Media and Influence on Women’s Body Image
March 9th, 2010 | Author: admin
It has become obvious now that the media advertises and promotes a very unhealthy trend of extreme dieting and other bad eating habits to women. Most of media sources put on their covers images of skinny emancipated females.
Doing this they influence the subconscious mind of the masses. And women continue to spend their money trying to achieve this unattainable look they constantly see in media advertising.
To try and solve this problem let’s answer the next questions.
What is body image?
What kind of trends in the media industry are we noticing now?
How do the media influence our perception of body image?
What could be the reasons behind this?
What are the consequences of this kind of trend?
What are some real suggestions on how to improve your body image?
Your body image is how you perceive, think and feel about your body. This may have no bearing at all on your actual appearance. For instance, it is common in Western nations for women to believe they are larger and fatter than they really are. Only one in five women is satisfied with their body weight.
Nearly half of all normal weight women overestimate their size and shape. A distorted body image can lead to self-destructive behavior, like dieting or eating disorders. Approximately nine out of 10 young Australian women have dieted at least once in their lives.
So, the basic trend in the media industry at the moment is to promote slim, even skinny unnatural looking women’s bodies as being beautiful.
Women of all ages but especially young women look at magazines, TV, movies and other media products full of images that show skinny women’s bodies. And these are perceived by the subconscious mind of young women as being a role model to follow and aspire to be like. Achieving this skinny look does not come naturally; it inevitably leads to practicing some kind of dieting, excessive exercising or abnormal eating behaviors.
Twenty years ago, the average model weighed 8 per cent less than the average woman—but today’s models weigh 23 per cent less. Advertisers believe that thin models sell products.
When the Australian magazine New Woman recently included a picture of a heavy-set model on its cover, it received a truckload of letters from grateful readers praising the move. But its advertisers complained and the magazine returned to featuring bone-thin models.
What could be the reason behind all this? Why has this fashion trend occurred now? Why are standards of beauty being imposed on women, the majority of whom are naturally larger than any of the models?
The reasons for this according to some analysts, is an economic one. By presenting an ideal look which is difficult to achieve and maintain the cosmetic and diet product industries are assured of growth and profits. It is estimated that the diet industry alone is worth $100 billion (U.S.) a year. This is a lot of money and certainly worth their while to continue to foster emancipated women as being the norm.
And the consequences of this trend are huge. On the one hand, women who are insecure about their bodies are more likely to buy beauty products, new clothes, and diet pills or other diet supplies.
On the other hand, research indicates that exposure to images of thin, young, air-brushed female bodies is linked to depression, loss of self-esteem and the development of unhealthy eating habits in women and girls.
The level of eating disorders like anorexia and bulimia are increasing rapidly every year. It is estimated that around 5 per cent of women and 1 percent of men have an eating disorders like anorexia or bulimia or binge eating some time in their life.
And about 15 per cent of all young women have significantly distorted eating attitudes and behavior that can lead to developing anorexia or bulimia in the near future.
So, what would be some real suggestions on how to improve your body image without resorting to unhealthy eating habits?
The First one is to change your goal from weight loss to just improving your health. Second, is to focus more the internal beauty like improving your self-esteem, self-confidence and internal strengths of your character.
Get informed by reading up on body image issues and self-improvement books. And give yourself a break from women’s magazines and the mass media advertising for a while if you feel you maybe prone to this kind of false perceptions.
To sum up, the media does impact on women’s body image significantly and it can affect women’s physical and mental health in a negative way.
And the only way to stop these negative effects coming from the media is to teach women not to judge themselves by the beauty industry’s standards and learn not to compare themselves to the cover girls. And also it is important to promote a healthy life style with emphasis on internal beauty like improving self-esteem and self-confidence. Not on being a stick like model.
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Golf Fitness Training Programs and Golf Fitness Exercises for Core Strength
March 5th, 2010 | Author: admin
Golf fitness training programs and golf fitness exercises can improve your core strength. Core strength is essential in driving the golf ball farther off the tee box. In order to drive the golf ball farther it is necessary to increase the club head speed at which the driver impacts the golf ball. Two parts exist in this equation of increasing clubhead speed. One part revolves around the implementation of golf fitness exercises to improve core strength. A second part of this equation is connected to the mechanics of the golf swing.
Increasing club head speed occurs by improvement in two areas. Number one is your swing mechanics. The more efficient at which you execute the biomechanics of the golf swing, the greater amount of energy will be translated into the golf ball at impact. So, first and foremost, increasing club head speed is directly connected to your swing mechanics.
