Can we outface ageing?

(Photo:formal dresses 2014) YOUTH may be wasted on the young, but it’s the holy grail for the ageing affluent. No longer willing to undergo an invasive nip-and-tuck, informed women are looking to the latest developments in science, which take an inside-out approach to ageing.
There’s a booming market in sophisticated anti-ageing procedures and products. Last year, the global market was worth €193bn. By 2018, that’s scheduled to be €280bn.
The research is being driven by some of the best scientific and business brains.
Dr David Sinclair, professor of genetics at Harvard Medical School, swallows a daily anti-ageing capsule that he developed during his research on mice.
The capsule contains a naturally occurring molecule, called nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, or NAD, which reduces in the body as we age, thereby making our cells less efficient.
The molecule reduces inflammation and may correct metabolic defects.
Dr Sinclair is increasing his body’s stores of this dynamic substance — and he is willing to wait and see what the result will be.
“I don’t know if they’re working,” says 45-year-old Dr Sinclair. “I’m too young to know yet. Another 20 years and I will know,” he says.
However, there have been human trials already and the results are promising. Research is ongoing into “newer, better molecules now,” he says.
He is confident about the financial success of an age-defying drug.
“Fortune magazine estimated in 2006 the drug would be worth $40bn,” he says.
Science is increasingly confident that the health hardships of ageing can be avoided.
As Sinclair said in a recent article in the prestigious Scientific American journal: “You can learn a lot about the state of a used car just from its mileage and model year. The wear-and-tear of heavy driving, and the passage of time, will have taken an inevitable toll.
“The same appears to be true of ageing in people, but the analogy is flawed, because of a crucial difference between inanimate machines and living creatures: deterioration is not inexorable in biological systems, which can respond to their environments and use their own energy to defend and repair themselves.”
Researchers have found a family of genes that have the power to keep the body’s natural defence and repair activities going strong regardless of age.
These represent the opposite of ageing genes.
“We began investigating this idea nearly 15 years ago,” Dr Sinclair says.
Mice were given NAD. By increasing the amount in just one week of treatment, two-year-old mice tissue resembled that of six-month-old mice.
In human years, that’s akin to a 60-year-old’s cells resembling those of a 20-year-old.
So it’s no surprise that for those in the know and with the money, old-style cosmetic enhancements, such as facelifts, are losing their attraction in a market obsessed by cutting-edge research and scientific breakthroughs in everything from diet to neuroscience.
Soon, some people may be able to grow a new set of kidneys, because, says Sinclair, coming down the track is “the ability to change your genes permanently and to grow replacement organs in the dish.”
By the end of this century, he says, “people could live to 150.”
His research, however, is about extending “health-span” not “life-span.” Dr Sinclair is by no means alone.
It’s been less than two years since Google launched its mission to extend the human lifespan, with research carried out by scientists at the California Life Company, or Calico.
They harnessed sophisticated technologies to delay ageing and eliminate diseases such as Alzheimer’s and cancer. A $1.5bn, life-extension research centre in San Francisco is planned.
Larry Ellison, the CEO of tech company Oracle, and one of the world’s richest men, is pumping money into the Ellison Medical Foundation, an anti-ageing biomedical research centre. Peter Thiel, another hugely wealthy businessman — he’s a co-founder of PayPal and a Facebook board member — supports SENS, a research body that specialises in rejuvenation research.
SENS is run by Aubrey de Grey, who says that restoring the molecular and cellular structure of the body to that of a young adult will reverse ageing and allow people to avoid the ill-health that so often accompanies old age.
New, more advanced thinking is also ringing the changes in the fitness industry — there’s a growing belief that weights should be lighter and repetitions more frequent.
The formerly popular sports of marathon running and triathlons are now losing favour – they can leave you haggard, and according to actress Sandra Bullock’s personal trainer Dalton Wong, too much endurance work can stress the skin.
Wong recommends about 45 minutes of aerobic activity a few times a week, once you hit your 40s. More than that may raise the levels of the stress hormone coritoson, and could exacerbate the ageing process.
Scientists at McMaster University in Canada recently reported that up to half an hour of jogging, cycling or fast walking three times a week to boost skin plumpness in a group of volunteers aged 65 and older.
After three months, the complexion of the exercisers were closer to what the scientists said they’d expect in in healthy people aged 20 to 40.
“At a world level, people have become less comfortable with mortality,” says Dr Patrick Magovern, who was clinical instructor at the University of California in Los Angeles.
People want to make the best of what they have, says Dublin-based Dr Magovern, who has trained in nutritional medicine and bio-identical or natural hormone treatments.
However, says Dr Magovern, the stream of patients who arrive at his practice are not seeking the secret of an eternal, Hollywood-style youthfulness, but solutions to real, age-related problems, such as the decline of testosterone in men and menopausal problems in women.
“In Ireland, we’re very problem-oriented. A lot of women would be embarrassed about anything to do with enhancing their looks,” he says.
Dr Magovern uses a combination of bio-identical hormone and advanced nutritional treatments, which can help with the problems but, he says, they also have some desirable side-effects.
So while treatment with the hormone oestrogen helps with ageing bones — it can improve density — it can also plump up the skin, and smooth out wrinkles, by thickening the subcutaneous fat.
Oestrogen treatment also increases the level of serotonin in the brain, thus improving mood and acetycholine levels, which boost memory.
“So it helps with bone health, memory, skin and happiness, alongside solving menopausal problems.
“The patients come in for the treatment, but they like the side-effects,” he says, adding that nutrition is extremely important.
“I check things like stomach acids, gut and digestive system and the person’s ability to absorb essential minerals and vitamins.”
Male patients present with a form of depression, he says: “You will see unrecognised, gross testosterone deficiency in them. This can present as a depressive illness and be diagnosed as depression, whereas what they need is the relevant hormone. When they get it, some people find it can really change things.”
It’s certainly not cheap — but it’s not beyond the bounds of affordability either — for bio-identical Hormone Therapy, Magovern charges €250 for a first consultation, while subsequent standard consultations are €120.
In London, Dr Marion Gluck, author of It Must Be my Hommones, also believes that replenishing the body’s hormones is the key to health and anti-ageing.
“Ageing accelerates after menopause, so having the hormones means you maintain your health and your quality of life. The health benefits mean you feel well — you won’t have the aching bones, the headaches, the hot flushes,” she says.
The treatment also rolls back the years.
“It’s about positive side-effects,” says Dr Gluck, adding that what she does is ‘top-up’ hormones that the body previously provided.
“My patients continually say their skin is better, their sleep is better, their moods improve, their sex life is better.”
Then there’s the rejuvenation effect.
“Women are definitely worried about the appearance — they feel everything is starting to sag, that they are losing their skin tone and that they suddenly become invisible.
“They can get this ‘crepey’ look to their skin and they welcome the benefits of the hormonal therapy that we provide.”
But given the more far-out research currently being carried out internationally, would we, if we could, really opt to live to 150 or older?
“Members of my family would,” says Dr Sinclair.
“It’s a terrible loss when anyone, with all their gathered wisdom and energy, withers and dies.”
True, but Dr Labros Chatzis, a plastic surgeon with 21 years’ experience, fears that our culture’s obsession with youth not only feeds our insecurity about ourselves, but exerts a downward pressure:
“People cannot accept that ageing is a normal process. We think we can buy everything these days, so we think we can buy youth, as well.
“It’s no longer good enough to look 58 if you are 58. You have to look younger.
“The big companies and the marketplace feed our insecurity. The celebrity culture is part of it — people feel they have to follow every Tom Dick and Harry who is any kind of an A, B or C-list celebrity.
“Consumerism is focused on youth, beauty, wealth and spending. There’s more pressure, and there’s a need to look younger,” says Dr Chatzis, who is based at Clane General Hospital, in Kildare.
In today’s workplace, he says, if you’re middle-aged and you don’t look your best, you may not have the same chance at getting a promotion or even a job.
“There’s a big market for it, there’s a huge amount of money being spent on research and marketing, not only to promote new products, but to promote the need for these new products.”
Though he says nobody can hide their age, he has this advice for those who want to look their best:
“Wear proper skin block. Don’t smoke. Enjoy a good, healthy diet, and if you’re lucky enough to have good genes you will look better than your biological age.
“It’s your personality that makes you a success, not the number of wrinkles on your face.”
Case study: Bio-identical hormone treatment
Bio-identical hormone therapy has transformed the life of Anna* a 55-year-old financier.
After discovering some years ago that she was not only going through the menopause, but had osteoporosis to boot, she began to research the bone condition.
“I discovered that the normal procedure is to give a medication which prevents further natural deterioration of the bone but doesn’t encourage the growth of new bone.
“I was told the medication would keep things stable for about five years but that after that there was not much hope.
“I learned a bit about bio-identical hormone replacement and how it could improve bone health.”
In June 2013 she travelled to see Dr Magovern at his clinic in Dublin – a four-hour round trip from where she lives – in the hope that bio-identical hormone therapy might improve her condition.
“He put me on a course of bio-identical hormones and also tested my digestive system to see if I was absorbing the vitamins and minerals in my food properly.
“I wasn’t, so I started taking a course of digestive enzymes to improve the flora in my gut.
“I feel much better now. It has totally changed my life for the better.
“I had lost interest in sex, but now my sex has life improved massively.”
In fact she says, her sex life had improved within weeks of beginning the treatments.
“I’ve lost weight. I’ve gone down a dress size. My energy levels have increased. My memory has improved and I felt so much better overall that it’s unbelievable.
“I feel like I am getting my life back. I feel much more enthusiastic about life and I would recommend bio identical hormone treatment to everybody.”
For a year she made the lengthy trip every three months, but now she attends the clinic on a twice-yearly basis.
“I feel it’s marvellous and I prioritise it over anything else.”

