Oprah and Bob Greene Take Their Diet Tips To Mississippi

Here we go, again.

Oprah and fitness guru, Bob Greene, are telling folks how to lose weight in a new way. And now, they're taking their diet tips to Oprah's home state of Mississippi, the fattest state in the country. One of out three Mississippians is considered obese. Yes, that is an alarming statistic, but how can Oprah claim to be a fitness and diet expert, after so many well-documented diet failures??!!

Oprah is currently in the last days of her 21-day detox diet. The divine Ms. O was inspired by popular author, Kathy Freston, and her book, Quantum Wellness. Oprah had remarked in a blog at her website, that she was jump-starting an inner makeover. In addition, Oprah had gained some considerable weight recently, and wanted to stream-line her figure.

Lets give props to Ms. O, for wanting to tone up, keep an uncluttered mind, and being forced to abstain from bread, sugar, animal products, caffeine, and alcohol for 21 long days. This vegan diet plan isn't easy. What is left to eat, Oprah asked? Kathy Freston said, there is plenty. Like brown rice, steamed vegetables, apples, blueberries, flax crackers with peanut butter. And so forth.

Oprah is on the last leg of her 21-day cleanse or detox diet. And she misses one item terribly. She explains it in her 21-day cleanse blog at http://www.oprah.com/:

Wine…yes, I've missed it the most. It's amazing how many things I have to toast in life. We did a champagne toast with the crew today as we finished last show of the season. Neither I nor the Veganista Cleanse Team took a sip. That wasn't as hard as it would have been last week—that same team was at dinner with T.C. (Tom Cruise), where we did have wine. So we felt okay today. This cleanse has provided discipline and restraint. Only once have I craved chicken. Too many lentils that day.This week was harder without Tal, but we've managed to do okay. Yesterday, I prepared breakfast for the VCT before doing the show. I brought gluten-free waffles and Morningstar vegetable sausage that Tal had left in my freezer from his shopping at Whole Foods. Delicious and easy breezy to prepare.Eating more consciously now feels like a way of being. I actually think about how my food got to my plate. That was the whole point, right?Doesn't mean I'm committed to veganism…but I am thinking about what I eat and why. And from that I can never turn back.— Oprah

I'm proud Oprah is getting back on the diet track. But she has done so, over and over again, with mediocre success. Why does she have to take her personal journey on the road? Leave the good folks of Mississippi alone. Since when is Oprah an authority on weight loss?

This is one battle I wish Oprah would quietly fight on her own.

My Favorite Hairspray Beauty Tip

We all want hair that's thick and healthy. Hair that doesn't wilt in the humidty. Hair that moves, but has big body. Or as the makers of Stiff It hairspray say: "Intense volume! Crazy hold!"

Hands down. Stiff It Hairspray is my favorite for several years now. I used to buy the cans at CVS and other drugstores, until suddenly, the hairspray disappeared off store shelves. I panicked. Major panic! I looked at my empty can of Stiff It and found the address and located a telephone number. Then I began ordering them by the case, and have been, ever since.

Stiff It is distributed by Key Brands International of California. To order from their website, visit: http://www.keybrands.com/.

What's so super about this hairspray? Well, it actually has hold, or memory. It gives you volume. It isn't sticky. And it's pretty good in muggy weather. Okay, it isn't perfect. It's not a miracle, but for me, with long, straight hair, it's prety darn good.

Stiff It Mega Hold is made with wheat protein and panthenol B-5. It also comes in a non-aerosol hairspray.

I prefer the aerosol cans. The cost is $34.90 a case (6 cans). The price includes shipping and handling and arrives quickly by UPS Ground. Not bad, averaging out to actually $5.00 or less, for a can of Stiff It Hairspray. That's a good deal.

And if you'd like to explore more wonderful hair styling products, the Key Brands website features these brands:

Freeze It

Freeze Fame

Hi Def

Merci Gelle

Polish It

Vital Care

Vital Plus

Vital Solutions

There are shampoos, anti-frizz serums, spiking gels, sports gels, more and more hairsprays, shiny hair serums, volumizing mousses, etc. So many varieties. Every hair type and texture can find something good at keybrands.com.

How To Apply Suncreen The Right Way

I never knew this:

When you apply sunscreen, don't forget to put it along your hair part. What? Yes, your scalp can burn. Wherever you part your hair, remember to rub some sunscreen in there. And if you are bald, your head needs to be shielded from the sun's damaging rays, so sunscreen is essential.

