so excited about something that you can't wait to jump out of bed and start a new day.

You need a shot of energy that fuels you through your day and let's you blow away the hours.

You need me and I need you...or at least I need two of you!

If you are ready to make your days count, get your butt in gear and do some good in the world, and become supercharged, you need to email me.

I will let you in on an amazing project I am working on right now. One that has me thrilled to get out of bed and downright giddy. I have this stupid smile on my face as I write this.

I only want to work with two people on this project and I only want it to be you if you really want to make a difference in your life and a major impact on the world.

If you are saying "Yes! That's Me!" then send me an email at jprice7733@gmail.com and I will send you the details.

I can't stress enough that I only want you if you are ready to take "it on." Don't waste my time or yours if you are only mildly curious. If you're hungry, then let's do it. Send me an email now.

Online Health Coach - HELP WANTED

2010-05-27T09:41:00.000-04:00

Become an online health coach and say goodbye to your day job.

You want a new career but can't afford to leave your current job. I completely understand the position you are in but you will be happy to know that there is a solution that you can start now and grow into a full time job later.

I know what it is like to not be able to afford to change careers. I know the frustration of not wanting to start over at square one.

You are looking for a job that is fulfilling. One that gives you joy while you are doing it and a sense of accomplishment at the end of the day.

I would like to make the suggestion that you become an online health coach. This health coach job has passed my 8 POINT LITMUS TEST. If you haven't read about the criteria a new business must meet in order for you or I to consider it you need to subscribe to the free career selection series. It is free and will get you on the right path for choosing your new career.

So why should you become an online health coach? Because it is a career that you can start in your spare time on evenings and weekends. You can do all of your health coach training online at night. You can grow your business on the side until it becomes lucrative enough to allow you to leave your day job!

That is what you really want - isn't it? Freedom from your day job?

The benefits of an online health coach are

work from home
create your own hours
do work that is meaningful
no inventory or products
an unending supply of customers
you can work one on one or with groups at the same time

Obesity and smoking are two of the biggest health issues facing the world today. You can make an impact by coaching people on these two areas as well as any other health related issue. Your supply of customers is limited only by your ability to contact them.

So this sounds great, but can YOU really do this. Definitely! I am a health coach and if I can do it, you can do it. I am the person who always scores incredibly low on social skills on personality tests.

I have tried many home businesses in the past and never stuck with any of them long enough to make money.

How do you know you will be successful? Because you will have the right training. I highly recommend Health Coach Training for your education. The greatest benefit of this program is not only do you learn how to be a great health coach, you learn how to find clients and sell yourself.

If you are anything like me, selling is your greatest difficulty. Health Coach Training spends weeks on the selling process and also gives you a bonus course on selling yourself on CD. They provide everything including the exact wording to use in an email to prospects and how to find prospect.

Once a month they conduct a live call that you can send your prospects to that will do the selling for you. All you have to do is get your prospects to the call. Isn't that amazing?

What is involved in the Health Coach Training program?

The course is 12 month long and you "meet' twice a week. You learn through live calls with your instructor and several other classmates. These are not recorded calls. You get to interact and ask questions throughout.

You get access to a class website that is chock full of resources in addition to your class plan. If you miss a class, you can access the recording of it at this site too.

After the first few orientation classes, you are given a practice partner. You and your partner get to practice what you learn each week to give you a real taste of live coaching.

Unlike so many other programs, you are truly ready to work with clients upon graduation. In fact, most students start their business before they complete the courses. In my class, students were taking paid clients as early as month 3.

How much can you expect to earn?

You get to choose what you charge for your coaching services but here's an example. You could charge a client $50 per week which would include one 30 minute session over the phone and email follow-up throughout the week. You could require them to agree to a 3 month minimum contract.

So at 30-60 minutes per week (allowing for email time), how many clients could you take on with the time you have available to you? Now multiply that number times $50 and that is what you could be earning per week.

If you want to do group coaching, you could set a limit of 5 clients per session with each paying $25 per 30 minute session. How many group sessions could you do? Now multiply this by $125 and that is what you could be earning per week.

If you want to take it a step further, you could offer pre-recorded sessions on a particular topic and sell access to them at $15 per session. Now you have unlimited earning potential 24/7.

Are you starting to see the potential?

Can you see why Health Coaching scored well on my 8-POINT LITMUS TEST?

Are you ready to know more? Please email me at jprice7733@gmail.com and I will send you a link to listen in to a recorded Health Coaching call and get more information about the Health Coach Training program.

After visiting this link, please email me and I will let you know how to arrange for your personal interview which is the next step to get more information about the coaching program.

Shakeology - your resource to jump start your diet and get you looking great in time for summer

2010-05-26T10:30:00.000-04:00

Do you dread bikini season? Is your body far from ready to be bared? Shakeology can help!

Jump start your diet with Shakeology and you may lose inches and pounds in just three days. Does it sound too good to be true? Sure it does but let me explain how it works and why.

First off, like most Americans, you are eating too much junk as part of your daily diet. This junk food not only provides too many calories for you it also may cause you to be bloated. On this special 3-day diet with Shakeology, you will be getting nutrient dense food without all of the junk.

Your body will release much of the junk in your system which will reduce your feeling of bloatedness and could cause you to lose a few pounds or a few inches.

If you are eating really healthy, then you will not have a lot of junk to release so don't expect weight loss to occur.

What are the true benefits of the 3-Day Shakeology Challenge?

1. You will feel lighter and more energetic. The Shakeology Challenge is really a mild cleanse. It is not as restrictive as many cleanses you may have heard of. You actually get to take in about 1600 calories so you won't feel hungry. What you will feel is greater energy as you will be getting better nutrition than you probably get on a regular basis.

2. You will be motivated to do more! The Challenge is short enough for you to stick to but even though it is short, you are bound to notice changes in how you feel. After 3 days of feeling great, you will want to move forward and start taking better care of yourself. Read the Shakeology Plan for great tips on how to follow up the Shakeology Challenge.

3. You will be encouraged. When was the last time you really felt good about sticking to a healthy eating plan? Are you like most of us who beat ourselves up for not being able to stick to eating well for more than a week or two? In this plan, you only have to last 3 days. You can do that. And when you do, you will feel great!

I am only accepting 5 women into this Shakeology Challenge. Why?

As a free bonus to the 5 women who are accepted into the Challenge, I am offering them 4 free health coaching sessions. This is a $200 value. Unfortunately, I only have time to work with 5 women.

Once a week, we will talk one on one about your health goals and how you can achieve them. If you really want to get healthier, this is the perfect opportunity to get the assistance you need to succeed.

How do you get into the Challenge?

If you are interested in being considered for one of the 5 spots in the Shakeology Challenge, please email jprice7733@gmail.com by June 12. You will be sent a short application to complete.

Good luck and I hope I get the opportunity to work with you.

Will you ever get back into your "skinny" clothes again?

2010-05-25T12:48:00.000-04:00

Is your closet crowded with the "clothes you fit in now" and the "clothes you used to fit in?"

If you said yes, you should know you are not alone. There are so many of us out there with two or more wardrobes by size in our closets.

