How To Lose Thigh Fat In 2 Weeks

Ways to efficiently lose thigh fat and to keep it from coming back: maintain a healthy diet and do the right exercises. Keeping this kind of approach does not only help you lose thigh fat but is also beneficial to your overall health. Below are steps you can follow to help you get started to lose the unwanted fat from your thighs. The exercises described will also help you tone and get that smoother appearance for your thighs that you are after.

The reason that women store fat in their thighs

Before women reach menopause they can tend to store fat in their thighs and hips. This tendency gives women what is called a ‘pear-shaped’ body. The reason some women store fat in this way has an evolutionary reason. When women were cave-dwellers this type of fat storage often helped them through drought and famine. During pregnancy and breastfeeding the body needs approximately 1,000 extra calories a day. So women who easily stored fat in their hips and thighs had an advantage as they could use these extra calories to help them give birth and feed their babies during a drought. This ability to store fat in the thighs and hips was passed down through the generations. This is a contributing factor to why thigh fat may be very difficult to get rid of.

Men store fat in their thighs

Women are not the only ones who suffer from thigh fat. Men can also store fat in this area of the body. Included in this blog are exercises specifically targeted towards men to help them lose their unwanted thigh fat.

Exercises to lose thigh fat for women

Seated Hand Push

Sit on a stable chair. Place your feet on the floor. Your knees should be bent at 90-degree angle. Put your palms on the outside of your knees. Push your knees outward against your palms and simultaneously press inwards with your hands. Hold for one minute while breathing normally.

via Prevention

Seated Leg raise

Sit on a stable chair. Place your feet on the floor. Your knees should be bent at 90-degree angle. Place your hands on the sides of the chair. Lift and extend your right leg while you exhale. Breathe normally and hold for 30 seconds. Lower your right leg down and exhale. Repeat this move with your left leg.

via Prevention

Seated Bridge

Sit on a stable chair. Place your feet on the floor. Your knees should be bent at 90-degree angle. Place your hands on the side of your chair. Lift up your hips letting your palms and feet support your body weight, and exhale. Lift your hips up until your body looks like the shape of a bridge. Breath normally and hold for 20 to 60 seconds.

via Prevention

Exercises to lose thigh fat for men

Lying Butt Bridge

Lie down on the ground or a mat and keep your back flat and your knees bent. Your feet should be placed firmly on the ground. Place your arms by your sides and raise your pelvis towards the ceiling. Aim to create a 45 degree angle with your body. Flex your butt and thighs and count. Lower yourself back onto the floor. Repeat this movement.

via New Health Guide

Back kick

Balance on one leg. Raise the other leg slightly behind you. Keep your butt and core tight. Maintain a slightly bent knee to avoid joint locking. Bend forward as you gently kick your lifted leg back. Bend forward, keeping your body straight. You should feel the stretch in your hamstrings. Squeeze the muscles in your butt and reverse the move until you return to a standing position. Repeat this move with the opposite leg.

via New Health Guide

Pay attention to what you drink

Make sure you keep hydrated when exercising. Drink water. Doctors recommend drinking 64 ounces of fluid per day (approximately 1.9 liters). Avoid sodas, energy drinks, concentrated juices and the like. These drinks all have a lot of sugar in them (sometimes as much as 300 calories).

Drink Tea

Feel free to drink as much tea as you like. Drinking green tea is a great source of antioxidants and has negligible calories. Tea contains only 1-2 calories per liter.

Drink before you eat

Another good trick is to drink a glass of water or a cup of tea straight before you eat a meal. This will make your body feel like it is more full and will keep your cravings at a minimum. This may mean that you will eat less during a meal.

Pay attention to what you eat

Maintain a Low-Carb Diet

Low-diets help to cut down on fat. Make sure you do not cut out carbohydrates completely as your body still needs some for energy; however, eating too many carbs causes a higher release of insulin. The body responds to this high release of insulin by turning it into glucose (or sugar) and this can cause extra fat to sit in your body. Foods to eat on a low-carb diet are things like high-protein meats, fish, leafy greens and unprocessed cheeses. Foods to avoid are things like pastas or breads.

Maintain a Low Calorie Diet

You should aim to lose about 2 pounds per week and to do this you need to take in fewer calories than you burn, per day. Ingesting 1500 calories per day is a good goal. You may like to limit your fat intake to between 35 and 60 grams per day. You can aim for 170 to 240 grams of complex carbohydrates per day.

If you keep to a healthy diet and undertake the exercises described in this blog you are on your way to getting the results you want for slimmer and healthier looking thighs.

