Lead In Lipsticks

By Rosy Saadeh

Believe it or not, there are lipsticks on the market that are slowly killing you. A study, conducted by the Campaign For Safe Cosmetics tested 33 different lipsticks and discovered that L'Oreal had the highest levels of lead.

If that weren't scary enough, one-third of the lipsticks tested exceeded the 0.1 ppm FDA lead limit for candy.

L'Oreal and Maybelline NY were found to contain 0.65 of lead ppm; safety levels cap off at 0.1 ppm. Now, while the Cosmetics, Toiletry and Fragrance Association (CTFA) claim that "the levels of lead that have been found in cosmetics are minimal and its presence is not a health hazard," I will not be using lipstick anytime in the near future.

And if you know what's good for you, you wouldn't either.

Here are the leading lipstick brands that contained the most lead:

L'Oreal Colour Riche “True Red” – 0.65 ppm

L'Oreal Colour Riche “Classic Wine” – 0.58 ppm

Cover Girl Incredifull Lipcolor “Maximum Red” – 0.56 ppm

Christian Dior Addict “Positive Red” – 0.21 ppm

If you want to urge L'Oreal to change the way they make their lipsticks, write to them by clicking here.

How To Improve Your Table Manners

By Joanne Redder

Whether you’re having a casual dinner with girlfriends or dining at a high-end restaurant with the potential man of your dreams, table manners are an important indication of what you’re really like.

While I’m sure you know the basics of how to eat like a lady, it’s possible that you let your best behavior fall by the wayside every now and then, and all you need is a refresher course to make sure that you maintain your table manners for a lifetime.

And even if you’re date is not behaving like a gentleman or your girlfriends are downing ribs and have sauce smeared all over their faces, it will only reflect well on you to conduct yourself like a lady.

So the next time you’re out, here’s what you need to remember about your table manners:

Table manners tip #1
When a chair is pulled out for you
Whether it’s your date or the service person, when anyone pulls out your chair, thank them and kneel down far away enough from the chair so that when the person pushes it in slightly, you can grab the bottom of the chair and perfect your seating.

Do not sit directly where the chair has been pulled out, otherwise the person will have a difficult time trying to help you bring the chair in.

Table manners tip #2
Body language
Your body language says a lot about you. Even if you are the most polite and entertaining conversationalist, if you cannot keep your “body” manners up, the rest of your behavior may not get noticed.

Napkin – Upon being seated, bring your napkin down to your lap (assuming it’s cloth), unfold it, and place it in your lap. When you finish eating, place your napkin beside the plate.

Arms – Keep your elbows off the table at all times, but do place your forearms on the table. Do not keep your hands under the table, it is considered rude.

Legs – Do not cross your legs (unless you can do so discreetly under the table) and do not at any point place your foot on the chair.

Posture – Try to keep your back against the chair when you are not eating and maintain your posture throughout the night.

Table manners tip #3
Dining etiquette
While I can’t be there to tell you how to eat whatever it is that you order, there are some simple tips you need to keep in mind.

Seasoning – Do not add salt and pepper to your food before you’ve tasted it. If someone asks you to pass the salt, pass both the salt and pepper by picking them up and placing them near the person next to you -- they should not be passed from hand to hand. As well, if someone made the request before you’ve used them, they get first dibs.

Soup – Dip your spoon into the soup and spoon away from your body, filling 2/3 of the spoon. Do not blow on or slurp your soup. When it is nearing the finish, it is fine to tilt the bowl.

Other appetizers & meals – Besides bread, I strongly suggest that you don’t order anything that needs to be eaten with your fingers (ribs, lamb chops). It could get messy and may not give off the sort of impression you’d like to make. And when you opt to eat bread – break off a piece at a time, put some butter on it (if you want) and then place the morsel in your mouth.

Every course – Leave a bit of food on your plate throughout each course; it is considered good manners.

Table manners tip #4
Utensils use
They have long been the bane of most diners but there are some easy tips to follow when it comes to your forks knives, and spoons.

If there are multiple forks at your setting, begin with the outside fork and work your way in.

When dining with a fork and knife, cut a couple of pieces of your food, place your knife at the top of your plate with the blade facing toward you, then place a morsel inside your mouth.

Always bring the food up to your mouth; do not lower your face closer to your plate.

After you’ve completed a course, do not place your used utensils back in their original place. Instead, place both your fork and knife on the right side of the plate, with the points facing away from you to indicate that you’ve completed your course.