Before I give you a solution to your wardrobe problem that WILL work for you, let's review the how we all got here...

I have the clothes that used to fit me before I had kids and I have the clothes that I had to buy after having kids.

I used to feel like my skinny clothes were mocking me. I couldn't even get them over my hips let alone zip them.

How embarrassing.

I would take out my summer clothes and put those skinny shorts out each year saying "this year I will be able to get into them." At the end of the summer, I would put them away again without ever having touched them all summer long.

Then I would get out my winter clothes and try them on. I swear the dry cleaner was shrinking my waistbands! That must be the problem. It couldn't be that I just was too big for them.

After a few years of this, I guess I finally accepted the reality of it. My body wasn't going to go back to my pre-kids size. I was faced with two choices - lose weight or get rid of the clothes that didn't fit.

All while this was going on, I wasn't getting any younger. I had gray hair! I blame my kids for that too!

My life was a whirlwind of taking kids from one place to the next, working full time and managing the household. My kids told me I wasn't very fun. Who had time for fun?

How about you? Are you in the same place I was in?

I swore to myself that I would never look like the "mom" and get the "mom haircut" and drive the mini-van. If I had to be a soccer mom, then at least couldn't I be the "hot mom?" I am alone here?

Let me give you the solution to your wardrobe problem - Team BeachBody! Now I know you just rolled your eyes - my body is far from a "beach" body. I don't think being seen is a bikini is too cool at my age. But boy would I like to be able to carry one off if I really wanted to!

What is Team BeachBody then? It is an amazing company that is dedicated to fitness and nutrition for real people. By real people, I mean you and me. Those of us with busy schedules, tight budgets and a wide range of waist sizes.

Team BeachBody offers a wide range of DVD's for all types of fitness levels and goals. I love that they have multiple choices that target the buns, thighs and abs. Those are my biggest problem areas!

Some of the DVD's, like ChaLEAN Extreme are advanced, while others like Slim in 6 are geared toward every level. I love that each DVD comes with a program for how to use the DVD to get results in a set time frame. For example, Slim in 6 offers results in 6 weeks. Each one also offers nutrition and diet suggestions.

Can you imagine dropping a dress size in 6 weeks?

There are choices to meet every interest too. I am doing the Yoga Booty Ballet which is a combination of yoga and pilates that focuses on my abs, thighs and, you guessed it - booty.

They have Hip Hop Abs for those of you who want to dance off the pounds and Turbo Jam for those that want to do kick boxing. There is no way you couldn't find a workout that is right for you from the dozens of choices.

Now I promised this is one solution that WILL work for you. How do I know that? I know you have tried all kinds of things in the past including DVD's. So why is Team BeachBody different?

The difference is the Team part. When you buy a DVD you get me, your own personal coach, for free. My job is to get you to define your goals and then hold you to them. Do you get that when you buy a DVD from Target? No way.

I will be emailing you and checking in on a regular basis. Did you do your workout today?

You get all kinds of articles and resources to help you stay on track in addition to working with me.

If you join the virtual gym, you get meal plans and recipes. You can even join a virtual group and have workout buddies who will also help you stick to your workouts.

You can't fail with this kind of support!

I want you in your skinny clothes in three months! What do you want? If you REALLY want the same thing then I want you to watch this video below. It will explain how to get started.

After you watch this, I want you to contact me at jprice7733@gmail.com and let's get you started. Have your three month goal in mind. Together we are going to get there.

Air out your skinny clothes because this time you are going to be able to wear them. Think of all the extra room you will have in your closet when you get rid of your "fat" clothes!

There is so much more to Team BeachBody that you haven't learned yet. If you were impressed by the video above, just wait until you get started.

This is the solution that you have been waiting for. This is your tool to get you back into your skinny clothes but you have to want it. You have to make the first move.

I love my new fitness routine and I can't wait to share Team BeachBody with you.

Take the first step and I will help you with the rest. DECIDE, COMMIT and SUCCEED!

Elements for Life Closes its Doors

2010-05-24T17:40:00.000-04:00

If you are an Elements for Life distributor you need to read this and come up with a new plan.

Are you an Elements for Life distributor? Have you received the unfortunate news that they have temporarily closed their doors? What does this mean for you?

You need to come up with a new plan quickly so that you do not lose contact with the leads and customers you have in your database right now.

What happened...

I received an email this morning that informed me that the ongoing financial struggles have gotten to the point that the company can no longer operate. The message from Elements stated that the debt load was too much for operations to continue at this time

The leadership of Elements for Life said the the business was closed for the time being and that the business may reopen under Canadian ownership at an unspecified later date.

Elements for Life further said that if the funding was in place, they would try to pay back-owed commissions to their distributors.

What do you need to do...

You invested a lot of time in gaining and maintaining customers and now your supply has been completely cut off. Perhaps you were on autoship for your own products and now you will not have any.

Below are my 10 suggestions for moving forward.

1. My first recommendation is start researching companies today that offer similar high quality products. You may want to consider David Wolfe's SunFoods as a good option.

2. Most importantly you want to keep the trust and the lines of communication open with your customers. Let them know what has happened and more importantly what steps you are taking to get the products they are using to them through a new source.

Unfortunately, Elements did not offer you any advice on how to communicate with or keep the customers you have currently.

3. Be sure you have a complete list of contact information for your customers. If you do not have it, go to the back office immediately and get it! Make sure you know what your customers have been ordering and create your own database.

4. Let your customers know what they can expect from you in the next day, week and month. This is your chance to really deepen your relationship with them. You don't like being left hanging, don't do that to your customers. It is your reputation on the line now.

5. Make sure you update your links as well. It won't help you to send folks to a website that is closed. Update your social media links and your blog links today. Get the word out to your customers quickly so they hear it from you and not from the web.

6. Communicate often. Don't be afraid to overcommunicate right now. Your customers need to know that you are not going to abandon them. Remember how much communication we used to get from Elements? How did you feel when you noticed it decreasing down to nothing?

7. Be honest. If you are going to drop the superfood line of business entirely, let your customers know. You owe them the truth so that they can make alternative plans.

8. If you are going to get out of business yourself, refer your customers to other sources to get what they need. Give them suggestions of other distributors who are coming up with alternative businesses. Let your customers know which products they could find at a health food store. Give them links to online stores where they can find similar products.

9. Be positive. This is not the time to lay blame on Elements for Life. Things happen that are beyond anyone's control. If you turn this into a positive for your customers, they will respect and trust your motives.

10. Come out on top. Don't let this unfortunate situation drag you down. There is always an upside to everything. This is your opportunity to explore a new business opportunity and find new products that will fuel your good health.

I wish all of you the best of luck. I know you will find a solution that will work for you and for your customers.

Although, many of you will not find this opportunity in alignment with your goals, I have chosen to go with Team BeachBody. They have great dietary supplements including Shakeology which is an amazing superfood. It contains maca root powder, flax seed meal, chia seed meal, yacon powder, chlorella, spirulina, blue green algae and sprouted quinoa, and ashwagandha root powder to name a few of its outstanding ingredients.

