BENGEE'S SECRET WEAPONS

Here are some of my most frequently used and most favorite products. These are the products that keep me looking and feeling my best.

MY SKIN:

Soy Face Cleanser by Fresh

Exfolikate by Kate Somerville

Beauty Elixer by Caudalie

Hope In A Jar by Philosophy

Baggage Handler by Bliss (Morning)

Miracle Worker Eye Cream by Philosophy (Night)

MY MAKEUP:

Touche Eclat Radiant Touch by Yves Saint Laurent

Face And Body Foundation by MAC Cosmetics

Studio Fix Powder Plus Foundation by MAC Cosmetics

Matte Bronze by MAC Cosmetics

MY LOCKS:

Damage Reverse Restorative Shampoo by Ojon

Bamboo Strand Expand Hair Plumper by Alterna

Keratin Mist by Chi

Dirt Texturizing Paste by Jonathan Antin

MY SMILE:

Whitening Rinse by Listerine

Umbrian Clay Toothpaste (Whitening/Antibacterial) by Fresh

MY NAILS:

4 Step Buffer by Sephora

Pink Gel Coat by Perfect Formula

MY TAN:

Jergen’s Natural Glow

MY NEWEST FAVORITE PRODUCTS:

Moisturizing Body Cream by Yu-be

Lip Therapy by Yu-be

These products have become a part of my everyday life. They keep me looking my absolute best, even when I couldn't look worse. I hope you discover and fall in love with one or a few of my favorites!

Enjoy the beauty!

☮♥☺

  -Bengee

BENGEE'S WORKOUT ROUTINE

Hey Friends,

I just wanted to share my little workout routine to help all of you the way I've helped myself.

This is a great bodyweight workout routine for anyone. 

You can change the order of each workout to your preference. Crunches are probably everyones least favorite, so they're always hanging at the bottom of the list. However, I recommend starting with squats to get your heart rate up and your adrenaline pumping. 

-50 Squats

-10 Squat Jumps

-20 Push ups

-20 Lunges

-1 60 Second Plank

-50 Jumping Jacks

-30 Mountain Climbers

-20 Ab Cycles

-20 Crunches

This is just where I began. You can definitely add to it as your body becomes stronger and is able to handle a more intense workout.

Be Happy, Be Fit!

☮♥☺

-BENGEE

5 EASY TIPS TO BE A LITTLE FIT

HAVE A BALL:

Replace your desk chair with a fitness ball. This will improve your posture and balance while working your core muscles. I did this months ago! I’ve noticed that I sit up straight and my core muscles are stronger than ever!

You can also use this ball for some fun workouts! I hate ab workouts, but I’ve found that it’s much easier when using a fitness ball. Just Google “Fitness ball workout” and find some results that look fun and apply  to you!

TAKE A HIKE:

Stop being lazy and stop using elevators! Instead, climb the stairs and sneak in a good workout.

In a study published in the European Heart Journal, 69 hospital employees used the stairs exclusively for 12 weeks. Here are the ways they benefited, on average: 

Lung capacity: up 8.6 percent 

Body fat: down 1.7 percent 

Waist circumference: down 1.8 percent 

Diastolic blood pressure: down 2.3 percent 

LDL (bad) cholesterol: down 3.9 percent 

TURN PREP TIME INTO A DANCE PARTY:

Whether you’re getting ready for work or painting on a pretty face for a night out, put on some tunes and dance your ass off! Who says you can’t dance alone? I do it ALL THE TIME! There’s hardly ever a time I don’t have music playing at my house. Dancing burns some serious calories, so why not shake it?

DON’T DRINK YOUR CALORIES:

Drinking high calorie beverages is probably one of the worst things you can do. It’s a quick and easy way to pack on the pounds without even realizing how many calories you’re piling up.

Black coffee and most unsweetened teas both have 0 calories. Another 0 calorie beverage is WATER, the most thirst quenching beverage you can find.

