Staying fit and remaining physically active both intertwine with good health. There are other key factors such as nutrition and lifestyle which also play undeniable roles in the constitution of good health. More so than in any developed nation, there are many people all over the US that suffer tremendously related to health and fitness. Factors such as poor nutrition, lack of exercise and poor lifestyle choices are all elements that play cataclysmic roles in poor health.

With a vast majority of us living on-the-go lifestyles, it is no wonder that only a minute few still find the time to remain physically active and even remotely immersed in health and fitness. Life in the western world can be very hectic. This has left many opting to eat fast foods out of convenience, “saving” them time and effort. Many do not even read the nutritional information on food packaging and this tends to lead to excess sugar, salt and unnatural chemicals being consumed in many diets.

What is more, technological advancements have made some tasks seem effortless. So for the vast majority of people, physical work or activity has now become somewhat of a rarity. What many people do not understand is that health conditions such as heart disease, Type 2 diabetes, bowel, colon and other cancers, and many more diseases can all be eradicated if not greatly reduced with sufficient exercise and good nutrition – essentially, investing in fitness and health.

If you want to live a healthier lifestyle, the following is a list of quick and easy tips you can begin to use.

First, examine your diet: Read food packaging to find out what you’re feeding your body, many health deficiencies are caused by unbalanced diets. The following is a rough guide.

Carbohydrates are the body’s own form of gasoline so to speak. Just as a vehicle needs fuel to embark on a journey, so does the human body need fuel to move. There are so many healthy food alternatives in which one can obtain energy (carbohydrates) from. Brown rice is a great source of carbohydrates and unlike white rice; brown rice contains vitamins and iron. Many whole grain foods are great sources of carbohydrates (and fiber – which helps you stay full and regulates digestion). A person who is active and exercising should consume about 60% carbohydrates.

Protein is essential for the growth of cells and also for tissue repair. It is indeed imperative that you include sufficient amounts of protein into your diet. Eggs, and oily fish like sardines are great sources of protein (oily fish also tend to be good sources of omega 3 fatty acids). One of the many health benefits of omega 3 is a reduction in blood pressure and cholesterol levels. Protein should make up about 20% of an active person’s diet.

Fats. What do these have to do with health and fitness? Fats are not the enemy. They are also a necessary part of a balanced diet. They act as a reserve of energy. Fats also protect body organs. One of the ways to obtain healthy fats can be through using extra virgin olive oil, using this oil to make meals or as a salad dressing has many health benefits. One health benefit is that olive oil can help reduce blood pressure. Just remember to stick with healthy fats that can be found in foods like avocados. Fats (unsaturated) should be about 20% of your diet too.

Secondly, remaining active is essential for good health: Taking gradual but progressive steps is imperative. If you’re inactive, try taking longer or brisk walks, or if you’re ahead of the curve and want to have the support of a professional try attending a local fitness facility. Remember to always consult your physician before taking on any strenuous activity. The final step now is just to start on your journey towards better health and fitness.

K. Clifford has worked in the field of finance until 2009 when K left the field to pursue a different route into the world of fitness and business management at a fitness center in South Carolina. Helping clients reach their goals and managing a great business are the main focuses in K’s life.

My adoration for women is actually a rather innocent one if I am allowed to judge myself. I will be more than happy to outline my criteria that define my own judgment, because it’s not righteous to be one’s own judge. But, I think I will let my results speak for themselves.

The most beautiful woman in the world, for most exotic beauty, goes to Jennifer Connelly. I cannot get her hair out my head from the movie Blood Diamond. Of course, she’s in the bushes in West Africa following the story of conflict diamonds and doesn’t have time to setup an appointment with a hairdresser. But when someone can be that gorgeous even under those circumstances, that’s what drives me wild. Forget the fact that I’ve been in love with her since I first saw her in Labyrinth and I’ve followed her career throughout some of my most favorite movies including House of Sand and Fog, Dark Water, and He’s Just Not That Into You. Jennifer Connelly steals away with the most beautiful woman in the world for most exotic beauty.

The most beautiful woman in the world, for being an unexpected hottie, goes to Jenna Fischer. I started watching The Office when it first came out in 2005 and I noticed the cute receptionist behind the desk. I loved the way she flirted with Jim and dealt with Michael. I was actually rooting for Jim and now he finally is with her, with a child and the whole nine yards. But then, I saw her on the cover of Shape in November 2009. It seriously was one of those Wow moments. Who in the world is that? The hottest little hottie to grace the cover of Shape, and I had no idea that the cool, cute receptionist from The Office was that gorgeous. Jenna Fischer takes by a landslide the most beautiful woman in the world for being an unexpected hottie.

