It’s pretty impressive to watch how strong and fast these men and women are. They hit the ball so hard, and can twist their bodies and do incredible things with a tennis racquet in their hands.

Their bodies seem to be built for it, don’t they?

But I’m going to show you that you can have that same kind of lean, muscular body.

In fact, you were designed for it.

Let me explain…

Most people rely on trainers and fitness “experts” who say if you want to melt fat you have to work out in the “fat-melting zone.” This involves doing hours of “cardio” training, or endless “aerobics” or other endurance training that uses your fat stores while you exercise.

Only that’s the opposite of what you should be doing. If you train for endurance, you’re training your body to work against you.

That doesn’t mean you can’t work out to drop fat. Exertion is one of the most effective tools you can use to maintain your ideal weight.

But what you want to do is re-train your body so it performs like it was designed. That way, you can have the lean, muscular body nature intended for you.

Here’s how you do it:

• do sets of exercises that are progressively intense
• rest in-between each set
• exert yourself for no more than 12-15 minutes

It’s that simple.

Here’s why it works:

For the first 2-3 minutes of a workout you burn ATP, or adenosine triphosphate. This molecule is the basic unit of cellular energy. It is stored in the muscle cells and is available at any time. It is also your high-octane fuel for intense effort.

But there is only enough ATP for a few minutes of exercise. When your ATP stores are depleted, your body switches to glycogen, a carbohydrate stored in muscle tissue. Your glycogen stores will take you through about 15 minutes of exercise.

After both your ATP and glycogen stores have become depleted – about 20 minutes – you switch to using fat.

But if you make that switch by exerting yourself for longer than 20 minutes at a time, you’re training your body to store fat for the next time you work out.

If you stop before that, you store energy in your muscles, NOT as fat for later use.

In fact, exerting yourself for shorter periods of time burns up to nine times more fat than endurance exercise.

Researchers at Laval University in Quebec divided participants into two groups. One group cycled for 45 minutes without interruption. Another group cycled in numerous short bursts of 15 to 90 seconds, while resting in between.¹

The long duration group burned twice as many calories. So you might assume that they would melt more fat. However, when the researchers recorded their body composition measurements, it was the short-term interval group that showed the most fat loss.

In fact, the interval group lost nine times more fat than the endurance group for every calorie burned!

And by the way, this is why many endurance athletes have body fat percentages ranging from 10-20 percent, while athletes like sprinters and basketball players – who run in short bursts with progressive intensity – have a well-muscled physique and usually carry only 4-8 percent body fat.

Your body prefers, and was designed for, shorter periods of exertion, not hours of running.

So, do you want to train your body to store more and more fat, or would you rather exert yourself for minutes at a time, melt off the fat, and be lean and ripped?

This is what my P.A.C.E. program will do for you, and why we already have 60,000 people doing it. And it’s why I like to talk to you about it often.

Because I want you to have a strong, lean body just like those tennis players at the Australian Open. The good news is, you don’t have to be an elite tennis player to do P.A.C.E. You can start with any challenge that’s within your reach. Even walking.

All you need to do is make your workout progressive. Incrementally increase your exertion level little by little, and you’ll re-train your metabolism and re-build the athletic body you were designed for.

The best part is, doing P.A.C.E. doesn’t take hours in the gym. You don’t have to increase the duration of your exercise to get more fit. This is the mistake most modern exercise programs and trainers make.

What you want is to gradually, but progressively increase the challenge you give your body each time you work out. You’ll shed fat naturally and more quickly than you ever thought possible, and get back the lean, sexy torso you were designed to have.

To Your Good Health,

Al Sears, MD

1 Tremblay A, Simoneau JA, Bouchard C. Impact of exercise intensity on body fatness and skeletal muscle metabolism. Metabolism. 1994;43(7): 814-818.

In addition to keeping the body lean and lowering stress levels, exercise benefits the heart and lungs, increases strength and muscle tone, and helps you get rid of toxins.

It also causes dramatic changes at the genetic level. Exercise can make the skin look younger by increasing circulation and delivering nutrients to skin cells. According to Audrey Kunin, M.D., a Kansas City, Missouri, dermatologist and the author of DERMAdoctor Skinstruction Manual, exercise promotes collagen production. This helps keep wrinkles and lines at bay.

Here are my shortcuts for getting motivated to exercise:

1. Go shopping. When you look good, you feel good. Just because I’m going to get sweaty doesn’t mean I can’t wear something smashing. Today’s designers have given us workout clothes that look as good as they perform.

2. Play along. As much as I love to exercise, sometimes I fall into the “couch potato” rut. When that happens, I “trick” myself into working out by saying, “I’m just going to fake it.” I’ll put on that adorable workout outfit and start out by simply going through the motions. Five minutes into it, I get a second wind and find myself exercising full-tilt.