LADIES AND LADYBOYS… THROW ON YOUR LOUBOUTINS:

Throw on your favorite pair of heels and get your housework done in style! Vacuuming in heels will work the muscles from your booty to the floor. Hell, while you’re at it, turn up the music and dance! Work it all at once! ONE RULE: 4 inches or higher! I’m not playing, NO ITTY BITTY KITTY HEELS! If you’re gonna wear heels, REACH FOR THE STARS!

GIFTS THAT GIVE BACK! 2.0

If you haven't already, most of you are probably beginning to think about shopping for the holidays. I know, not everyone enjoys the holiday shopping experience. I can't help with that, but I can suggest some great gifts that serve more than one purpose! 

Here are some great gifts that are sure to satisfy the recipient as well as contribute to a greater good. 

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PANGEA BOTTLES

www.pangeabottles.com

Pangea bottles are made of stainless steel, are BPA free, eco-friendly, and 100% recyclable.

Your Pangea purchase will help to provide clean drinking water for people living without it. 

At just under $20.00 per bottle, they make for an inexpensive gift and support a great cause! 

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TOMS SHOES

www.toms.com

Who doesn't love shoes?  I know I do!

For every purchase, TOMS provides a pair of shoes to a child in need. Some of these kids have never owned a pair of shoes in their lives. 

This gift is sure to mean a lot to someone. I wear mine with pride!

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FEED PROJECTS

www.feedprojects.com

Feed Projects is known for their bags and the cause behind the bags. Every purchase, no matter how big or small, will provide a meal for someone who wouldn't be eating if it weren't for you. 

So go buy a FEED bag for someone special and explain to them, the meaning behind the bag. 

Feed Projects also has the FEED 5 bracelet and the adorable FEED bear!

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CHARITY WATER

http://www.charitywater.org/shop

The Charity Water store doesn't offer many products, but each purchase provides clean water!

My favorite product from the Charity Water store is the Thermos Hydration bottle. You can literally carry the cause and message around with you. This bottle has a lot to say! Not to mention, a lot to give!

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ONE

www.one.org

ONE is one of my favorite organizations. Poverty is a big issue around the world. ONE makes it easy to help!

The ONE store sells many different products at many different prices. Including their very own FEED bag. 

Personally, I love the ONE T-shirts. They're comfortable and support the effort to make poverty history! 

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PRODUCT (RED)

www.joinred.com

A percentage of ALL (RED) purchases goes directly to the global fund to fight AIDS in Africa.

Find (RED) items from these (RED) partners:
Starbucks, GAP, Apple, Dell, American Express, Hallmark, Nike, Bugaboo, Converse, Armani, and more!

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MAC VIVA GLAM

www.maccosmetics.com

100% of your MAC VIVA GLAM purchase will go to help men, women, and children living with HIV/AIDS.

This year, MAC announced two new spokespeople with two new lipsticks and lip glasses inspired by them. Lady GaGa and Cyndi Lauper joined VIVA GLAM with two vibrant new lip colors.

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HAPPY SHOPPING!

HAPPY GIVING!

☮♥☺

-BENGEE 

Grab an Umbrella.. You're not as perfect as you think!

Sometimes you have to take a step back and ask yourself: Who are you? How did you become who you are? Who will you become? These three questions are very important. Knowing yourself is one of the most difficult things to achieve. But once you know exactly who you are, many things will come easily to you. Whether it be a career, friendships, talent, or even love. Things will flow much better once you've come to know who you are as a person. After all, how are you supposed to have a happy and successful life if you don't know yourself? 


I guess it's not so much getting to know yourself as it is being able to accept yourself. You have to accept everything that you've become, flaws and all. You may find it difficult to admit that you even possess flaws but if you learn to accept them, you'll live better. 


You can pretend to be perfect all you want, but nobody is. All you're doing is pretending those flaws don't exist. They do. They may not be so apparent, but deep down, you know you've still got them! Some flaws, however, can be disposed of. You can change yourself little by little, but you'll never be perfect. I really hate to rain on your parade.


So if you don't know you, you might want to think about an introduction. Figure out who you really are and accept your every flaw. It's okay to have imperfections.


<3XOXO
-Bengee

DOES MR. PERFECT REALLY HAVE TO BE SO PERFECT?