The most beautiful woman in the world, for absolute adorability, goes to Jennifer Aniston. Bursting onto the scene in Friends, she caught everyone’s attention with her rich-girl innocence and her amazing beauty. The Rachel hairdo became a national hit. Millions of girls tuned in every week just to see what she was wearing. Even though she couldn’t miss no matter what she wore, she had some of the most famous outfits including the green dress in TOW No One’s Ready, the yellow dress in TOW All The Kissing, and the black dress in TOW Monica’s Thunder. Rachel Green owned that show and Jennifer Aniston went on to star in such favorites as Office Space, Along Came Polly, and The Break-Up. Jennifer Aniston sweeps the votes for the most beautiful woman in the world for absolute adorability.

The most beautiful woman in the world, for pure loveliness, goes to Angela Kinsey. Another unexpected beauty comes from The Office in the form of Angela Martin. She plays the straight-laced accountant who can’t stand inappropriate behavior, excessive indulgence or frivolous activities. However, she goes on to have an affair with both Dwight and Andy at the same time showing us that she too is human and not above temptation. But then, I saw Angela Kinsey sport a turquoise blouse with black shorts, high heels and straight blonde hair. That’s when I realized how perfectly gorgeous she really was. That was just the first of many enjoyable other-thanThe Office sightings including the red bikini top and cut off shorts on a day at the beach with her daughter, the blue dress at the premiere of “Meskada” after party, and a slew of red carpet outfits that knock me dead every time I see her. Angel Kinsey blasts the competition away for the most beautiful woman in the world for pure loveliness.

The most beautiful woman in the world, for stunning angel, goes to Emily Procter. Of course, I first noticed her as Calleigh Duquesne in CSI: Miami, a beautiful detective who was nice to everyone, but stern at times when the situation called for it. The first episode I watched was when a new officer was being introduced to the force and one of his first duties was as an observer of everything Calleigh was doing. She explained a few things to get him up to speed and then she welcomed him to the Miami Dade Police Department. Her eyes stayed fixed for what seemed like eternity and she flashed that smile that would haunt me for years. Emily Procter triumphs as the most beautiful woman in the world for stunning angel.

The most beautiful woman in the world, for sheer elegance, goes to Sasha Alexander. She hit the scene in her first memorable performance as Gretchen, Pacey’s older sister, in the wildly conflicted, overly dramatic, idealistic world of Dawson’s Creek. She and Dawson share a romance that is encumbered with too much thinking and not enough spontaneity, even though once in awhile you see sparks of an actual relationship in there somewhere. She immediately became one of the actresses who holds the status, “If she is in it, I will watch it.” Hence, my attention turned to NCIS when I saw her pure gorgeousness grace the show as the big sister type to the team. Obviously, I was heartbroken when she was murdered by Ari. But, Rizzoli & Isles have become the balm that soothes all ails. Sasha Alexander gallops away with the most beautiful woman in the world for sheer elegance.

The most beautiful woman in the world, for unmatched brilliance, goes to Beth Riesgraf. Repelling into my life as Parker in Leverage, she is a bit naïve about certain facts of life even though she is remarkably skilled in cracking safes, scaling buildings and gaining entrance whether legally or illegally. It’s the stern look that comes across her face when she is thinking about something as deep as she can, but her smile is mesmerizing. You melt when you see her fifty gorgeous expressions. Where has she been all my life? She pulls off beautifully the rock and roll blonde, the straight hair formal and the runway yellow dress with designer pocketbook to match. Beth Riesgraf lifts the most beautiful woman in the world for unmatched brilliance.

The most beautiful woman in the world, for stealing the show, goes to Natalie Portman. Of course, she had been in Anywhere But Here and Beautiful Girls along with a slew of other huge hits. But, I didn’t sit up and notice her until a pregnant girl with no shoes is abandoned at America’s department store in Where the Heart Is. Adopted by a crazy couple, she grew from a childish teenager into a professional lady who finally learns how to trust her heart again. From then on, I have not been able to take my eyes off of her. She rocks the innocent look in Sesame Street while dominating sexy in such works as Black Swan and No Strings Attached. Natalie Portman is hands down the most beautiful woman in the world for stealing the show.

The most beautiful woman in the world, for total whiplash head turner, goes to Katherine Heigl. When you see her smile from the side in that infamous “sucker” scene in The Ugly Truth, your heart passionately screams, “I want to be in that guy’s shoes.” She’s down to earth playful, seriously red carpet hot and even pulls off the bad hair day with beauty most runway models would die to embody. I think I love her most when she’s facing her own mortality in Grey’s Anatomy “Good Mourning” or facing someone else’s in “Dream a Little Dream.” It’s in those deadly serious moments that you find her true beauty glowing from within. Katherine Heigl rules the most beautiful woman in the world for total whiplash head turner.