For me, Shakeology is a great product to promote to my customers who were using several of the Elements products including Maca Powder, Blue Green Algae and Revitaphi.

In addition, Team BeachBody also offers fitness DVD's which offer your customers a new avenue to explore in their quest for optimal health.

I would love to hear what solutions you have come up with for your customers. Please feel free to email me at jprice7733@gmail.com

Lip Care

2010-03-17T08:47:00.000-04:00

What do you look for in a good lip product? If you like the natural look perhaps with a bit of shine, then there are some new products you may want to check out at Beauty with a Cause.

I found two new products that I love. The first one is the Rose Tinted Lip Gloss. This gloss tastes and smells great. It has a nice clear shine to it. It is very smooth. I love the rollerball applicator. It is actually fun to apply.

I have found that it stays on my lips longer if I wear a lipstick underneath. I do reapply several times a day.

The other product I added to the store is the Lip Balm Stick. This balm is better than any balm I have used before. It has a more moisturizing oils that I have seen in any lip balms. It doesn't go on like a dry wax.

It applies very smoothly and has a little shine to it. There is no color to this lip balm. You can choose it in original or cranberry. It has peppermint in it so you also get a little burst of freshness when you apply it.

I often use the balm and the gloss together for a glossy natural look. I know you will like these two lip products and I am thrilled to add them to our regular line.

Prepping for Spring

2010-02-21T11:15:00.000-05:00

I know we are still in the midst of winter. The forecast ahead calls for snow. But now is the time you need to start planning for spring.

This is the time to decide your physical goals. You don't necessarily need to start a whole fitness regimen today but start thinking about it.

Is your goal to run/walk a 5k this year? If so, do some research now on how to train for such an activity. You will find plenty of start up guides that take you through a process of several weeks of gearing up and building up stamina so that you can get through the 5k.

There are start up programs for everything. You just need to decide what it is you want to do and then find a guide to help you. The key is starting early so that you have enough time to implement a plan and meet your goal.

Starting early will allow you to prepare mentally and get excited before you actually start a program.

If your goal is to lose weight. Start reading up on the different nutritional diets that are available. Don't just pick the first one you come across. Take time and learn about a whole bunch. You will find some appeal to you and some do not.

The key with a healthy diet, is just that. Nutrition is important not abstinence. It isn't about giving up chocolate or coffee. It is about adding healthy items one by one. The "bad" habits you have will either get crowded out or have less of an impact on your health.

Start with small and positive steps. Negative thoughts and guilty feelings are a waste of your time. Just keep looking forward to the next step or even start over if you need to.

Keep going no matter what. Start now while you have plenty of time and then have fun reaching your goal.

ReVitaPhi Cheat Sheet

2010-02-16T14:08:00.000-05:00

If you have already read the articles about ReVitaPhi posted previously and still have some questions, here is a quick "cheat sheet" on ReVitaPhi.

Highlights of Ingredients in ReVitaPhi:

Moringa Olifera: SEVEN times the vitamin C in oranges, FOUR times the Calcium in milk, FOUR times the vitamin A in carrots, TWO times the protein in milk and THREE times the Potassium in bananas. It can also purify contaminated water.

Tulsi and ashwaganda (closely related to goji berry)are 2 of the top 3 herbs out of 10,000 in Ayurvedic medicine. They are related to stress relievers, immunity bolsters, and stamina enhancers. These herbs are also said to promote a healthy metabolism and enhance recovery from fatigue.

Gotu kola and ginko biloba are touted as amazing brain foods. They have been known to aid in the healing of wounds, improving mental clarity and treating skin conditions such as psoriasis.

Ho shu wu (root of a vining plant)is another de-stresser that amplifies certain neurotransmitters (like neuroepinephrine and dopamine) so you feel blissful.

All in all, you should notice an increase in energy, vitality and attitude. Your skin should benefit from these wonderful herbs and you enhanced state of well being. Bring on the glow!

Beauty from the Inside

2010-02-13T13:32:00.000-05:00

The key to beautiful skin comes from the inside. It's about what you eat and not what you put on your skin. I've been asked constantly, what products can be used to eliminate this or change that. When it comes to your skin, the products you use can soothe or reduce skin issues but they cannot make them go away.

The answer to your skin woes comes from your diet. The more refined sugars and processed foods you put into your body, the more damage that can occur to your skin.

Essential nutrients are needed for healthy skin. So, to help you achieve the radiant skin you have been seeking, I am introducing ReVitaPhi Alkalizing Beauty Blend.

What will ReVitaPhi do for you? It will help restore your natural energy so that you radiate health. You will feel more vital and alert which will be reflected in your eyes and the vibrancy of your skin.

Have you noticed when you feel down, others know it too just by looking at you? That is because when you feel depressed, your skin and your eyes reflect your inner turmoil. When you feel great, the opposite is reflected. Your skin is your best indicator of what is going on in your mind. Glowing skin is the result of an energetic and happy mind. ReVitaPhi will get you to this healthy place.

ReVitaPhi is a super-packed powder that contains Moringa Oleifera, a tree that contains 7 times more vitamin C than oranges, four times more calcium than milk, and four times more vitamin A than carrots.

In addition this powder contains several herbs and other plants that have been shown to aid in rejuvenating the body and mind. These ingredients help increase the supply of oxygen to your brain and cells.

All this from one powder! That is why it is called a SUPERFOOD. Before offering this great product to you, I tried it myself for 6 weeks. I noticed a huge change in my mood and my alertness.

My face now seems to glow despite the winter doldrums. I know you will love this product. You are looking to natural products to improve your skin and your well being, so I am thrilled to now offer ReVitaPhi.

I have not launched the product yet on www.BeautyWithACause.com yet but I am offering a free ReVitaPhi sample to the first nine customers who place a $100 order before March 1. In addition I am offering these same nine people free shipping. I am so excited about this new product and I can't wait to share it with you.

If the winter blues are getting to you, now is the time to try ReVitaPhi. The full-size ReVitaPhi will be available in mid-March. If you would like to pre-order a bottle now and get 10% off the regular price you may do so at www.beautywithacause.com. To learn more about the ingredients and science of ReVitaPhi see my posting, The Beauty Blend, below.

Please remember, I am only offering nine of these samples and only through the end of February. Don't hesitate to take advantage of the free shipping too! Pre-orders at the 10% discount are only being accepted until the end of the month as well.

Only those who read this blog are eligible for this special offer. To get the free shipping and the free sample, please enter REVITAPHI in the comment box during check out - and no, I won't grade you on spelling.

The Beauty Blend

2010-02-12T15:27:00.000-05:00

REVITAPHI ALKALIZING BEAUTY BLEND

We think that beauty is more than skin deep so ReVitaPhi Beauty Blend is designed for optimal internal health that shows on your skin!

This blend is also unique in that in addition to the Moringa and the other Alkalizing greens often found in the best formulas, Revitaphi also contains a potent herbal blend designed to increase cellular rejuvenation capacity, increase oxygenation of the blood and brain, and maximize your body's defenses against mental, emotional, and physical stress.