What is it that we look for in a guy? Who do we consider to be “Mr. Perfect”? Well, we don’t all share the same ideas when it comes to conjuring up our perfect men. However, I can tell you that a vast majority of us are aiming a little too high. We’re setting ourselves up for failure and sabotaging our own love lives. We’ve become so tangled up in our likes and dislikes that we’ve overlooked all the great guys in between. I’m not saying that we should settle for the next best thing, I’m just suggesting that we take it down a notch! Seriously, people! Do we really expect to find a man that fits each and every requirement that we’ve set for him? Is it really so difficult for us to learn to accept the little things that bother us?

Let’s be honest, some of us can be a bit ridiculous at times and we do tend to overreact. Just remember, it’s not the small things that matter. It’s the big things! Does he care about you and your feelings? Does he love you? Does he satisfy your needs? Well what are you bitching about?

We have carefully set our standards and learned to use them as a guideline when looking for “the perfect man” and we will stop at nothing until we find him. Well, guess what! You’re doing it all wrong! It’s time to forget about all that bull shit. There’s an incredibly slight chance of you finding someone who fits your standards to a T. This is one very good reason for you to lower them. I mean, nobody wants to be the cat lady!

I would highly suggest that you reconsider your ideal man. You should write two lists. The first list, “My Guy”, should consist of five things you want or must have in a man. The second list, “Not My Guy”, should consist of five things you couldn’t possibly deal with no matter how cute he is. These lists can consist of anything. Just be reasonable and make sure you don’t have more than five on either list. You want to keep things simple and not expect too much. After all, we’re only human.

DUMBER THE DIVA, SMARTER THE MODEL.

DON’T BE A DIVA:

                Don’t start thinking the photographers, makeup artists, etc. work for you. That’s not how it works, honey! There’s absolutely no need to treat people as if they’re less than you. No matter how fabulous you think you are, the world does not revolve around you. You’d actually be quite surprised to see how disposable you are when your inner DIVA shines through. People are not going to tolerate your poor attitude. I’d suggest you drop the DIVA act and learn how to be respectful and easy to work with. You’re not the only pretty face in town! GET OVER YOURSELF!  Failure to comply may result in your life passing you by.

TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF:

                Make sure that you’re in the best shape of your life. You should be caring for everything from fitness to hair, from skin to nails. Nobody can care for you better than you can care for yourself. Listen to your body and be sure to give it what it needs. Your appearance is what matters to the people you might need to impress. Just don’t overdo it! When going out for castings or go-sees, make sure you’re bringing your natural beauty. I’m not saying that you have to leave the makeup at home, just keep it fresh and natural.  LEAVE THE PRETTY PAINTED DIVA AT HOME!

KNOW YOUR ANGLES:

                In order to know your best angles, you need to learn how the light hits your face. Some people are naturally photogenic, but others need to learn. I’ve found that the best way to learn your angles is to photograph yourself. You should be able to tell when the light hits you wrong. I promise, it won’t be pretty! So grab your camera and get to snapping! Take note of the good, the bad, and the ugly! It will help to learn all your angles, good and bad! MAKE LOVE TO THE CAMERA!

BE CONFIDENT:

                If you aren’t confident, FAKE IT! Teach yourself to appear confident, whether you are or not. If this is where your DIVA attitude works, by all means, USE IT! Just don’t be the DIVA who treats people like dirt. That will crush you!  DIVA CONFIDENCE WITHOUT THE DIVA ATTITUDE!

WORK IT, OWN IT, SELL IT:

                Whatever your makeup, wardrobe, etc, you better learn to like it. You’re not always going to love what you’re wearing or who you’re working with, but you damn well better know how to look and act like you do. Just like anything else in life, you’re sometimes going to be expected to wear something that you wouldn’t usually wear or work with someone you don’t particularly care for. GET OVER IT! If you want to succeed, you’ll have to learn how to accept everything as it is.

If you’re working with someone you don’t like, just be respectful and it will all be over soon enough. I’m not saying you have to be their best friend, just don’t let them know that you’re not fond of them and everything will work out fine. RELAX AND BREATHE!