The most beautiful woman in the world, for dripping hot sexy, goes to Charlize Theron. When she caught my attention in The Devil’s Advocate, I thought to myself that someone would literally have to be daft to drift away from her into a meaningless marriage. But, that was written into the script. Just look at how she rocked Mighty Joe Young, Reindeer Games, The Italian Job and Hancock. She even made a serial killer seem likable in Monster. But to really understand the jaw dropping, massive coronary, stand-there-with-nothing-to-say pure sexiness Charlize exudes, all you have to do is witness her raw amour as she walks down the hallway leaving layers of clothing behind in the renowned Dior J’Adore commercial. Charlize Theron demands the most beautiful woman in the world for dripping hot sexy.

The most beautiful woman in the world, for pure enchantment, goes to Christi Paul. The CNN’s Headline News anchor as well as for In Session on truTV. She is the ultimate girl next door with the prom queen beauty. But, there were some Miss America aspirations that could have come true as witnessed by her climb from Miss Mansfield to Miss Greater Cleveland as she worked her way up to running for Miss Ohio in 1993. WDTV was smart to hire her as broadcast journalism just seems to be in her blood. And now you know where I get my news spoon fed from everyday. Christi Paul wears the most beautiful woman in the world crown for pure enchantment.

Robin Meade certainly shares the title of pure enchantment along with Christi Paul. With her adorable laugh and the new style she has brought to the news, I stay on top of what’s going on in the world today and it’s easy to figure out why. Plus, Robin’s song Welcome Home is a touching tribute to the troops who are fighting overseas and that means a lot to a veteran like me. But, the reason why I step out of protocol and share a title between these two gorgeous anchors from CNN is because their lives are so totally similar. Robin Meade was born in Ohio in 1969. However, she went on to become Miss Ohio in 1992 and was one of the top ten finalists in the 1993 Miss America Beauty Pageant. They both are married with children and living in Georgia. So, I tap Robin Meade to share the most beautiful woman in the world for pure enchantment with Christi Paul. It’s the most beautiful woman in the world for crying out loud! I’m sure they don’t have a problem sharing it.

The most beautiful woman in the world, for knocking my socks off entirely, goes to Scarlett Johansson. With only one exception, the mysterious skip in 2000, Scarlett has at the very least brought us something new every year since her inception in 1994 with North. Among my favorites are Lost in Translation, The Perfect Score, and In Good Company just to name a few. But, it’s when she plays the parts in such movies as He’s Just Not That Into You that you see her amazing sensuousness. Her wonderful laugh, the elegant look over her shoulder, even her ability to be innocent while entrenched in raw passion makes me fall in love with her over and over again. Scarlett Johansson epitomizes the most beautiful woman in the world for knocking my socks off entirely.

The most beautiful woman in the world, for endearing fascination, goes to Julie Bowen. Catching my attention in Ed, I immediately hung on her every scene. I cursed the director and the other actors who were stealing our precious time away from me. But then, she became the love interest in Happy Gilmore and Adam Sandler’s daydreams are nothing short of ingenious. She is the reason I became a fan of Boston Legal just like she’s the reason I watch Modern Family now. Her soft brown eyes can flash intense every once in awhile. But, her smile! It’s the kind of smile that radiates and it is very contagious. Julie Bowen exhibits utter greatness of the most beautiful woman in the world for endearing fascination.

The most beautiful woman in the world, for being drop dead gorgeous, goes to Diane Lane. She cannot be touched! Since 1979, she has touched my heart and I wasn’t even aware of how deeply then. But, I caught on when she exploded on the screen in Streets of Fire. That was the making of history. An all-time favorite of mine, I have enjoyed her in such greats as Chaplin, A Walk on the Moon and Under the Tuscan Sun. But, she brings it home in works like Jack, Judge Dred, and The Perfect Storm where she’s not the lead but she steals each scene. She’s class and elegance and everything you can say about a princess. A genuine model of all that is beautiful in the world, Diane Lane easily exemplifies the most beautiful woman in the world for being drop dead gorgeous.

The most beautiful woman in the world, for everlasting magnificence, goes to Ashley Judd. So powerful in her back story, she left her mother and sister while they were still on the road performing. She went off on her own to do her own thing and what a gift she has given us! She’s in a long line of favorites to cherish such as Double Jeopardy, High Crimes, and Where the Heart Is. She could easily become a cult classic with roles like Eye of the Beholder, Twisted and Bug. She has the allure to bring fans from the outskirts into the mainstream because she can be pleasantly charming even when her character might be suffering from alcoholism, is mentally disturbed or grossly psychotic. Her beauty requires absolutely no makeup as she rocks the red carpet in dresses and skirts that she makes look good, while trumping the beauty of all the celebrities who flock to take their pictures with her. Ashley Judd simply is the world’s most beautiful woman in the world for everlasting magnificence.