The elements, the enzymes, and over 40 pro-biotics, for maximum transformational capacity and a full spectrum of Vitamins and Minerals that are the essential Elements for Life!

ReVitaPhi is a powerful Alkaline Superfood Formula like no other! This ultimate formula is created in collaboration with Dr. Jameth Sheridan and Divine Intelligence.

Now the time tested and proven benefits of the greatest alkalizing greens and herbs are available in combination with Moringa Olifera, one of the single most potent superfood plants of the African continent.

Its amazing properties are gaining the attention of serious health and performance enthusiasts. Extensive research confirms that the leaves of this ancient superfood plant are an incredible rich source of potent natural photochemistry that provides deep cellular nutrition and detoxification with an overall sense of health and well being!

The Morenga Olifera, Indian Tulsi, Ashwaganda, Gotu Kola, Ginko Biloba, and Ho Shu Wu are blended with a variety of Land and Wildcrafted Aquatic Vegtables. This blend is also unique in that in addition to the Moringa and the other Alkalizing greens often found in the best formulas, Revitaphi also contains a potent herbal blend designed to increase cellular rejuvenation capacity, increase oxygenation of the blood and brain, and maximize your body's defenses against mental, emotional, and physical stress.

ReVitaPhi Alkalizing Beauty Blend

2010-02-11T15:37:00.000-05:00

ReVitaPhi is a powerful Alkaline Superfood Formula like no other!

This ultimate formula is created in collaboration with Dr. Jameth Sheridan and Divine Intelligence.

Now the time tested and proven benefits of the greatest alkalizing greens and herbs are available in combination with Moringa Olifera, one of the single most potent superfood plants of the African continent. Its amazing properties are gaining the attention of serious health and performance enthusiasts.

Extensive research confirms that the leaves of this ancient superfood plant are an incredible rich source of potent natural photochemistry’s that provides deep cellular nutrition and detoxification with an overall sense of health and well being!

The Morenga Olifera, Indian Tulsi, Ashwaganda, Gotu Kola, Ginko Biloba, and Ho Shu Wu are blended with a variety of Land and Wildcrafted Aquatic Vegtables.

This blend is also unique in that in addition to the Moringa and the other Alkalizing greens often found in the best formulas, Revitaphi also contains a potent herbal blend designed to increase cellular rejuvenation capacity, increase oxygenation of the blood and brain, and maximize your body's defenses against mental, emotional, and physical stress.

Includes the Enzymes Protease, Amylase, Lipase, Cellulase, Bromelian, Papain, and Alpha Galactosidase to aid digestion!

Finally, this potent green superfood is blended with rare trace elements, the enzymes, and over 40 pro-biotics, for maximum transformational capacity and a full spectrum of Vitamins and Minerals that are the essential Elements for Life!

It has an herbal blend designed to help increase your natural capacity for mental clarity, emotional balance, and physical energy at any age or fitness level!* This potent blend will provide a full spectrum of rare
phyto-nutrients that your body's bones, brain, and blood need to maintain a state of peak performance and a healthy balanced alkalinity.
Revitaphi is carefully dried at low temperatures to preserve it's heat sensitive elements and lifeforce energy.

Use up to 2 tablespoons in water, on food, and in your favorite drink mixes!!!

RE:
To return to an original state or condition.

VITA:
Vita from root meaning LIFE
LIFE: The process of love organizing matter and energy into forms capable expressing self awareness in harmony with its environment through multiple cycles of existence.

PHI: The ratio or geometric relationship that allows all parts to unify as a collective expression of higher intelligence.

RE-Vita-Phi!

We invite you to engage in the process of supporting the body's natural impulse to return to the state of vitality that it was designed to thrive with.

ReVitaPhi can provide you with the Fuel, Instructions, and Support Structure to restore and amplify your bodies capacity and in turn serve as a vessel for the miraculous life force emanating from the source of all creation.

We invite you to celebrate your life force with true superfood fuel for your body, mind, and mood.

ReVitaPhi is Here Now!

Scents of the Season

2009-11-04T20:48:00.000-05:00

We have a brand new scent for the fall/winter season. Our newest scent is Flannel Pajamas. (Thank you Andrea for the name.)

This scent is a warm, cozy scent. It reminds me of curling up in a chair in front of the fire in my PJ's.

You can get Flannel Pajamas in lotion or room spray.

Our room sprays are great for freshening up your home, car or linen. Also try our other new room spray - Crisp Linen. This spray is a sanitizing fresh spray using the disinfecting properties of rosemary, tea tree and lemon.

Fall Celebration

2009-11-04T20:31:00.000-05:00

Welcome to fall. This is my favorite time of the year! I absolutely love the holiday season which for me is from Halloween to Christmas.

This month we have a bunch of new things on the way. First let's start with our Passion and Purpose Customer of the Month.

This month Colleen is our featured customer. Colleen has selected the Komen Foundation to receive 10% of the profits from November's sales.

Colleen has also dedicated a product to her mom. Our newest dedication is Choices Conditioner. Here is the dedication:

"In life we always have choices. We can choose to focus on the good things that make us smile or the not-so-good things that make us feel bad. Choices Conditioner is dedicated to a wonderful mother/daughter team who did not always have the best relationship. In the end, they found a way to focus on the happy times that they had together and let the other parts of their lives fade into the background. Choices are not always easy but it is the hard ones that bring us the most peace."

Choices Conditioner is available in Lemongrass or Unscented.

Natural Skin Care

2009-09-22T10:53:00.000-04:00

Have you made the switch yet? You know, the wardrobe switch? Time to put away the light colors and fabric of summer and switch to the sturdy earthy fabrics of fall.

When you switch your clothes, it is also time to review your skin care products. Toss old out of date products, open a fresh mascara and eye liner, and change your facial products.

If you were using an astringent for summer, its time to change back to a toner which is less drying to your skin. It's also time to review your cleanser.

This month we are featuring our milk cleanser. This cleanser is a cream cleanser that is extremely gentle on your skin. It cleans your face without harsh ingredients and allows your face to retain its natural moisture.

To get the most from this cleanser, wet your face with warm water and then apply the cleanser to your moist skin. Wipe the cleanser away gently with a warm wash cloth.

This cleanser is so light that it will not leave a soap residue behind. Soap can dry your skin out and make it feel tight. The milk cleanser will leave your skin feeling supple and silky.

As this is a gentle cleanser, it is great for sensitive skin. It will not however remove heavy layers of make up. If you wear a heavy foundation in the winter, try our Green Tea Cleanser for best results.

SPECIAL - Our Milk Cleanser is an unscented product. For this month only, if you would like it scented in our limited edition fall scent, Lemongrass & Thyme, you can order it online. Unscented is still available.

New Scent for Fall

2009-09-22T09:59:00.000-04:00

Happy Fall!

This month we have a brand new limited edition scent for you. We have created Lemongrass & Thyme. This scent is uplifting and a clean. For some reason it stirs up childhood memories and makes me feel nostalgic whenever I use it.

Fall is a great time for nostalgia as you plan for a new holiday season which means spending time with friends and family that you might not see all that often.

