Facial Exercises - How Old Do You Look?

I have to admit, facial exercises are not a quick fix. First of all you have to learn the exercises. This takes about 2 weeks of practicing until you can gain control over the muscles of the face. For example, learning to contract only your lower eye lids takes awhile, but once you learn this, it’s effortless. As you engage these newly “revived” muscles, you’re also activating the little lymph nodes that live under the eyes. You therefore not only strengthen and tighten the area under the eyes so that it looks smooth and firmer over time, you’re also flushing away old toxins and those dark circles start to go away.
You see, muscles, skin and connective tissue in the face are complex and intertwined. This allows us to make facial expressions. The body is a little different. Muscles attach bone to bone in the body. The fascia and connective tissue essentially slide “over” the body muscles in comparison to the face. In the face, one end of the muscle is connected to the bones of the face and the other end is connected to another muscle or it connects directly into the skin. Connective tissues as elastic fibers tend to take on the form of the shape of your face as they build. In other words, the skin firms-up around the muscle fiber as it tones and tightens. Wrinkles flatten out and you can literally rub them out. Your neck becomes firm and smooth. Your eyelids lift up. Your cheeks take on a youthful rounded shape. Your complexion improves as more oxygen feeds the cells of your face and neck. In fact, I’ve already done a lot of the research and you can read about it in detail on my website. Just click here: http://www.carolynsfacialfitness.com/ and here: So. Facial exercises have to be learned and they have to be practiced, too. But, for only 15 minutes a workout, 3 times a week, you can take 5, 10, 15 or 20 years off your “real” age. It does require some effort, I admit. But hey! They also help to release tension in the face and you therefore not only look and feel younger; you also look and feel more relaxed and refreshed. How old do you look? You can regain that vital youthful look you thought you’d never see again and it’s just at your fingertips.
Here’s a simple exercise to try once a day five days a week for three weeks. It’s called the “Upper Eyelid Stretch”. Give it 3 weeks and reap the benefits:
• Place the index finger of each hand just under the brows• Push up with your fingers and hold• Try to close the eyes while stretching the lids down towards the bottom of the eyes• Hold this stretch firmly yet gently while counting to 10• Repeat 5 times

How to Burn

Put quite simply, to burn fat, you must expend more calories than you ingest. Certainly, this rule can prove hard to conform to. However, with a little perseverance and discipline, the pounds will come off.
Before you eat, ask yourself if you really feel hungry or if you want to eat because you feel bored. If you are hungry, eat, but only until you feel full! Steer clear of greasy fast food, t.v. dinners, and junk food. Peruse your local farmer’s market and stock up on goodies like fresh tomatoes, lettuce, and beets. Eat these natural foods and stop eating when you feel comfortable, not Thanksgiving-level full. You’re probably thinking “how to burn fat in addition to eating right?” Of course, eating well plays an integral part in weight loss, but one should also exercise.
I have experienced the best results when I run first thing in the morning before I have eaten anything. These morning runs eliminate the need for coffee—which saves calories and money—and I noticed myself getting toned faster than when I did afternoon workouts. Run for twenty to thirty minutes and change up your course so you do not get bored. After running, do ab workouts and lifting. After a month, you may want to change the order of these activities to preserve your interest.
Just remember, if you really want to burn fat, do not lose focus. Keep carrots or celery with you at all times to fight snack attacks at the office. Stay motivated in any way you can—I do this by reading superficial magazines such as “Shape” and “Glamour.” Go with some of the old tricks; weigh yourself every week to monitor your progress and put a mirror up on the fridge. Celebrate your weight loss victories by rewarding yourself with, say, that expensive garment you have always wanted. Most importantly, be realistic. Do not expect to lose more than a pound or two per week.