If you find yourself wearing something that you don’t fancy, OWN IT ANYWAY! You’re not being asked to worship what you’re wearing, you’re being asked to sell it. SO SELL IT! It’s not the end of the world! You’re certainly not going to be dressed in anything that doesn’t look good on you. Just don’t bitch and complain. THAT’S DIVA!

***Take this seriously, but only if you can find the seriousness in it. 

SUFFOCATION OF HOPE

It seems as though all relationships are based on sex these days. Even people who've just started dating are having sex. Is sex really so important that it's mandatory on the first date? What happened to getting to know a person before sleeping with them? What happened to intimacy? I find it very difficult to believe that first date sex is very intimate.


I guess I just don't understand how sex got to be everyone's top priority. It seems to be the main goal for people who are dating. The "hook up" has seriously injured the world of dating. Casual sex has slowly suffocated any hope for romantic types like myself to be able to date the old-fashioned way. I'm looking for a relationship based on more than just sex. I don't want my first date with someone to consist of a quick bite, maybe coffee, and sex! That's if we even have an opportunity to eat and have coffee before I'm stripped of my dignity. 


Sex has been so exploited that I find it very hard to be interested in it at all. And you can imagine how difficult that is, being a gay man. Men are definitely more interested in sex than women. So if I'm not interested in having casual sex, that eliminates about 98% of my potential dates. Which can be very frustrating for a person who produces twice as much love as the average human. 


Seriously, it sickens me to think of how much love is built up inside of me. There should be a surgery for such a thing. It can become quite frustrating and overwhelming at times. So I find ways to release my love in different ways. I should find a way to bottle it, disguise it, and sell it to the mean and angry people of the world. Now, that could haul in some serious dough!


Thanks for reading! 


I apologize for the tireless rant, but I'm bored and full of feelings. As usual!


L☮♥E,
-Bengee

HUMBLE PIE...

There are so many people in this world that take everything they have for granted. They have everything they need and more, but somewhere lost all appreciation for it. They have a roof over their heads, clean drinking water, food on the table, and shoes on their feet. These people are so used to having these things that they can't imagine what life would be like without them.

Unfortunately, there are people in this world who don't have these things...

There are people all over the world living on the streets or in crowded homeless shelters. These are the people you see sleeping on benches or even on the sidewalk. They're not just napping because they didn't sleep well the night before; That is where they live. Most homeless people suffer from mental illnesses. Mostly Schizophrenia. So the next time a homeless person asks if you can spare some change, don't just pass them by! What is so important in your life that you can't stop for a moment and spare that five dollars you're just going to waste on something you don't really NEED?

Think of all the bottled water you consume. Now tell me, what's wrong with the water that comes from the faucet? Shouldn't you be grateful that you even have clean water to drink? I think you should! After all, there are countless numbers of people that have to walk for miles just to reach clean water. Even then, it's not the cleanest it could be. Drinking dirty or contaminated water can lead to many different infections or diseases. But what do you do when it's the only water you have? Do you sacrifice it and die of thirst? Or do you risk becoming ill from drinking it? You decide.

Now imagine if you had to walk all those miles, to your almost clean drinking water, without any shoes on. Not because you chose to be barefoot, but you weren't given an option. There are plenty of people in the world that have never owned a single pair of shoes. Can you even begin to think of how you would live your life without a single pair of shoes? Your feet would be dirty and scarred. Some of you might not even be able to walk anymore. How many pairs of shoes are in your closet?

I'm not saying that you're greedy or ungrateful for not recognizing what you have. In fact, you probably don't even realize how fortunate you are to have the things that you do. However, I do think that you should teach yourself to realize it and learn to be grateful. Why not go a step further and give a little something to someone who isn't quite as fortunate? Why not take the time to learn a little more about what you can do to make a difference? Why not using what you learn about how you can make a difference and actually do something? WHY NOT?




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Here are websites that will provide some
ways for you to help with these issues:

NATIONAL COALITION
FOR THE HOMELESS
http://www.nationalhomeless.org/

CHARITY WATER
www.charitywater.org

FEEDING AMERICA
www.feedingamerica.org

TOMS SHOES
One For One
www.tomsshoes.com

BENGEE'S "I ♥" LIST!