Her partner has noticed the difference in her, she says, and is “thinking about going to [the clinic] to see if there is anything it could do for him.”Read more at:formal dresses sydney

Al Bustan Palace hotel offers perfect settings for a dream wedding in Oman

(Photo:princess formal dresses) Set against a majestic backdrop of the rugged Al Hajjar Mountains and the glittering azure waters of the Sea of Oman, Al Bustan Palace, a Ritz-Carlton Hotel, provides the perfect setting for a dream wedding.
The palatial resort's distinctive wedding venues include the largest ballroom in the Sultanate. Located in a separate wing of the hotel, this elegant 1,204-square-meter space features an elaborate cut-crystal chandelier and a décor of muted gold and blues adding calm and splendor to the idyllic surroundings, says a press release.
Omani wedding customs and traditions are very rich in culture and heritage. A wedding, in particular a traditional one, takes a lot of preparation, from the proposal, dowry or maher, and henna party to mulkah (marriage ceremony) and the wedding reception.
With this in mind, a dedicated wedding expert is on hand to take care of every detail from initial menu tasting and protocol to guests' accommodation, in order to make the experience as joyous and memorable as possible for the bride.
On the day of the wedding, the bride will have full access to the Bridal Suite. Designed for privacy and comfort, this ultra-luxurious suite features a spacious dressing area, separate make-up room, and a comfortable sitting area where friends and family members can join in for the 'preparation' rituals.