Lemongrass & Thyme is available in Linda May Shampoo, Conditioner, Body Wash, and our featured product of the month - Milk Cleanser.

New Web Site

2009-09-22T09:52:00.000-04:00

Hello everyone. I hope you have had a great summer. I have been busy building a new web site and updating the B-cause product line. The new site is easier to navigate and looks fresher than the old site.

In addition the credit card security features are enhanced. The new site is PCI Compliant. Which means your information has the highest level of protection out there right now. You can still use PayPal as your preferred form of payment if you would like which is PCI compliant as well.

If you have any feedback on the new site, please feel free to share it. I am always open to your comments.

July Special

2009-06-29T21:13:00.000-04:00

Can you believe July is here? It is time for a new special and time for a new charity. This month our Passion & Purpose customer, Suzanne O'Connor has selected a terrific charity to receive 10% of July's sales.

The Food Pantry at the Church of Saint Vincent de Paul serves over 2600 families in the Albany area annually. That figure includes children, senior citizens and adults. During these difficult economic times, those who live on the margins of society are the people who suffer most. More of the working poor are coming to the Food Pantry for assistance than ever before with an increase of 15% over the last year. Thank you for helping the hungry in our community.

July features our Shades of Summer Sale. All of our foundation powders are on sale. Be creative with these powders. Not only do you want a shade that matches your skin tone, you can use a second powder that is darker than your skin tone to highlight your face. A deeper tone can be used to contour your face or give it a bronze highlight. I often use a "bronzer" to make me appear tan.

Visit us at www.BeautyWithACause.com. Happy summer.

Five Things To Do This Summer

2009-06-29T20:47:00.001-04:00

No this is not a list of vacation spots. Well, maybe it is, but not in the traditional sense. This list is five things to do to take a mental "vacation" so that come fall you are recharged and ready to set off at a frenetic pace again.

Summer is a time to do things a little differently. Do you remember as a child when school break came, your entire routine changed? Summer seemed so long back then.

Now, we never seem to take more than a one week break if that. Our schedule remains the same except maybe the scenery.

So here is a list of five things to do for July and August to give yourself a change in routine. Your life can have a different rhythm and feel refreshed by making minor changes.

1. Change your route to work. I have two ways to get to the office that are almost equal in drive time but I tend to stick to just one of them. It is a habit I don't have to think about - my car just goes that way. Going a different way makes you alert to new scenery and new traffic situations.

Maybe you don't have a great second route but try to find something to mix up your drive time. Remember it is only for two months that you will try an alternate path. There may be a way that you avoid so that you don't get stuck behind a school bus, now is a great time to use that route.

2. Next change your daily routine. Pay attention to your morning "get up and go" routine and see where you can change it for the summer. Maybe you can switch your coffee, take a shower in a different bathroom, let your hair airdry instead of styling it. Whatever - look for something that will make your morning "feel" different. When you go back to your old routine it will feel fresh. You need this break.

3. Take advantage of the extra day light. Get up a little early and go for a walk or take a walk in the evening when you would normally be settling everyone down for the night. This is not a long term commitment - getting up a little early won't be that painful. You will benefit from the fresh air and exercise.

You dont' have to do homework with the kids so dinner can be a little later if need be. Take this little bit of me time!

4. Let it go - let housework lapse for the summer. You don't need a pristine house for two months. Chances are you are spending more time outside anyway and a little mess never hurt anyone. Relax and enjoy being sloppy for a little while.

If you are like me, it will drive you crazy by the end of the summer but for the short run it feels a little rebellious. I know, I'm really living on the edge here! HA HA.

5. Learn a new trick. Find something new to learn over the summer - speed reading, a new language, perhaps a new sport. I refuse to be an old dog! Learning keeps me young. If you remember that you don't know it all then there is still a world of wonder waiting for you.

Watch how a child finds wonder is the simplest things. Find that again for yourself and explore something new that never occurred to you before or something that you never took the time to learn in the past.

I hope you have fun and mix it up for yourself this summer. Come September 1, you can go back to your old routines, they will still be waiting for you but now they will feel new. Perhaps you've made some changes that will stay with you.

Look at it as a two month vacation for your mind and the best part is, you don't have to deplete your vacation day bank to do it.

What's your toxic beauty score?

2009-06-24T08:34:00.000-04:00

Do you know how many potential toxins you are exposed to before 9 AM?

Many major skin care and beauty products contain potentially harmful ingredients. On average a woman uses between 10 and 20 products before 9 AM.

Perhaps you are saying to yourself, “Well, I don’t wear make-up so this doesn’t apply to me.”

Think again. Toxic ingredients are hiding in your toothpaste, soap, lotion and deodorant in addition to beauty products.

So take the test – check all the items you used as you got ready this morning:

Toothpaste
Mouthwash
Shampoo
Conditioner
Body Wash/Soap
Shaving Cream
Lotion
Powder
Deodorant
Hair spray/gel
Facial Cleanser
Facial Moisturizer
Foundation
Blush
Eye Shadow
Eye Liner
Mascara
Lip stick
Perfume
Nail Polish

So how did you score?

What is the danger posed by all these products? Well, alone and used occasionally, not much, but used in conjunction with one another and over a lifetime the threat to your health is quite real.

Each of these products may contain a different mix of ingredients that have been related to birth defects, breast and other cancers, allergic reactions, asthma and other breathing disorders, hormonal dysfunction, skin sensitivities, tooth decay just to name a few.

As a consumer, you need to be informed about what is in your products and demand safer products that do not contain suspected and known harmful ingredients. Some of the ingredients you want to avoid are parabens (methyl-, ethyl-, butyl-), phthalates (often hidden in fragrance and nail polish), sodium lauryl sulfate and sodium laureth sulfate, talc, PEG, TEA and fluoride.

There are many companies dedicated to making better products that do not contain toxic ingredients. A great resource to find these products is the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics (www.safecosmetics.org). To find out more about ingredients to be on the look out for visit the Eco Friendly Digest (www.eco-friendly-digest.com).

You are your own best advocate and you deserve quality skin care products but you need to create a demand for them. Support small businesses making non-toxic products!

Progress

2009-06-09T19:02:00.000-04:00

Tonight - a breakthrough!! It only took two years but my husband finally stopped midway to the garbage can, turned and went into the garage to put the plastic bottle in the recycle bin.

Usually, I wind up finding a bottle in the trash and have to pick it out and recycle it on my own. (Not one of my favorite tasks.)

I am encouraged by this progress but, boy, I never expected it to come so slowly.

Oh, well - I'll take it!

June Passion & Purpose Special

2009-05-31T10:30:00.000-04:00

Our Passion & Purpose Customer for June is Joan Sheehan. Joan has become a good friend and wonderful customer who shares the same goal as Beauty with a Cause.

Joan is committed to educating women about the environmental factors that increase the risk of developing breast cancer. She is the Co-President of the Capital Region Action Against Breast Cancer (CRAAB).

Joan is also a breast cancer survivor. She has selflessly supported other women in their battles against this disease and advocates for healthy lifestyles.