The second part of increasing club head speed is connected to your body. In order to execute the biomechanics of the golf swing efficiently, certain levels of flexibility, strength, endurance, and power are required from your muscular system. If you are lacking in any of these physical capacities, the ability to execute the golf swing will be inhibited.
The results will be compensations and a loss of club head speed at impact. In order to ensure the body has the required levels of flexibility, strength, endurance, and power to execute a swing, golf specific exercises can be implemented into a training program.
Such a training program will focus upon the core section of your body. The core is a reference to an anatomical area of the body from just above the knees to just below the chest. The core incorporates all the muscles of the front, sides, and back of the body. Muscles groups found within the core are the glutes, abdominals, obliques, and hamstrings.
Why does a golf specific training program focus upon the core?
Simply because the majority of movements of the golf swing involve the musculature of the core, and for this reason these muscles need to be flexible, strong, and power. Knowing the importance of the core relative to the golf swing, the next question to ask is how can we increase club head speed with training the core?
Club head speed in terms of the body is measured as power. Increasing the power outputs of the core will assist in improving your club head speed. Assuming you have developed the required levels of flexibility, strength, and endurance within the core to simply execute the biomechanics of the golf swing efficiently. The addition of golf fitness power training exercises will assist in improving the power outputs for the golf swing.
These types of golf fitness exercises will focus on creating increased force outputs by the core in a rotational movement pattern. Exercises often found in this section of a core program for golf are medicine ball side throws, medicine ball reverse throws, jump squats, and medicine ball overhead throws. All of these exercises develop the power outputs of the core over time if performed on a consistent basis. If you are looking for golf fitness exercises for the core and golf fitness programs please visit my website www.seancochran.com for more information in both of these areas. Remember, increasing club head speed is contingent upon both your swing mechanics and body. Improvement in both of these areas is required if the desire is to increase the distance of your drives.
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Baldness in Women – Causes and Treatments
March 1st, 2010 | Author: admin
To be able to arrive to a specific solution to hair loss in women, the initial step is to look for the root cause of this condition. There can be many underlying causes and the best treatment would only be specified once the source is pointed out.
What causes hair loss among females? Loss of hair among males is often attributed to their parents’ genes but when it comes to females, there are many other reasons that could trigger hair loss.
Factors that may Cause Hair Loss
Career women and mothers are people that are constantly stressed. It is believed that too much stress can also cause hair loss (among many other physical conditions that could sprout). Whether the stress is emotional or physical (or it could also be both), still, it is mandatory that women try to balance their lives and relax every once in a while.
Aside from stress, one other culprit is the female hormone. Hormonal imbalance could be hereditary or it could also be caused by some medications or improper diet. Also, women who are undergoing chemotherapy would most likely lose their hair. Hair loss in chemotherapy patients is not limited to the hair on one’s head but also the pubic area, armpits and other body hairs.
Women who are keen on staying in style and looking good each time are also bound to suffer from hair loss if they aren’t careful. The use of too much hair colorants, blow drying, and even hair straightening (or curling) solutions could greatly affect the strength of hair. Shampoos that have SLS or sodium laureth sulfate in them could also clog the pores on the scalp and eventually cause the hair to thin and fall out.
Sometimes, the environment that a woman lives in could contribute to hair loss. With too much exposure to the sun and warm winds, hair could easily dry out and would soon become fragile. If not properly conditioned, it would soon break, or worse, fall out.
What a Woman Should Do
Hair loss caused by stressful living could be easily treated. All that a woman has to do is to manage her time well and to become less of a worry wart. The problems would definitely still be there but becoming graceful under pressure could be rewarding. Aside from worrying less, it would help to have regular massages (either on the whole body or just the area affected by hair loss). Massages bring about relaxation and this is what a stressed woman needs. It would also help to go into an exercise regimen that would foster relaxation-yoga for instance.
For hormonal imbalances, it is always wise to consult a physician so that the proper medication (to balance the hormones) would be given. Irregularities on a woman’s immune system could also be remedied with certain medications. When the hormones are normalized, it is assumed that re-growth of the hair would soon ensue.
There are many hair loss products in the market that are now specifically made to fit women. Again, just consult a physician, first, before buying any of these products. For those who are more conservative on their choice of treatments, there are also natural remedies such as applying mixtures and solutions to the bald spot. Natural herbs such as aloe vera, rosemary oil, lauat and oils such as virgin coconut and olive oil could also help in growing hair back.
With constant and religious use of any chosen treatment, there is a slight chance that hair loss would be reversed. Some treatments may take time but perseverance would definitely pay off.