Wedding packages at Al Bustan Palace include luxurious accommodations with a complimentary bottle of non-alcoholic date champagne served in crystal flutes, special room rates for wedding guests, 3-tier wedding cake, and more. The packages can also be customised to suit the bride's personal taste.Read more at:red formal dresses

Beauty really has no age limit, says Maureen Martin

(Photo:white formal dresses) Maureen Martin, who is in her 60s, says older women in Northern Ireland are looking better than ever. Here, she reveals the secrets of the modern style icons who prove that...
Older women in Northern Ireland could teach their counterparts in London a thing or two about how to look good, according to local fashion guru Maureen Martin. There can be few people better qualified to give an informed opinion on our sense of style than the lovely Maureen who has been at the forefront of local fashion for more than four decades.
The first ever winner of the Belfast Telegraph Woman of the Year in Fashion at our inaugural awards in 2007, the very elegant Belfast grandmother is a respected pioneer of the local fashion scene.
After modelling as a teen, Maureen set up what became Northern Ireland's biggest model agency, Stages, with Brian Massey back in the 1970s.
Despite the turbulence of the time, the province had a thriving fashion scene, with regular weekly catwalk shows, with Maureen and Brian styling and choreographing for all the big names. Today she is as busy as ever organising top style events across Ireland through her successful agency, Maureen Martin Models.
She has worked around the world and was particularly in demand in London, where she was a regular on top TV programme The Clothes Show and worked with icons like the late Alexander McQueen, who died in 2010.
She has an individual sense of style, that has always been contemporary but with her own edgy twist, and which she herself lightheartedly describes as "a bit off the rails".
With her classic ash-blonde shoulder-length hair, smooth complexion and vibrant dress sense she is a superb icon for women of a certain age.
"With so many good skin products now and advances in the beauty industry older women are looking after themselves more and are looking better than ever," she says.
"I think women are more liberated now in the sense that they don't just grow old and expect to sit at home looking after their grandchildren, that's all changed and it's nice to see.
"I would travel to London quite a bit with work and to attend events and older women in Northern Ireland are right up there when it comes to fashion.
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"In fact, we are far better dressed than women of the same age in the capital. We really do make an effort here."
When choosing her own wardrobe, Maureen loves mixing high street with designer labels and an advantage of the travel which comes with her job is being able to pick up unusual pieces which suit her individual sense of style.
Designer love
She loves the fashion in Cos in Dublin and her favourite designers include Alexander McQueen, Elie Saab and Simone Rocha, John Rocha's daughter.
"Simone Rocha is a great girl and has her head screwed on in that her designs can be worn by women of all ages," says Maureen. "She is very talented, just like her dad."
Maureen says her love of clothes was instilled in her as a child by her late mum Ellen, who was a seamstress.
She grew up as an only child in Belfast, with a love of music, clothes and interior design. Indeed, she loved interiors so much she qualified as an interior designer and indulges this passion with private commissions alongside running her model agency.
"Mum made most of my clothes," she recalls. "She made these lovely net dresses, like princess dresses, and she really did her best. I had lovely clothes which were different from what everyone else had. That gave me an early love for fashion.
"I also loved music and interiors so I was probably always destined to do something arty."
Maureen was a pupil at Methodist College, Belfast, and a talented piano player in her teens. She had considered becoming a music teacher but fate intervened when she was 16 and a local hairdresser asked if she would model for him. This led to her being photographed by one of the world's biggest fashion and portrait photographers.
"I always had great hair," says Maureen. "My hairdresser asked me to model for competitions, and as he was taking part in international competitions that gave me the opportunity to be involved in shoots in London, where I was photographed by a young David Bailey.
"I was too young to understand at the time what it meant and it was only later I realised who he was and how important it was to have been photographed by him."
She married her husband Robin, now a retired civil servant, when she was just 18 and together they have three girls, Karen, Tanya and Suzan, and seven grandchildren. Settling into married life she put her career on hold, returning to modelling in her late 20s when she joined the Stella Goddard School of Modelling. She remembers the training in catwalk deportment and photographic modelling as having been "very thorough" but it paid off as she soon became one of Northern Ireland's top models.
In the 1970s she teamed up with Brian Massey and together they launched Stages.
"We were doing all the big shows - the Ideal Home exhibition, the Smirnoff Fashion Awards, we worked for Fruit of the Loom and Marks & Spencer and were regulars on the BBC Clothes Show. The fashion scene in Northern Ireland in the 1970s was much bigger than it is now. We were doing two to three shows a week back then and we were all over the place, it was very vibrant. I did all the stage styling and Brian did the choreography."
When Brian decided to make a permanent move to London in the 1990s, Stages closed down and Maureen opened her own agency, which has been going strong ever since. She represents models not just locally but in Dublin, the rest of the UK and internationally. Her heart today, however, is in encouraging young fashion design talent in Northern Ireland. She organises competitions for them and using her contacts in the industry brings top international fashion designers to Northern Ireland for lectures.
A perfect fit for this passion was a new partnership some years ago with internationally-renowned local pianist Barry Douglas to run fashion shows for graduate designers at the annual Clandeboye Music Festival in Bangor.
Clandeboye Music Festival
"Clandeboye has been amazing," she says. "We work with all the young designer graduates from the University of Ulster and Belfast Met; it's a great thing for the young people because the young musicians who Barry mentors get to meet the young fashion designers. They are a great support to each other.
"I think young designers need a lot of encouragement and I would have brought designers like Alexander McQueen - who were once young designers themselves - over for lectures to show the young people what can happen if you are dedicated to what you do."
Maureen's agency is also kept busy with the Wedding Journal International fashion shows across Ireland where she works as backstage director, managing and supplying the team as well as styling the shows. She has just completed the wedding show in Dublin and is working on this week's big event in Belfast.
She has many career highlights which include working alongside the likes of Alexander McQueen, Isabella Blow and Roland Mouret to name but a few, and also cites winning the Belfast Telegraph Woman of the Year Award in Fashion as one of her most special moments.
Fittingly, this year Maureen is delighted to be organising the fashion show at our annual awards ceremony in the Ramada Hotel.
"It was brilliant to win the award, and especially at the very first event," she says. "I had no idea I had even been nominated and it was a great honour. I really appreciated the stories of the other women in the room and, compared to what some of them had achieved, I felt so humbled to be picking up an award. It's wonderful how well established the Belfast Telegraph Woman of the Year Awards has become and good to see it is one of Northern Ireland's major award events. I think it is great for all the local women nominated to have the outstanding work they do recognised.
"I went to the second awards night but haven't been able to go back so I'm really looking forward to being part of it this year again.
"I'm delighted to be approached to do the fashion show and I'm looking forward to producing a very exciting event with a wonderful selection of outfits from The Outlet, Banbridge, which sponsors the awards. It's right up my street and it will be lovely to be part of it again, it's a very special night out."
While she has given many young models a start over the years, Maureen says the industry has changed since she first took to the catwalk as a young woman more than 30 years ago. Despite the fact that back then models could be any height, but now need to tower at five feet eight inches for women and six feet for men, Maureen feels the biggest change is in attitudes.
"I think training back when I started was more professional," she says. "We respected our agent because if we didn't go by the rules then we didn't get the jobs. I find young people now have a different attitude and it's hard to gain the same respect which we had for our employers; to be honest, I find this hard to tolerate at times."

