Lately I’ve been trying to research if there are any exercise machines or gadgets that were either marketed or designed specifically for women. It was just a curiosity thing. Needless to say, I was not able to find much. I have no doubt that it would be a hard kill from a sales point of view if you eliminate half of the market.

One that I thought this was interesting as I was researching exercise machines; I came across the “Tone at Home” by Slender You. Looks like an exercise machine table bed, which provides support as you conduct repetitious exercises. It does not really specify that it is just for women, but it did pop up as I was searching.

Exercise Machine: Tone at Home

Tone at Home is meant to offer you an effortless exercise solution, which is comfortable and enjoyable. While supporting your weight, this toning table powers you through a series of repetitious exercise movements. During the movements you are required to resist the force of the table bed, thus working your muscles. The more resistance you provide, the more you will increase your energy level, the greater your results.

Tone at Home states that you can increase your flexibility and endurance, while reducing the risk of any lower body injury (I.e. ankles, knees & hips). This may be beneficial for people who have difficulty moving, and conducting their own exercises and stretches. It looks comfortable, considering it’s in a table bed format; however, this exercise machine would not be recommended if you are looking to get that toned look, fast.

Exercise Machines for Women: Tone at Home

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A gal goes to the gym with a guy friend. She ends up doing the same sets of exercise and workout routines, but why is he losing weight and firming up better than her? It is a common bewilderment among women as to why men can gain weight – and then shed it off quickly. It is one of the main issues that make us women look at men with envy.

Compared to men, women are not as fortunate to lose weight as quickly and easily.  Why is that? Well, here are a few reasons why:

Biological. The male body has more muscles, compared to females. And muscles are what burn the calories, which makes you lose weight. By having less muscle, women end up having more fat cells – and we ultimately have to work the muscles we do have, harder to lose fat.

Hormones. A major contribution to the difference between man and woman, as hormones control our metabolism rate, and the storing of fat cells. It is natural for bodies to store fat as a survival feature, women are just programmed to store and hold more – especially during pregnancy. Reason being because a woman’s body was meant to bear children, and to provide them with food. Men, on the other hand were meant for hunting and gathering, and so, needed the muscle to endure the physical labor.

Did you know…though women have more fat and store more, we end up burning 300 more calories per day during pregnancy, and 500 more calories during breast-feeding.

Bad eating habits & poor lifestyle. These days our food is riddled with chemicals and preservatives – which end up being stored in our bodies and are harder to burn. Eating healthier foods with routine exercise is essential to a better lifestyle and losing weight successfully. Dieting is not an effective option. Improve your lifestyle and see positive result…

Why it’s harder for women to lose weight

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I am happy to finally be able to provide information on the final component to my ab workout machine series – the Body Shaper Machine. This full-body workout machine has been a popular product in Korea, and has just recently been introduced to the North American market. I had read about this late last year, and decided to wait until their website was fully launched before I started reviewing.

**I apologize in advance to my male readers, I had no idea when I first heard about this, but this machine goes out to all the ladies. However, men can use it too, so long as they are comfortable with the color pink.

Body Shaper Machine: What is it?

A workout machine made especially for ladies dominated the Asian market, and has now been approved to sell in the North American market. The Body Shaper Machine is a manual, and portable device that can be used to target certain muscles, or provide an all body workout. Different workout sets, exercises different muscles to help tone and slim down your body.

The Body Shaper Machine has two wings that act as leverage, with an air pump in the center with a pressure valve; and the colorful rubber on the wings prevents slippage. Designed to be thin and compact, the Body Shaper Machine offers a good amount of resistance that is manageable for the everyday female who wants to work out.

Is Body Shaper Machine Effective?

The instructions and workout sets for this little workout machine are straightforward. It was created on the principles of yoga, such as slow and controlled movements, and deep breathing. Key elements to any muscle toning and body slimming workout.

This weightless and small size is marketed for women, to be used almost anywhere. At the office desk, school, or casually watching television – anywhere our busy schedules take us that we can afford 5-minutes.

The Body Shaper Machine seems convenient and easy enough to use. The crucial element to make this product effective would be repetition and sticking to a regular workout routine. The size makes it easy to use almost anywhere at any time, that laziness and neglectfulness of workout routine would be your #1 enemy.

