While getting married should be one of the happiest days of your life, planning a wedding is probably one of the most stressful times. However, there are things that you can do to ease the pain and make the journey a much smoother one. Continue reading our guide to three things that you should avoid while planning a wedding.
Booking a Venue Before Viewing It
Your cousin’s best friend’s auntie’s hairdresser might have had the most spectacular day of her life in a select country manor house, but that does not mean the venue will necessarily be the right one for you. Everyone has different expectations and requirements for their big day; don’t allow anyone else to tell you that your opinion does not matter. It is imperative to view a venue before even thinking about booking it. Speaking to an in-house wedding planner will not only mean you know exactly what to expect from a certain venue, but it also gives you the opportunity to ask any pertinent questions. Typing ‘West Chester, PA wedding venue‘ into a search engine would undoubtedly bring up plenty of results, but narrowing it down to one will be a tricky thing to do. Viewing is absolutely essential.
Going on a Crash Diet
Of course, it is natural to want to look beautiful on your big day. However, any kind of crash diet will not necessarily give you the end result you desire. Starving your body of essential nutrients while you are in a heightened state of anxiety will put you into a worse place than where you started. If you are keen to lose weight and tone up, do so in a sensible way. Speak to a dietician about a healthy eating plan for life. This way, you know that you will be eating a balanced diet and you will be putting exactly what you need into that body of yours. Furthermore, engaging in physical activity is also important, especially for toning up. If you are truly dedicated to your mission, speak to a personal trainer who can either devise a plan with specific exercises aimed at targeting your so-called ‘problem areas’ or who can train you, ensuring that you are doing what your body needs you to.
Dream about a Pinterest/Instagram-Perfect Wedding
Pinterest and Instagram are amazing resources for gathering ideas. However, they have also been known to give an unrealistic view of what weddings should and shouldn’t look like. These decisions should be up to the people getting married. Pressure from social media platforms hit all areas of people’s lives and weddings are no different. If you are happy with a cold buffet at your wedding reception, do not let the canape police spoil that for you. Likewise, if you are happy to have a traditional ceremony without a full orchestra, go for it. It is vital to ensure the expectations of your dream day are actually realistic. You could spend thousands on getting the things you want, but when it comes down to it, love is what really matters.
Got any other suggestions to add on to our guide? Feel free to comment below!
Many of us have decided to adopt healthier lifestyle habits throughout the coming year. This is why it is crucial to embrace a proper diet at an early stage. Whether you wish to drop a few extra pounds or simply to feel better, the fact of the matter is that a handful of professional suggestions can go a long way.
Let us look at five dietary tips that can help your body receive the nutrients that it requires.
1. Leafy Green Vegetables
It is estimated that approximately 12 percent of the Canadian population has embraced some form of vegan lifestyle. This is largely due to the fact that fruits and vegetables contain an incredible number of vital nutrients. Leafy green vegetables such as broccoli and spinach are particularly potent, as they provide massive levels of folic acid, vitamin A, vitamin B, and vitamin C. Be sure to include these within a well-balanced diet.
2. Drink Plenty of Water
Our bodies comprised of more than 60 percent water. Unfortunately, many of us are not adequately hydrated. Most experts recommend that you consume eight eight-ounce glasses of water every day. Water can help to increase brain function, flush toxins from the kidneys, keep your skin looking younger, and promote a healthy heart.
3. Smaller Portions
One of the reasons why some individuals tend to gain more weight than others involves the size of the meals. The body has a difficult time metabolising large amounts of calories at one sitting. Thus, these calories are more likely to be stored as fat. There are several benefits associated with smaller portions. Not only will you feel less bloated after a meal, but it is much easier to absorb the nutrients themselves.