She adds: "It's almost as if for some of them it's like they feel they are doing us a favour!"Read more at:black formal dresses

What Men’s Fashion Shows Mean for the Average Guy

(Photo:unique formal dresses) THERE’S NO BUSINESS like show business—certainly in the men’s fashion industry, which is putting on some 140 fashion shows across London, Florence, Milan and Paris this month. To spectators outside the fashion box—the male consumers who keep menswear in business—the personal relevance of this seasonal conveyor belt of collections can seem minimal. Yet, for the average, mildly style-curious man, there’s more to be taken away from fashion week than you’d think.
“They’re trade shows meant for press and buyers to dissect and edit,” says Isabelle Kountoure, fashion director at Wallpaper* magazine, “but what is presented at the shows trickles down to the broader industry and becomes trends that all men inevitably buy into. What we’re wearing reflects where we are in society—that’s what makes the men’s shows so interesting.”
With 40-or-so looks per collection, a menswear season means roughly 5,500 outfits shown over two weeks, begging the question of how clear-cut said trends can be, with so many garments on the radar.
But the overall mood of the catwalk shows creates a global vision of colors, fabric combinations, new fits and styling ideas—making fashion week invaluable for the menswear spinning wheel, explains Katherine Yoo, head of merchandising at online retailer Thecorner.com. “[The shows] are essential in order to understand new moods, through the most iconic pieces,” she says, citing the bomber jacket, reinterpreted in new ways at Kris Van Assche, Marni and Kenzo for spring.
But if you browse runway pictures on Style.com or watch live-streamed shows on brands’ websites, it’s not just specific garments that identify what will look on-the-money this season. “Looking at tailoring in runway pictures is the easiest way to identify trends,” says Ms. Kountoure. “Jacket lengths, whether they’re single-breasted or double-breasted, how the trouser is cut—these are tangible indicators of changing trends.” Pay attention to styling, too, she adds. “If you dissect a runway look, you’ll usually end up with several very wearable pieces, which can look more extreme when put together.”