Exercise for women: Body Shaper Machine

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A new innovative health gadget that, well, seems sister-gadget to the alcoholic breathalyzer, only this time it’s for your health. The Body Gem is a new gadget meant to be integrated into your weight loss and fitness lifestyle, by helping you determine your calorie intake.

Everyone is different in body size, in terms of height, weight, muscle mass, etc. A generic weight loss plan with size categories may not be the most effective method for determining your body’s needs. However, the Body Gem is promoting itself to be able to help you with your calorie calculation.

Metabolism Fitness Gadget: The Body Gem

The Body Gem is a Metabolism breathalyzer, which measures the rate that your body burns calories when you breathe into it. This information is then used to help determine a healthy weight loss or fitness program that would be suitable to your body.

This healthy gadget is to encourage the development of a healthy strategy to weight loss. A good way to lose weight is cutting down on excessive eating, which also includes junk food. Only consume enough calories from healthy foods that your body needs, along with regular exercise that would get your heart pumping, such as cardio.

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Metabolism Fitness Gadget: The Body Gem

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When I sweat, my body does not seem to sweat as much as my armpit does. And it can be a little of excessive sweating, which can be embarrassing if you are out or at work. You don’t want to raise your arms for fear of where the wind will carry it, or you attempt to conceal the smell by maybe placing a sweater over top. Making you even warmer, which will the cause you to sweat more.

Sweat is part of the body’s natural cooling system when you hit a certain temperature. To keep you from overheating you begin to sweat. Considering that fact, if someone has excessive armpit sweating, or armpit sweating on a casual basis that is enough to be embarrassed about, then armpit sweat pads (or underarm sweating absorbent pads, to sound classy) are meant for you.

Underarm Sweating Absorbent Pad

Underarm sweating absorbent pads are self-adhesive and can be purchased of different sizes, shapes, and colors that most often vary between white and skin tone. A cotton pad that stick to the inside of your shirt, soft enough that it won’t irritate the sensitive underarm skin, absorbent and disposable. It kind of reminds me of a panty-liner, only for armpits.

These underarm sweating absorbent pads are a useful concept. Avoids having the smell and bacteria from your sweat sticking, or staining your shirt. Throw it out after using, don’t bother trying to make it last because bacteria will build, causing skin irritation and staining of your clothes.

What causes you to sweat?

-          Exercise or working out. Anything physical movement that raises your body temperature

-          Illness, it’s your body’s way to fight the infection or virus

-          Stress

Reduce Underarm Sweating Alternatives:

-          Using armpit absorbent pads are not the only way to

-          Deodorant, Antiperspirants, Talcum Powder. I use to use baby powder, gets messy at times, but if you use a cotton ball to apply it’s cleaner.

-          Shave, or wax your armpits. This helps to eliminate the build up of bacteria which causes unpleasant smells

-          Exfoliate armpits gently with pumice during a shower to get rid of dead skin cells, and bacteria.

-          Exercise. Beneath your skin there is body fat. The more overweight you are, the harder your body has to work to cool you down. Making you sweat more, and give off stronger odors

-          Eating Habits. What you eat will affect what your body releases, especially in terms of smell. Avoid spicy foods, and sadly those Indian dishes no matter how good they are.

-           Wash your clothes after every use, as the smell will stick and linger.

Underarm Sweating Absorbent Pad

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A new innovative eye treatment from eyeSlices, that is non-toxic and bacteria free. This is eye treatment is a gel pad for your eye, in lieu of those cucumber slice eye treatments and can be chilled for a cold eye mask. Eye slices contain aloe and bioactive ingredients to improve and soothe any eye conditions. Great if you need to rejuvenate tired eyes, soothe swollen eyes, or calm eye irritation caused by allergens.

How to use eyeSlices eye mask…

Place the gel eye mask on your eyes and gently press over your closed eye. Leave it on for at least 5 minutes, or more if you want. Eye slices can be reused about 5 times if they are tightly resealed in their casing.

Tip: Refrigerate before using for a soothing cold eye mask.

After using you can rinse the eye slices off before sealing them in the containers, but the natural anti-bacterial ingredient in the eye slices keeps this eye treatment bacteria-free!