4. Ignore That Sweet Tooth
Sweet and sugary foods can be quite tempting, particularly if they are used as snacks between meals. They will help to satisfy our appetite and they can also provide a short-term energy boost. Unfortunately, these very same snacks do more harm than good. Spiking levels of blood sugar will often lead to subsequent sugar crashes and over time this can even increase your chances of developing adult-onset diabetes. Furthermore, snacks high in sugar may lead to tooth decay and weight gain.
Try to replace these substances with fruits if you have a sudden craving for sweets. The simple sugars contained within fruits are much easier to break down and most fruits contain significant amounts of water (which again may help with hydration). They are packed full of vitamins, and more importantly; studies have shown that snacking on fruit may decrease the risk of developing some types of cancer. The good news is that fruits are also quite tasty, so there is no reason to shy away from these alternatives.
5. Boost Your Protein Intake
Our bodies utilise protein to build and repair muscles, strengthen bones, and boost brain function. Unfortunately, many individuals are not receiving an adequate amount on a regular basis. Let us also keep in mind that some forms of protein are more easily digestible than others. If you find it difficult to incorporate sufficient foods that are high in protein, it may be wise to supplement your protein intake with high-quality protein powders. Not only are these supplements quite tasty, but they are available in a variety of flavours. Some are even sourced entirely from plants, which is ideal if you wish to embrace a vegan lifestyle in the coming year.
There is no better time than the present to make a positive change in your life and these dietary suggestions will certainly come in handy.
I really do appreciate my eyesight. I really do. Apart from the fact that I tend to experience dryness in my eyes from time to time, my eyesight hasn’t really bugged me. In fact, I have an almost perfect vision that sometimes surprises me because of my bad reading posture.
Recently, I was invited to a comprehensive eye examination at Videre Eyecare and I took up the offer just so that I could find out how my vision has degraded since my last visual acuity test in 2010 (almost a decade!).
2. Retina 550 (Fundus Photography) Examines the health of the back part of the eye.
3. Refraction with Vision R800 The first in Southeast Asia, it uses a fluid lens instead of traditional lenses. Accuracy goes up to 0.01DS, unlike the traditional way that only goes up to 0.25DS. It also consists of a smart test that uses an algorithm to boost efficiency and consistency of the refraction.
4. Slit-Lamp Biomicroscopy Examines the health of the front part of the eye; cornea, lens, conjunctiva, meibomian glands opening.
5. Tear Analysis a. Cornea 550: Measures the height of tear meniscus. b. LipiView: Examines the health of meibomian glands and lipid layer of the tears.
A comprehensive eye examination at Videre costs $168 and it takes about an hour for you to go through all of the tests at one sitting.
The best part?
The results are instantaneous and there’s no need to wait for weeks unlike in the past. Furthermore, the machines that are being used for the comprehensive eye examination are very new and cutting-edge.
If you’re wondering
how frequent or how often one should go for a comprehensive eye examination,
there is no one fixed rule or standard. If you have medical conditions such as
diabetes or hypertension, it is recommended that you do an annual eye check-up.
Likewise, if your family has a history of glaucoma; it is recommended that an
annual eye check-up be done as well.
For children and
teenagers, a comprehensive eye examination should be done yearly or twice a
year because their eyesight can change rapidly during their growing-up years.
As a matter of fact, I used to put on glasses for astigmatism when I was 7
years old and subsequently, I didn’t need my glasses anymore because my
condition has improved by leaps and bounds.
If you’re a working
adult and you’re in your 20s to 50s, you probably don’t need to do the
comprehensive eye examination yearly. In fact, I think once every two to three
years should be adequate if you don’t experience any drastic changes in your
eyesight and lifestyle. However, as soon as you feel that your eyesight is off
the mark, quickly arrange for a comprehensive eye examination to avoid any
complications that may develop over time.
What I Like About The Comprehensive Eye Examination
The Comprehensive Eye Examination that I did at Videre Eyecare was hassle free and the test results are almost immediate. Furthermore, the experience was highly personalised and the new machines that are used for the tests are highly accurate.
