Fall Back on Your Routine (or Diet)

Now that Labor Day has past, it is time to fall back on your diet. January is the time for getting back on track after a belly busting holiday season with rich meals and sweet treats. Then it is back to the gym with resolutions to prepare for swimsuit season. Once swimsuit season hits though it is easy to lose your routine with bar-b-ques, iced beverages and summer desserts.

Some may prefer to not use the word "diet" since it references the unsuccessful yo-yo attempts that so many of us have. We will swap the word "diet" and use the word routine instead. Whether you need to get back the will power that you so passionately had in January or just getting back in the swing of things with resuming exercise now that summer evening activities are starting to slow down. Either way, a routine can help restore energy and help organize your life so it feels less chaotic.


We recently came across a great post on AOL titled a Fresh Fall Meal Plan. It includes interesting meals that are also manageable. Most of the meals are high in antioxidants and other nutritious qualities to help get you back on track and even drop a dress size in two weeks. Some of us in the office will be trying it and we will let you know how it goes.

An easy way to to get back in the groove of exercising would be to get outside and take a walk while the weather is nice. Enjoy the sights in your neighborhood as the leaves start to change and the air becomes brisk.

Let us know what you will be doing to get back on your routine after indulging all summer long.


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Striking Skin Care Blog Tour - 2010

We are venturing out on our first blog tour with Mama Buzz. A blog tour is where a panel of bloggers review our products and then post their opinions on their blogs about the product. Many of them also are hosting giveaways to their readers to be able to offer them an opportunity to try the products as well.

To see who is talking about Striking and what they are saying visit these blogs:


Mama Buzz ~ giveaway ends 9/23/10
http://www.mamabzz.com/2010/09/striking-skin-care-reviewgiveaway.html

Mommy Living the Life of Riley ~ giveaway ends 9/22/10
http://www.mommylivingthelifeofriley.com/2010/09/giveaway-striking-skin-care-daily-defense-duo-stop-aging-tracks-arv-100/

The Suburban Jungle ~ giveaway ends 9/16/10
http://thesuburbanjungle.blogspot.com/2010/09/striking-skin-care-review-giveaway.html

Our Out of Sync Life ~ giveaway ends 9/9/10
http://ouroutofsynclife.blogspot.com/2010/09/review-and-giveaway-striking-skin-care.html

My Four Monkeys Product Review ~ giveaway ends 9/13/10
http://myfourmonkeysproductreviews.blogspot.com/2010/09/striking-skin-care-by-helix-biomedix.html

Bless Their Hearts ~ giveaway ends 9/17/10
http://blesstheirheartsmom.blogspot.com/2010/09/product-review-and-giveaway-striking.html

Shawn's Sharings ~ giveaway ends 9/16/10
http://shawnssharings.blogspot.com/2010/09/striking-skin-care-review-giveaway.html

Mommy’s Memorandum ~ giveaway ends 9/17/10
http://jonbonjovious.blogspot.com/2010/09/giveaway-helix-biomedix.html

Mommy’s Free Time ~ giveaway ends 9/20/10
http://mommys-freetime.blogspot.com/2010/09/review-and-giveaway-striking-skin-care.html

Marvelous Mom Reviews ~ giveaway ends 9/23/10
http://marvelousmomreviews.blogspot.com/2010/09/striking-skin-care-review-giveaway.html


Thank you to all of the bloggers on our first blog tour - we are so happy with the fabulous response we have seen so far!


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September is National Awareness Menopause Month

Celebrate women and life's changes during the month of September. Learn more about menopause on the North American Menopause Society website. This is an easy to use website to find answers to common and not-so common questions about menopause.

Search the Web site of The North American Menopause Society NAMS for accurate, unbiased information about menopause. NAMS is the leading nonprofit scientific organization dedicated to improving understanding of this natural biologic event.

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See Our Latest Ads in OK Magazine

Look for our ads in OK Magazine and find a coupon code to use on Striking Skin Care products. (image updated 9/8/10)

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Does Your Exercise Routine Need a Tune-Up? (Part 2)

Part 2

New Type of Exercise
Try something new even if it may be out of your comfort zone. There are a lot of benefits to working your core and burning calories when dancing. Have you ever thought about Bollywood dancing or belly dancing? Both of these exercises work your core and you can have fun doing them.

Belly Dancing can be found at local exercise gyms or community centers. Many of the classes are for all levels of dancing and encourage beginners to participate. The art of belly dancing is not really the belly it is the hips. By moving the hips in a rotating fashion or shaking them it helps to increase core strength. Here is a link to a great article by Paige Waehner that defines core strength and the importance of increasing it.

To try belly dancing at home, DVDs are available online at Amazon.com as well as instructional books.

Another type of exercise that is fun and burns calories is dancing Bollywood style. Many of us got a taste of the vibrant and amazing dancing in Slumdog Millionaire. This type of dancing is high energy and easy for most to do at home. There are many options online and here is one called Learn to Bollywood with Pallavi who has been training this style of dance for years and have incorporated it into a DVD for at home use.

All of us hit a rut and need a tune-up in our workout routine. Instead of giving up altogether, try something new and fun to keep the momentum going and help stay fit.


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Does Your Exercise Routine Need a Tune-Up? (Part 1)

Is your exercise routine dragging you down with a lack or variety? Do you need something new to spice it up? It could be as simple as a new pair of shoes or a new workout routine.

New Pair of Shoes
There are funny looking shoes out there that have had quite a following in recent months. They looked like shoes with a curve on the bottom and are offered by a few different brands but the one I keep seeing is from Sketchers. They are called Shape-Ups and can range in price but are around $100 per pair. The shoes claim to increase calorie burn, improve posture and help to tone muscles while working out and during daily activities. Once you get used to the look of them they might be worth a try. As for the results there was a review on The Gloss last spring. For more information and to look at styles, visit their website here.

New Equipment
Maybe it is time to bring back the old to start something new. We read about the Hula Hoop as a strengthening exercise in a Wall Street Journal article. Watch this video to learn more about the benefits of hula hooping and bring back some fun to your exercise routine.
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Here is an online store called Sports Hoop that sells weighted hula hoops similar to the one seen in the video.

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What to Wear When You Are Mother of the Bride/Groom

Need suggestions for what to wear if you are mother of the bride or groom? Here is a fun video on ideas from Ivone Gillon and WeddingTV.com.

Mother of the bride outfit

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