The recent warm weather spells in Washington, D.C. have brought out tree pollen with a vengeance this season, and it’s still officially winter! The trees, especially elms and junipers, have started pollinating earlier, and at higher levels, than previously recorded at this time of year. Many people don’t realize their recent symptoms may have been due to allergies. They were likely thinking this must be another cold.

Liquid facelift is the new "buzz word" for anyone interested in turning back the clock on aging. The liquid facelift utilizes hylaronic acid fillers (Restylane, Juvaderm), calcium based fillers (Radiesse) and neuro-toxins (Botox, Dysport) − all administered at the same visit for full correction of lines, wrinkles, folds and creases. This unique and non-surgical procedure is gaining in massive popularity because the procedure can usually be done in less than an hour, with minimal discomfort and little to no downtime (although some swelling and bruising can be a side effect as a result of the injections). When considering this procedure, however, it is critical that you have the injections done by a doctor who has extensive experience in administering the proper fillers in the most benefi cial areas as well as the most expert techniques.

Starting the New Year off right is something most of us want to do, but it can seem like an overwhelming task to get on track and stay there. The good news is, it’s really not that hard. Your happiest and healthiest year yet is yours for the taking, and all you have to do is follow these ten easy tips.

I’m fat obese. I weigh 222 pounds with a BMI of 40.2%, down from the 53% BMI and 234 pounds that rocked my world two months ago. Now that I’ve thrown it out into the universe for the world to recoil in disgust from, I can release it and move on to Phase Two, whatever that may be. My fitness downfall is always due to a lack of planning. As an “ideas” person, I’m great at brainstorming an idea, implementing it and handing it off to others to complete. I can’t do that with my health.

Being fat is easy. Becoming morbidly obese, now there’s a challenge. Let me break it down for you.

CHILDHOOD
Be the only chubby, non-athletically inclined individual born into a family of sports fanatics. You earn bonus points if your mother is a tomboy who organizes neighborhood track meets in the vacant lot next to your house and you manage to avoid participating in any of these events. Learn quickly to grab your red bike and peddle off to the library when you hear rumblings from your mother about gathering the bats and mitts and calling the neighborhood children over for a game of baseball. It’s especially helpful if a sibling with a perfect physique and athletic prowess teases you on a daily basis about the way your thunder thighs jiggle when you leap a hurdle (a.k.a., a picnic table bench) during one of those neighborhood track meets. (Remember the library strategy.) This constant demoralizing banter crushes your self esteem. A crushed self esteem is one of the most critical elements in achieving a morbidly obese existence.

The New York Times recently published an article previewing a book on the rewards and risks of practicing Yoga. William J. Broad became significantly aware of the risks of Yoga through an injury and then used his curiosity to widen his perspectives on the practice of Yoga in modernity. Reading this article was great for me. As a student of exercise and human movement mechanics, it was an extreme relief to read this pertinent article. His message is simply that there are many healing presumptions when it comes to yoga and maybe that one cannot heal the body and mind by walking into a yoga studio a handful of times because it’s not suited for the vast majority of people. His research and experience give us several reasons to NOT “Just Do It”. Rather, we should listen to the body, its protective mechanisms, and question its limitations.

One of the most important aspects of the first trimester is keeping your energy level up. That’s no small feat! Pregnancy typically conjures thoughts of fatigue and exhaustion, and although nearly every woman experiences a decrease in energy at some point during pregnancy, there are ways to boost energy and keep you moving right along until you give birth.

Here are six ways to stay happier and healthier in the beginning of your pregnancy and beyond:

Now that summer is over and fall is into full swing, you might want to get your hair on a new workout routine, as in getting it into shape by cutting off some of those dead ends. Figuring out a new “do” for fall can take years off your look, and accentuate your best features. Before you ask your Stylist for the latest trend right off the runway, you should really look at your face shape and the texture of your hair to determine which style will look best on you.

What face shape do you have? That’s easy, pull all of your hair back into a tight ponytail or use a headband if your hair is short, and look straight into a mirror. Take your lipstick and outline your face on the mirror (don’t worry a little Windex will take it right off). Start by outlining your forehead, go around your cheeks, and down to your chin. Most likely your face shape wall fall into one of these categories: oval, round, square, heart-shaped or long.