What I Didn’t Like About The Comprehensive Eye Examination
I didn’t quite enjoy
the eye pressure test as I am ultra sensitive to having foreign objects (which
in this case is a bout of harmless air) spurted into my eyes.
Other than that, there is practically nothing else that I didn’t like about the Comprehensive eye examination; although I have to admit that the price of $168 for a comprehensive eye examination might be out of reach for some people. However, having said that, there are comprehensive eye examination services that are available for $80 but the machines used may not be up-to-date. Then again, whichever options you choose, just remember that your eyesight is precious and you should really take good care of your eyes.
Book for your comprehensive eye examination with Videre Eyecare today!
We all lead a very busy lifestyle and I have no doubts about that. In the past three months ever since the New Year, I have been working a 7-day work week and as we’re coming to the end of the month, it is also about time that I review my work-life balance and do some adjustments to my work schedule so that I will only work 6 days a week instead. In case you’re wondering how my typical workday is like; I work for 9-10 hours on weekdays and 6 hours on weekends. In between my work, I still have my usual 3 meals a day and my meals are typically the same every week with little variation:
Home Cooked
Meal typically with 3 – 4 dishes- Vegetables, Meat, Soup and Rice
As you can see, a diet like mine is high in carbohydrates and proteins but probably low in vitamins and some trace minerals. To help me boost my body immune system, I supplement my diet with Centrum Men, a complete multivitamin specially formulated for men under 50.
Some features of Centrum Men are as follows:
Fill Nutritional Gaps With more B-Vitamins, Zinc, as well as over 20 other important nutrients.
Brain Health Contain Zinc and B-Vitamins to maintain brain health
Strong Heart Contains Lycopene, Vitamin B6, B12 and Folic Acid to help maintain a healthy heart
Energy and Vitality Contains B-Vitamins that play an important role in converting proteins, fats, and carbohydrates into energy
Immunity Contains vitamins and minerals such as Vitamins A, C, E, Selenium, Zinc and Iron which supports immune system
Healthy Muscles Contains Magnesium, Vitamins D and B6 to support optimal muscle health
I won’t
dive too deep into the topic of nutrition because there’s really a lot to talk
about for e.g. weight loss, gaining muscle mass, functions of nutrients and etc
but I am proud of the fact that although I have been working really hard this
month; I have not fallen ill and it is only possible because of a strong body
immune system.
However, I am also cognizant of the fact that I cannot keep up this unhealthy working style in the long run or I would face the risks of my body breaking down altogether. Having said that, I am really happy that I am able to marry my work and passion. This is probably the only motivating factor that keeps me going even though it can be physically and mentally draining.
If you have
a hectic and busy lifestyle like mine, remember that balance and moderation is
the key to a healthier lifestyle and it will be helpful to do some monthly
reviews to uncover any possible
gaps that could possibly lead to health-related problems.
The fact
is, our personal preferences and eating habits changes as we progress on in
life but we must never neglect to take care of our health, mind and body.
I hope this post will inspire you as you fight on for the next 6 months!
Sleep is one of the major natural body functions alongside eating. Sleep is integral to the functioning of the body, so much that people spend a third of their lives sleeping. During sleep, the body enters into a natural relaxation state that helps it to recover from a hard day’s work. Sleep is so valuable that people are willing to risk benzo withdrawal to get some amounts of it.
Sleep is an infinitely repeating function which is considered necessary for the growth of both your body and your mind. The lack of sleep might harm the body and the mind of the person not getting full rest. It could also harm the people around you.
Even though the mind functions while the body is still asleep, this state of mind is helpful for regeneration and rest. Getting the right amount of sleep is important for people of all ages, as during sleep, the body enters into an anabolic state which helps it to regenerate and recover.