3. Discover Dr. Sears’ P.A.C.E. program. Dr. Al Sears, M.D., has been researching exercise for many years, and his P.A.C.E. program makes it easy for anyone at any level to get all the benefits of exercise. I’m a true believer and have achieved excellent results using his program. Anyone can do it, and it takes just 12 minutes a day!

4. Remember strength training. A research study shows that lifting weights is very effective when it comes to melting fat and avoiding diabetes. A team from Boston University School of Medicine genetically engineered some mice to grow a specific type of muscle, called Type II, which develops as a result of resistance training. Kenneth Walsh, PhD, senior author of the study said, “We’ve shown that Type II muscle does more than allow you to pick up heavy objects. It’s also important in controlling whole-body metabolism. If you have these muscles, even when you’re not doing much, you’re still burning up energy.”

5. Use visual motivation. I cut a photo from a magazine of a woman whose body I admired and taped it to my refrigerator for years. I would see that photo every day and aspire to look like her. Guess what? Now I have a picture of my own body up there, because, using all these tips, I have finally achieved the fit body I’ve always wanted.

Getting motivated to exercise can be made much easier when you break it down into small steps. Once you start noticing the benefits of working out and feeling great, it will get easier and easier to stay motivated. See you at the gym!

To Your Youthful Skin,

Jackie Silver

[Ed. Note: The latest addition to our panel of top experts, Jackie Silver is the author of Aging Backwards: Secrets to Staying Young. She’s a dynamic and beautiful 50-something bombshell who looks half her age. She created “Aging Backwards” in 2006 to help empower women to look and feel younger than their actual age. Keep reading Ageless Beauty Secrets for more of Jackie’s best tips, tricks and secret weapons for stopping the effects of aging and improving the whole self – mind, body and spirit.]

Here’s a little-known beauty secret that can help rejuvenate your skin. And it won’t cost you a penny.

This secret can do more than any cosmetic cover-up – no matter how expensive. It’s all-natural, 100% safe, and no one has to know you use it. But they will notice.

What’s the secret? It’s P.A.C.E., the first and only anti-aging fitness program. Just a few minutes a day promotes healthier-looking, more beautiful skin. The best part is… you get to have fun doing it.

When I developed P.A.C.E., I wanted to help people drop weight and re-energize their hearts and lungs safely. Thousands of my patients and readers have slimmed down and gotten fit with P.A.C.E..

Recently, the women taking part in our P.A.C.E. study group kept mentioning they noticed something besides fat melting and increased strength. They kept telling me their skin looked healthier and more youthful than it had in years.

One of the reasons is that excess weight takes a heavy toll on your skin. It weakens your skin barrier, affects wound healing, changes your skin’s structure, and promotes several skin diseases.¹

Carrying excess pounds also increases your risk of diabetes – which can lead to skin infections, scaly patches and many other skin problems.²

My patients weren’t just dropping weight and building heart and lung strength… with P.A.C.E., their skin was becoming healthier and more attractive.

Even if you’re not overweight, P.A.C.E. can help your skin’s appearance.

P.A.C.E. doesn’t shrink your heart and lungs the way cardio and aerobics workouts do. Instead, P.A.C.E. helps you increase the pumping power of your heart and improves circulation. And that means your blood carries more nutrients to your skin, keeping it stronger, tighter and acting younger.

Intense exertion also promotes the release of human growth hormone (H.G.H.). H.G.H. increases your lean muscle while lowering body fat³… so you become leaner, sexier and more toned.

Physical exertion also stimulates production of collagen,⁴ one of the basic building blocks of skin and muscle, promoting a naturally beautiful and more youthful look.

The good news is, with P.A.C.E., you only need minutes – instead of hours – to get the benefits. And you don’t need a gym, either.

P.A.C.E. stands for Progressively Accelerating Cardiopulmonary Exertion. And it turns the old notion of “exercise” on its head. In fact, P.A.C.E. is practically anti-exercise. Instead of plodding along for hours in the hot sun, or on a treadmill, you work out more intensely in short bursts, and fully recover in between.

P.A.C.E. challenges your maximum capacity just a little bit, forcing your body to adapt. This improves the way your body uses oxygen and nutrients. And getting more oxygen and nutrients ultimately improves your skin’s appearance.

And P.A.C.E. is never boring. You can do any kind of exertion P.A.C.E.-style, so it’s always exactly what you want to do. Bike, swim, sprint, walk, or calistenics … anything can be turned into a P.A.C.E. workout.

You can even try skipping. I’m not kidding.

Skip – as high as you can – until you’re getting out of breath. At first, it may take less than a minute. TThen just stop until you catch your breath and recover. Then repeat.