I learned these tips from a dermatologist making the morning TV rounds yesterday. In addition, don't forget to rub sunscreen along the sides of your face. This is actually another simple, but intelligent tip. Most times, we hurry applying the sun lotion, and end up ignoring the entire face and ears.

And use plenty of sunscreen. Don't skimp. You need to apply a lot of it, for it to do its thing, and that is, protection from the UVA and UVB rays. Think of the rays like this: UVA rays affect aging of the skin, and UVB rays affect burning of the skin.

The number one best sunscreen for 2008, according to Consumer Reports:

Neutrogena UltraSheer Dry-Touch, 45 SPF. Score: 86/100.
Excellent protection all the way around. Cost: $4.33 per fl. oz.

World-famous plastic surgeon, Dr. Michelle Copeland, swears by her excellent sunscreen product. She created it:

SPF-40 Lotion Mist Sun Block ($30, 4 oz.)
Recommended for: SPF-40 sun protection to block UVA/UVB rays in easy-to-apply spray mist. (http://www.drcopelandskincare.com/)

More advice from Consumer Reports: Choose your sunscreen with the highest protection against both UVA and UVB rays. Make sure the sunscreen is very water resistant or waterproof. And select an SPF of at least 30.

When applying sunscreen, the Food and Drug Administration says a sunscreen works most effectively when:

applied about a half-hour before heading outside
applied liberally on all exposed skin (Many dermatologists suggest at least a teaspoon of sunscreen just for the face.)
reapplied at least every two hours or more often if you're sweating
reapplied after swimming

And most of all, have fun in the sun, but try and avoid the peak burning hours of 10 AM to 4 PM.

Personal Beauty Tips From Dr. Michelle Copeland

We recently spoke with world-famous plastic surgeon, Dr. Michelle Copeland, of New York City. She told us about her skin care line and the beauty treatments that bear her name. Dr. Copeland is very serious about healthy skin. And as she reminded us all:

"Everyone can have beautiful, healthy, and lustrous skin." http://www.beautytiptoday.com/2008/06/dr-michelle-copelands-simple-beauty.html

In today's article, we have taken a further look at Dr. Copeland's personal beauty tips.

We asked Dr. Copeland about vitamins and supplements. Is that baloney, or can they really play a part in delivering good skin?

"Daily use of a product with anti-oxidants such as Vitamin C, E, or green tea, is crucial. These anti-oxidants help to keep the skin clear, healthy, and nourished. Some moisturizers and serums now contain these anti-oxidants. The skin is an outward reflection of the internal situation. A diet rich in fruits, green leafy vegetables, herbs and spices and lean proteins such as chicken, give you the nutrients you need for healthy skin."

http://mcskin.com//product_info.php?products_id=74

Do smoking and boozing eventually rob a woman of her youthfulness? We see a number of young models and actresses partying away, and they all look stunning. Does it catch up to them in time?

"Yes, definitely. Smoking causes vaso-constriction of the tiny vessels that feed the skin. The result is a complexion that's dull, as opposed to luminous. Smoking also deepens lines and creates furrows. Alcohol affects the liver and causes dehydration, making your skin crepey, sallow, and dull."

How bad is the sun for our skin? Give us the honest truth.

"Sun exposure. Simply put, sun is the single most powerful factor responsible for aging skin. Solar radiation doesn't just change skin pigmentation; it penetrates deeply, disrupting and weakening collagen and elastin(another layer that holds skin together), adversely affecting cellular turnover.

Sunlight also breaks superficial blood vessels and triggers the release of free radicals, destructive molecules that change cellular DNA and can lead to pre-cancerous changes in the skin.

Using a sunblock all year round is vitally important. I've created a sunblock with an SPF40, that includes clear zinc oxide, aloe, is PABA-free, and safe for children to use." http://mcskin.com/product_list_detailed.php?cPath=2_37

And lastly, do you have a favorite skin care tip? One that doesn't involve your skin care line?

"Loofahs and washcloths are the bane of my existence. You never want to break the normal skin barrier, and that is what loofahs do. I have told many patients to lose the loofah, and they flat out, will not do it. I'm not ordering you to throw away your loofah because I want to torture you. It's an issue of cleanliness and abrasion. Think about how warm and steamy your bath gets, particularly around your tub. As we all know, bacteria and fungus thrive in hot, moist climates. Skin is our body's natural protective blockade. You don't want to compromise it.