The most beautiful woman in the world, for redeeming grace, goes to Dana Delany. A routine Dana photo shoot can produce such great shots as the purple blouse with sexy hair in her eyes, the blue dress from Desperate Housewives, and the black shirt staring into the camera from Kidnapped. Truly amazing how effortlessly she makes it all look. I won’t mention her age, which is by far the most phenomenal feature about her beauty. My heart skipped a beat when she leaned against the tree in Tombstone. I’ve watched every ounce I could find of her since, catching old reruns of China Beach, Wild Palms and Sweet Surrender. Checking out Multiple Sarcasms, A Beautiful Life and even Route 30. But now, I will be able to get my weekly Dana dosage in Body of Proof. I can’t imagine this world without her! Dana Delany deserves most beautiful woman in the world for redeeming grace.

As you can see, these ladies are not ranked from one to three as being the most beautiful woman in the world. They are simply the most beautiful woman in the world. They cannot be put in any kind of order at all. Furthermore, it was very difficult to narrow my choices down to just these three. But, I did it! I finally narrowed my choices down to only those whom I absolutely consider to be the most beautiful woman in the world.

This panel acknowledges the fact that there is indeed a very beautiful woman in the world missing from this year’s choices. There are quite a few in fact including but not limited to farmer’s daughters, nuns, librarians, teachers, ex-girlfriends, sisters and my daughter, who are not included for legal reasons concerning my being on the panel, being its only panel member and to avoid any allegations of bias. It is only due to a sheer mental meltdown after making my selection that the rest of the most beautiful women in the world were not included.

In the recent decade the importance of health and fitness has been increased to a greater extent. In today’s era physical health is of utmost importance. Reducing those extra kilos helps you look better and the good news is you do not need to just rely on doctors or medicines in order to get your desired looks. Here I would like to comment that gaining the perfect health or in other words reducing weight is not an easy task. But once you have done that you surely cherish as well as show off your physical health.

We can make out the importance of health and fitness with the increase of spas, health clubs, fitness equipments, exercise programs, nutritional supplements, etc in today’s day to day life. These facilities provide fitness to not only men’s health but also to women’s health. The demands of these facilities are increased as everyone wants to be fit and participate actively in chosen day to day activities. Also today’s generation looks forward for an active lifestyle once they retire. Here I would like to comment that good health is a result of constant efforts and it takes years to get that desired health and fitness. It’s really dumb if you try to repair the damage after it’s done.

Also when it comes to health and fitness the most common question asked is how can one tighten or tone muscles. Now the muscles can either be of hands or legs or stomach. Here I would like to comment that in order to reduce some muscles one needs to tone the muscles of entire body. You can never reduce or tone muscles of one specific body part. One needs to do some cardiovascular activities in order to reduce or burn those extra fats. Now the question is what is a cardiovascular activity? Jumping rope, jogging, swimming, walking, step aerobics, etc. all these are cardiovascular activities. Always remember never start a cardiovascular activity as a standalone as you also need some strength training exercises. The strength training exercises helps you to tone as well as build muscle mass for your concerned areas.

Also there is a common reason given by people when asked why they aren’t working out. And the reason is that they don’t have enough time to do so. Here the only thing one needs to understand is that the day you give health and fitness priority in your daily schedule you will yourself find time for it. We need to understand that you will not have to invest large time in order to get huge rewards for your health and fitness. You just need to give several hours each week and you can see the results. You just need to find out an effective as well as efficient work out plan. Any exercise that you think best suites your schedule you can do that. Hope I inspire you to work out at least an hour a day.

Health and fitness programs

The health of a human being is of two types. One is the mental health and the other is the physical health. The happiness of a human life mostly depends on being healthy. So it is very much important for a human to remain healthy and fit. It has been proved that human being can stay fit by taking some steps. A human body can only be fit by maintaining many fitness rules. The age of today is the modern age. The people of today are very much aware of staying healthy and fit. Many employers are implementing these types of programs into their workplace with the goals of improving and maintaining the health of their employees and increasing worker productivity. Now a day’s many satellite channels are broadcasting many health and fitness programs.

Not only that they are also providing many useful diets, exercise by depending on ages and those are taught by professional instructors and also giving information about those foods which are bad for health. Many health and fitness programs are introducing the health and fitness instruments or products. So people are being benefited and they personality is improving and so as their confidence level. That’s why large number of people is attracting to these kinds of programs. As the days are passing these numbers are spreading. In the current world companies whom are offering jobs are mainly searching people having best personality and confidence. Health and fitness programs are helping people to get many exciting jobs.

