Exercise is a MUST! I GOT...I GOT A GOOD FEELING!

WOW. Can I tell you that I haven't had a decent exercise in awhile! You know what that means?! Means everything. Bad posture. Bad eating habits. Bad mood (Yes, it does!). Bad concentration. Bad energy or none at all. BAD BAD BAD! Yeah, can't exaggerate it enough. Haha.

Anyways, THERE WAS A PARAGRAPH HERE BUT IT GOT ERASED TWICE FOR HTML CODING REASON WhATEVER! Not going to type all of it again but I just wanted to say my friends Melissa and Ralph and I decided to go "biking!!!" Boring statement but there was more to this paragraph but it got erased so forget it! =x

SOOO the point is...we all feel really really PRODUCTIVE, ENERGETIC, AND PROUD! WEE!

EXERCISE IS JUST A MUST!

It really sounds easy but most of us are lazy. Shooooooooot I was! I used to be so active in school with dance and all then of course, things change and you just get so busy with other things and you just decide to stay home and rest or whatever!

But tonight reminded me once again how important exercise is!

HERE ARE TOP FIVE REASONS WHY YOU SHOULD EXERCISE:

1. EXERCISE IMPROVES YOUR MOOD AND ATTITUDE. You just feel a lot of better about yourself! Especially when you're having a bad day or you're really stressed. Exercise is great way to release all that tension! Being active physically actually stimulates endorphins in your brain that allow you to feel happier. And that's definitely a good feeling :] And of course, this means that exercise also prevents depression. So with a good exercise, comes with a good mood! You just feel better about yourself, boosting your self-confidence! And when you're confident, you just automatically have that positive attitude! And you just function well when you do and so will others! So exercise away and feel good and LOOK GOOD!!!
2. EXERCISE PROMOTES WEIGHT MANAGEMENT. As long as you're consistent with your workout plan, you burn those calories away baby! Walking thirty minutes everyday is fine! You can find out how many calories you burn walking thirty minutes here. And honestly, you don't have to starve yourself. Just eat things in moderation but exercise! It's terrible when people starve themselves and exercise so much. BIG NO! You are harming yourself. So if any of you guys do, you need professional help.
3. EXERCISE MAKES YOU MORE FOCUSED. Actually before writing this blog, I wanted to go study right after I exercised and showered! I feel more on top of things. Anyhowwww, I forgot where I read it from but based on studies, students who exercise on a daily basis, have a better concentration as opposed to others who are not physically active. It also keeps your mind and memory sharp. Thinking more clearly can definitely help you boost up those grades! ^.^
4. EXERCISE IMPROVES SLEEP. I have trouble sleeping a lot of times and I know it's partially because I'm such a lazy bum to exercise. If you exercise in the morning or afternoon, you can easily fall asleep by bedtime and even have a nice deep sleep. But then, if it's toward bedtime, then you will stay energetic and awake lol. I don't even know how those 24-hr-fitness members do it. But there are some peeps who workout at 12 am or 1 am or 2 am!
5. EXERCISE IS GOOD FOR THE BODY :]. You hear this all the time but it's true. Prevents and control diseases such as diabetes and high blood pressure which are common in adults but unfortunately, they are also becoming common among teens. It also pays off for those ladies who exercise regularly because it prevents osteoporosis later on in their aging and make their bones strong!

"Your cholesterol will benefit, too. Regular physical activity boosts high-density lipoprotein (HDL), or "good," cholesterol while decreasing triglycerides. This one-two punch keeps your blood flowing smoothly by lowering the buildup of plaques in your arteries." - MayoClinic.com

I'm sure there are other reasons why exercise is important but these are my top five reasons. I hope this inspires you to get up your butt and exercise tomorrow! And I also hope I consistently exercise haha! There are many ways to do it and enjoy your workout! Biking is one of mine! I want to try rockclimbing! Whatever it is, jumping or hopping, make exercise fun! It's more motivating when you have company. So have your friends do it with you also! If you have a gym membership, good for you. I used to. But I can't afford it at the moment. So I use my resources available :] OUTSIDE! Hehe.

Ok I need to study now! THANKS TO MELISSA LY FOR INVITING ME TO EXERCISE TONIGHT! WE'RE ON A GOOD START LING <3 AND TO RALPH FOR THE LAUGHS AND TREATS!

OH YEAH, before I finish, I really really wanted to do this for my birthday but I didn't get to. I want to rent this for $105 a day and ride it with two other friends and it's nicer if others rent too and join and just take a trip to SF and enjoy the city! But then it's fall haha! Anyways if anyone wants to check this out!

Sincerely,
KHAAAT rawr

Say NO!!! to ACNE.

Sooo this is my very first blog!!! :] I want to share my terrible acne experiences with you all since I know 85% of teenagers between the ages of 12 and 24 suffer from acne and sadly 25% will develop permanent scars. And unfortunately, only 11% of people who suffer actually seek for help (The American Dermatologist Association). I want that percentage to increase. I might not drastically change that but it's great to know that I'm at least trying to! I'm not perfect either or close to it but I know that I have some important things to share. Since technology definitely change people's way of life, I'd thought it's a great opportunity to reach out to people online! Everyone goes online!

So let's begin!