Fashion shows have more significance for designers whose visions change each season than for those who stick to the same aesthetic, Ms. Yoo notes. But either way, they “communicate a specific vision and identity through the location, choice of music, the models and their styling.” These elements can help anyone identify labels with a personality or attitude akin to their own—their “spirit labels”—which provides focus and, ultimately, takes the pain out deciding how to dress.Read more at:evening dresses online

10 Vitamins Women Should Consume Daily

In majority of cases around the world, the woman of the family is responsible for what goes to the dinner table. She is the one who takes care of the family and looks after its well-being. It is first necessary to educate the woman so that the family benefits from her knowledge. At the same time, it is important for her to take good care of herself so that she can look after the welfare of other members of the family.
(Photo:formal dress shops) There are a number of vitamins women should take daily to maintain a healthy body. These vitamins are essential to allow the body to function in a normal manner.
If one eats a well-balanced diet, the vitamins can be derived from the daily meals itself. But in case of deficiency, supplements become unavoidable.
Take a look at the list of vitamins women should take daily.
Calcium: This tops the list of women’s daily vitamins. Compared to men, women are more prone to osteoporosis, which is caused due to the deficiency of calcium. In order to maintain healthy bones, calcium is a must and hence the importance it gets in women’s health. Some important sources of calcium include milk products and eggs.
Vitamin D: Vitamin D is essential to help absorb calcium. No matter the amount of milk products one takes, the deficiency of vitamin D will not help absorb the calcium. One of the best sources of this vitamin is the morning sun.
Vitamin A: Vitamin A is beneficial in cases of heavy menstrual periods, premenstrual syndromes, lumpy breasts and vaginal infections. It is also said to be beneficial in cases of breast cancer.
Vitamin B1: Also known a thiamine, this essential vitamin helps convert sugar to energy. Women do need that extra dose of energy. Significant sources of Vitamin B1 include lean meat, nuts and whole grains.
Vitamin B2: Riboflavin or vitamin B2 makes it to the list of vitamins women should take daily. Some of its health benefits include boosting of the immune system; maintaining healthy skin, nails and hair; slowing down the ageing process and very importantly, promoting a healthy reproductive system. Essential sources include milk and green leafy vegetables.
Vitamin B6: Vitamin B6 is also known as pyridoxine and is useful for women to treat premenstrual syndromes, menstrual problems and nausea during early pregnancy. It is also helpful to stop milk flow after childbirth and depression related to pregnancy. Sources of B6 include avocado, banana and nuts.
Folic acid: When related to pregnant women, folic acid becomes one of the vitamins women should take daily. Every woman who is planning to get pregnant or is pregnant is prescribed this vitamin to prevent miscarriage or avoid chances of birth defects. Leafy green vegetables are an important source of folic acid.
Vitamin C: For a healthy body and mind, adequate amount of vitamin C is essential for both men and women. It not only helps keep the common cold at bay but has a host of other benefits such as promoting healthy skin, hair, nails, improving physical endurance and slowing down the ageing process. Citrus fruits are the best source of vitamin C.
Vitamin E: Vitamin E is quite popular among women due to the immense benefits it has on the skin. Beauty products enriched with vitamin E are always preferred. Besides, it is also helpful in preventing complications in late pregnancy and problems related to the menstrual periods. Significant food sources include meat, poultry, eggs, cereals.

Choline: This is one of the latest entrants in the essential vitamin list. Choline belongs to the B complex group of vitamins and is essential for pregnant women to prevent neural tube defects. This vitamin is produced in the liver but eggs are considered excellent food sources of it.Read more at:formal dresses melbourne

With the wedding season coming, bridal show welcomes hundreds

(Photo:blue formal dresses) From customized nails to extravagant cakes, brides- and grooms-to-be relished the wedding plan options offered to them at Monterey’s Wonderful Winter Bridal Show.
An ocean of couples, hundreds of future brides — some with their mothers, others with their future grooms — scoured the lobby at the Embassy Suites in Seaside in search of the perfect gear to make their perfect day complete.
Among the dozens of couples shopping and scanning vendors’s booths Sunday afternoon, Serena Thurston and Cliff Yi looked at photographers’ pamphlets. An important decision, they said, as it will be the photographer that captures the moment marking the rest of their lives as husband and wife.
Thurston and Yi, both 23, met at CSU Monterey Bay.
“We met in our marine biology class. It was the spring semester of 2013,” Thurston said.
Almost two years after their first meeting, Thurston now wears a custom-made engagement ring. The ring follows the design of a DNA double helix, and blue diamonds frost the edges of the DNA strand design.
Yi says he proposed at Disney California Adventure. He brought her inside the Beauty and the Beast-themed library, knelt down and popped the question. They got engaged the day before Thanksgiving last year and are planning to tie the knot May 2016 in Big Sur. On Sunday, they were on the look-out for the best photographer.
Although wedding conventions can be quite thrilling for some people, others may get overwhelmed by the fluff and romanticism of it all.
Beau Griffin and Brian Scott, proudly-wearing a sticker stating their future marital status on their chest, sat in a corner waiting for their future wives. The two, Griffin says, will be each other’s “best man.”
“We’ve been best friends since college,” Griffin said. “The engagement timing just happened.”
Although Griffin and his fiance, Alison Hunter, don’t have a wedding date set just yet. Scott said he is looking to wed Weslee Gegg on June 27. He said he proposed about a year ago on their fifth anniversary.
“We went on a hike, then we went to the aquarium,” Scott said smiling. “It was our fifth anniversary and went to eat at the Chart House. I proposed there.”
With every couple in attendance, came a love story.