It has now become one of the major concerns. This made life active and alert. Now, life has become more simple and easy. Everything an individual need is just a step away. This easy life has restricted humans to do that bit of physical exercise which is required to keep the body fit and healthy. We get instant, spicy and variety of food which lose their nutrition during the process. It can make all that difference in one’s life. These kinds of program are facilitated by a Certified Athletic Trainer who will help individual to develop an exercise program for his/her specific needs. These programs has helped them to address health issues such as being overweight, having high blood pressure or elevated cholesterol levels, reducing risk factors for heart disease, back pain and other balance disturbances. However, research is still being conducted to determine if these programs are an effective means of achieving these goals.

Health is wealth, that’s what they always say. And indeed, there’s nothing more important than one’s health. With all the health and fitness advices out there, sometimes, we get confused which is which. If we’re not careful, following someone else’s advice can even lead to peril rather than fitness. So, what is special with women’s health and fitness compared to men’s?

Women’s Health and Fitness 101

Metabolism for women is generally slower than that of men’s. Although this fact is not always true, it gives meaning to why it’s harder for women to stay fit.

Women have the tendency to have poor blood circulation compared to men because of slower metabolism. This is usually expressed by the cold hands and feet in all kinds of seasons for the ladies.
Because of their monthly period, women have a totally different hormonal structure with that of men. This usually is the cause of their phenomenal mood swings.
With the given facts above, obviously women differ with men when they deal with stress, some of which can even lead to eating disorders.

How to Improve Women’s Health and Fitness

Increase one’s metabolism by exercising. Examples are jogging or power walking or a combination of both. Not only does it burn calories faster but it also improves blood circulation.
Because of slow metabolism, women are recommended to have a high fiber diet. A daily dose of fruits and vegetables are in order to keep one fit and healthy.
One measure of women’s health and fitness is the amount of fluids they take. It is advised to take at least two liters of water and other liquids per day. But this does not include coffee or tea as they contain caffeine.

Regular Visits

With regular check ups, women’s health and fitness can be monitored, if not further maintained. Make sure you keep up with your doctor and never skip a visit even if you think there’s nothing wrong. As they always say, prevention is better than cure.

On those Fitness Tips

Women’s health and fitness cannot be generalized. What works for another woman may not work for you so don’t just go on following anybody’s advice. Make sure you consult a professional.

Get in touch with an expert to further understand your body. Make sure you only follow a professional’s advice and maintain your health.

Yes…it’s possible! The word “addiction” give us images of people in dark rooms, listening to bad music and sticking needles in their arms, but many addicts can be found in the gym or on the local school track, getting just as addictive a fix. In fact, the positive nature of the word “healthy” makes health and fitness addiction all the more alluring. Despite the positive media, health addicts have done as much damage to their families and lives as any other kind of addict. In this article, we’ll look under the surface of health and fitness addiction and find a path to recovery.

How Can Something So Good Be Bad? In our modern Western culture, those willing to pay the price for fitness are to be applauded. There are just so many temptations to do otherwise. Exercise is mostly boring, painful and smelly, so those who endure it for about an hour, 3-5 days a week, have achieved a level of discipline most only dream of.

Health and fitness addiction is not about health or fitness…it’s about a compulsion to use healthy activities to fill a void we see in ourselves. Addicts are compelled, not disciplined. The addictive chemicals involved in exercise are much the same as those in sex and porn addiction. This may explain why many people suffer from both sexual addictions and health addictions.

Types Of Health And Fitness Addiction: These are addictions to the activities of health and fitness, as opposed to the TV, Internet and shopping addictions which could involve health themes. Health and fitness addictions are compulsions to engage in “healthy” activities, like exercise, dieting, etc. In fact, anorexia and bulimia nervosa have both been described as severe health and fitness addictions. Two key symptoms of these mental disorders are exercise and dietary control to a compulsive and excessive extreme. The specific exercise or diet plan doesn’t matter. It’s an addiction when you feel compelled to do it.

How Do I Know I’m Addicted? We addicts don’t often recognize addiction because a common symptom of addiction is denial, which is even easier to have about health. That’s why it’s easier to find out from a friend or loved one if you have a problem in this area. For health addiction involving eating, see Anorexia Nervosa Quiz. Here are some things to watch out for concerning fitness exercise addiction:

1. Do you regularly spend more than 8 hours a week exercising and is the time you spend increasing?

2. Does your exercise schedule interfere with normal family activities, home or work responsibilities?

3. Do friends or family members complain about the time or money you spend on fitness?

4. Have you wondered if you’re being too compulsive about your fitness program?

5. Have you lied to your family, friends, or employers about the time you spend in fitness activities?

6. Do you often see fitness as a way to gain acceptance or praise from others?

7. Have you ever pushed so hard in your fitness program you hurt yourself?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, you should consider yourself at risk of addiction. If you answered yes to 3 or more, you’re probably addicted.