Do this for just 12 minutes total including exertion time and recovery. That’s it. But I guarantee it’ll be one heck of a workout.

If skipping isn’t your thing, try jumping rope. You’ll be amazed at how fast your heart rate picks up. Again, when you’re breathing hard, it’s time to walk until your heart rate comes down – to about 30 beats above your resting rate.

If you’re already in fairly good shape, try a interval-training workout. Here’s a sample:

• Push-Ups – 10 reps
• Crunches – 10 reps
• Pull-Ups – 10 reps
• Lunges – 10 reps, each leg
• Triceps Dips – 10 reps
• Run/Sprint (to your best ability) – 50 – 100 yards or 10 – 20 seconds

At the end of the set, rest until your heart rate lowers to at least 30 beats above your resting heart rate. For example, if you have a resting heart rate of 70, complete a challenging set, then rest until your heart rate goes back down to about 100 beats (30 beats above your resting rate), and repeat the circuit.

The beauty of P.A.C.E. is that it takes so little time. And it’s not just your body that’ll be ready for a bikini… you’re skin will, too.

To Your Good Health,

Al Sears, MD

[1] Yosipovitch, G., et al, “Obesity and the skin: Skin physiology and skin manifestations of obesity,” Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology June 2007; 56(6): 901-916
[2] “Living With Diabetes: Skin Complications,” Amer. Diabetes Assoc.
[3] Godfrey, R.J., et al, “The Exercise-Induced Growth Hormone Response in Athletes,” Sports Medicine 2003; 33(8): 599-613
[4] Miller, B.F., et al, “Coordinated collagen and muscle protein synthesis in human patella tendon and quadriceps muscle after exercise,” The Journal of Physiology Sept. 15, 2005;567: 102

If you’d like your body to look great at the beach, try these two exercises. You’ll get a total-body workout … and you can adapt them to whatever shape you’re in.

Please don’t forget to warm up for a few minutes before doing these. I recommend you do the following twice: 30 seconds of marching in place followed by 30 seconds of jumping jacks, 30 butt kickers and 30 seconds of pushup walkouts.

After your warm-up, let’s get started with dirt diggers. They’re one of my favorites. They’re easy to learn and really work your core.

You start out almost as if you’re doing pushups. Put your hands flat on the floor, about shoulder-width apart. Extend your legs almost all the way out, but keep a very slight bend at the waist.

Now, lift your left foot a few inches off the floor and bring your left knee forward (towards your chin) as far as you comfortably can. Then straighten your leg and touch your toes to the floor again.

Next, do the same thing with your right leg. Repeat, always alternating sides. You can do these as slowly as you need to – or as fast as you’re comfortable going.

For a little extra challenge, you can add a rotation. Here’s what I mean:

When you’ve brought each leg forward, stop and rotate from the hips so you swing that leg under the opposite leg. Try to keep your upper body straight while you do this. Then swing your leg back to its “normal” side, and extend it all the way back before returning to your starting position.

You’ll really feel it after you’ve done a few of these.

Another exercise that’s great for building a beach body fast is the burpee. This is an exercise lots of pro athletes use. But they can be done at any intensity level.

Stand about a foot back from a sturdy table or weight bench that’s about knee-height. Place your hands flat on the bench, palms down. The heel of your hand should be right at the edge of the bench.

Now, leaving your hands resting on the bench, hop upwards slightly and thrust your feet back 12-18 inches. Land on your toes and the balls of your feet. With your hands still on the bench, hop back into your starting position and stand straight up. That’s all there is to it.

As you become comfortable with the movements, add a little speed. Burpees will quickly get your heart pumping.

For a bigger challenge, do burpees without a bench.

Start out standing straight up. Then bend at the waist and place your hands on the floor in front of you. Use the same hop and thrust you did with the bench, but extend your legs out almost as far as they can go.

Now reverse the hop and thrust so you’re crouching with your feet just behind your hands. Then stand up straight and repeat.

Again, as you become comfortable with the movements, add in more speed.

If you’re already in pretty good shape, you can use variations to really accelerate your progress. For example, you can …

• Do burpees with a pushup in the middle
• Do a spread-legged pushup in the middle
• Replace the stand-up step with a jump. From your crouch, jump into the air, raising your hands over your head.

Dirt diggers and burpees are the easiest way I know to build a beach body fast. Start doing them now, and by the time summer hits, you’ll be ready for that bikini.

Your Health and Fitness Specialist,

Yarixa “Coach Yari” Ferrao

I’ve been coaching for more than 10 years now, and I’ve seen some major success stories.

But some of my students’ bodies just won’t change – no matter how many burpees or sprints they do.

