Vain Worries: Face to face with someone new

By Carolyn Roberson - Friday 02 Sep 2011 

 

Today, I was looking in the mirror, and didn’t recognize the person staring back! My thought was “who in the world are you?” followed by “where did I go?” Everything is different: the hair, the eyes, the wrinkles, the nose, the earlobes, and the turkey neck.

Vain worries: Aging.

Dermal tone facial exerciser:

 

I bought one years ago, and started using it right away. It helped, and I don’t know why I quit using it. These little devices work by using small electrical impulses that actually exercise facial muscles, thus the name Natural Face Lift has been associated with it. I was skeptical, but used it anyway. I could see a difference, but could anyone else see it? That answer came at my mother’s funeral when someone asked me how I stayed looking so young to which I replied, “DERMAL TONE!” I don’t know why I stopped using it, and couldn’t tell you where it is. I’ve got to look for it and start again.

Sun-damaged skin:

 

I’m dermatologist bound! Microdermabrasion, laser skin resurfacing, and chemical peel are just a few tricks the doctor has up his sleeve. However, are these treatments cost prohibited? Selective dermatological therapy isn’t covered by my insurance; so how deeply in my pocket book can I go? Unfortunately, my purse isn’t Mary Poppins issue providing a never-ending assortment of things to pull out of the bag.

Fade creams:

 

During my years working for Clinique at a Parisian department store in the cosmetic department, I ran across a product called Vantex. It was a product in the Fashion Fair line, which is a cosmetics line for darker skinned women. My fair skin self couldn’t use the makeup, but found that Vantex fade cream sure cleared up the discolored sunspots popping up on my face. However, I’ve not seen that product for years, and other fade creams contain quinine, which upsets my delicate stomach. Yes, it makes me nauseous to use. Come to think of it, I may have seen an ad for Clinique’s new fade cream, or was I dreaming? Perhaps, I need to check that out!

Therapeutic Massage:

 

I’ve allotted a few dollars each month for massage therapy. It is great for the stiffness, tired, aching muscles, and mental clarity. Whether it is 30 minutes or one hour, I have decided that, at least once a month, I’m having a massage. Get creative, you can get a massage in different ways. Wal-Mart sells those massage cushions, which I’ve used—and, it was comfortable. Some malls have massage chairs now. You can drop a quarter in and get a few minutes of treatment, or you can invest in a massage chair for yourself. It’s up to you!

Weight loss, and weight management:

 

Years ago, in the early 80s, I used Herbalife to keep my weight in check. Slowly creeping up over the years, and a constant yo-yo of weight gain, and loss, my body is not springing back to shape. I’m not morbidly obese like those super obese shows we see on TV, but the elasticity of my skin is gone. So, skin flaps will have to be surgically removed at some point, but there is the cost issue once again. Thank goodness I’ve found Herbalife again. It makes me feel good to use, keeps the weight off, and helps with the yo-yo cycle. But, like any good weight loss program, the key to loosing is moderation, exercise, and self-discipline. Weight loss is a mind thing. No one can do it for you, and nothing is an easy, magic way to loose. And, take it slow: you didn’t gain overnight, and you can’t loose overnight.

Time management:

 

Time doesn’t stand still: it keeps marching forward, and waits for no one. Take a few minutes a day to pamper yourself or at least once a week. Use your Ped Egg, and some Heel Tastic for those scratchy feet; and put your aloe infused socks on before bed. Paint your toenails. And remember, what skin therapy you use on your face, use it on your hands so your hands will stay younger looking as well. At-home manicures are a great pick-me-up any time. You only get one life, so make it comfortable while you travel the years you are given.

Okay, so this was my pep talk to myself. I hope it helps pick you up when you look in the mirror and ask, “What’s a vain woman to do?!”

Vain Worries: Turkey Neck

Gobble, Gobble.  Turkey season is in!

By Carolyn Roberson - Saturday 17 Dec 2011

So, I’m looking in the mirror this morning trying to take a new picture to update my profile. Every pose includes this hideous looking flabby neck, the proverbial turkey neck. Sags, bags, and tags create hags, and I don’t want to be one. The idea of aging, I’m okay with, but it is the effects of aging that bother me.

Let’s talk turkey, and I don’t mean the Thanksgiving kind.

 

Chewing gum

 

For years, I was told chewing gum helped tone the face, and it does, but very, very little, and it mainly focuses on the jaw line. A more toned jaw line may or may not benefit a turkey neck. But, better than nothing I say: chew away.