How Do I Recover From Health And Fitness Addiction? This is caused by a negative self-image, like any other addiction. Instead of alcohol, you use exercise to fill a void you feel in yourself. Since the relief produced by exercise is only temporary and you become conditioned, you need regular increases in the activity to produce the same relief. Unlike alcohol, a certain amount of fitness activity is required for health, so, you can’t just quit. Instead, we have to hold ourselves to no more than an hour a day, 3-5 days a week.

Spend the rest of the time you used to exercise going to AA or other addiction meetings and engaging in self-development activities. You could read, go back to school, join a volunteer group. You could take up a hobby, like gardening or building model airplanes. To help in building yourself up, avoid negative mental inputs, like the news, drama, negative, insulting friends. Replace those with good music or reading or other activities that build you up. Push all the negative, self-defeating, limiting thoughts out of your mind with positive, uplifting, encouraging thoughts.

Because there are risks that health and fitness addiction could develop into full-blown anorexia, if you try and fail to get a handle on your addiction, please see a doctor. Sometimes medical and psychological therapy can prevent a more serious condition from developing, and allow you the mental energies you need to get control of yourself.

Health and fitness addiction can be just as severe as any other addiction. It can imprison us into destructive, compulsive activities. We can place our families, our careers, even, ironically, our health at risk through addiction to exercise and other fitness activities. The good news is, there is hope for anyone willing to live in and work on recovery.

Subscribing to a health and fitness blog can be one of the best things you can do to assist you in learning what is going on in the fitness world. There are many out there for you to choose from. Internet fitness is now more than simply people telling you to buy their programs. There is now how to videos, instructional forums, free fitness programs and much more out there for you to peruse on your quest for knowledge.

One of the best ways to get this Internet fitness information is to sign up for an rss feed from a health and fitness blog. Many of the better sites will allow you to sign up through the rss reader of your choice and see whats new on the site. You can check it when you please and the best part is you don’t have to go clicking around to find it. You basically find a couple sites that you like and have them send their rss feeds to you. You get their health and fitness blog whenever and wherever you want.

Another great way to get the information sent directly to you is to sign up for a health and fitness newsletter. Signing up for a sites newsletter is usually a very simple thing, all they need is your name and e-mail address. Then every week or two they will send you an e-mail with what they think is some relevant information that you will enjoy.

In the past one of the biggest knocks on newsletters was many people were selling their list to spammers. You though you had signed up for a newsletter on fitness and all the sudden you get a bunch of e-mail on how to extend your manhood, or an e-mail telling you won 5 million euros. There have been some major changes in Internet law and much of this has stopped. I personally belong to about 8 or 9 newsletters and my spam folder doesn’t get any e-mails. This is a big change from a couple years ago.

The Internet is a fantastic tool. These days there are some fantastic ways to get information directly sent to you via a health and fitness blog or newsletter. There is a new day in age coming up in the fitness world, one that I call the Internet fitness revitalization. The new information that is coming out is both relevant and correct, a lot different than the poor information that was scattered all over just a few short years ago.

During my commute to Manhattan on the Express Bus one morning, I had the company and pleasure of reading the March issue of Allure magazine. I began by reading the Letter from the Editor Linda Wells and stumped upon this striking catch phrase, the “pursuit of beauty”. Linda explains this phenomenon to be much like the pursuit of the American Dream. It is “a right to determine and improve our essential selves, psychologically and physically…that transcends gender, class, race, age and sexual orientation.” I thought to myself, “this is so true!” What person today does not want to be and feel beautiful? There is no doubt, that we as human beings are acutely sensitive to our physical appearances and will do anything to gain or to maintain our personal beauty. Our insatiable need for all things “beauty” proves that we are all in full pursuit and unapologetically so.

According to dictionary.com beauty is “the quality present in a thing or person that gives intense pleasure or gives deep satisfaction to the mind.” This emotional bond to pleasure explains why beauty plays such a significant part in our lives. We can’t help ourselves in the presence of things or persons that call to our sensibilities. Physical beauty, though a matter of taste and opinion is also characterized by society’s views. In most cultures, the existence of symmetry or balance is a determining factor of beauty because it suggests the absence of “flaws” or “defects”. Facial balance, complexion, body shape and size, as well as youthfulness are all standardizations of beauty. The characterization of beauty however, cannot be understood without also realizing that beauty has another side to it – One that is not so physical, but rather metaphysical (a more intangible element ). We cannot necessarily see or touch it, yet its presence is undeniable. With that being said, we cannot exclude psychological factors such as personality, intelligence, politeness, elegance or charisma as determining factors in recognizing beauty.