One of my students, K.B., was seriously frustrated by her lack of progress.

She was doing everything exactly like I told her to. She was eating right, taking her supplements, drinking tons of water, and doing the fat-melting exercises I gave her. Her weight still didn’t budge.

I couldn’t understand it.

I kept wondering what the heck was going on. Was she not telling me something?

And then I thought … it could be her thyroid!

You see, your body uses thyroid hormones to control fat-melting for energy and creating heat. These hormones regulate your body’s metabolism and control your weight.

So, I sent K.B. to see her doctor to get her thyroid tested.

He told her that her thyroid levels were within the normal range. But, I couldn’t help but think that something was up, so I sent her to take some additional tests over at my mentor Dr. Al Sears’ office.

It turned out that she DID have a problem with her thyroid. Dr. Sears helped K.B. regulate her hormones, and now she’s back on track to getting the body she always wanted.

Thyroid issues are becoming more and more common. And if you’re affected, it can have a significant impact on your ability to drop weight.

More than 10 percent of the population has a thyroid problem, and 20 percent of women over the age of 60 have subclinical hypothyroidism. But not nearly enough people are being treated.

This has a lot to do with medical professionals’ misunderstanding or misinterpreting of lab test results. Specifically, the TSH (thyroid-stimulating hormone). Many physicians think that if the test results come back within the “normal” range, everything is fine.

This isn’t always true.

These tests can be reliable, but there is still a ton of room for error.

Remember, everyone is different. It can take more than just a test score to find out if you have a problem. Symptoms, genetics, lifestyle and health history can also play a big part in figuring out what’s going on. Plus, the “normal” range for this test changes all the time.1

So, if you’re frustrated because you’re not dropping weight, even after the proper nutrition guidelines and exercise plans I recommend, you could have a thyroid issue.

You might want to get tested if you have one or more of these symptoms:

• Your hair has suddenly become dry, brittle and dull. It may have turned gray prematurely.

• The outer third part of your eyebrow is disappearing.

• You have coarse, dry or unhealthy looking skin.

• You have puffiness around the eyes and jaw line.

• You have slow-growing, soft and brittle nails.

• You’re moody, sluggish and depressed a lot.

• Your basal body temperature averages less than 97.6 degrees over the course of 3 or more days. Your basal body temperature is the lowest temperature your body reaches at rest. When I competed for a figure competition back in 2001, I used to do this to make sure everything was working properly. For 3 days in a row, I would check my temperature before I peed each morning.

I recommend going to a doctor who understands hormones, like an endocrinologist, and getting your thyroid levels checked. Then follow his or her recommendations for getting back on track.

Here are lab tests recommended by Dr. Sears. They give you the best information about your thyroid:

• TSH (the high-sensitivity version). This is the BEST for testing thyroid levels. But, most “normal” ranges are wrong. The ideal level is between 1 and 1.5 mIU/L.

• Free T4 and Free T3 (thyroid hormone tests). The normal level of free T4 is between 0.9 and 1.8 ng/dl (nanograms per deciliter). T3 should be between 240 and 450 pg/dl (picograms per deciliter).

• Thyroid Antibodies (including thyroid peroxidase antibodies and anti-thyroglobulin antibodies). This test helps determine if your body is attacking your thyroid or overreacting to its own tissues (i.e., autoimmune reactions). Physicians nearly always leave this test out.

• TRH Stimulation Test. For more difficult cases, TRH (Thyroid Releasing Hormone) can be measured.

Other tests that might be indicated for more complex cases are a thyroid scan, fine-needle aspiration and thyroid ultrasound. But these are specialized tests that your physician will use only in a small number of cases.

But in the meantime, there are some things you can do on your own to help support normal thyroid function.

First, Dr. Sears says it’s critical that you get enough of the right nutrients.

Here are the top 4 nutrients you need for healthy thyroid function:

1. Iodine. Iodine is perhaps the most important nutrient for the thyroid gland. It’s critical for thyroid health. You can find iodine in iodized salt; however, the amount is insufficient for maintaining proper thyroid function. Try adding more milk, shrimp and fish like cod and tuna to your diet.

2. Selenium. This rare mineral supports normal levels of the critical thyroid hormones T3 and T4. The best sources for selenium are fish, red meat and Brazil nuts.

3. Copper and Zinc. Animal studies suggest these two minerals are essential for healthy thyroid function. Some great sources are oysters, beef shanks and crab.

4. L-Tyrosine. This important amino acid is the building block of all thyroid hormones. It gives your body the raw materials it needs to maintain healthy hormone levels.

And last, but ABSOLUTELY NOT least, continue to EXERCISE, EXERCISE, EXERCISE. It’s one of the best things you can do for an underactive thyroid!