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Beauty Tips & Secrets for Summer
February 28th, 2010 | Author: admin
Beauty is a part of the women. Beauty is defined as a prominent practice of optimistic expression associated to one’s own survival. Eye liner is a makeup that is used to better define the eyes. Eyes are not just a part of your face but they are very important feature as well. Eyeliner can make even the smallest eyes appear larger. The eyeliner is there to help you out in this regard. Eyebrows play an important role in heightening the beauty of eyes. Perfect eyebrows almost transcend the beauty of the face and make an immediate visible impact in a makeover session. Eyebrows are shaped and colored all the time. Today, there are a variety of pencils for the eyebrows, in different colors and brands. Your hair reflects your general health. Eating a healthy, well-balanced diet is important for healthy hair. There are certain specific foods that are important for healthy hair. Don’t use hair removing lotion on your eyebrows. Also, it is perfectly normal for hair to grow quickly on your eyebrows.
Summer, like winter, requires it’s own special beauty tips. During the summer your skin can change quite a bit. It’s usually a few shades darker (hopefully from self-tanner only, of course), oilier due to heat and humidity or a bit parched in dry heat climates which can upset your tried-and-true makeup and skin care routine.A good water-resistant sunscreen, with an SPF of 15 or higher, should be applied to dry skin at least 15 minutes before going outdoors. It should be reapplied after swimming or spending any length of time in the sun. Certain foods and beverages, such as herbal teas, avocados, and fruit, help in purifying and nourishing the skin in summer. Spicy or hot foods should be avoided if you plan on spending any length of time outdoors, as these may cause skin irritations or inflammations. Drinking lots of water is absolutely essential to replenish moisture lost to the drying effects of the sun.
Summer Beauty Tips
1. Skin tends to get oilier in summer.
2. Use lighter facial skin care products to avoid clogging your pores.
3. Rehydrate your skin after exposure to the sun, sand and salt at the beach.
4. Protect your skin from the sun. The sun’s UV rays can cause skin cancer, so be wise and use sunblocks.
5. Apply a bit of conditioner to hair before shampooing, concentrating on ends.
6. Be sure to get a trim every 4-6 weeks to keep ends healthy.
7. Apply 3 tablespoons of olive oil to dry hair. Let sit for up to an hour, wash thoroughly.
8. Hair needs protection from the sun just like the skin. Use a shampoo and conditioner that contains sunscreen.
9. Never Underestimate the Power of Moisturizer.
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Enhancing Health & Aesthetics Through The Finest Med Spa!
February 25th, 2010 | Author: admin
Welcome to the world of Med Spas, the fastest growing component of spa industry in the United States! Medical spas are one of the most innovative facilities with services available to women and men, who wish to be pampered on their road to recovery. The industry is serving to the women’s obsession of looking the best they can, for as long as they can, and to do it with as many choices as possible.
Technological advances in skin care, dermatology and aesthetic medicine lead to the notion of performing skin treatments in a medical setting. Day Spas In Valencia have embellished the pampering, feel-good atmosphere where clients get a luxurious, relaxing atmosphere and medical supervision.
A Med Spa (Medical Spa) is a facility, where the primary purpose is to provide comprehensive medical and wellness care in an environment, which integrates spa services as well as conventional and complimentary therapies and treatments. A physician is onsite and plays an integral part in the patient’s evaluation and care.
Santa Clarita Med Spas follow ancient massage techniques combined with modern medicine to offer a unique therapeutic approach to beauty, health and wellness, in a ‘serene’ environment. Their variety of cosmetic medical treatments and procedures include, but not limited to:
Acne Treatments - For treating resistant, active acne, while diminishing older acne scars, leaving the skin smoother Non Surgical Face Lift – To tighten skin and reverse the signs of aging, with minimal to no side-effects Botox Injections – For treating facial wrinkles in the forehead, between the eyes, and in the ‘crows feet’ areas Cellulite Removal - To enhance a slimmer, trimmer figure and eliminate rippling effects of cellulite (fatty deposits beneath the skin) Restylane injections – To add volume and smoothness to skin Laser Hair Removal - For destroying the re-growth potential of hair follicles, without damaging the surrounding tissues. Massage - To energize the body, providing stress reduction and inducing deep relaxation. Acupuncture - For relieving muscular, neurological, and arthritic problems
These spas help the patients take the necessary time to heal and recuperate, while making them feel beautiful in times of illness. The belief that good health is more than just the absence of a disease, these Valencia Med Spas are finding innovative ways to create a complete picture of health, that involves physical, mental, and emotional balance!
