Lennox

Congratulations! You’ve finally made it to the end of your pregnancy that you felt was going to last forever. Now it’s time to sit back and enjoy the fruits of your labor by enjoying your little one in your arms. The first few weeks, and in some cases, months may feel overwhelming. It may take some adjustment to seeing your new shape, and accepting the changes that your body has gone through as a result of the pregnancy.

However, before you rush into trying to lose the baby weight, it’s important to give yourself the time to get back to good health. Once your doctor feels that you’ve waited long enough to be able to start working out again, then you can start getting your pre-baby body back.

Once you’re given the green light by your doctor, here are some of the best tips for getting your figure back.

Start A Light Impact Exercise

The best way to get back into an exercise program is to gently ease into it. Doing something low-impact like swimming or walking will start to get your muscles warmed up again. Unless you were one of the women who made an effort to continue exercising up until the final moments of your pregnancy, chances are that you may feel a little rusty when it comes to being active. A light impact exercise is the best way to start without rushing and potentially injuring yourself.

Avoid The Scale

Even though you may be curious about how much you weigh, it can be disheartening to weigh yourself too much. Although doctors urge women to gain up to 35 pounds maximum, it’s not always the case. Some women gain much more and may feel like they’ll never be able to get back to a normal size again.

However, obsessing over it isn’t going to do you any good. If you must weigh yourself, only do it once a month. Some specialists say that just as it took you nine months to gain all the baby weight, it will take the same amount of time to lose it again. Be kind to yourself!

Breastfeed If You Can

Although it’s not the case with everyone, some women find that they lose a considerable amount of weight as a result of breastfeeding. For some lucky women, breastfeeding doesn’t just burn off all of the baby weight, but it leaves them even thinner than they were before. By regularly breastfeeding as well as consuming a sensible amount of calories, you should be able to recapture your pre-pregnancy body within a reasonable amount of time.

Some women may not be able to get back to their ideal size for up to several years following the birth of their baby. Be patient with your own individual process, and remember, the most important thing is to focus on the healthy development of your baby.

Not everyone is an ideal candidate for plastic surgery. Since there are so many factors that go into plastic surgery, it’s important to know that it’s right for you before going under the knife. For some people, plastic surgery may be the only option for whatever it is they’re trying to fix.

However, for others, it may not necessarily have the same effect. If you’re considering plastic surgery, but aren’t sure if it’s the right choice for you, here are some of the telltale signs that it is.

 

You Found a Reputable Surgeon

 

Finding the right surgeon is a critical step. Not all plastic surgeons are created equal. Don’t assume that any surgeon you find will be able to complete the surgery that you hope they will achieve. If you know someone that can refer a surgeon in your area that they’ve had a positive experience with, then you’re already on the right track.

They’ll be able to answer any questions that you have as well as explain what kind of results you can expect. They’ll be able to advise you whether your expectations are realistic or not.

Plastic surgeons can’t always work the miracles that people hope they can. However, the best chance you’ve got is making sure that you find a board-certified and highly recommended plastic surgeon.

 

You’ve Done a Considerable Amount of Thinking

 

Making the decision to get plastic surgery isn’t something that you wake up one day and suddenly decide to do. It should be something that you’ve thought a considerable amount about. It’s critical that you’re doing it for the right reasons and that you are clear about the sort of results you want to achieve.

Thinking about your plastic surgery for a long time ensures that you won’t make the mistake of doing something you’ll regret later on.

 

You’ve Saved Your Money

 

Plastic surgery isn’t something that everyone can afford. Although it is more affordable than it used to be a decade ago, it’s still something that requires several thousands of dollars. It’s important that you put money away in savings to ensure that you can pay for it.

Remember, if you find a surgeon that’s willing to complete your procedure for considerably less then their competitors, you might want to ask yourself whether they’re as qualified as you might like to think.

 

Your Schedule Allows You Recovery Time

 

Most plastic surgery procedures require a period of recovery. This time can range between weeks or even months, depending on what you’ve had done. It’s important that your schedule is able to allow you the waiting time that you need to heal.

Rushing back to your normal activities too soon following plastic surgery can lead to serious health risks.

 

 

 

 

 

Across nearly every human culture, hair is an important attribute. The hairs on our head can symbolize strength, power, freedom, spirituality, or physical attraction, to name a few. Connotations and beliefs surrounding hair date back to ancient times, making this facet of the human form seem to have innate meaning. Undoubtedly, we’ve all seen or heard some of the stigmas, stereotypes, and gender norms surrounding hair: blondes have more fun, brunettes are sultry and smart, redheads are feisty, bald men are loud and obnoxious, women with long hair are sensual, and so on.