Dropping those excess pounds is just one good reason to make sure that your thyroid is healthy. When your thyroid is working properly, it also helps maintain healthy nails and skin and helps control your energy level … even your mood!

So, if you’re finding that no matter what you do, you still can’t drop the weight, don’t get down on yourself. It could be your thyroid.

Your thyroid can be affected by a number of other things including your sugar intake, eating processed food, stress, environmental toxins and lack of exercise.

So, one thing you can do right now is keep on moving!

You want to take advantage of everything you can to stay young, feel full of energy, and look amazing, right?

Then stick with me! If you do, you can look lean and sexy before you know it. I promise!

Lots of Energy, Love, Peace, and Happiness!

Coach Yari

[Ed. Note: Yarixa Ferrao, a.k.a. Coach Yari is a Certified Personal Trainer (NASM) and an expert in functional training, fat reduction, sports performance and cellulite. Coach Yari is the founder of Get Fit in 6, a 6-week life transformation program for both men and women in Delray Beach, Florida. You can visit her at www.getfitin6.com.]

Happy New Year, my fitness friend!

New Year’s Day is right around the corner and you know what that means … time to make your resolutions to get a fit body, mind and spirit! And I’m here to help you keep them this year.

New Year’s resolutions fail for various reasons. Sometimes they’re too broad, sometimes they’re unrealistic, or sometimes you just don’t know what to do to achieve your goal.

So here are four ways to help keep your New Year’s resolution on improving your fitness this year:

1. Put yourself first. You make time for other people every day, but you might not give yourself the attention you need (and deserve!). Give yourself a portion of your day all to yourself … even if it’s only 20 minutes. Devote that time to improving your mind, body and spirit by doing one of my great fat-burning workouts or taking some time to meditate.

2. Make it mandatory. You brush your teeth every day without exception … well, hopefully … you shower … you walk the dog … Why? Because you have to, and it’s part of your daily routine. This year, switch exercising and eating right from “optional” to “mandatory” and see how quickly your body, confidence and overall health improves. No excuses!

3. Set mini goals. Instead of saying I won’t ever eat chocolate again or I’m going to work out every day for the rest of the year, start small. Take it one day at a time. This way, you can be happy you accomplished something and have the motivation to keep going strong. You could start by trying one of my online training courses for simple, easy-to-follow workouts that are broken down into daily segments. So every day you follow the program, it’s like you just reached another goal!

4. Learn how to set goals. To reach your goals, you’ve got to know what to do and how to stay motivated. And I have the perfect video clip for you. It describes a sure-fire way to accomplish your goals. All you need is some guidance and inspiration. Click here to watch it.

Lots of Peace, Love, Energy and Happiness!

Yarixa “Coach Yari” Ferrao

P.S. Keep in mind, change is key when making resolutions. Don’t be afraid to try new things until you find what works for you. Doing the same thing you’ve always done won’t give you the results you’re looking for. Have an amazing 2011!

[Ed. Note: Yarixa Ferrao, a.k.a. Coach Yari is a Certified Personal Trainer (NASM) and an expert in functional training, fat reduction, sports performance and cellulite. Coach Yari is the founder of Get Fit in 6, a 6-week life transformation program for both men and women in Delray Beach, Florida. You can visit her at www.getfitin6.com.]

To learn more about Pure Radiance, Inc., call (888) 795-4005 or visit:

http://www.mypureradiance.com

Whether, you’re a guy or gal, having a great rear end is definitely in style. Big or small, luscious or lean there is nothing wrong with improving on nature.

The first thing to do is to get yourself in the proper mindset … whatever you can use for positive reinforcement. Maybe hang up a picture of someone who has the kind of rear you would like to have one day. Or buy those skinny jeans you just can’t wait to get into. Imagine all the new attention you are about to receive from the opposite sex. Whatever you can find to use for motivation is entirely up to you. You can be successful in having a spectacular rear end. Thousands of people already have.

Some of the best exercises I’ve found come from Dr. Al Sears, MD – the creator of the patented PACE 12-minute fitness program and fitness instructor Yarixa Ferrao (better known as Coach Yari). She’s helped dozens of people tighten and lift their butts with her booty bootcamp.

Their exercises below have helped me get a tighter tush. And if you’re willing to give these exercises a reasonable amount of time and attention, you’ll see the results you want and will take the first step in getting a bodacious booty.

1. Try not to rush through your exercises. Hold each move for at least 30 seconds. Focus exclusively on tightening your behind. Every single move and thought is directed on nothing else. Believe it, and make it happen.

2. If you can do more than 15 reps without muscle fatigue, it’s time to increase your resistance. Add a little extra to your sets whenever you can. Also, it’s very important you rest and recover between each set. Make sure you push yourself a little harder each day. Try to feel the burn, create an oxygen debt with each set and progressively challenge yourself the next time.

