The Sun: A Love/Hate Relationship

Without the sun, there wouldn’t be life.  And we like getting out and giving our shining star a bit of an embrace.  Who doesn’t love basking in the sun?  That heat sinking into your skin, warming you up. 

But … all too frequently the sun doesn’t know its own strength—or maybe it’s us.  For all the love we give the sun, who doesn’t hate the damage the sun can do?  It’s a love/hate relationship.

May is  “Skin Cancer Awareness Month.”  Skin cancer is on the rise in the United States.  The American Cancer Society estimates that one American succumbs every hour from skin cancer.  Reduce your risk of skin cancer by loving the sun intelligently. 

The National Council on Skin Cancer Prevention has declared the Friday before Memorial Day, May 27, 2016, as “Don’t Fry Day” to encourage sun safety awareness.  The National Council gives us this tip:

Remember to Slip! Slop! Slap!…and Wrap when you’re outdoors — slip on a shirt, slop on broad spectrum sunscreen of SPF 30 or higher, slap on a wide-brimmed hat, and wrap on sunglasses.

Slop

Stock up on sunscreen and slop it on.  You might like the look of tanned skin, but the sun takes a heavy toll on your health and your appearance.  UV rays can lead to premature aging and skin cancer.  A broad-spectrum UV sunblock with an SPF of at least 30 will protect you.  And don’t forget to use a UV protective lip balm.  Apply generously, every 2 hours.

Wrap

Buy quality sunglasses and wrap them on.  UV rays are damaging to the eyes.  Too much exposure raises the risk of cataracts over time. The bright light also makes you squint, which can contribute to fine lines around the eyes. Look for sunglasses that specifically offer protection against UV rays.

Slip & Slap: Both Sun Protection & Flaw Strategy

‘Slip something on and slap on a hat’ are excellent tips for shading yourself from harmful UV rays.  But there’s another strategy here as well: Dealing with flaws.

Flaws, we all got ‘em.  The important thing is to be healthy, happy, and confident.  If you’re not totally comfortable with parts of your body, cover certain things up and move the attention elsewhere.  If you’re a bit shy about your butt, hips, or thighs, there are plenty of skirts, sarongs, shorts, and other swimwear accessories that are cute cover-ups.  If you have long beautiful hair, flaunt it.  If you have captivating eyes, accent them with some waterproof makeup.  Do your nails or get them done.  Take a few minutes to make yourself feel beautiful.  Remember, no one else is as critical of us as us.  When all is said and done, feeling comfortable in your own skin, even if it’s not totally perfect, is the most attractive attribute you can have.

Please visit us at Elase to check out the EltaMD® Sunscreen line of products, specially formulated with transparent zinc oxide, and is noncomedogenic, sensitivity-free, fragrance-free and paraben-free.  This diverse line includes products for extra-sensitive skin; skin prone to acne, rosacea and hyperpigmentation; tinted formulas for 2-in-1 sunscreen/bronzer convenience, and several oil-free options.  Our clients try it once, and they’re hooked!

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Go = Goals

S = Skin

H = Hair Removal

E = Exercise

D = Diet

Goals

• • Make them and make them real. Determine what areas you want to improve and how, then set realistic goals—something you know you can achieve in a given time. The important thing is progress, not perfection. If you look around at the pool, you’ll notice most people’s bodies are less than perfect. Choose one or two things you want to improve for this swim season, achieve them, and feel great about that! Celebrate the healthy changes you are making in your life and avoid unrealistic expectations.

• Remember them. Remember your goals daily. Make a reminder such as placing your written goals or your swimsuit where you’ll remember your goals and strive daily to meet them until swimsuit time.

Skin

• • Inspect it. Give your skin a close inspection to know just what state it’s in. This will let you know if it’s in need of some attention. While you’re at it, look closely at any mole or freckle that looks suspicious and if you see any, have a doctor check it out.

• • Soften it. If you want to show off smooth skin this summer, try exfoliating and moisturizing. Exfoliation is the removal of dead skin cells that make skin appear dry, dull, and scaly. Moisturizers help the skin retain water, making it look plumper.