As I researched more into this beauty craze, I stumbled upon some very interesting findings. To my surprise, (ok maybe not so surprised) researchers have found that possessing physical attractiveness can be quite influential in a persons life. Someone who is considered to be beautiful is likely to get higher grades, receive better care from their doctors, receive lighter prison sentences and earn more money. As if we don’t have enough problems in the world today, now we know that uncontrollable factors like our God-given beauty or “lack thereof”, is just another social barrier to add to our list. Whether we acknowledge it or not, and whether we do this consciously or unconsciously, this type of “lookism” has plagued our society for years and can shed some light on the depth of shallowness that exists in our world today.

This daunting truth certainly affects how we perceive ourselves as well as others. The images we see on tv also determine what we consider to be beautiful and is the driving force towards this search for perfection. We spend thousands of dollars and insurmountable time shopping online or at the malls, purchasing all sorts of beauty products, making nail, hair, facial and botox appointments, reading fashion magazines and taking particular note of what our favorite celebrities are wearing, doing and using to stay slim, youthful and yes, beautiful.

Let’s not forget, that there was once a time when we were all mystified by the beautiful models and celebrities, who flawlessly walked the red carpets and flanked the covers of magazines effortlessly, or at least so it seemed. We dreamed about being them and looking like them, thinking they were born perfectly that way. Thanks to our growing obsession with celebrity-life, the shameless and countless invasions of privacy through reality tv, the social networks and the “tell-all” craze, we now not only have the information and the knowledge but also access to the once “top secret” sometimes extreme, physical enhancers.

Don’t get me wrong, the “pursuit of beauty” doesn’t have to mean a trip to a plastic surgeon, nor is it an elusive commodity accessible to only to the rich and famous. We can all be physically beautiful! The multi-billion dollar beauty industry has made sure to fulfill our every beauty need by bombarding us with a plethora of products and services geared towards making us feel and look younger and more beautiful.The opportunities and resources available to us are endless in this department. We have products that make us look younger, products that make our skin smoother, products that make our stomachs flat, products that make our lips plumper, products that give us fuller hair, products that make our lashes longer and thicker, stylists, eyebrow threaders, makeup artists, fashion trends that change every season, adornments like earrings, necklaces, tattoos, hats etc we all use these things to enhance our personal beauty and attractiveness in some way.

The truth is however, our pursuit of beauty is not just about exploiting our “sexual capital”. It’s not just the physical aspect of beauty that enamors us. We are in search of a combination between the seen and the unseen – The physical (outer) and the psychological (inner) because they both thrive off each other. I like many, believe that true beauty comes from within. Inner beauty in my definition, is that undeniable, profound light that shines from you and onto the world. It is your aura, your spirit, the stamp you leave behind after someone meets you for the first time. My father likes to refer to this intangible, spiritual side of our human nature as the “inner man” or “woman”. Though this “inside beauty” may come easier to some than others, it is the beginning stages to fulfilling this intrinsic desire for physical satisfaction or happiness.

If psychologically we can find the power and confidence to see ourselves as beautiful no matter what, then the world would have no choice but to view us that way. Any physical imperfections that we may think we possess can disappear. Possessing internal beauty is the foundation of the pursuit of beauty. After all, we know that with age physical beauty disappears and there are many uncontrollable forces that can easily take away or lessen our physical beauty, like a severe accident or disease for example. Inner beauty comes from a deeper place. It oozes from your heart and soul and serves as a complimentary component to physical beauty.

So why this urgency to want to be beautiful? What lies beneath this so-called pursuit? What is it that moves us into the hunt for near perfection? The truth is, the pursuit of beauty is in fact the pursuit of happiness – they are one in the same. Though Linda refers to this pursuit as being “distinctly American”, to me, it is more so, undeniably human. Whether it is a physical or psychological improvement to ourselves, we are all in search for this completeness. It is a calling to being someone bigger and better than we’ve ever been. It’s about walking out your door everyday feeling like a ray of sunshine, confident with every step you take. It is a goal, a standard to set, that once achieved, is rewarded with a lifetime of confidence, self assurance, pride, grace, poise and enthusiasm for life.

We therefore cannot deny that we are in a new era, where beauty and the acquisition of it, is no longer an enigmatic, perplexing phenomenon, but rather an expression of one’s pride and self esteem. Beauty has now become a lifestyle, and we have learned that physical beauty cannot stand on its own, we can only enhance it. It is only when there is complete synergy between the physical (outer beauty) and the psychological (inner beauty) working in complete balance with each other like yin and yang, can we safely say we’ve achieved our goal in this pursuit of beauty and ultimately happiness.