3. Squats and lunges are the most typical of all the butt-exercise moves. They can also be a little boring, and if not done properly, can be a little painful. Make sure to keep your back straight and knees in line with your feet. Press into the floor as you rise out of the lunge/squat while squeezing your butt. Do it slowly. The good thing about theses exercises is they will also work your quads.

4. The “Bridge” is my all-time favorite. You can even do it while lying in bed. Lie face up with one knee bent and the other extended toward the ceiling. Lift your hips as far up as you can and hold and squeeze for five seconds. Repeat this move 10 times and pulse it for 5 and then rest. Switch legs and repeat. The results will be absolutely beautiful, but with a burn like you wouldn’t believe! Check out Coach Yari’s instructions on The Bridge here.

5. Step Ups are also great exercises. Find a step and climb off and on repeatedly. If the steps are short, you could use the same leg to lead for a set and then switch legs.

6. Skipping is also one of the best entire body workouts ever. It’s excellent for your heart and lungs, too. Jump as high as you can and as fast, for a period of one minute, then rest and recover. Repeat three times.

7. When attempting dead lifts (using dumbbells or barbells), don’t forget to keep your knees straight but not locked. Slowly bend forward at the hips until you feel a nice stretch in your hamstring. Contract your glutes while you rise back up into a standing position.

8. Standing and laying abduction exercises will target the outer part of those cheeks. Any extra fat on those hips will soon disappear. By keeping your legs straight, slowly raise one of your legs as high as possible to the side of your body. Do your desired number of reps and repeat with the other leg.

9. Try parking a little further away from your destination and hoof it whenever possible … This works whenever you’re going to the mall, supermarket and even the office. There’s no reason to sit and wait for closer parking when you could get a little extra moving time. You’ll be surprised at how good that feels and how much easier it is to get in a little workout.

10. Another tip from Dr. Sears: After you’re finished with your workout, add some extra protein powder to your recovery drink. This will help reduce muscle damage.

Keep on Stylin’!

Anesta Dawkins

[Ed. Note: Anesta Dawkins is Owner and Founder of Salon Hottie in West Palm Beach, Florida, and is an accomplished hairstylist, platform artist, and instructor. With over 20 years’ experience in the industry and a satisfied network of clients, Anesta is dedicated to keeping you current with the latest and most innovative products in the beauty industry.]

To learn more about Pure Radiance, Inc., call (888) 795-4005 or visit:

http://www.mypureradiance.com

For years now, sugar’s been a dirty word. It’s been blamed for everything from obesity, heart disease and diabetes to tooth decay and acne. But there’s something they don’t know. Sugar’s better for you than all those artificial sweeteners and substitutes out there today … especially the ones you’ll find in so-called “diet” products.

In one study of nearly 2,600 people, those who drank diet sodas had a 47 percent higher body mass index (BMI) than those who didn’t, and their risk of obesity was doubled.1

I’m always suspicious of things that aren’t natural.

But there’s another reason you should keep sugar on your shelf.

Did you know that sugar can heal your cuts, scrapes, burns and even large wounds without leaving a scar? It kills germs and repairs tissue better than any antiseptic or disinfectant on the market.2

Long before all these Johnny-Come-Lately naysayers started telling you how bad it was for you, sugar was valued as an antiseptic. For more than 4,000 years, since ancient Egyptian times, people have known about sugar’s miraculous properties. But it fell out of favor once antibiotics became available. Makes you wonder if the high price and incredibly high profit margins had anything to do with that.

It May Have Saved My Life a Long Way from Home

I learned about sugar’s remarkable capacity to heal wounds the hard way. It was during my first trip deep into the Amazon jungle. A guide and I were fighting our way through the dense rainforest with a couple of machetes when I got a bad cut on my arm. In the jungle, there isn’t a day you’re not cut up, scraped or covered with bug bites. Infection sets in quickly in the tropics, and that cut on my arm was becoming infected.

My guide carried small packets of sugar with him at all times. I thought it was to sweeten his tea. But when we stopped to rest, he applied a sugar paste to the cut on my arm and covered it with gauze.

Back then I was skeptical. But he assured me it was strong, native medicine and repeated the process each time we stopped. Within a day or two, the cut was healed – and no scar remained.

Since that time, I’ve seen sugar used to heal on my travels to Africa and Asia. Other countries such as Australia and New Zealand use honey instead of sugar.