“This is my first time at an event like this. It gives you a glimpse of the day you’ve been waiting for so long,” Cara Martin of Seaside who will be getting married in June, said.Read more at:pink formal dresses

Busting Myths about Weight Loss Pills

(Photo:Photo:plus size evening wear) Recently, there was an article about a famous Hollywood celebrity endorsing a weight loss pill designed to "trick the body into losing weight" which caught the public's attention. Of course, in a country where the expanding waistlines of overweight and obese individuals are only eclipsed by the alarming increase in their numbers, it is only natural that people would look to try anything that promises a quick-fix weight loss. But before you head to the nearest store and grab one, ask yourself; are these quick fixes healthy?
The answer would be a firm no. Weight gain is mainly dependent upon the lifestyle and dietary choices, whereas these quick-fix pills encourage weight loss by the combined action of caffeine-induced metabolism boost and laxatives to increase food and water movement through the digestive tract. High caffeine content in the pills could lead to increase blood pressure and pulse rate, and can cause an individual to become jittery. High caffeine content also increases the risk of caffeine poisoning and heart arrhythmias, leaving the affected person susceptible to heart and blood related disorders. While laxative action might be helpful in case of constipation, those with regular bowel movement might get diarrhoea, leading to dehydration and loss of vital nutrients. Also as the cause of weight gain is not addressed, people tend to gain weight quickly once they stop the weight-loss course, thus increasing the dependence on these so-called ‘wonder pills'.
The approach is flawed; the focus should be on controlling weight, not simply losing it. Eat healthy and drink plenty of water; ensure your diet contains ample proteins and fibrous ingredients to boost metabolism and ease bowel movement. Exercise regularly to detoxify the body to burn those extra calories and stay away from greasy, fatty foods. Cutting down on smoking and alcohol consumption also helps; opt instead for a healthier, wholesome lifestyle. Do not miss out on sleep; studies indicate that taking adequate rest not only helps the body to repair and recover, but the increased metabolism during sleep also helps to process proteins more effectively and break down the carbohydrates and fats into simpler lipids.

We were taught as children that cheating is bad; the same moral holds true in the case of weight loss. Hard work and dedication are much more effective than any weight loss medication; remember, when it comes to a fit, healthy body, there are no shortcuts to success.Read more at:cheap formal dresses

15 Miniresolutions That Can Still Make a Huge Impact on 2015

(Photo:www.marieaustralia.com/backless-formal-dresses) Yes, we're officially one week into the New Year, but that doesn't mean your only opportunity to set a healthy resolution is in the past. Make these small changes to your lifestyle and start seeing (and feeling) big results in 2015!
Add intervals: Maximize your cardio with intervals. Playing with the speed burns more calories than working at a steady pace and it also revs up your metabolism.
Ditch dairy: Eliminating dairy from your diet can make a big difference in your health. If you can't say goodbye forever, try eating it at only one meal a day.
Lift more: Grabbing heavier weights can be the swift kick your muscles need to show off your strong and toned physique. Don't be afraid to up the ante.
Cut the condiments: Save tons of calories from your meal by cutting out mayo, ketchup, or fatty salad dressing. Sub these healthier condiments instead.
Try a new class: CrossFit? Bikram? Krav Maga? Try something new to keep your body guessing and see results sooner.
Drink more water: From boosting your metabolism to improving your immunity, water is the one elixir you need more of in 2015. Make a point to sip all day.
Make a homemade breakfast: Take the time to enjoy a healthy recipe in the morning, or make these breakfasts in advance to grab when you're on the go.
Eat more protein: This macronutrient makes a huge difference when it comes to losing weight and staying energized. Make sure you're getting enough every day.
Skip the second cup: Bow out of your second cup of coffee, and start opting forgreen tea instead. Your body will thank you later in the night!
Plan on Sunday: Pencil in your workouts for the week on Sunday evening. You're much more likely to make them happen if a plan in already in place.
Make over your desk: Before you head home every night, take a few minutes to clean up and de-clutter. Keeping your workspace Zen keeps you more productive at the office.
Choose color: Add colorful fruits and veggies to every meal. You'll be fueling your body with quality nutrition and building a healthy (delicious) lifestyle.
Tack on 10 minutes: You don't need to reinvent the wheel at every workout. Simply tack on an additional 10 minutes to your cardio and strength-training plan to challenge your body.
Say yes: Whether it's a new ingredient, intimidating class, or glass of green juice, just say yes. You'll never know until you try.

Get to bed: Hit the hay earlier, and make sure you're getting at least seven hours of sleep every night. You'll start waking up feeling fabulous, energized, and ready to embrace the day.Read more at:www.marieaustralia.com/one-shoulder-formal-dresses