I ♥ HOPE FOR HAITI NOW --- www.hopeforhaitinow.org

I ♥ FEED PROJECTS--- www.feedprojects.com

I ♥ THE TREVOR PROJECT --- www.thetrevorproject.org

I ♥ KEEP A CHILD ALIVE --- www.keepachildalive.org

I ♥ ONE --- www.one.org

I ♥ (PRODUCT)RED --- www.joinred.com

I ♥ MAKE-A-WISH --- www.wish.org

I ♥ TOMS --- www.tomsshoes.com

I ♥ CREATE THE GOOD --- www.createthegood.org

I ♥ UEND:POVERTY --- http://www.uend.org/dt/

I ♥ CHARITY WATER --- www.charitywater.org

I ♥ PROJECT ANGEL FOOD --- www.angelfood.org

I ♥ FEEDING AMERICA --- www.feedingamerica.org

I ♥ ST. JUDE CHILDREN'S RESEARCH HOSPITAL --- www.stjude.org

I ♥ M·A·C VIVA GLAM --- www.maccosmetics.com

THIS HOLIDAY SEASON

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THIS HOLIDAY SEASON, GIVE GIFTS THAT GIVE BACK!

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TOMS SHOES
http://www.tomsshoes.com

For every pair of shoes purchased, TOMS gives a second pair to a child in need.

"Most children in developing countries grow up barefoot. Whether at play, doing chores or just getting around, these children are at risk.
Walking is often the primary mode of transportation in developing countries. Children can walk for miles to get food, water, shelter and medical help. Wearing shoes literally enables them to walk distances that aren't possible barefoot."
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PRODUCT (RED)
www.joinred.com
A percentage of all (RED) purchases goes to the global fund to fight AIDS in Africa.

Find (RED) items from these (RED) partners:
Starbucks, GAP, Apple, Dell, American Express, Hallmark, Nike, Bugaboo, Converse, Armani, and more!
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THE ONE CAMPAIGN
www.one.org
There are plenty of great items at the ONE Store that would make great gifts and help to eliminate poverty around the world.
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MAC COSMETICS
www.maccosmetics.com
Every cent of the selling price of VIVA GLAM Lipstick and Lipglass is donated to the M·A·C AIDS Fund to support men, women, and children living with HIV and AIDS.
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VINOFINA
http://www.vinofina.com/

Give someone a great bottle of wine and support charities and non-profits with every bottle sold! This is a great gift and a great way to support a good charity!
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HUMAN RIGHTS CAMPAIGN STORE
http://shop.hrc.org/

Give the gift of equality and support the Human Rights Campaign with every penny!
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LOLIPOP BY JONATHAN LEON
http://www.lolipop.ca/

Buy the most desired glass jewelry in the world! Not only will you have something special to add to your jewelry box, you'll also be helping a good cause with your purchase. A percentage of your sale goes to charity!
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UEND:POVERTY
http://www.uend.org/dt/


UEnd: (formerly ChristmasFuture) was launched to help inspire and empower North Americans to refocus a portion of their gift giving budget towards strategic and sustainable projects in the developing world - to help end extreme poverty.

Our website makes it easy for people to take a small percentage of their gift giving and redirect it towards the eradication of extreme poverty. Gift givers can send an online gift card to friends, families or co-workers. The gift recipient then allocates their gift money towards a poverty intervention project that interests them. Or people can give directly.

This new way to give puts the power of change into everyone's hands. And it creates a connection between the developed world and the developing world by changing the way people think about giving.

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There are many more ways to give back when buying gifts for the holidays. Get creative!

HAPPY SHOPPING!
♥always,
-BENGEE

DATING

THE PRE-DATE:
Don't call this a date. Consider it a first meeting! Even if you've already met. Keep it casual and keep it brief. This is not a date, so it should last just long enough for the two of you to learn the basics about each other. I would suggest going out for coffee or having a quick lunch at a small cafe. By not calling it a date, keeping it casual, and keeping it brief, you will relieve some of the all too common "first date anxiety" that we sometimes get.