Even though adults and children need a different amount of sleep, it is important for them to get at least certain recommended amounts. Children below the age of five are recommended to have between 10 and 16 hours of uninterrupted sleep. This sleep duration does not include naps taken within the day. Children between 6 and 18 years old are recommended to have between 8 and 13 hours of uninterrupted sleep. For adults, it is recommended to have between 7 and 8 hours of uninterrupted sleep in order to enjoy the full benefits of a peaceful night sleep.
Having enough sleep ensures that the body and the mind regenerate completely. This restorative effect of sleep is so necessary that the body can induce sleep when it needs to experience restoration. It is important to sleep when the body is feeling sleepy, as this is a sign that your body needs to rest.
Due to factors such as advancement in technology, particularly in the development of mobile phone technology, people have not been able to get enough sleep. Quiet times before bed have been replaced with the internet, games and other distractions. Many people choose to stay up at night even though this is a significant health hazard.
The body’s natural function mostly provides the inclination for nighttime sleep, which creates the most benefit. Sleeping during the night time can have benefits that may not be attained during the day. While some people choose to sleep during the day, the practice is not recommended. Sleeping should be natural for your body, which should occur during the night.
Some people may prefer taking a short nap in intervals during the day, which better helps them in staying up at night. This is not ideal, as it does not provide the body with the optimum sleeping experience and benefits. The best type of sleep is uninterrupted and within limited schedules every night. Even though your job may interrupt the pattern of night sleep, specialists recommend that you get regular and uninterrupted sleep every night regardless of other activities going on.
Here are some tips on how to get enough and uninterrupted sleep during the night.
How to Get Regular, Uninterrupted and Beneficial Amounts of Sleep
First, it is important to create a regular sleeping pattern by going to bed and waking up at around the same time every weekday. Creating such a pattern will ensure that you get enough sleep. During the weekend, some activities may cause you to stay up longer. In order to beat this, you can allow yourself an additional hour or an hour and a half within regular weekday time. This strict schedule will ensure that you get enough sleep all through.
Noise can be a source of interruption for your sleep. It is important to keep your sleeping area silent before bed. By doing this, you will have no interruptions to your sleep.
Heavy meals and alcohol can also affect your sleeping pattern and cause interruption. Sleep specialists advice that you should eat well before your time of sleep to ensure that your sleep is not disturbed when it is the right time to go to bed. It is also recommended that you avoid nicotine, caffeine and other stimulants that may cause you to be hyperactive before bed.
Spending time outside during the daytime can ensure that the body gets the right amount of sleep during the night. High levels of energy will cause you to have a hard time sleeping, which can be fixed by exploring the outdoors.
Keeping your sleeping area dark will also ensure that your body is able to enter into the right condition for sleep. What is the importance of getting enough sleep and in regular time especially during the night?
Benefits of A Full Night’s Rest
Getting enough sleep repairs the body, as it goes into an anabolic state. The result is healthier organs and blood vessels, which reduces the risk of major diseases affecting you.
Sleep revitalises the mind as well as the body. Getting enough sleep enables better control of your mind. People who get enough sleep have higher levels of cognitive function and can process the world around them better than those who do not.
Regular and uninterrupted sleep can reduce the likelihood of obesity in both children and adults. Sleeping helps you eat better by reducing cravings, which decreases the likelihood of obesity. People who get enough sleep have a bigger sense of fulfillment in their lives, and are less prone to experience anxiety, mood swings and depression than people who do not get enough sleep
The recommended levels of sleep are important for a holistic balance, which may prevent micro sleep. Micro sleep is a condition where the brain goes to sleep without the body’s intention, for a short amount of time. Micro sleep can be responsible for accidents, which may cause harm to you and others.
Final Thoughts
Creating a sleeping pattern for you as well and your family will help to ensure that they experience the benefits of a full night’s sleep for a long time to come. Sleep is important for your body and mind, and uninterrupted sleep should be recommended for all. Getting the right amount of sleep will improve your personal and social wellbeing. Treat yourself to some uninterrupted sleep tonight.
