Fall, Back

After nearly two months with two vertebrae out of alignment (I had just gotten used to the pain) I am now back on track. Ouch! Now that I’m thinking more clearly, fall is here, although back East where I’m from, Fall got confused by the Xmas decorations and gave everyone what it thought they were asking for. Naturally, I first heard it was snowing by the great @PatMcGrathReal, makeup artist and miracle worker. As of yesterday, some of my family were still without power.

But I digress. What this means in any climate is skin change. Gender doesn’t matter. Actually, species doesn’t matter. My dog’s coat gets thicker, too. Everyone adapts. I don’t crave salads when it gets colder; I like soups. So, you have to take care of your outer shell.

I get a lot of samples-not as many as I’d like (cough, cough) and then there are my old standbys. Some of it’s common sense, but sometimes you need a reminder. I know I do.

Exfoliation. Dry skin brushing. I have a little mitt-glove from Japan. Upward strokes stimulate your lymph nodes and also slough off dry skin. Do it before you shower or before you dress in the morning or whenever. (I shower at night because I can’t go to bed dirty.)

Hydration. Water. I know, I know. But do you really? Buy a glass bottle of mineral water and when you’re finished, keep it nice and clean and filled at all times somewhere handy. That way you’ll get your fill. Remember to wash the cap! I bet you never thought of that.

Exercise. For my birthday I bought myself a trampoline. I really did. Well, I started working again outside  of the house so I needed something that would work for quick interval cardio and this does it in spades. It’s small, I can lean it up against the wall and it’s a blast! Although my pit bull is puzzled when I put on Mission of Burma and start jumping up and down, so far so good. I also use kettlebells, but not on the trampoline. I’m not that coordinated. Touch your toes every day. If you do one exercise, keep your sciatic nerve in good shape. I mean it!

Never leave the house with bare skin. SPF every day no matter what age or shape  your skin is in or what time of year it is. If you don’t want to wear makeup (I don’t care what gender you are), buy a moisturizer with SPF in it. At night, go all out. I’m not going to plug brands now, but maybe in another post I will get more specific. You can use great products on your face at night w/out scaring your significant other or your animal. Trust me, I would know. Either that, or they are both blind and or polite.

I try to take a good multi  but they tend to give me stomachaches and I subconsciously avoid them. However, I take lots of fish oil, CoQ10, and drink smoothies with fruit, soy, and protein powder. Beware Trader Joe’s protein powder, I’m sorry to say. It’s filled with maltodextrin which will make your blood sugar skyrocket. I speak from firsthand experience. Read labels! Right now I’m making pumpkin smoothies with flax, soy, stevia, and whey powder. It sounds kinda gross but it really tastes like pumpkin pie and is delicious. No, really.

and oh yeah – wash your hands. A lot.