I think I began to develop acne in middle school. I was outside a lot so I believe that humidity and environmental pollutants affected my skin a lot. And I was too young to realize any skin care regimen. Or was I not aware of it maybe? Also, skin sensitivity runs in the family. And I was going through puberty. Those crazy hormones. Anyways, it didn't get worse until high school began. I began to notice a lot of blackheads, whiteheads, pimples, and all that crap! Honestly, this is gross but I had volcano-looking pimples. They were so fat and red...they literally looked like they were ready to erupt and spurt out lava but instead, pus. ARGH! GROSS RIGHT? They were mostly on my big fat forehead. And I'd get random ones here and there on the other areas of my face. My skin is a combination of dry and oily. The thing is I didn't know that back then so I didn't really know how to fix it!

The important thing I learned about nursing (random but relevant in some sort) was that to alleviate or cure something, you must determine the cause first then seek for help. Sounds simple right? But people tend to forget that. People usually try to get rid of acne through squeezing it out or conceal it without even treating it first! No doubt I did it also. Definitely a NO-NO! Squeezing it will leave you a crater and you are making it worse by scattering the infection from the pus somewhere else on your face!

The important detail about treating acne is preventing it! Of course sometimes we can't help to expose ourselves outside or stress or physical irritation but what we can do is before and after school or work or whatever, wash our face with a facial cleanser and bring some oil-absorbant sheets! And you know what really helps also...OIL CONTROLLING LOTION OR MATTIFIER. Seriously for those people with oily skin, I highly recommend you to get one. IT'S A MUST-HAVE. Lifesaver, I tell you! Acne is mainly caused by excess production of oil in the sebaceous glands! So damn control that oil!

#1 Prevent acne or/and prevent getting any more!

Here are some products I recommend:

• Clean & Clear® Oil-Absorbing Sheets - $5.29 This is definitely inexpensive! There are other brands as well that work. For instance, the Walgreens version works! and for a cheaper price. If you notice that you are slightly getting oily, grab a sheet and start dabbing that oil away! Don't wipe it. Wiping/dragging your skin will definitely irritate your skin! So be gentle!


• Mary Kay Oil Mattifier - $15 THIS STUFF IS GREAT. This strongly controls your oil for at least 8 hours. Good enough for me! If you need it more under control, just squeeze a little and you're good to go! The only con about this is you can't order it online, you either meet a beauty consultant the website recommends you or she/he meets you. Free consultance. It's a hassle but no shipping fee. I mean if you want to try other Mary Kay products, she/he is willing to help you for sure! But for me, I just want the product! Haha! Otherwise, this is a five-star product!


• Cosmedicine Medimatte Control Lotion with SPH 20 - $42 Okay I know. It's PRICEY. But it's definitely works just as well as Mary Kay Oil Mattifier does. It also has more content that Mary Kay does. This has 1.35 fl oz compared to .6 oz you get from Mary Kay's. This also has a control spray version for $35 and it has 2.0 fl oz. I've only tried the control lotion. If you want to be more definite with where you put your lotion on then I recommend the lotion (which I do because I have dry/oily skin combination). But if you oily skin overall, then the control spray would probaby fit you more. For dry skin, don't worry! I don't think it will make your skin drier unless you don't use a moisturizer. So use one! :] and don't forget to drink lots of water!!!
  

Anyways, so now you're doing your job preventing that damn oil from overexceeding. But what if you already have annoying acne???

#2 Clean then #3 Treat

Here are more trustworthy products!

• Aveeno Active Naturals Clear Complexion Foam Cleanser $7.29



• Neutrogena Acne Stress Control Oil-Free Power-Clean Scrub $7.99



• Origins Checks and Balances™ Frothy face wash $18.50



• Lancôme 'Crème Radiance' Clarifying Cleanser $24



• Shiseido Brightening Cleansing Foam $34
  

Finally treat with...

• Differin (Gel, not cream) NOTE: THIS STUFF IS THE BEST! It works faster than other products I've used for directly treating acne (Murad, Neutrogena, etc.) This saved my life! especially in high school. Be ready to say goodbye to acne! The only thing is you need to consult a doctor to get a prescription for this! There are different strength levels too so you really need a doctor to determine what fits for you best.


• Nature's Cure 2 Part Acne Treatment $9.99 This is probably the second best. Contains benzoyl peroxide, what you need to treat acne. It works well also but not as fast as Differin but honestly, this is effective and speedy compared to other brands. I stopped using Differin because I don't get as much pimples as often and as worse. So this treatment works. Also, very affordable! Comes with vanishing cream and a homeopathic medicine to internally balance your hormones especially monthly cycles. They also have a kit for the males! So you ladies spread the word!

*Important note: Most acne treatments cause dryness, burning, itching, etc. So make sure you observe for those side effects and if any of those worsen then consult a doctor. If not, it's normal and make sure to drink adequate water and use a moisturizer with SPH!!!*

FINAL STEP: MAINTAIN!

So once people recover, they like to think it's over. Of course not! You need to maintain and be consistent with your own regimen to prevent acne occurrences again. You need to take care of your skin anyway! Our skin is our first defense mechanism! So stay consistent! Don't be lazy!

Again...PREVENT...CLEAN...TREAT...AND MAINTAIN!

and an important side note, DO NOT TOUCH YOUR FACE!

I hope this helps you guys. I listed the products I've tried or currently use. I wouldn't list any that I haven't or have but they suck. Pick what fits you and your budget! Also, I'm sure there are other great products as well. Just make sure you do your own research like look for reviews online or ask any of your friends, etc. If you have any suggestions or questions, ask away!

Thank you and ENJOY :o]

Sincerely yours,

Khat