Her commitment to help women is being honored by a special product dedication. Joan is a member of the breast cancer dragon boat team called Hope In The Boat. This team of cancer survivors has worked diligently to form a team and overcome such overwhelming odds as the lack of a boat to race in. This team could be found practicing on dry land with the goal that one day they would actually have a boat to ride in.

Recently the dragon boat team raised enough money to purchase a boat and now they are off!

Beauty with a Cause is happy to dedicate our body lotion line to Joan Sheehan and her dedication to helping women beat breast cancer. Our body lotion line is now called Hope In the Boat.

June's special features our Hope In The Boat lotion. See our Summer Soother Special below.

Ten percent of June's sales will be donated to Joan's organization, CRAAB. Read about CRAAB below as well.

Capital Region Action Against Breast Cancer

2009-05-31T09:50:00.000-04:00

Beauty with a Cause is a proud member of CRAAB and is thrilled to be donating 10% of June's sales to the amazing organization.

Capital Region Action Against Breast Cancer (CRAAB!) is a community-based organization created in 1997 for several reasons: 1) to make the eradication of breast cancer a priority through education & advocacy; 2) to empower individuals to participate fully in decisions about breast cancer; 3) to raise awareness about new research and potential causes of breast cancer; and 4) to provide support services to survivors and care givers in 10 counties in upstate New York. CRAAB! offers both in-depth educational programs and well-researched publications so that survivors and caregivers can make better informed decisions about treatment options, risk reduction, and primary prevention. Education formats include CRAAB!’s website; inform-ative newsletters that include a Recent Research column; panel discussions and films; resource guides & brochures on care giving issues, nutrition, exercise, risk reduction and environmental links; and original Essential Bookmarks that list print and online resources in English & Spanish. Annual lecture series, since 1997, by nationally recognized cancer researchers and health advocates have included Sandra Steingraber, PhD, ecologist and author; Suzanne Snedeker, PhD, BCERF at Cornell University; David O. Carpenter, MD, Albany Medical Center/College, past Dean, U-Albany School of Public Health; plus researchers from Fox Chase Breast Cancer Research Center, and the Gen*NY*Sis Center for Excellence in Cancer Genomics, all of whom spoke on gene/environment interaction, lifestyle & environmental connections to breast cancer.

Led by a diverse board and officers, five of whom are breast cancer survivors, CRAAB! understands that there is no “one size fits all” treatment for breast cancer; therefore we develop support services that close gaps in the resources available in our region, including Patient Navigation & Mentoring services, Life Coaching support groups at 2 locations, Medical Massage in Your Own Home in 5 counties, Walk for Wellness program, The Lebed Method Focus on Healing Through Movement & Dance, Yoga & Meditation in 3 counties, and Gentle Pilates.

CRAAB! partners with local hospitals, church groups, healthy weight loss organizations, local YM/WCA’s, and area shopping malls to promote greater access to quality care and to provide services to underserved communities. CRAAB! participates in approximately 15 Health Fairs annually; sits on the board of three NYS Cancer Services Programs in Albany, Rensselaer and Fulton-Montgomery counties; and is active in the American Cancer Society’s Community of Solutions. CRAAB! is a founding member organization of the New York State Breast Cancer Support & Education Network, a coalition of 23 breast cancer and health advocacy groups in New York State started in 1998; and a member of the National Breast Cancer Coalition.

June Summer Soother Special

2009-05-31T09:16:00.001-04:00

Summer is just around the corner and that means it is time to adjust your skin care routine. Warmer more humid weather often causes more oil to be released by your skin creating an unwanted shine. Switching to an astringent will tone down the oil on your face giving you more of a matte finish.

If your skin is overly dry do not switch to an astringent, rather remain with a toner.

Our June special features our Summer Soothers - all facial moisturizer, toner, astringent and body lotions are on sale. Keep your skin from drying out and keep your pores from clogging. Our special Summer Soother Set includes all that you need to get the job done.

Visit our store to get more information and your special Summer Soother Set.

Check

2009-05-25T19:10:00.000-04:00

Do you keep a "to do" list? I always had a disorganized list system on scraps of paper. Usually the list was made with good intentions but then would wind up at the bottom of my handbag. I would come across it while cleaning out my bag and then think - why didn't I keep this handy. I never did "this" or "that".

I read a book last month on organizing your life. I didn't hold much hope for it as I had read many such books and for the most part, I was the same old advice. BUT I did pick up a very useful tip which has now become a habit.

I now keep a master "to do" list in a binder. One sheet for each month so I can write down stuff as it occurs to me and log it in the month I need to deal with it. Then I can forget it. I can put notes, appointment cards and related stuff in clear pockets I keep for each month.

I then use my master list to make my daily lists in my day planner. I have gotten so much done in the past month! I am chewing through my "to do's" faster than I ever have before.

I love being able to say "check" and mark another thing off my list. I am addicted to checking things off. I am hooked.

Another rather revealing side note to this is I got insight into my life. One of my favorite authors, Larry Winget, pointed out that the things that get focus and get done are the things that are important to you. If you want to know where your priorities lie, look at the things you do with your day.

You may say that spending time with your family is important but look at your day - did spending time with your family rank high on your "to do" list?

Now that I am very aware of how I spend my day and what I have to get done I see where my priorities are. I plan my days differently now that I could see I wasn't spending time on my priorities.

Now if only I had the energy to do it all!!

In the emotion

2009-05-21T19:52:00.000-04:00

Have you ever wondered why you can make a commitment one day and fall apart the next?

I have wondered the same thing many times. Recently I was listening to an audio book, Predictably Irrational. The book explained that when you are emotionally detached from a topic you can make smart, rational decisions.

But as soon as you layer on emotion, our ability to make rational decisions falls apart.

For example, have you ever made a commitment to go on a diet and really truly meant it? Then just hours or days later, when out with friends, you see everyone having dessert and decide, "Oh, well, I'll start my diet tomorrow." As soon as the emotion of being with friends and enjoying yourself came into play, you caved.

That is just what happened to me today. All week I was saying to myself that I can run/walk a 5k in under 35 minutes. I could see myself doing it. I knew I only had to shave 40 seconds off my time to make it. I felt sure success would be mine when I got on the treadmill.

Then...I got on the treadmill. I started running and boy was it not working for me. After two minutes I was telling myself, "Well, it's been two weeks since you ran last." Followed by, "Boy it's hot in here." I didn't think I could make another minute.

In fact I stopped. After all it was hot and I needed to take my tee-shirt off (never mind, I was catching my breath at the same time.) So I started again in my running shirt, now cooler and caught up on my breath.

Another six minutes and the talk started again. "You really can't expect to make it under 35 minutes. After all, it has been two weeks since you ran last."

Then I realized what I was doing. I was rationalizing my lack of commitment now that I was experiencing the emotion of how tough it was going to be. I reminded myself how angry and guilty I would feel if I gave up.

But boy was I tired. I started walking for about 15 seconds. Then the thoughts really kicked in. If you give up this easily, you are a total wimp. Start running!

I pushed myself and played mental games continuously. In the end I decided to take it minute by minute. Run a minute + just ten more seconds. Then walk. Guilt. Run another minute + just ten more seconds. Then walk. And on it went.