Benefits of eyeSlices eye treatment…

Compact casing allows you to easily store it. Use it at home or even at work when you feel the need to soothe or refresh your eyes.

These eye slices contain no cucumber extract, which is great for people who are allergic to cucumbers. These eye treatment eye slices can be used to reduce eye puffiness, appearance of red eye, dark circles and wrinkles under the eye. It can also be used to help soothe eye conditions such as tired and swelling eyes, and any eye irritations.

Eye masks: Eye Slices soothing eye mask

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From the Japanese company, Mastunaga, comes a new gadget to keep awake: the Wink Glasses. A pair of lightweight, stylish looking glasses meant to help you stay awake. It is paired with a “wink sensor”, a detachable sheet of transparent liquid crystal sensor that fogs up when it senses no eye “winking” movement.

Gadget Keep Awake: Wink Glasses

Wink Glasses: how do they work?

On average, an adult male blinks three times in a second, while women average almost two blinks every four seconds. Wink Glasses is a gadget that gives a leeway of 5 seconds, if it detects no eye movement (which would constitute to a person day dreaming, or about to doze off), the glasses will begin to cloud one eye. Fogging the vision of one side of the glasses is said to stimulate the brain, to wake you up. The moment it senses eye movement it will revert back to its transparent state.

Wink Glasses are USB powered, but are also able to function wirelessly up to 8 hours. The “wink sensor” can be attached to your prescription glasses.

Gadget Keep Awake: Wink Glasses

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The most dreaded week after holidays, returning back to school or work and the attempt to get you back into a proper sleeping pattern. Days of sleeping late and sleeping in are now on hold till weekends, or until your next break. In the meantime, how can one expect to function properly during the daylight hours, with so little rest from the night before? Whether you need to stay awake in class or at work, here are some tips compiled to help you stay awake, while maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

Tips to stay awake…

Eat Breakfast – Having a healthy breakfast is a good way to get your metabolism and energy up and running for your day. Skipping out may leave you unfocused, and unable to concentrate or stay awake until lunch.

Cold Water – Splash your face with cold water in the morning. Not only does this wake you up, but it also helps to close your pores from the pollutant elements in the air. During the day, if you feel tired, drink or splash your face again with cold water.

Caffeine – A common solution in society today to stay awake. Coffee, tea & energy drinks have become our main options, and from a health point of view, coffee and tea are better than energy drinks; but in comparison, tea is healthier than coffee. Many people these days are making it a point to cut coffee from their diet for health reasons. While tea is a better, cheaper, and a healthier choice for a caffeine source, one cup of coffee a day is okay compared to three cups in one day.

Did you know? Oolong tea offers caffeine that can last the whole day, without the health or jittery side affects of energy drinks and coffee. The longer you steep Oolong, the more caffeine you get – careful not to have it too dark, or it may stay awake till the middle of the night. A nice rosy color, where you can still see the bottom of your cup is good enough.

Music – In the car, or in your iPod, music has been studied, and known to affect a person’s mood. We get it all the time in movies, shopping, etc. Listening to upbeat, fast-track sounds are great wake up music (avoid soft & slow music, like jazz or classical). Either between classes, transiting, or in the work place with headphones can help you stay awake, rather than silence which can be boring, then tiring.

Snacking – Healthy snacks: Granola bars, cold veggies, nuts, etc. Work that requires a lot of thinking and a lot of concentration uses a lot of brainpower. Keep the energy going and stay awake by gradual consumption of munchies.

Did you know? Eating small meals rather than big meals is better and healthier. Small meals & healthy snacking keeps your metabolism going, which produces energy to help you stay awake. Eating big meals can make you feel tired and lazy afterwards; it also slows down your metabolism as it tries to digest the large quantity.

Exercise – A bit of light cardio in the morning is a good way to get the blood pumping, and your metabolism going. Just remember to have a bite after to replenish the energy you used.

Napping – (Not mandatory) It’s not a bad thing if you have time and you need to rest your eyes. A nap 15 – 30 minutes is best for a power nap, making you feel energized and refreshed when you get up. Anything longer will make you feel even more tired and lazy.