Who wouldn’t want to be beautiful? What is beauty? Perhaps, we have all given these questions consideration at one time or another. I would opt to be beautiful if given the choice. Based upon some of my observations of standard beauty, I know it would give me a competitive edge as would youth. I have followed a beautiful woman around all day, many days, to see what it is like to be praised and admired by those people a beautiful woman meets. I have observed others in order to learn about the pros and cons of having an attractive appearance.

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Anyone could potentially be beautiful according to another person. Some people prefer blondes. Others prefer tanned skin. Even others prefer tall people. Everyone has his own preferences; yet, there are some people who have facial and body proportions that are considered beautiful by the majority. Those people who tend to fall into the category of standard beauty tend to get a lot of extra attention throughout the day.

The attention given to a beautiful woman is that of having all eyes on her and that of receiving many compliments. People will talk to her a lot, offer her free drinks, offer gifts, ask for her address, invite her out, and more. At least this is what I observed while following a beautiful woman around all day for many days. She received so many compliments that it became somewhat annoying even to her. People lavished her with much praise for about everything she did. As she conducted her job search, potential employers told her they were looking for someone who was beautiful. One employer said she wanted to hire someone with a “beautiful presence.” Naturally, the beautiful woman found a job with no difficulty.

If being beautiful means a person can have more friends, find more jobs, and influence others, then it is obviously convenient to be beautiful. To be unattractive means that an individual has some proportions that are less standardized and more unusual. There are some obvious reasons why a person considered less attractive by the majority might benefit from the struggle to attract others. She will benefit by having to do her job better or by having to study diligently.

A person who is less attractive will be attractive to someone somewhere. He or she will have to work harder to prove himself in some areas or studies. In order to compete with the so-called “beautiful” person, the “average” person will have to go the extra mile. He or she might seek to be more courteous or creative. She might develop a special talent like art, singing, or a sport. Perhaps the less attractive individual will decide to read more books in order to be appreciated for her knowledge. She might become a learned person to prove herself. Those people who are not considered extremely beautiful will know what it feels to work hard to achieve something without relying upon their looks. The same could be said of older people who have to try harder to find a job than younger people.

The notion of beauty is in the mind so, to some extent, there is truth in saying people are as beautiful as they feel. It is important not to became vain or to envision oneself as being better than others no matter how beautiful one feels.

One risk that beautiful people face is that of becoming lazy if they should become narcissistic, believing that everyone else should praise them and give them free gifts. Everyone needs to retain some humility. If parents and the world give a man too much constant praise, he will run the risk of believing himself to be too important. If he becomes narcissistic, he will sit around expecting others to be his servant. One beautiful woman said she was “too beautiful for her husband.” She told him “no one other than her would have him because he was not very good-looking.” Another beautiful man refused to work for nine years and continuously reminded others of how he was so handsome. Thus, he said his wife’s DNA was inferior and that she should be his servant for that reason. Such are the results of having an over-inflated ego due to believing oneself to be the “epitome” of beauty. Not every beautiful woman or man becomes self-absorbed. Many beautiful people do not have big egos and are considerate of others.

Self-absorption results from having received so many compliments that a man believes himself extremely handsome. Such people might miss out on studying at the university or developing their minds in other ways when they feel they can get by on beauty alone. Unfortunately, no one will be beautiful for eternity, and it does pay to dedicate some time to learning a skill or about the arts and humanities no matter how attractive he might be. No one is so perfect that he or she would not benefit from learning for learning’s sake.

Perhaps the real beauty is one’s ability to see inner beauty in the heart of a kind person regardless of the exterior person. Sometimes the happiest relationships are those in which one individual is prettier than the other but in which the love is more about the inner values that are shared between two individuals. Who would not admire the person who has enough beauty within to be able to see inner beauty in others? True, lasting relationships grow from kindness within two individuals despite issues of beauty.

The advantages of beauty include being afforded many opportunities to work, to date, to marry, and to be loved by others. Most people would enjoy those opportunities and the state of being beautiful, but one must never forget that in some cases, having too much beauty and receiving too many compliments leads to becoming arrogant, narcissistic, and selfish. Thinking that they can rely upon their beauty alone, many women and men never reach their intellectual and spiritual potential. Therefore, the author of this article believes that each of us should seek to live humbly, to nourish our minds, and to open our minds to the possibility that true beauty comes from within. Once we embrace the beauty within the person, not the exterior appearances, we become more adept in relationships as well as dating, love, and marriage.