In the end, I finished the 5k in 34 minutes and 40 seconds. I did it!

Let the victory dance begin. Now the talk became, "I knew I could do it. I just needed to get past those first few minutes." Yeah - who am I kidding, I struggled the whole way through.

But I did it. So the tidbit I am passing on to you is - yes it is tough to stick to a commitment. Yes, it may down right "suck" the entire time. But in the end, if you did it, you get to do the victory dance (and in my case, eat a nice dish of soy ice cream) afterward.

The alternative, is more guilt and more negative self talk. No thank you.

Try it. Even though it hurts, it only hurts for a short time. The time on the treadmill, the time it takes to say "no thanks" at the restaurant. These are mere minutes. Just be strong for those few minutes and you get to feel good for a whole lot longer. Try it!

A Call to Change

2009-05-20T20:18:00.001-04:00

The past few days have been full of dramatic change in my world. Two different paths, each started two years ago, have been suddenly called to the next level.

What brought about abrupt change - reading!

Two different pieces of literature stumbled into my life - one a book and one a magazine article.

I am stunned how just a few minutes spent reading the text of each called to me and inspired me to make two major changes in my life.

Never underestimate the power of the written word.

Take the time to read but not to lose yourself in the story rather to find yourself in the message.

I wonder if at a different time or in a different mood if the texts would have affected me so profoundly.

In any case, I feel I have been called to change the direction of the two paths I am on.

I hope someday I write something that is able to affect a change in the reader too!

May Special

2009-05-01T08:25:00.000-04:00

Hello all. I don't know about you but I am totally confused as to what to wear. Should I put the winter clothes away or bundle up? One day it is 89 degrees and the next I am shivering in my sweatshirt.

As the season plays havoc with our body temperature, so do bugs and viruses with our system. In this case I am referring to computer bugs and information systems and not the swine flu. Someone with nothing better do to hacked into my web host's server and infected my home page. For those of you who haven't been able to reach my website for most of April, I do apologize.

The problem should be fixed now. If you are still getting redirected to a "looney tunes" page then try this. Go to your internet Tools tab, click on Options and then under privacy or security (depending on your browser) delete your Browsing History. This should delete any saved addresses in your browser search bar. (This has no effect on favorites or bookmarks.)

After that you should be able to get to my site without a problem. If you still experience a problem, please email me at jprice7733@gmail.com. (My normal email address has also been affected by the bug.)

So having said all that, we are re-runing the Gavin's Gift and the May Celebration specials. Please go to beautywithacause.com to read Gavin's story. We are donating 10% of April and May's sales to Gavin's Gift and we are matching the funds raised.

The Celebration Gift Sets that we created just for this cause smell wonderful. They are grapefruit and pink grapefruit scented bath and body products. The lotion is one of my favorite products. I call it my "happy" lotion as the scent always brightens my mood. I hope you will support Gavin and give yourself a pick me up at the same time. Happy May!

Ten tips to spring clean in less than six hours

2009-04-07T10:33:00.000-04:00

Growing up, do you remember your mother or grandmother doing her Spring cleaning? Do you remember how thorough it was? Cabinets were emptied and cleaned. Throw rugs went out to be aired. All the windows were cleaned. A good week of solid cleaning ocurred. Who has time for that these days? Most of us don't.

In our rushed daily lives, cleaning takes a back seat to more pressing needs. Unfortunately our homes today need more of grandma's touch than older homes ever did. New construction has made our homes very air tight. Therefore germs can build and breed in our recirculated air and on our floor and furniture surfaces.

To get the benefit of "grandma's clean" without the time commitment here are ten effective cleaning tasks that will do the most to get germs out of your house in less than six hours.

1. Open the windows - As simple as it seems, the best way to get germs out is to circulate fresh air throughout your home. Time commitment - 5 minutes

2. Steam clean your carpets - Carpets are a breeding ground for germs and allergens. As an added bonus having your carpets steam cleaned is environmentally responsible as chemicals are not involved. Hire a professional that only uses steam and skip the rental cleaners. Time commitement - 5 mintues (the time it takes to make a phone call)

3. Clean major traffic doors - Finger prints, mud and dirt build up all winter long. You can't help but see them every day as you go about your life. Cleaning these highly visible areas will go a long way to freshening up your visual space. Clean with a simple solution of baking soda and water. This solution is gentle on surfaces yet effective. Best of all there is no lingering odor or chemical exposure. Time commitment - 60 minutes (assuming 10 minutes per door and 6 major doors)

4. Eliminate odors - Open a box of baking soda and leave it in windowless rooms and closets. Baking soda will absorb orders and leave the air fresher than a chemical freshener. Time commitment - 5 minutes

5. Toss it - Throw away the lonely mitten without a mate, the scarf that your kids will never wear, the snow pants that don't fit. Don't pack away stuff that won't get used next year. While it is still in sight, deal with it. Toss it or give it away. Time commitment - 10 minutes

6. Attack the kitchen - Clean all surfaces with a baking soda and water or a vinegar and water solution. Wipe away fingerprints from cabinets, stubborn spills from appliances and scuff marks from base boards. You spend a great deal of time in the kitchen even if you don't like to cook. In many houses the kitchen is the heart of the house. Focusing time here will pay off more than in lesser used rooms. Time commitment - 60 minutes (upbeat music is mandatory for this one)

7. Change the curtains - Remove heavy winter drapes for lighter sheers or go "naked." More daylight will brighten your spirits and liven up your entire home. Time commitment - 60 minutes (if you have a lot of windows like I do)

8. Clear out the vanity or bathroom drawers - At least twice a year you should review your toiletries and toss expired cosmetics and personal care items that have just been there too long. This is an area where clutter can build up quickly since you are typically rushed in the morning. Time commitment - 30 minutes (if you have to think how long its been there - toss it)

9. Get a few house plants - Green house plants can brighten up spaces or make them feel more serene. As an added benefit, plants clean the air. If you already have house plants, give them fresh soil and fertilizer. Trim off dead leaves and branches. You will just feel better with healthy foliage around you. Time commitment - 60 minutes (to go to the store or repot existing plants)

10. Refresh your personal area - Everyone has a favorite spot in the house. Chances are this is the place where clutter reigns - magazines that need to be tossed, piles of paper that need to be dealt with, etc. Since this is your personal refuge, cleaning this area will greatly impact your mood and leave you feeling refreshed. Time commitment - 60 minutes (I am assuming you are a bit of a pack rat or indecisive here; motivational music is needed)

Six hours and you are done. You can accomplish this easily over the course of the weekend. Come Monday you are fresh and ready for a terrific spring and summer season ahead!!

Grapefruit Oil

2009-03-29T11:09:00.001-04:00

Now that warmer weather is on its way you are most likely feeling your spirits rise. Grapefruit oil will help stimulate this wonderful feeling even on rainy days. Grapefruit oil has been shown to have an uplifting positive affect on your mood.

It is a helpful oil when you want to curb your appetite resulting from stress or depression. If you are like most women, eating, even when you are not hungry, is a defense mechanism to deal with stressful situations and an overall feeling of depression. The busy activity associated with spring can bring these feelings on. By uplifting your mood, you can decrease the craving for comfort food.