Featured photo credit: Home Remedies via lethomeremedies.com

The post How To Lose Thigh Fat In 2 Weeks appeared first on Lifehack.

from Lifehack http://ift.tt/1TfCJHa

12 Natural Remedies To Get Rid Of Acne Scars Fast

Do you struggle with acne scars? Acne is normally caused by changes to your hormones as a teenager, but it can also run in the family or be part of another condition, like Cushing’s syndrome. Many people think that acne is caused by eating too much greasy food, but this is totally inaccurate.

If you dislike your acne scars, you don’t have to pay for expensive medical treatments; there are actually lots of natural ways to get rid of acne scars! These treatments are safe, easy to use and non-harmful – perfect!

1. Coconut Oil

Coconut oil is one of the best natural moisturizers, and it has lots of healing properties. Wash your hands, and then let ¼ of a teaspoon of coconut oil melt into a paste in your hand. Directly apply it to your face with your fingertips, and leave on for as long as you want.

2. Potato Juice

If you want to get rid of acne scars quickly, try using potato juice. Potatoes are rich in vitamins and minerals which help your skin to heal. Slice a potato and put the slices on your face for 15 minutes, then rinse the juice off your face with warm water.

3. Honey

Honey can help to remove scars, and raw honey is much more effective than processed honey. You can buy raw honey at your local farmer’s market or at a health store. Simply massage a small amount of honey over your acne scars and leave it on for as long as you want.

4. Aloe Vera

Aloe vera gel is a great source of vitamins, which helps to fade acne scars. Let the gel soak into your face for half an hour before washing your face and patting it dry.

5. Apple Cider Vinegar

Apple cider is a natural disinfectant that helps to balance the pH level of your body. It is also antibacterial and antiseptic, so it is a very effective way to treat acne!
Mix one part apple cider vinegar with one part water and apply to your acne scars with a cotton ball. Leave for 10 minutes then wash your face and pat it dry. You can do this once a day until you notice results.

6. Lemon Juice

Lemon juice can get rid of acne scars by helping to lighten the scars. Mix one part lemon juice with one part water than then apply to the acne scars. Leave it on for 20 minutes before washing your face and applying moisturizer.

7. Ice cubes

Rubbing an ice cube on your acne will immediately reduce redness and inflammation. Wrap the ice cube in a cloth and hold it against the scars for a few minutes for best results.

8. Tea Tree Oil

Tea tree oil is antibacterial, antiseptic and anti fungal, and it is one of the best ways to get rid of acne scars. Mix 2 drops of tea tree oil with a tablespoon of water, and apply the solution to your scars with a cotton ball. Remember never to use undiluted tea tree oil on your skin – it is too strong for your skin and can cause further damage.

9. Baking Soda

Baking soda helps to get rid of acne scars by helping your skin to shed. Mix 2 teaspoons of baking soda with 2 teaspoons of water, and apply the paste to the scars. Leave for 3 minutes then wash your face with cool water.

10. Olive Oil

Olive oil is very skin friendly as it is filled with vitamins, including vitamin A, vitamin D, vitamin E and vitamin C. Apply olive oil to your scars and massage it in. Leave the oil on your face for an hour before washing off with cool water.

11. Cucumber

Cucumber is hydrating and filled with vitamins – perfect for getting rid of acne. Put cucumber slices over the scars and leave there for 30 minutes, then rinse your face. You can do this every day for great results!

12. Sugar Scrub

Sugar scrub helps to remove acne scars by shedding the skin. Mix 3 teaspoons of sugar with 2 teaspoons of olive oil, then leave on your face for 20 minutes. Wash your face afterwards with soap.

However, it is important to note that prevention is better than cure. You can prevent acne scars forming by following these steps;

• Don’t mess with your acne – picking and squeezing the spots means they are far more likely to leave scars.
• Wash your face regularly – this will help to prevent acne outbreaks that may result in scarring.
• Cover up your scars in the sun – over time your scars will get lighter, but the sun slows the process down and makes the scars darker.

Featured photo credit: Africa Studio via shutterstock.com

The post 12 Natural Remedies To Get Rid Of Acne Scars Fast appeared first on Lifehack.

from Lifehack http://ift.tt/21QoXem

5 Practical Tips For Planning Your Destination Wedding In Mexico

I am not at all surprised that you have chosen to get married in Mexico. After all, it’s one of the top wedding destinations on the planet. There are plenty friendly people who speak English plus fabulous coastlines on the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean, with stunning beaches stretching 6,000 miles. The weather in Mexico is usually more than pleasant – Cancun has an average temperature of 82°F (28° C). You are spoilt for choice when you consider places like Los Cabos, Puerto Vallarta, and Acapulco. They are all prime destinations for getting married in Mexico.