Table manners tip #5
Being served
In an ideal world, everyone’s food would arrive at the same time. Sometimes, however, that is not the case. If your food happens to arrive before anyone else’s, wait until they have received their food as well.

If you happen to be in a restaurant where a bunch of platters are being served for the entire table to share, always pass food on your right.

Table manners tip #6
Drinking
Whether you are drinking wine or mineral water, if your glass has a stem, always hold it from the stem.

Do not take a drink of anything until someone else has broken the ice or offers to make a toast.

If you want to take a drink while you are eating, swallow your food and wipe your mouth with your napkin beforehand.

Table manners tip #7
Good conversation
If you want to be able to carry on a conversation (which you should), take small bites of food with each forkful so that you are able to swallow quickly and maintain a conversation.

Even if you’re telling a wicked story about the time you were nearly eaten by a shark, do not at any point wave your utensils in the air while speaking.

Table manners tip #8
Bathroom breaks
It’s inevitable; with all that liquid being ingested, you will definitely need a bathroom break. Or, you may just want to reapply your lipstick.

Excuse yourself before you stand up. Do not explain why you need to be excused. When you do stand up, place your napkin on your chair.

Table manners tip #9
Paying the tab
If you are the one who extended the invitation to dinner, it’s only right to pick up the tab. Be discreet about it and thank your guest(s) for coming.

Table manners for women

It’s widely believed that if you’re looking for a gentleman, you need to behave like a lady, and while no one wants to be this formal all the time, it is nice to adapt some table manners when you’re in a situation that calls for it.

Bon appetit.

Fitness Q&A

By Diane Bomba

Fitness advice on muscle soreness, eating before workouts, water replacements, and foot numbness when it comes to cardio workouts.

If you have a health question, submit it to Diane at info@ladythrills.com.


Muscles soreness after workout

Dear Diane,

I am very familiar with the motto, “No pain, no gain.” I workout out five days a week, two hours a day, and I spend each of those days working one or two muscle groups and doing cardio.

The next day after any workout, I feel sore. Not so sore that I’m incapacitated, but sore enough to know that I got a serious workout. A friend told me that I must be doing something wrong if I feel sore. My body is showing me otherwise; I look awesome.

But is it possible that I am actually damaging my body for the long-term?

Nadia

Hi Nadia,

Wow, you are one dedicated workout babe! Good for you.

If your soreness is a result of muscle pain and not joint pain, you are on the right path to a perfect body. What’s important is that you feed your muscles with the necessary sustenance (protein, healthy fats and complex carbohydrates) to help them recover, and get stronger and leaner.

Some soreness the day after a workout indicates that you are constantly building your muscles effectively. The minute you stop feeling slight soreness, it means you’ve hit a plateau and need to switch up your workout.

If you feel healthy and muscle recovery doesn’t take more than 48 hours, then I think that you shouldn’t pay any mind to your friend and keep on doing what you’re doing.

Sincerely,
Diane

Eating before or after workout

Dear Diane,

There has been much debate about whether I should eat before and/or after a workout. I prefer to eat afterwards simply because any time I eat beforehand, I feel awful.

So once and for all, what is the right thing to do?

Cathy

Hi Cathy,

Neither is wrong. It all comes down to a matter of preference. Of course, whether you eat before or after is not as important as what you eat. A balanced diet that includes complex carbohydrates, protein and good fats will help you reach and maintain your fitness goals.

Eating beforehand
If you opt to eat beforehand, however, you need to be more wary of what you munch on. For example, it’s probably best to avoid proteins coupled with high fats like meat, nuts and cheese, as those kinds of foods may leave you feeling heavy and tired.

Also, you shouldn’t eat right before a workout, but rather an hour or more before you start exercising.

Finally, stay hydrated at all times in order to keep up your energy throughout your workout.

And contrary to popular belief, it is not a good idea to work out on an empty stomach first thing in the morning because your body is already starving and will be running on fumes. You will be eating away at your muscle; not just your fat stores.

Eating afterwards
Studies show that eating 15 to 60 minutes after a workout is optimal for replacing lost glycogen and helping your body to recover. You don’t need to eat a full meal, but a combination of complex carbs and protein (i.e. an apple with a few almonds or turkey on whole wheat pita bread) are optimal for recovery.

And, again, drink plenty of water to keep your body hydrated.

Diane

Does anything replace water?