Singing

Using facial muscles while singing causes a slight stretch of the muscles, but has no long-term effect on a turkey neck. However, singing does increase oxygenation within the body affecting every cell including those in the neck. The lungs, and heart particularly benefit even while sitting. So, crank up the stereo and sing your way to a healthier you.

Facial yoga

 

Facial muscles, including the turkey neck, can benefit from resistance training. These isometric techniques are simple, and with consistency, over time, a new firmer jaw line will develop and the turkey will fly the coup. The Internet is a wonderful resource for finding these exercises.

Cosmetic procedures

 

Liposuction is a quick way to reduce the turkey neck. Costly as it may be, in as little as ten days of recovery, your neck will look thinner. Liposuction actually removes fat cells from any area treated, so fat will never accumulate in that area again. Adding a neck lift to the procedure will give it a more youthful appearance. Other procedures may include laser, Botox, and collagen injections but are only temporary solutions to a permanent problem. Please remember, it is important to research the cosmetic surgeon before undergoing any cosmetic procedure.

Electrical stimulation

 

Spa and at-home devices are being used to deliver mild electrical impulses to tissue in the skin. These impulses stimulate the skin, which improves muscle tone, increases collagen production, reduces fine lines and wrinkles, and evens your skin tone giving the appearance of a tighter, younger, and healthier look. FDA approved, spa treatments by certified aestheticians may be expense, and at home devices initially can be costly.

Cosmetics

 

Neck creams containing collagen and elastin come in day creams, and more emollient night creams. Exfoliation twice a week helps reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, and prevents an ashy, dried-out look. Using makeup, concealers, and natural color properly, the appearance of turkey neck can be reduced. Also, wearing certain necklines, earrings, and hairstyles can hide a turkey neck. Visit your local cosmetic counter, and sales associate for professional advice, or seek information via your favorite search engine.

Nutrition

Increasing vitamin C and fatty acid intake helps the body fight aging, and resist skin sagging. And, not only does sugar contribute to diabetes, but it is a major component in a process that leads to sagging skin. Avocado, nuts, peanut butter, shrimp, fish, lean meats, eggs, and turnips are good sources of fatty acids. And vitamin C can be found in supplements, but is naturally occurring in most fruit, chili peppers, leafy greens, and some herbs.

Water

 

Lastly, the amount of water required by the body is 64 ounces a day, or about 2 liters. You’ve heard to drink 8 ounces of water 8 times per day. Water is essential to keeping the body hydrated, and the skin is the largest organ of the body. So if the skin lacks water, it dries out, wrinkles, and sags. Increasing water intake will slowly bring the skin back to a more youthful appearance.

Turkey neck will be in season at some point in your life if you are fortunate to live long enough. Most of us don’t think about aging when we are younger, but the benefits of good skin care, proper nutrition, and exercise from our youth do affect how we age. Be a good steward of the wisdom we have gained and mentor younger women such as our daughters, granddaughters, or nieces in a healthy lifestyle. It is never too late to take control of how we age. So, let today be the first day of the rest of your life! Good hunting.

Vain Worries: Thinning Hair

Bald is beautiful!  Well, maybe for Patrick Stewart. But, NOT for Me!

By Carolyn Roberson - Thursday 01 Sep 2011

Oh to be young again: clear skin, no wrinkles, no skin damage, and a full head of hair. Where did it all go?! Vain Worries number two: thinning hair.

My hair used to be very thick; so thick you could run your hand through the back and never see your fingers. Now, you would be hard pressed to find hair between your fingers! Well, that is a little exaggerated, but it’s really thin.

I’ve noticed when I eat foods containing yeast, my hair will fall out faster. Then after about 3 days, I’ll notice new growth, mostly gray, but I’ll take it. At least I’m not bald like my poor dad was at my age. Don’t get me wrong, bald is a great hairstyle. Look at Yul Brynner and Patrick Stewart: these guys were/are very distinguished men. But for women, bald isn’t the exact style we seek out.

Also, I have noticed using WEN hair products lessens the amount of hair lost in the shower. WEN is a great product. The only downfalls of using this product are the cost, and for some reason herbal products, not just WEN, make my hair smelly when I go outside. It doesn’t keep me from using it though. I just mist a bit of Aussie Styling Spray in it.

Use of most heated hair styling devices has ceased. No more hot rollers or curling irons are used. Thank goodness for the Revo rotating brush styling blow dryer, and Velcro hair rollers. After blow-drying my hair, I’ll put my hair up in the Velcro rollers and let it cool. The warmth from the heated hair sets the hair while cooling on the rollers gives it body.