The place is right but how on earth do you start planning it all? You want this occasion to be the most memorable one of your life. Your guests should leave with happy memories of a wonderful celebration in a gorgeous location. Here are 5 practical tips for planning this special event.

1. Wedding planner pros and cons

Many of the hotels at destination weddings venues already have a wedding planner or coordinator as part of the package. There are many advantages to this. You can leave lots of the nitty gritty details to them and they know the vendors and often can get great discounts. They have all the details about catering, photographers, florists, and also the hirers of any equipment that may be needed for the entertainment. They also know about things that you may just have forgotten to plan. You will be saved from all the hassle of invoices, contracts, and bank payments while enjoying the real anticipation and excitement of the event.

There are a few cons to also consider. There is the extra cost, of course, and you may have a limited budget. Wedding planners can cost anywhere from $3,000 to $10,000. You may feel a little detached from the whole thing as this is the happiest day in your life. You will also feel less in control.

As you are going to get married in Mexico, a wedding planning service offered by the hotel or another agency is the best option. It means that you will not have to deal with troublesome details, especially as you don’t live in Mexico!

2. Travel arrangements

The best thing to do is to plan a week or weekend away as a romantic break at your destination wedding venue several months before the event.

Whether you have a wedding planner or not, this is a great way to taste the food and wines or ask for different table settings. You will get a real feel for the hotel, the atmosphere, and the staff. If you are doing everything yourself, you will have to write a to-do list with appointments to see all the vendors and hirers.

Once the date is set, you need to give your guests plenty of time to book flights and take advantage of any discounts at the hotel of your choice. I know some wedding planners who recommend that you give people a minimum notice of four months. Google now have launched a great app called Destinations on Google to help you find flights — all with a tap and slide on your smartphone.

3. Legal questions to consider

Just in case you didn’t know, religious wedding ceremonies in Mexico are not considered valid for legal purposes. You have to go the civil route. Another possibility is to organize a simple registry office or religious wedding in your own country so that there are no legal hassles. Then you can all go off to Mexico for the big bash and have a symbolic ceremony there.

There is no legal requirement to be resident in Mexico before you marry there, but arriving a few days before the event to make sure all the documents are in order is wise. You do not need a special visa either to get married – a simple tourist visa is sufficient.

The other great advantage Mexico has is that there is no legal requirement to be resident in the country before the event. There is also good news in that according to the British Embassy website in Mexico, your marriage will be recognized in the UK and does not need to be registered when you are back home. In regard to US citizens, a civil wedding in Mexico is fully valid for legal purposes.

4. Getting the documents you will need

If you still want the actual ceremony in Mexico to be legal and you are a UK citizen, then you need to know that certain documents are needed to make your marriage perfectly legal. Make sure to ask the wedding planner if they have all these covered. These will include your birth certificates and a death certificate of an ex-spouse or divorce decree, if applicable. Divorcees should note that you have to wait at least a year before re-marrying in Mexico.

It will probably be your job to get all of these documents before you leave. If you are in doubt, you can check out the UK Foreign Office legalization website.

Don’t forget that you will need to have 4 witnesses at your official ceremony, so make sure that all their passports are valid.

5. Health requirements

The only requirement on the health front is that the authorities need blood tests results (for HIV, syphilis, and blood type) in Spanish before the ceremony takes place. There is no point in bringing your own blood test analysis from the UK or USA as these will not be accepted. You can arrange for these to be done in your hotel, so it’s not a big deal. It may cost up to $250. Some Mexican states also require chest x-rays.

Now that you have read what exactly is involved in getting married in Mexico, you can decide what is the best way to plan it all. Rest assured that it will be an unforgettable experience!

Featured photo credit: Carlos Mendoza Lima/Flickr via flickr.com

The post 5 Practical Tips For Planning Your Destination Wedding In Mexico appeared first on Lifehack.

from Lifehack http://ift.tt/21QoVmT

The 10 Coolest Jobs You Can Get By Learning a Foreign Language

Knowing a foreign language can help you in many aspects of your life, including travel, family connection, and even mental health. But did you know that you can find some of the coolest jobs just by knowing another language?

Before we talk about the 10 top language jobs you can get, let’s talk about the most useful languages to learn.