Grapefruit oil has also been shown to clear oily congested skin which is one of the downsides of warmer weather. Grapefruit oil dissolves fat and stimulates the metabolism of adipose tissue. Its astringent-like qualities are useful in cleansing the skin and removing the oily residue.

Grapefruit oil is one of my favorites. I call my pink grapefruit lotion my "happy" lotion. I use it every morning to get ready for the long day ahead. I keep more at my desk for whenever I need a little pick me up. Discover the wonderful benefits of this oil for yourself. You can find special grapefruit products at our store http://www.beautywithacause.com/ or pick up a bottle of essential oil at your local healthfood store. I get my essential oils from http://www.jeansgreens.com/.

April Special - Gavin's Gift

2009-03-29T11:06:00.000-04:00

Our special for April is a continuation of the celebration of spring and of youth. Our Passion & Purpose customer has asked to be anoymous but has a wonderful story to share. Ten percent of the sales for April will go to Gavin's Gift. Gavin is a three year old boy who was diagnosed last month with leukemia. Gavin's family is still coming to grips with the new reality they are faced with and how Gavin will be effected. Fortunately, Gavin has a wonderful support network of friends and family who focus on Gavin "the healthy boy" and not the "little boy facing a life-threatening disease." As Gavin's father is also a friend of mine, I will match whatever is raised through the website.

Twitter

2009-03-16T20:19:00.001-04:00

Hello all. I am learning how to use Twitter. What a new and strange world. Some people pass along great web information. Some folks talk about extremely personal things - almost like they forgot the whole world can see what it going on in their lives - wonder if they are concerned about privacy protection. Others just write to see themselves in print. I am learning all kinds of new words - like retweet and tweetdeck. I feel like such a newbie.

What is the take-away from all this? You can learn new things at any age, even things that belong to the newest generation. We were all young once and we don't have to grow old ever. Stay young and keep learning. Having fun is the opposite of boredom. I choose fun. How about you?

Looking for small skin care crafters

2009-03-09T21:06:00.001-04:00

I am looking for a few small independent hand crafters of skin care products - in particular companies that have a very small product line and haven't had the ability to launch their own webstore. If you are passionate about your products (or know someone who is) and do not use toxic ingredients, reach out to me. Please visit our website at http://www.beautywithacause.com/ to see what our company is all about. If you are committed to making a product that is healthy for your customers to use then our store is the perfect showcase for you.

Twitter

2009-03-08T21:28:00.001-04:00

Just set up a Twitter account for the first time. I am wondering if this tool is like have a phone conversation with someone with out the phone. I think if I look at it in those terms it make sense. Otherwise, why would someone care what little boring everyday things I am doing at the moment I am doing them. Anyone who knows me well knows I hate talking on the phone so Twitter could be a good thing for me. If you want to talk to me using Twitter my user name is BEAUTYWITHCAUSE (no "a"). I will probably get back to you faster than I would return a phone message.

Humn, that's two pieces of technology in the same month - I think I have made my quote for the month. For those of you that are technophobes my advice to you is start with just one piece of technology and live with it for a while. Start too many at once and you will drop them fast. On top of the fact that you won't be able to remember a single password! Take it slow and don't allow yourself to be overwhelmed. One new tool a month is plenty. I am always willing to help if you need it. Sometimes the blind leading the blind can be fun.

Techology simplified

2009-03-08T15:21:00.000-04:00

If you are like me, all this web 2.0 stuff is a bit confusing. I attended a seminar the other day that made sense of one piece of technology that I thought was valuable enough to share. Have you heard of igoogle? It is a neat way of consolidating a whole bunch of free tools into one useful location. You create your own home page of sorts tht has the items you care about on it. My igoogle page has a to-do list, an appointment calendar, my gmail account, a news feed, my horoscope, inspirational quotes, free itunes download feed and more. These tools are all free - they are called "gadgets." You can load them on to your igoogle page and whenever you log in you can see everything at once. In addition you can create a secondary page where you can subscribe to feeds from websites and blogs you really like to follow and then see just the updates on one page.

This tool has made staying current and organized so much easier for me. Igoogle is easy to set up and you can customize your page any way you want. There are hundreds of gadgets to choose from and it's all free. If you want to set up a page, you need to have a gmail account - again free. Then click on igoogle up in the upper left of google search page. Have fun setting it up. If you have questions, feel free to email me or respond to this post.

Welcome

2009-03-01T14:30:00.000-05:00

Welcome B-cause We Care, Beauty with a Cause, newsletter subscribers. The newsletter will now be delivered in blog format. You can continue to recieve it in the normal email link fashion or you can subscribe to updates with a RSS feed. We have switched to this format so that we can bring you news and updates quicker and in a more flexible format. I hope you enjoy the new format.

Preferred customers and their passions drive Beauty with a Cause

2009-03-01T14:00:00.000-05:00

We are very excited to announce our new Preferred Customer program, Passion & Purpose. Preferred Customers now get to express their passions to the B-cause community by picking the monthly special and the charity that will receive 10% of all sales for a month.

Our debut Passion & Purpose customer is Tami. Tami loves lavender and has requested we create more lavender scented products so...

This month's special is SPRING SHOWERS. This is a limited edition, lavender scented shower line. We are offering our body wash, our shampoo, our conditioner and our body lotion in lavender scent. We use only essential oils to scent our products. You can get these items in a full size set, in a travel size set or as a la carte full size items.

In addition Tami has selected the American Diabetes Association Research Foundation to be the recipient of 10% of March's sales. At the American Diabetes Association Research Foundation one hundred percent (100%) of every dollar contributed to the Research Foundation helps support more than 406 awards at over 164 research institutions across the country, all working toward a day without diabetes. To find out more about this foundation visit their website here.

To purchase these items, visit our web store at http://www.beautywithacause.com/. Thank you Tami for being a Preferred Customer and sharing your passion with all of us!

What can lavender oil do for you?

2009-03-01T13:58:00.000-05:00

This month's special is a lavender scented SPRING SHOWERS line of bath products. Lavender is a wonderful oil that not only smells light and fresh, it also has many health benefits. Lavender oil can calm the nerves and is used to soothe migraines, headaches, depression, anxiety, and stress. Lavender can also increase mental clarity and relieve exhaustion due to nervous tension. It's soothing properties are also known to help with insomnia and induce sleep. Lavender has been shown to lower blood pressure and improve circulation.

With lingering spring colds, it is helpful to know that lavender is also beneficial to the respiratory system. Used in a vapor form, lavender oil can aid with the healing of throat infections, bronchitis, the flu, common colds and other respiratory problems.

Lavender has antiseptic properties that are beneficial to the skin. It can reduce inflammation and help treat acne and psoriasis. Lavender in shampoo and conditioner is also beneficial to the scalp by killing off parasites.

Our SPRING SHOWERS line is not only beneficial in that it is free of sulfates it is also scented with healing lavender. To see our limited edition SPRING SHOWERS line visit our web store at www.beautywithacause.com/.