Sugar and honey contain high levels of glucose, the kind of sugar your body uses for energy. Both are almost equal in their ability to heal, with honey taking a slight lead.3

I read an interesting review of seven studies of 264 patients treated with honey. Honey produced better outcomes, shorter healing time and virtually no infection.4

After seven days, 58 percent of patients were healed with honey versus 19 percent with conventional antibiotics and unconventional treatments such as silver, amniotic membrane and potato peelings. And 85 percent of patients treated with honey had the infection in their wound vanish compared to 30 percent with the other treatments.

After 21 days, 99 percent of patients were healed with honey versus 75 percent with other treatments. Only one study gave the infection rate at 21 days. It was 96 percent for honey versus 76 percent for a silver treatment.

Sugar and honey prevent scarring to the extent it heals ulcers and burns without the need for skin grafts. Scientists theorize sugar and honey encourage the production of hyaluronic acid (HA), while it prevents stiff, stringy collagen from forming.

HA fills out your skin by absorbing 3,000 times its weight of water. At the same time, sugar and honey prevent the buildup of the stringy kind of collagen that creates scar tissue. Instead, it forms a different type. A delicate, mesh-like collagen structure that brings the skin’s surface back to normal and allows it to heal.5,6

It’s Cheap, Easy and It Works

The next time you have a cut, scrape, burn or open infection, try using sugar or honey:

1. Make a paste using filtered water and sugar, or use straight honey.

2. Apply to your wound and cover with gauze or a Band-Aid.

3. Change the dressing throughout the day to prevent the gauze from sticking to the wound.

To Your Good Health,

Al Sears, MD

1 Fowler, S., Williams, K., et al, “Fueling the Obesity Epidemic? Artificially Sweetened Beverage Use and Long-term Weight Gain,” Obesity 2008;168:1894-1900
2 Archer, H.G., et al, “A controlled model of moist wound healing: comparison between semi-permeable film, antiseptics and sugar paste,” J. Exp. Pathol. (Oxford) April 1990; 71(2): 155-70
3 Mphande, A.N., Killowe, C., et al, “Effects of honey and sugar dressings on wound healing,” J. Wound Care July 2007;16(7):317-9
4 Moore, O., et al, “Systematic review of the use of honey as a wound dressing,” BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine 2001; 1:2
5 McPherson, J.M., Piez, K.A., “Collagen in dermal wound repair,” In Clark, R.A.F., Henson, P.M. The Molecular and Cellular Biology of Wound Repair, New York: Plenum Press, 1988
6 “Why do some cavity wounds treated with honey or sugar paste heal without scarring?” Woundcare Journal 2002; 11(2)

To learn more about Pure Radiance, Inc., call (888) 795-4005 or visit:

http://www.mypureradiance.com

Thanksgiving is quickly approaching and you’re probably getting ready to celebrate with your family and friends – with great food.

This is the time of year when most people put on a few excess pounds. I mean, how can you avoid it? All that turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, sweet-potato pie, green-bean casserole … it’s so easy to over-indulge now and worry about your waistline later.

But here’s some good news. You don’t have to pack on any pounds this Thanksgiving. You can stay on track and still enjoy your favorite foods. Here’s how:

1. Work out when you wake up. Before you sit down to watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade or turn on the oven, do a quick workout. You’ll feel more energized, you’ll burn calories and you’ll continue to burn more throughout the day. Remember, exercise also does wonders for your skin! It helps you sweat out toxins, regenerate new cells and optimize collagen production (helping reduce wrinkles). It also increases blood flow and brings nutrients to the skin, generating a healthy glow (and who doesn’t want to glow over the holidays?). It also reduces stress – a huge cause of many skin conditions. Short bursts of moderately intense exercise work best. I suggest five 50-yard sprints with a one-minute cool down walk afterwards and some stretches. Do that and you’re done for the day!

2. Drink a protein shake. Immediately after your workout, drink a protein shake. Protein shakes are great meal replacements. And with Thanksgiving being such a busy day, you probably don’t have a lot of time to prepare a healthy breakfast. A protein shake will give your muscles the nutrients they need to rev up your metabolism. Plus, they taste great. Chocolate is my favorite.

3. Keep healthy snacks on hand while cooking. Instead of snacking on the rich food you’re cooking, put out a vegetable or fruit platter for munching. This will help you avoid temptation, so you can enjoy the food you’re cooking later without guilt. Want to dip your vegetables? Use some balsamic vinaigrette instead of a creamy dressing.

4. Try a little of everything. When it’s time to sit at the table for dinner, serve yourself a little bit of everything. But do your best to keep your plate 70 percent protein and veggies and 30 percent of the other stuff. This way you won’t feel deprived, but you’ll still stay on the right path.

5. If you’re gonna drink, go ahead! You know what? If you’re following the previous steps, you’re already way ahead of the game. And you deserve to enjoy yourself … hey, it is a holiday! The next day, just begin your day with a workout and tons of water and you’ll be fine.