Which foreign languages helps you find the top language jobs?

a. Spanish. As third most spoken language in the world, knowing how to speak Spanish will enable you to reach over 500M+ people globally. In the United States and Europe, Spanish is recognized as the second official language other than English, and is the official language in over four continents.

b. French. Not only is France the fifth biggest economy and top three locations for foreign investments, some of the top universities like HEC exist in France. Learning French opens the doors to French companies in not only France, but other French-speaking parts of the world such as Canada, Switzerland, Belgium, and North and sub-Saharan Africa.

c. German. According to The Economist, German has been shown to earn you the biggest bucks if you work for a corporation:

• Spanish — 1.5 percent bonus
• French — 2.3 percent bonus
• German — 3.8 percent bonus

While German won’t give you the wide reach that a language like Spanish provides, Germany is the home to some of the top corporations in the world, particularly the top automobile brands like BMW.

d. Mandarin. It’s no surprise that Mandarin is on this list. As the most widely spoken language in the world, Mandarin is the official language of China, one of the fastest growing economies in the world.

e. Arabic. The Arab world is recognized as one of the wealthiest regions in the world, with over $600B in GDP. Due to the abundance of market opportunities in the Middle East, Western Arabic speakers are in very high demand, but in very low supply. If you have the ability to speak Arabic, don’t be surprised if people are throwing their offer letters at your desk!

What industries are these top language jobs from?

While you can benefit from knowing a foreign language with nearly every industry, here are the main highlights:

• Media (journalism) and film
• Tourism and travel services, including airlines and hotels
• Banks and insurance
• Local, state and federal government
• International non-profit organizations
• Publishing companies
• Departments of defense and international embassies
• Health services
• Social services
• Immigration services
• Elementary, high schools, universities and colleges

The 10 Top Language Jobs You Can Get With a Foreign Language

1. Game Translator

Industry: Gaming

Did you grow up playing Nintendo? Now you can make money playing it. Companies like Nintendo are always looking for in-game translators that can translate from English to Japanese or other languages. Here’s an example job posting.

2. Brand Specialist

Industry: Technology

Recognized as one of the best companies to work for, Google is hiring Brand Specialists that can communicate in foreign markets. In short, brand specialists work with customers to serve the ongoing product improvements of Google.

3. Community Representative

Industry: Gaming

Blizzard, who produces well-known video games like WoW and Diablo, is looking for a bilingual Spanish/English speaker to engage with their Latin American player communities. The job includes helping with game development and supporting the company at events, including BlizzCon.

4. Flight Attendant

Industry: Travel and Tourism

If the idea of getting paid to travel sounds exciting to you, flight attendant maybe something to look into. Depending on which airline you work for, many of these top airlines will look for flight attendants that can speak a foreign language. For example, if an airline frequently flies from the US to Spain, they’re going to prefer someone that can speak Spanish.

5. Lead Coordinator

Industry: International Non-profit Organizations

Non-profit organizations, like Pencils of Promise,  are focused on helping developing nations around the world. In many of these nations, English is not the official language. Understanding a foreign language like Spanish will help advance your position in the organization because you have the ability to communicate with the people you’re trying to help.

6. Analyst or Associate

Industry: International Banking and Finance

Banking is done all around the world, and this involves doing business with people from different cultures and countries globally. Knowing a foreign language can give you an upper hand when it comes to negotiating or deal making.

7. Photographer

Industry: Film & Media

Photography is an art that goes beyond languages, but if you want to shoot around the world, you should certainly learn a foreign language. For travel photographers, you can decide to learn the language that you would most like to travel to.

8. Fashion Buyer

Industry: Fashion

Whether it’s Milan, Barcelona, or São Paulo, fashion is a global industry, and you’ll be working with people all around the world, who speak multiple languages. It’s safe to say that Spanish, Italian, or French are great languages to learn if you’re into fashion.

9. Recruiter

Industry: Human Resources

As businesses become more global by the day, they’re also looking for employees all around the world. Companies are always building new offices in South America, Europe, and Asia. The recruiter’s role is to be able to communicate with these employees and recruit the best person for the job.

10. Foreign Correspondents

Industry: Journalism

Love telling stories? Do you dream about traveling the world and helping people share their message?
Journalism may be your calling. If you want to find the best stories, you’re going to need to know how to communicate in a language other than English, especially if you want to speak with the locals.

… and back over to you

Are there any top language jobs that we missed? We’d love to hear from you below!

The post The 10 Coolest Jobs You Can Get By Learning a Foreign Language appeared first on Lifehack.

from Lifehack http://ift.tt/21QoTLH