How to keep New Year’s resolutions to eat healthy

(Photo:year 12 formal dresses) New Year’s Day always offers the opportunity to hit pause, reflect on our lives and set goals to improve our health and well-being. For many of us, this year also involved making promises to eat healthier and lose weight. To help you achieve your nutrition goals, I reached out to Stanford health educator Jae Berman. Below she shares how to select New Year’s resolutions that you’ll actually keep (perhaps you’ll have to tweak the ones you made last week!), offers strategies for eating healthy even when you’re pressed for time, and explains why cooking for yourself is a key factor in changing nutritional habits.
What are some examples of smaller, more manageable, goals that could help someone make better food choices?
People often jump in too hard, too fast when creating New Year’s resolutions. This perfectionist and “all or nothing” attitude tends to result in grand, lofty goals that we quit if we have a setback or don’t see immediate results. When considering health and weight loss-related goals make sure they are realistic and sustainable.
Instead, closely examine your routine and note one thing you can improve. This behavior may be something obvious, such as you drinking soda every day and wanting to stop. Or, it could be an aspiration to make healthy habits more sustainable, for example, bringing your lunch to work so you can lose weight and save money. Those who already eat well and exercise regularly may want to adopt a goal on a larger scope and learn to cook or try a new form of exercise.
Pick one thing (just one!) and make sure it is SMART – specific, measurable, achievable, results-focused and time-bound. Pick a resolution that is within reach, yet a bit of a stretch so that it’s a challenge. Additionally, goals should lead towards creating a sustainable habit. Some ideas include: Bring your lunch to work Monday-Thursday for the entire month of January; eat five fist-sized servings of vegetables every day; drink coffee only at breakfast; go to sleep at at the same time every night and wake up at the same time every morning for the month of January; or do 30 minutes of weight training three times a week.
In an effort to slim down in the New Year, some individuals may go on the Atkins diet and other popular weight-loss plans, or decide to do a juice fast, like the Master Cleanse. What’s your advice for those considering these approaches?
It’s very difficult to change someone’s mind when they decide to try these types of weight loss plans. So I usually say, “Go for it!” After a few days, the person often feels miserable and wants to create a long-term plan for managing their weight. I will say the one benefit of these quick fixes and fad diets, which I do not endorse, is that they teach a person what it feels like to be hungry. This may sound strange, but this awareness is an important lesson.
Many people overeat and are used to eating to avoid being hungry. We also tend to mindlessly eat out of boredom, or simply because food is in front of us. Going on a restrictive diet results in some feeling hungry for the first time in long time and, as a result they learn their hunger cues. When you experience a hunger cue, which is right when you think “I could eat,” then you should eat just enough food to get through the next three to four hours. You don’t need a huge meal to feel stuffed and small; unsatisfying snacks aren’t helpful either. Understanding what it feels like to be satiated is very important for long-term success.
Ongoing research at the Stanford Prevention Research Center shows that “one diet really does not fit all.” So I can’t tell you exactly what to eat, but I can tell you that creating a long-term sustainable plan is key.
At the beginning of the New Year, our motivation for changing our eating habits is often very strong. But as we get busy it can become difficult to keep our resolutions. What tips can you offer for how to make nutritious eating choices when you’re on the move and pressed for time?
Life is busy and it isn’t going to stop. That’s why it’s imperative to create realistic goals and increase your awareness about what you’re eating. While I’m a proponent of having a Plan B, or a quick fix when you’re on the go, it’s important to remember that time is the easiest of excuses.
Sometimes we think we don’t have enough time, but if we plan ahead then we can set ourselves up for success. For example, many people eat lunch out and then go out again in the late afternoon for a coffee or snack, which is when they get into trouble. Ideally, we would bring lunch and an afternoon snack with us to the office. Think you don’t have enough time to pack a lunch and snack each day? Think again.
On the weekend, go to the grocery store and buy five days worth of snacks — nuts, yogurt, fruit, vegetables, nut butter, etc. —and take them into work on Monday. Or, if you go out to lunch bring back an afternoon snack so you are prepped. When you’re cooking dinner, make two or three extra servings for lunch or dinner the next day. Immediately put the leftovers in a reusable container so the meals are ready to go for when you’re too busy to cook.
We are always going to be busy. Brainstorm solutions that will fit your schedule. Stocking your fridge and prepping foods when you have time will make life much easier and make eating healthy a sustainable habit.
A past study found that people who cook at home most of the time consumer generally healthier meals with fewer calories. What small changes can a person make in the New Year that can help them cook more at home?
Cooking is definitely a key factor in weight management. If we all cooked more, the world would be a better place! Seriously. Preparing meals can have an immense impact on our lives. By cooking we are eating whole, real foods, strengthening our relationships with our friends and family by sharing meals, being more mindful about the foods we’re eating and developing positive relationships with food as we take ownership of our choices.
Unfortunately, many of us don’t realize what we’re actually eating. We need to ask ourselves: What is the food I’m eating made of? Is what I’m eating really food? Cooking innately forces us to answer these questions and, as a result, be more mindful of what goes into our mouths. Also, the process of shopping for ingredients and then preparing the meal helps us value each bite more. The flavor, the nutrients, the ritual of cooking and it connects us to food, which is a beautiful thing. This in turn helps us develop a healthy relationship with food.