The small abrasions caused by harsh scrubbing, aren't visible to the naked eye, but they are plenty big enough for germs, bacteria, and their counterparts, to slide right on in and set up shop."

Dr. Michelle Copeland suggests that every woman adopt a sensible skin care regimen.

"Treat your body’s skin as well as you do your face. Having healthy, beautiful skin means looking after all of it, from hairline to heel. This includes product usage. So many products on the market are just that: marketing. I don’t believe the body skin requires a million individual items. There’s no reason to go overboard or load your countertop with hundreds of bottles."

For more information, visit: http://www.drcopelandskincare.com/.

Nucelle Skin Care For Rosacea

No one knows what truly causes rosacea. But it is a skin disease that affects more than 14 million Americans today. More women than men have it, and it usually strikes those with fair skin and blue eyes, namely of Irish and Scottish descent. Sadly, most Americans don't know how to treat it. But there is a product line called Nucelle, and many people sing its praises.

What does rosacea resemble? There are four subtypes, but simply speaking, it can appear as a redness or persistent flushing of the face. Sometimes it includes the distinct redness, but with a bumpy texture. Other rosacea examples feature a thickening of the skin with an irregular epidermal texture. And lastly, ocular rosacea, which shows red, swollen, iriitated eyelids.

There is no cure for rosacea, but there are a number of treatments available, such an the antibiotic tetracycline, laser therapy, zinc oxide formulations for serious sun protection, and numerous skin care lines.

The Nucelle skin care lines gets high marks from customers, many saying it really helps tone down rosacea and acne, leaving skin radiant, clear, and smooth. Nucelle Mandelic Basic Kit ($97.50, http://www.nucelle.com/). The kit lasts a long time, according to happy users.

Mandelic acid is an AHA, or alpha hydroxy acid, that gets rid of dirt and impurities, while toning and hydrating the skin.

According to Wikipedia, famous people with rosacea, include: former President Bill Clinton, the late Princess Diana, Mariah Carey, and Rosie O'Donnell, to name a few.

Ultra Brite Really Whitens Teeth Inexpensively

I just got back from the dentist. I scored high on good oral health. No cavities. But I'm always complaining to my dentist about wanting the whitest teeth on the planet. He thinks my teeth are already white enough.

"Have you tried the Crest Whitening Strips," he asks. Yes, I answer, and they don't do a thing for me, I tell him.

But what's interesting here, I just caught a report by the well-respected and well-researched http://www.consumerreports.org/. And they claim, the best tooth whitening toothpaste is:

Ultra brite All In One Advanced Whitening.

Consumer Reports tested 41 toothpastes, toothpastes that all boast about whitening your teeth. And they found that most brands do not live up to the hype or expensive price tags. But only one was really superior at stain removal. And this one wasn't too abrasive, meaning, the toothpaste would not harm teeth and gums. And that is---Ultra brite. And what a bargain at just $2.19 a tube, 6 oz. But it's not available on all store shelves. You can get it at http://www.drugstore.com/ and drugstores like CVS.

Ultra brite doesn't even contain peroxide, and yet is able to whiten teeth beautifully. The winning toothpaste is also good at fighting cavities and tartar.

No, I haven't tried Ultra brite yet, but I am going to give it a shot and let you know how well it whitens. I read several reviews about the toothpaste, and a number of coffee drinkers gave Ultra brite, the big thumbs up!!

How To Be Younger Slimmer And Sexier By Cheryl Forberg

If you watched the NBC Reality series, The Biggest Loser, then you know who Cheryl Forberg is.

She's a nutritionist for the reality show. And she is also a chef. Her new book is called Positiviely Ageless($21.95, Barnes & Noble). Cheryl Forberg says that we can't stop aging, but that we can do it with grace, health, and vigor.

Cheryl is big on taking care of skin. Here's her advice:

Eat foods high in Vitamins A and B6

Drink plenty of water

Eat foods high in anti-oxidants

Cut out the sugar

And eat a lot of protein

Cheryl's Positively Ageless book has wonderful tips on staying at the top of your game. Here is Cheryl's Cornmeal Yogurt Scrub. The cornmeal acts a a fine abrasive. And the yogurt and olive oil nourish the skin.

1/4 cup stone-ground cornmeal
1/4 cup plain yogurt
1 tsp. extra-virgin olive oil

Mix everything together. Mositen skin with warm water. Massage mixture into skin with an upward/outward motion. Leave it on for at least 5 minutes. Then rinse.

For more information, visit: http://www.cherylforberg.com/