I wish you the happiest and best Thanksgiving ever. And I hope these five tips will allow you to enjoy this amazing holiday without feeling the slightest bit of guilt!

Lots of Energy, Love, Peace and Happiness!

Yarixa “Coach Yari” Ferrao

[Ed. Note: Yarixa Ferrao, a.k.a. Coach Yari is a Certified Personal Trainer (NASM) and an expert in functional training, fat reduction, sports performance and cellulite. Coach Yari is the founder of Get Fit in 6, a 6-week life transformation program for both men and women in Delray Beach, Florida. You can visit her at www.getfitin6.com.]

To learn more about Pure Radiance, Inc., call (888) 795-4005 or visit:

http://www.mypureradiance.com

If you’ve been frustrated by a lack of progress in your weight reduction or workouts, it could be because of one of the most neglected and undertreated parts of your body: your thyroid gland.

One of my students, K.B., was doing everything right. She was eating well, taking her supplements, drinking tons of water and doing her fat-melting exercises.

But her weight still didn’t budge, and she felt tired.

I mentioned K.B. to my friend Dr. Sears, and he told me it sounded like she had a mildly underactive thyroid.

He told me that your body uses thyroid hormones to control fat-melting for energy and creating heat. That regulates your body’s metabolism and controls your weight.

But thyroid issues are becoming more and more common. And if you’re affected, it can have a significant impact on your ability to drop weight.

More than 10 percent of the population has a thyroid problem, and 20 percent of women over the age of 60 have what Dr. Sears calls “subclinical hypothyroidism.” But not nearly enough people are being treated.

So now, before I train anyone, I make it a part of my inventory to ask them if they’re doing enough to keep their thyroids healthy.

To make sure your thyroid is active and healthy, the first thing to do is look for these symptoms:

• Your hair has suddenly become dry, brittle and dull. It may turn gray prematurely.
• The outer third part of your eyebrow is disappearing.
• You have coarse, dry or unhealthy looking skin.
• You don’t sweat much, even when you exercise.
• You have puffiness around the eyes and jaw line.
• You have slow-growing, soft and brittle nails.
• You’re moody, sluggish and depressed a lot.
• Your basal body temperature (the lowest temperature your body reaches at rest) averages under 97.6 degrees for three or more days in a row.

If you’ve got any of these, there are some things you can do on your own to help support normal thyroid function.

First, did you know studies have shown that exercise helps your glands coordinate proper thyroid hormone levels?1 That’s why you need to continue to EXERCISE, EXERCISE, EXERCISE. It’s one of the best things you can do for an underactive thyroid!

Also, dropping those excess pounds is a good reason to make sure that your thyroid is healthy. When your thyroid is working properly, it also helps maintain healthy nails and skin and helps control your energy level … even your mood.

Second, eat foods that help out your thyroid. Some good ones are garlic, seafood, egg yolks and mushrooms.

For an occasional snack, you can eat a little treat that can give your thyroid a pick-me-up. It’s Mayan chia seeds (chia is the Mayan word for “strength”). They have lots of protein for endurance, and that’s why the Mayans used them for sports and hunting.

Third, if you can’t get enough help for your thyroid from the food you eat, here are Dr. Sears’ top five nutrients for healthy thyroid function:

1. Iodine is perhaps the most important nutrient for the thyroid gland. It’s critical for thyroid health. You can find iodine in iodized salt; however, the amount is insufficient for maintaining proper thyroid function. Try adding more milk, shrimp and fish like cod and tuna to your diet.

2. Selenium supports normal levels of the critical thyroid hormones T3 and T4. The best sources for selenium are fish, red meat and Brazil nuts.

3 and 4. Animal studies suggest copper and zinc are essential for healthy thyroid function. Some great sources are oysters, beef shanks and crab.

5. L-Tyrosine is an important amino acid that is the building block of all thyroid hormones. It gives your body the raw materials it needs to maintain healthy hormone levels.

Lots of Energy, Love, Peace and Happiness!

[Ed. Note: Yarixa Ferrao, A.K.A, Coach Yari is a Certified Personal Trainer (NASM) and an expert in functional training, fat loss, sports performance, and cellulite. Coach Yari is the founder of Get Fit in 6, a 6-week life transformation program for both men and women in Delray Beach, Florida. You can visit her at: www.getfitin6.com.]

1.Ciloglu, Figen, Peker, Ismail, Pehlivan, Aysel, et al, “Exercise intensity and its effects on thyroid hormones,” Neuroendocrinology Letters Dec 2005; No.6, Vol.26

To learn more about Pure Radiance, Inc., call (888) 795-4005 or visit:

http://www.mypureradiance.com