Perhaps there is a hormonal reason for losing my hair too: I don’t know. I’ve not asked my PCP if that is a possibility. All I know is aging is something I’m finding hard to do. If my mother or my grandmother felt this way, I’ll never know.

As my husband would say, I’m just suffering from A-G-E, or O-L-D. But, I’ll tell you this. I do NOT like it. Although, I’m thankful that God has given me a lengthy life.  Thin may be in, but not when it comes to hair!

Vain Worries: Rogaine for Women

Hags, sags, and bags...vain worries about changes due to aging, reinvention, and healthy respect for your older body and mind.

By Carolyn Roberson - Thursday 27 Oct 2011

OK, so I wrote a silly little essay about my vain worries over thinning hair:

Well, I’ve been thinking about using Rogaine for Women to see if I could coax my scalp into growing some hair in my crown area. Have you seen the price of that stuff?! I certainly don’t want to waste that much money to determine whether new hair will grow. It would be a waste if it did not, and I would feel guilty. And my hopes of its success are not as high as the cost of the product.

I found a 2 oz bottle of Minoxidil for $6.99 at Kroger in my hometown. My sister was with me, we briefly discussed it, and she encouraged me to “just get it.” So, I did!

We get home, and we are putting away groceries. I run across the Kroger Brand of Rogaine for Women, and start reading the label. Immediately, I get a pit in my stomach over the $6.99 purchase.
“Cautions for use” are listed, and one is family history of hair loss. Well, as I stated in Vain Worries: Thinning Hair, my dad was bald later in life. Since baldness is normally male pattern, I thought, “Well, maybe that doesn’t apply to me.” Others cautions for use are hair loss due to childbirth, sudden and patchy hair loss, unknown reasons for hair loss, scalp problems or use of scalp medications, and the degree of hair loss.

Sissy and I discussed these cautions, and decided it might be worth me using. I continued reading the label. Heart disease patients were advised to seek doctor’s approval before using the product. OK, so no problem there.

The next section lists “recommendations for use.” This is where all hysteria breaks out. It states NOT to use the product on any other area of your body other than your scalp! Sissy is laughing uncontrollably by this time because she quipped not to spill it on my back. And, I asked, “where would someone else want to use Minoxidil other than their head?! By this time, I’m remembering the funny commercial of the woman riding on her motor scooter with long red armpit hair blowing in the wind.

Laughing so hard I’m crying, I continue to read. The “stop use” section — I see unexplained weight gain might occur, which I don’t need, along with chest pain, dizziness, swelling of hands and feet, and scalp irritation. Oh, not so good! Then the kicker that sent Sissy and me reeling with laughter: may cause unwanted facial hair.

So, I end up like my daddy; a bald headed teddy bear. Groceries: $201.43, Minioxidil: $6.99, A good laugh with Sissy: Priceless, Aged related hair loss: what’s a vain woman to do?

Vain Worries: Gray Hair

Gray skies are fine.  Gray hair is not!

By Carolyn Roberson - Wednesday 31 Aug 2011

In 1963, my mother was window-shopping in downtown Montgomery, Alabama when approached by another woman. The woman asked my mother had I been adopted from an Asian country, to which my mother explained I had not, but my European Hispanic roots provided me with the fair complexion, black hair, and black eyes.

The most striking color combination, in my opinion, is blue eyes, and blond hair. While I have been asked if I was actually blond before, because of my “stereotypical blond mentality,” I loved being black haired, and black eyed. My favorite black haired beauties are Natalie Wood, and Audrey Hepburn.

While looking through the family photo albums, which is one of my favorite pastimes, I noticed my Daddy was black haired and black eyed. Although, growing up, I remember him with very little hair, and copper eyes, I often wondered if it was a lighting issue, or aging that confused me as to his true hair/eye color combination. Now I know!

Over the years, my thick, jet-black hair has transformed into salt and pepper, and now mostly thin and gray. My jet-black eyes, which completely concealed the pupil, are now copper. It was age that transformed my dad, and now me.

Vain worry number one has set in! What should I do with my hair? My once creamy white complexion is now yellow-ish and dull with some sun damage. My gray hair is a beautiful silver color, like my grandmother’s, but patience prohibits me from allowing it to completely transform itself into a Paula Deen-style hair do. Attempts to self-color my hair have left it with some streaks of brassiness overlaying the salt and pepper. Visits to color stylists have left me with purple hair—yes purple—or some other unsatisfying color!

What a stark contrast, going from black to silver hair. And the warm copper eyes, and yellow, sun-damaged skin seems to clash with the coolness of the silver. What’s a vain woman to do?