How to stay awake: in class or at work

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Welcome to the beginning of the new year of 2010. My how time flies. To start the new year’s posting, let’s talk about essential oils. Particularly one product: Peppermint Halo, by Saje Natural Wellness.

One of the best natural headache remedies, I’ve found, that is completely safe and harmless to the body. An encouraging natural headache relief option to consider, instead of consuming drugs for those in constant need of a headache remedy. My friend introduced me to this little bottle, and I have forever been in love. Personally, I was never really firm believer in natural medicine, because not everything works for everyone. However, I have never doubted natures healing remedies as it was used long ago – before science discovered how to cram things into a pill form, with side effects.

Relieve headaches: Peppermint Halo

Peppermint Halo is a natural headache remedy made of essentials oils of: peppermint, eucalyptus, cajeput, rosemary, lavender & vetiver. To use, manually apply to the scalp (either with your finger, or roll-on application), following your hairline all the way around your head. This is the “halo”. Extra drops can be used to massage your temples and the area between the eyes.

Peppermint Halo: how & does it work?

The headache remedy begins to take effect almost immediately. A warm and cooling sensation helps to relieve headache pains. It’s a nice tingly feeling that sedates and relaxes the body, while the smell of lavender calms you down, and eucalyptus assists in deeper, soothing breathes.

Saje now has a policy, that if you do not like it or it didn’t work – you can return it. They understand that people avoid trying natural healing remedies, because some people consider them ineffective. What’s Saje Natural Wellness Policy? Buy it, try it, use it – don’t like it? Return it. Perfect for people who are afraid to try, in fear of losing money.

Natural Headache Relief - Peppermint Halo

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New Year’s Eve is only a day away; have you thought of a New Year resolution yet? Starting a new year it is always to reflect, and take with you the wisdom that you learned from your passing year. To kick off the learning for 2010, here are a few fun myth-busters about drinks that you may, or may not have known before. When choosing our drinks we try to consider beverages that are healthier than others, but are the choices really the healthy drink?

Wishing all you readers a healthy & happy new year!

Comparing healthy drinks…

1. Diet Pop (or Soda) is healthier than Regular Pop

A can of regular pop can have up to 135 kilocalories, whereas diet pop can contain 0-10 kilocalories. Though diet pop contains fewer calories, it is still hard to consider it healthier, as there is really nothing healthy about artificially colored and flavored water.

2. Juice is less fattening than milk

Surprisingly, juice actually contains more calories than a glass of one percent milk. Even two percent milk is less fattening at 10 kilocalories, compared to a glass of juice (120 kilocalories).  Why? Juice is mainly made up of sugar and water with some vitamins, whereas milk contains more nutrients such as protein, calcium, potassium and Vitamin D. Real fruit juice can be argued to have “healthy/natural” sugar, but in the end it’s still the sugar that makes it more fattening than milk.

3. All bottled waters (I.e. sparkling water, tonic water, flavored water, & mineral water) are WATER

Check the labels and ingredient list. Yes, plain bottled water is your regular healthy water, and is a healthy drink that is calorie-free; but tonic water has 125 kilocalories per serving. Flavored waters are flavored with artificial sweeteners or a little juice, which will also add calories.

4. Drinking wine instead of beer won’t give you a beer-belly

It is a common misconception that wine contains fewer calories than beer, when actually it is the opposite. A glass of wine (five ounces) contains about 130 kilocalories, while a bottle of beer (12 ounces) has about 150 kilocalories. Meaning that wine has more calories per ounce, compared to beer. A general rule for any drink is that the sweeter the taste, the more sugar and calories it has. This also applies to all alcoholic drinks, including hard liquor.

Beer-belly develops because calories from alcohol tend to be stored as fat in the abdomen, regardless of which kind of alcohol.

5. Coffee is the main source of caffeine

While coffee is known to contain a lot of caffeine, various amounts of caffeine can be found in many other canned drinks, and teas. Drinks such as a can of pop, or an energy drink (i.e. Red Bull) contains just as much caffeine as coffee. For those who quite drinking coffee for health reasons, having coffee in small to moderate amounts would not be harmful. However, people with high blood pressure or pregnant woman are usually advised to limit their caffeine intake.

Healthy Drink: Which one is healthier?

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