It’s important to keep cooking your own meals does not mean they have to be perfect. In fact, cooking should never be perfect! There is no such thing. Just make it work. Personally, I like to throw all my food in a big bowl – it isn’t pretty, but I love it, and it’s delish!Read more at:formal dresses for women

Small steps to a healthier you

Did you make a well-intentioned New Year's resolution this year? If so, has it failed yet?
Unfortunately, the answer is likely to be yes, as it's estimated that 88% of New Year's resolutions - most of which are linked to health improvements - fail very quickly. In fact, research suggests that three-quarters hit the buffers within nine days.
But before you accept defeat and reach for a box of chocolates or throw your trainers in the bin, heed a little advice from the experts. Rather than huge undertakings, like strict diets, regular gym workouts or quitting smoking overnight, small - more realistic - changes, they say, can still make a big difference to your health and appearance.
Dr Justin Varney, national lead for Adult Health and Wellbeing at Public Health England, says: "The New Year is a time when you naturally reflect on your life and investing in your health, and may resolve to make some big changes.
"But New Year's resolutions are so hard to stick to. Small changes are much easier, because they're a little tweak in what you do, rather than moving from sweatpants to lycra and finding a gym."
For all people's good intentions, the truth is that many detest exercise - something that's reflected in the fact that more than one in four UK women and one in five men do less than 30 minutes of physical activity a week, so are classified as 'inactive'. In fact, physical inactivity is believed to be the fourth biggest cause of disease and disability in the UK.
It's recommended that adults aim to be active daily, doing at least 150 minutes (21 hours) of moderate-intensity activity per week, in bouts of 10 minutes or more. This could mean 30 minutes of exercise on at least five days a week.
Dr Varney says: "The big issue we have in this country is that almost a third of us aren't doing the recommended amount - b ut physical activity is easy to do; you don't need a class, you don't need to spend money, you just need to open your front door and walk out of it."
EVERY LITTLE COUNTS
He says even doing 10 minutes of exercise every other day, simply by walking to work, school or the shops, for example, can make a difference.
"Going from nothing to something has a huge impact on health."
The time factor can sometimes be a barrier to people weaving physical activity into their lives, but Dr Varney points out that when you take traffic jams, waiting for buses and parking into account, walking can often work out quicker than driving or taking public transport.
"All the evidence shows that getting out of the house, walking, and interacting with the environment brings much more satisfaction. Build it into your everyday life - it's not just good for our bodies, it's good for our minds.
"But the key is not to beat yourself up about doing it every day. Every other day, or three times a week, gets you started. It's a lot easier to do it that way, and the important bit is that you stick with that commitment of doing it quite regularly."
BITE-SIZED CHANGES
As far as diet goes, it's just a case of tweaking the things you already eat to make them healthier, so using low-fat spreads instead of butter, sweeteners instead of sugar, etc.
Dr Varney says: "It's the little things every day that, over time, help us pile on the pounds, so changing that and swapping some of those little things is how to tackle it, in a way that doesn't feel like we're punishing ourselves."
Another nail in the healthy lifestyle coffin can be alcohol, and often people who try to reduce or give up booze as a New Year's resolution admit to falling off the wagon within a few weeks.
"Setting yourself the goal of taking a break from alcohol over a number of weeks can help to reduce your drinking in the long run," says Dr Varney. "There are a number of tips to follow to help cut down, but the most important factor is making sure whatever route you choose is the most suitable one for you and your lifestyle."
SMOKE-FREE ZONE
One popular New Year's resolution that often fails quickly is quitting smoking, especially if you attempt to quit overnight without support. Dr Varney says that while advice from local Stop Smoking Services can make it four times more likely for smokers to successfully quit, increasing research also suggests that a way to help reduce or completely quit tobacco could be to try using e-cigarettes.
"We know that e-cigarettes are really helping a lot of smokers move away from the damage that cigarettes do," says Dr Varney.
"But they're not perfect, and in effect, you move your addiction from a normal cigarette to the nicotine in the e-cigarette."
He points out, however, that while you're still addicted to nicotine, if you use an e-cigarette, it's without the chemicals in tobacco that cause lung cancer and other problems.
"Many of the people I know that have been struggling with smoking for years have really found that e-cigarettes have helped."
He adds: "It doesn't cost more or take more time to be healthy. It does take will and commitment - if this was easy, everyone would be a healthy weight and be active every day.
"They're not, because it's challenging, but making those small changes and being realistic about what you can achieve can really get results."
EASY TIPS FOR A HEALTHIER DIET
:: Change from sugary sodas to sugar-free or low-calorie drinks, or at least alternate the full sugar versions with water.
:: Replace butter with low-fat spreads.
:: Choose reduced fat cheese or when using cheese in cooking, try a stronger flavour like mature Cheddar, which means you can use less.
:: Brown leaner mince when making spaghetti bolognese or chilli, then drain off any fat before adding other ingredients.
:: Choose desserts and dressings that are lower in fat.
:: Use semi-skimmed, 1% fat or skimmed milk instead of whole milk.
:: Swap sugary cereals for plain ones like porridge or wholegrain wheat biscuits.
:: Use less sugar and salt, and try not to add salt to food when cooking.
BREAK THE BOOZING
:: If you tend to have a drink at a certain time, break the habit by doing something different at that time.
:: If you drink every day, try to have at least two days a week when you don't drink at all.
:: Pace yourself by sipping slowly, and space your drinks out - have a soft drink or glass of water in between.
:: Have a smaller bottle of beer instead of a can, or a single instead of a double.
:: Swap your usual for a drink with less alcohol, which may be cheaper and often has less calories.
ACTIVE IDEAS
:: Walk or cycle to work, school and/or the shops.
:: Use the stairs instead of the lift.
:: Dance madly to your favourite songs in the kitchen.
:: Take up a sport you enjoyed at school.

:: Do some active housework or gardening.