Vain Worries: Belly Fat

Hags, sags, and bags...vain worries about changes due to aging, reinvention, and healthy respect for your older body and mind.

By Carolyn Roberson - Friday 28 Oct 2011

“And, it shook when he laughed, like a bowl full of jelly.” Most of us know this is a famous line describing Santa Claus, from the poem “Twas the Night Before Christmas.” Think about how you might feel seeing a skinny Santa. Nah, it’s not the same. Santa has to be fat and jolly.

“And it shook when I laughed like a bowl full of jelly” is an entirely different feeling. No one, I’m pretty sure, likes a pudgy tummy.

My heart breaks to see the staggering number of men, women, and children who are obese in our society. And, it is most distressing to see people who have bellies hanging down between their knees. That has to be uncomfortable. Many should walk for exercise, but with the weight, it is hard on the joints so most choose to use scooters.

Thanks to 3 healthy sons, 2 of which were over 9 lbs, I have stretch marks on my belly. And, because of a C-section, and a hysterectomy, my abdominal muscles are pretty weak. My belly could use some help. I would love to have a tummy tuck, but monetary restraints keep me from it.

Kate Gosselin was so fortunate that a doctor donated his time, and services for a tummy tuck after her sextuplets were born. Regardless, of how you may feel about her, that must have been a wonderful gift and a relief.

So, how can we combat belly fat?

Whole grains do more good fighting belly fat than refined grains. I have found a great flax seed multigrain bread recently that I have started enjoying. Although that soft white bread makes a great peanut butter and jelly sandwich, I determined to fight that belly fat with whole grains.

Seeds and nuts are another way to combat belly fat. Comprised of monounsaturated fats, seeds and nuts boost metabolism. But for people with diverticulosis, seeds and nuts aren’t a great alternative. So, olive oil, a monounsaturated fat, should be utilized for cooking.

Green vegetables contain fiber, which helps stabilize blood sugar, and keep that spare tire flat. Your momma knew best when she said, “You can’t leave the table until you eat your broccoli.” Sometimes, green vegetables are best with loads of salt, butter, and/or cheese. I know the urge is strong, but try to resist and learn to appreciate the taste of natural foods.

Lean proteins build muscle and keep cravings at bay. Any number of protein powders can assist in loosing weight also. Protein can be hard on the liver, so consult your doctor before starting any high-protein diet.

Oops, I said the “D” word, diet. Remember diet is a lifestyle, not something we do to lose weight. Years ago, a woman started a craze called “Live it” because she felt like she was dying on a diet. Her change of attitude toward the way she ate allowed her to loose tons of weight. Unfortunately, I don’t remember her name, and my cookbook was damaged by water. But, just a positive attitude can do wonders. Just remember it took time to put weight on, and will take time to pull weight off.

Other good foods to combat belly fat are avocado, apples, yogurt, and bananas.

Water is a wonderful way to reduce belly fat as it aids the body’s waste removal processes, or should I say waist removal process. Most people are dehydrated and don’t even know it. Appetite can be suppressed by an increase in water intake. And, shockingly, most cravings are not induced by hunger, but by thirst. Soda, tea, juice, and coffee doesn’t satisfy the body’s need for plain old water. And, we, here in the US, are so fortunate to have a limitless supply of clean water from tap, bottles, jugs, filters, and purifiers. Lime Water is my favorite. So, flavor it, savor it, but most importantly drink it daily.

Exercise is another key element to losing belly fat. I know what you are thinking: I can’t do sit ups either! But there are many exercises you can do to reduce that belly. Twisting is one, so “come on baby, do that twist” to use Chubby’s words. Whittle away those inches.

Our generation is so fortunate to have the internet, with search engines such as Google. So, information on fighting belly fat is at our fingertips 24/7. However, a physician or nutrition specialist can work up a personalized program suited for your body. Consult an expert before starting any new diet program.

Belly fat: What’s a vain woman to do? Feed your mind, body, and soul a healthy lifestyle, and flatten that tummy.

Welcome

Welcome to "Vain Worries!"  The site where bags, tags, and sags are ragged, nagged, and flagged.  Come along on my journey to combat aging, reinvent yourself, and enjoy a healthy respect for your older body and mind. 



Comments are welcome, but please remember this blog is my journey, my feelings, and my opinions.  I do hope you learn something from the forthcoming posts, and your comments are welcome.  However, I do request you keep profanity out of your comments, and word with constructive criticism, not derogatory remarks. 

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