Dear Diane,

I know you’re supposed to drink eight glasses of water a day but I was wondering if drinking energy drinks or flavored water count as well.

Jill

Dear Jill,

Sorry Jill, but no, they don’t count. To start, most energy drinks and flavored waters contain a lot of sugar; avoiding them altogether is probably a good idea.

Nothing can be substituted for water so I strongly recommend that you stick to drinking it daily. The best way to get your necessary water intake is by keeping a bottle of it by your side at all times.

Sincerely,
Diane

Feet go numb with cardio

Dear Diane,

Whenever I get past the 20-minute point when I’m doing cardio, my feet begin to go numb. What’s going on?

Please help,
Jake

Hi Jake,

Nice to see that there’s a man checking out my column!

Now, on to your question. There are a few possible reasons why your feet may go numb when you perform your cardio workout.

You tie your shoes too tight

You’re performing an exercise that presses your toes against the edges of your shoes

You never lift your feet off the platform

Your feet go numb because blood is not able to circulate through them freely and quickly enough. As well, because your body require more oxygen, it’s possible that, by the time the O2 gets to your feet it’s already been depleted by your larger leg muscles.

Nevertheless, tie your shoes a tad looser, switch up your cardio routine and lift your feet off the platform every now and again. If that doesn’t work, I recommend you visit a doctor.

Good luck,
Diane

Top 10 Ways To Lose Weight

By Renee Carter

Dieters spend upwards of $30 billion per year on commercial weight loss products, and yet the obesity epidemic has not taken a turn for the better. In fact, although they’re making an effort to lose weight, women have become fatter than ever before.

Is it because most weight loss remedies are only temporary, or is it because many overweight people expect immediate results and give up when they don’t lose weight by the next day? The answer probably includes a bit of both.

There’s no doubt that taking off the weight is less fun than putting it on, but by making minor changes in your daily life, you will lose weight and reap the benefits within weeks.

Lose weight tips #10
Eat a big breakfast
Most women I know tend to eat very little in the morning and eat progressively more and more throughout the day. You’re objective should be to eat a big breakfast to fuel your body so that you feel full and energized for the entire morning.

Let me guess - you never feel hungry in the morning, right? Well that’s probably because you eat so much at night that you wake up feeling full. But if you eat more in the morning and less during the evening, you will wake up feeling famished.

And because you’ll feel full for so long, you won’t want to pack in the food during lunch and dinner, nor will you want to snack on everything in the house at night.

So what constitutes a “big” breakfast? A boiled egg, a bowl of natural oatmeal with walnuts, cinnamon and raisins (if you can’t stand oatmeal, go for a sugar-free cereal), a fruit or fresh juice (no sugar), and a cup of coffee or tea.

Lose weight tips #9
Cut out 500 calories a day
By removing as little as 500 calories from your daily diet, you will lose one pound per week without exercising (1 pound = 3500 calories). Don’t confuse calorie-restriction with starving, however…

If you usually eat a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, then skip it and opt for a salad (without dressing) instead. Put down the candy bar and pick up carrots instead. All of these small changes will have a big impact on your weight loss.

Lose weight tips #8
Keep junk food out of the house
Most of us can’t resist junk food; it’s fast, it tastes great and you can eat it with your fingers. But the bad thing about junk food is that it eventually shows up on our hips and thighs.

The easy solution is this; you spend all day faced with candy bars and hip-thickening foods at work, so the last thing you need is to come home to the same temptations. Your best bet would be to keep all junk food out of the house. After all, if it’s not in the house, you won’t be able to eat it.

Lose weight tips #7
Cut salt out of your diet
Salt can be found in most foods we eat, so adding more to your meals is not helping your waistline.

Salt’s synonyms include baking soda, baking powder, MSG, and soy sauce, and whenever you use any of these ingredients in food, you are not only going to end up retaining water, you will gain weight, and it’s usually not just because of the salt itself.

Most salty foods tend to be high in calories, low in fiber and processed. By vowing to cut salt out of your diet, you will stop retaining water and avoid foods that contain a lot of salt (most of which are bad for you anyway).

Lose weight tips #6
Switch to low-fat
Most dieters think that skipping meals will help them lose weight, and it sometimes does. The problem, however, is that your body thinks it’s starving and the minute you go back to eating the way you usually do, your body will store those calories because it thinks that you might starve it again.

So rather than skip meals, which will only slow down your metabolism, opt instead for the low-fat options of the foods you enjoy so much. Just don’t fool yourself into believing that because it’s low-fat you can eat double the amount.