THE FIRST DATE
I would definitely suggest dinner for this one! You want to be able to have a nice time and get to know each other. I certainly wouldn't suggest a trip to a the movies, because there's no chance of having any type of conversation. A restaurant is a great place to enjoy a nice dinner, a couple drinks, and a more involved conversation with your date. This date should last twice as long as your "Pre-Date" in order for you to get to know each other a little better. Find some common interests and focus your conversation on those for the evening. Have a good time!

THE SECOND DATE:
Make this one a fun one! Have a nice dinner, then go out for drinks and dancing!  Stay engaged in conversation during dinner, then have a blast for the remainder of your third date. If you don't feel like drinking and/or dancing, find something else fun to do! Get creative! There are plenty of things to do, you just have to think!

THE THIRD DATE:
Now it's okay to limit the conversation. You've already spent quite a bit of time learning about each other. So now would be an acceptable time to see a movie with your date. Just avoid action and/or sci-fi movies! Either would be a rather poor selection for a date. Maybe somewhere around your 386th date!

THE FOURTH DATE:
On this date, it would be okay for one of you to make the other dinner at home. Maybe even watch a movie after, but that's it! The fourth date is just a little too soon for sex. Not just yet!

THE FIFTH DATE:
Congratulations! You've made it to date number five! Now I give you the freedom to choose what you want to do. Without any guidelines! You're free to do whatever you desire! You can even invite your date to your place after to do what I told you not to on the last date. It's all up to you now!



JUST A FEW SUGGESTIONS:
-In between dates, don't text/call repeatedly. It gets annoying!
-Use your manners! If you don't have any, you better find some real quick!
-Boys, act like gentlemen. Girls, act like ladies. We're not cavemen/cave women!
-Don't be cheap! If you plan to pay for everything, don't go to a restaurant where you can't afford everything on the menu.
-Last but certainly not least: DON'T DISCUSS EXES OR PAST DATES! Rude/Uncomfortable much?

HEALTH AND BEAUTY TIPS

~FACE:
     >Do a back bend, head stand, or just bend over forward to get the blood flowing and give your tired face a boost!
     >Fill an ice cube tray and add shots of lemon juice and olive oil to each cube. Rub the frozen cubes on your face to liven up your complexion.

~EYES:
     >Dip cotton balls in coffee and rub under your eyes to get rid of puffiness and/or dark circles.
     >Place a chilled spoon under each eye to relieve puffiness and/or dark circles.
     >Use white eye liner on the inner membrane (bottom of your eye above lashes). This will open up your eyes and make you appear more awake.

+TEETH:
     >Always brush your teeth 2-3 time per day. (Morning, Mid-Day, Before Bed)

+TEETH WHITENING:
     >Mix a combination of hydrogen peroxide and baking soda until it forms a pasty substance. Use once every other day after brushing before bed.
     >Use a pre-brush whitening rinse rather than other store bought whitening products. It's less work and less harmful to your teeth.

+BODY:
     >Green tea is especially good for you. It's loaded with antioxidants. [After you've had a cup of green tea you can feel free to break open the bag and rub the leaves on your face. It's quite refreshing!]
     >During your hot shower, give yourself a few blasts of cold water here and there. This will help to improve circulation.
     >For excessive underarm perspiration, hold a slice of lemon under each arm for 15-30 minutes.
     > Go to bed no less than 7.5 hours before you have to be awake the next morning. Not only will you be well rested, this tip may also cause you to lose a couple pounds.
     >Try to limit your caffeine consumption. This will help you sleep easier and more soundly at night.
     >Find a bedtime routine. If you find something calm and relaxing to do every night before bed, your mind will begin to associate this routine with sleep.

+DIET:
     >Lay off the junk food! Need I say more?
     >Make sure at least two of your daily meals include the following: 60% Carbs, 25% Protein, and 15% Fat.

+ 3 STEPS FOR AN EFFECTIVE WORKOUT:
     >Cycle at 13MPH and burn 600 calories per hour.
     >Power walk at 4MPH and burn 250 calories per hour.
     >Use the stair master/stair stepper as a tool to burn calories an tone your muscles!