• Bronze it, don’t tan it. While a tan may look good, it’s the first sign of sun damage to the skin. To avoid the danger of tanning, opt for self-tanners and bronzers rather than the tanning bed.

Hair Removal

• Plan it, do it. You know all about this chore. Why, you’ve spent cumulative months of your life on a quest to reign in your body’s wild side and remove unwanted hair. Avoid that last-ditch effort with the razor bumps and burns. If you plan ahead and start early, you can address body hair to the swimsuit line using methods that are longer-lasting. Waxing and creams will give you a few weeks without worry. If you want something long-term and worry free, try laser hair removal and experience just how good it can get.

Exercise

• • Don’t slouch! Good posture is the quickest and easiest way to look better. Slouching makes you inches shorter and makes your tummy look rounder. Form an everyday habit of sitting up and standing with good posture, with your shoulders back, tummy tight, and weight distributed evenly on both hips.

• • Start moving. You’ve heard it before, but it really works: Make a conscious effort to add small bits of physical activity throughout the day. Walk farther, stand more, use the stairs, dance, clean house with vigor, whatever. “It’s like putting pennies in a piggy bank,” says Pamela Peeke, MD, author of Body for Life for Women. “Every single piece of physical activity adds up.” In addition to burning extra calories, you’ll give yourself an energy boost and a mental reset to make it through your hectic day.

• • Every day. Exercise at least 10 minutes each day. Sure, you’ll want to do more than that on some days, but doing just 10 minutes of cardio, stretching or strength training each day will help you make exercise a habit in your life. Here are some simple, do-them-anywhere, yet effective, exercises:
    • • Push-Ups, for the biceps, triceps, deltoids, pecs, abs, and glutes.
    • • Squats and calf raises, for the butt, thighs, and calves.
    • Pilates, Yoga, or Crunches, for the abs, back, and overall core, these also improve flexibility, posture, and mood.

• • Embrace the resistance. Do weight-bearing or resistance workouts 2-3 times per week to burn calories, boost your metabolism, and develop lean muscles that look and feel better than flab. If you’re not already including weight-bearing exercises in your workout regimen, you should start as soon as possible. Shoot for 3 sets of 10-20 reps.

• Enjoy it! Choose exercise activity that you enjoy. This way you are more likely to stick with it. Join an exercise class or gym. Enlist the help of a friend by working out with her or checking up on each other’s progress.

Diet

• • Make some choices. You don’t have to go on some strange, strict diet, just make some simple choices to reign it in in the right ways. Skip the fries and other fattening fast food. East more veggies and fruit. These foods are full of vitamins and minerals, and will help keep you full and energized throughout the day. Cut back on refined carbohydrates from flour and sugar. Replace soda with juice or any number of less-sugary drinks. Increase lean protein and fiber intake to help slow the digestive process and reduce cravings. Eat breakfast every day to boost your metabolism at the start of the day. To reduce bloating, reduce the salt—it’s everywhere! Snack smart by making healthy snack choices that are ready to go.

• Stay watered. Drink at least 8 glasses of water every day. It is VERY important to stay hydrated. Don’t underestimate it. If you need another reason to drink up, drink this up: the best way to rid yourself of excess water weight is to flush your body with water. So gulp it down like your body depends on it, cause it does! By making some realistic goals in these key areas, giving yourself a reminder, and achieving them daily, you can be ready to SHED those clothes and enjoy that summer fun. So, ‘Go, SHED, Swim!’

Please visit us at Elase for a free consultation with a trained specialist to learn how we can be of assistance in your swimsuit preparations. Check out these hot summer specials:

• • “Try the Trio” Laser Hair Removal Special: bikini, underarm, and half leg for only $89/month!

• Body Sculpting Special: Purchase the fat-removing Ultrashape service, and receive 3 FREE Velashape cellulite-reducing treatments! Plus, receive double reward points with any body sculpting purchase.

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