Lose weight tips #5
Replace fat with fresh
Typical snack foods include chips, chocolate and candy; they’re convenient and readily available almost everywhere you go. But now that you’ve decided not to bring junk food into your house, purchase fresh fruits and vegetables instead.

When you get home, place some carrots into individual plastic bags, and remove some grapes from their stems and place them into bowls. This way, when you head to the fridge in search of snack, you can opt for something with negligible calories that needs no preparation.

Lose weight tips #4
Cut out sodas
Do you know how many calories a large soda contains at a fast food restaurant? Almost 300. That’s 300 useless calories going into your system. And diet sodas are no better because sugar substitutes don’t allow your body to feel full; possibly making you eat more than necessary.

And if you tend to drink a lot of soda, imagine how many calories you’ll be saving by switching to water instead? That alone will help you lose about a pound per week.

Lose weight tips #3
Write down what you eat
Although I thought it a dumb idea to write down what I eat, when a dietitian insisted that I try it for just one week, only then did I realize that I really wasn’t eating as well as I had imagined.

By writing down what you eat, you will figure out when you eat the most, and when you eat the worst. If I was depressed, chocolate or ice cream was there; if it was the weekend, you could bet that I was eating some sort of decadent dessert.

If you have to write it down, you will have to hold yourself accountable and if you want to stop eating garbage, the only way to train your brain to start taking initiative is by showing it what you’re really ingesting on a daily basis.

Lose weight tips #2
Drink water
Water. Most women don’t realize it, but when you’re in the mood for something but can’t quite figure out what it is, or when you feel stuffed but are in the mood to eat some more, it’s quite possible that your body is actually thirsty.

The next time you think you’re hungry at an inappropriate time, down a full glass of water instead and wait a minute. If you don’t feel satisfied, then it’s possible that you are hungry, but we commonly mistake thirst for hunger.

Drink at least half your body weight in ounces of water every day (if you weigh 150 pounds, you should be drinking about 75 ounces of water, or approximately 9 glasses of filtered or spring water each day), and you will begin to notice a difference in your skin, your weight and your mood.

Lose weight tips #1
Buy a pedometer
Do you have any idea how many steps you take each day? Well, if you drive to work and work in an office, chances are you probably don’t take more than 4,000. The average woman should be taking at least 10,000 steps each day.

I strongly recommend that you purchase a pedometer and go about your regular day to see what you have actually been doing up to this point. If my assumptions are correct, you will need to step up your activity by doubling your steps.

It will become a fun game and you’ll want to take the stairs, park your car further away and even go for a walk at lunch, all because you want to meet the 10,000 march mark.

Before you know it, you’ll feel healthier and will make walking a part of your everyday routine.

Lose weight in a week

If you expect to drop 10 pounds in a week, then you have an unrealistic outlook on what it takes to lose weight and keep it off. Your objective should be to make permanent lifestyle changes rather than temporary ones.

A healthy weekly weight loss is about 1 to 3 pounds per week (it may be more dramatic if your body is carrying around a huge excess and your habits have not included any of these 10 tips thus far).

The aforementioned tips don’t require any special equipment or behaviors, but they can help you reach your goals in due time.

Music Reviews - Matchbox Twenty

By LadyThrills.com Staff

Exile on Mainstream is the DVD of the ages; it has all the awesome songs we've come to know and love by Matchbox Twenty, including "Bent," "Disease," "Push," and "Unwell."

If that weren't enough, add to that the MVI factor; you can see all the lyrics with every song selection, you can watch two "Behind the Disc" making of the album, and you can try the Nu-Myx and create your very own Matchbox Twenty music, which can then become your ringtone.

And if all that doesn't satisfy your MT needs, you can check out photos of the band, get yourself some IM icons and even choose a wallpaper.

But let us not forget what all this is really about: the music. Not only do you get the band's greatest hits; you get 6 brand spanking new songs - "How Far We've Come," "I'll Believe You When," "All Your Reasons," "These Hard Times," "If I Fall," and "I Can't Let You Go."

So feast your ears and, now, eyes, on one of the most talented bands of our era. Enjoy.

Best Song: "Can't Let You Go"
Best Video: Behind The Disc - 6 New Songs
Best Interactive Computer Feature: Nu-Myx
Visit MVIMusic.com/MatchBoxTwenty to get your own copy.

LadyThrills Rating: 4 out of 5