It’s no surprise that hair loss or stunted hair growth can make us feel down and out. Our hair is a part of our identity and therefore can affect our mood greatly; even a reversible tragedy, like having a bad hair day or winding up with an unfavorable haircut, can be enough to put us in a funk—or bring us to tears, if we’re really not feeling it. When it comes to preventing hair loss and increasing hair growth, there are a whole host of tips and tricks out there, 8 of which are curated below to help you get through your hairy situations.

YOU ARE WHAT YOU EAT, FROM YOUR HAIR TO YOUR FEET

The first two modifications on the list both prevent hair loss and increase hair growth, and both focus on our consumption. Making changes to our diet (meaning what we eat, generally, rather than an attempt to cut back) has been shown to make substantial differences in our overall hair health.

A diet containing lots of raw vegetables, leafy greens, fresh herbs, nuts, fish, and complete proteins will provide our bodies with all the vitamins and nutrients needed to promote healthy, growing hair. Each of these staples provides different necessities; for example, sweet potatoes and spinach are rich in Vitamin A, while nuts, beans, and lean meats or fish will help us meet our protein quotas. A whole host of vitamins have been proven to positively affect hair growth, so balance is key.

Certain diets, such as vegetarianism and veganism, may need a bit of a supplement to provide the body with all it needs for luscious locks, which is where vitamins may come in to play. For some, a multivitamin may be the easiest route, while others may need specific hair vitamins or a biotin boost. When dealing with dietary supplements, it’s important to note that these products are not regulated by the FDA, so doing research and finding a reputable manufacturer is of the utmost importance.

SPA DAY

How we care for our hair is also worth examining. When dealing with hair loss, or working to prevent it, the general rule of thumb is to wash hair daily but with a very mild shampoo. It’s important to keep the scalp clean in this situation, but over-drying hair with an intense shampoo/conditioner is also unfavorable. For those looking to increase hair growth, skipping a few days between washes can help natural oils treat hair, protecting it from breakage and other damage that will slow or stop long growth.

While you’re washing away, don’t skip the opportunity to give yourself a nice scalp massage. Research shows that using your fingertips to palpate in circles around the scalp improves circulation to the area, which helps to promote new hair growth. The massage also functions as a stress reliever—and stress can be a huge contributor to hair loss!

STYLIN’ AND PROFILIN’

For all heads of hair involved, being gentle in the styling process is always a good idea. Heat treatments, color treatments, and products will damage hair. Some folks have strands that are more resistant and can handle more processing stress, but the healthiest tresses will always be the ones most left to their own devices. Let your hair air dry as often as possible, work to avoid hairsprays and gels, and ditch the hats for a while.

Next, try experimenting with different oils. Coconut oil and olive oil have been found to help condition hair, protect it from damage, and potentially even slow genetic hair loss. A wide variety of essential oils can also target conditions you may be looking to treat in your effort to prevent hair loss and/or increase your hair growth. Be sure to apply oils as directed, as a little goes a long way and can make hair look greasy in a hurry, especially with fine or typically oily hair.

On another note you may have heard before, getting regular hair trims is encouraged. While it may terrify us to think about giving up some of the precious hairs we’ve worked so hard to grow, trims remain important for both looks and growth. Hair can take on a stringy and lank look as it grows out, and a good professional trim can help create an optical illusion of fullness in its place. Furthermore, hair naturally develops split ends and endures environmental damage over time (and even more damage for those who style regularly), all of which will eventually cause hair to break. Trimming halts this process and gives your hair a chance to grow long and strong.

SLEEP STUDY

Our nighttime routine can also impact our hair growth and loss patterns. Research shows that there are a number of things we can do to protect our mane overnight. Before bed, healthy, natural oils that have accumulated throughout the day will build up around our scalp, and we can harness these to our advantage; invest in a boar bristle brush to help distribute oil down from the scalp into the shaft of hair strands and detangle styles before sleeping on them.

Although it may seem extra, sleeping on a silk pillowcase has also shown to protect hair as we toss and turn throughout the night. Other pillowcase fabrics can cause our hair to snag, knot, and tangle, which promotes early breakage and bedhead that might take some serious elbow grease to fix come morning time. Sleeping on silk may be a hoity-toity move, but the hair benefits are down to earth.

MESSAGE IN A BOTTLE

There’s no shame in reaching for a product that is proven to prevent hair loss and increase hair growth. We constantly see marketing for shampoos, conditioners, sprays, and leave-in products that allege to do just that, so why not go for the FDA-approved, truly tried and tested option? Minoxidil may not sound familiar to you, but Rogaine likely does. Minoxidil is the active ingredient in Rogaine products, which are made both for men and women and are available over the counter.

There may be a stigma or discomfort associated with bringing hair growth products through the checkout line, but only because hair is so important to us! I think it’s well worth five minutes of discomfort to be able to walk around daily with a head of hair that doesn’t give you the blues every time you touch it, think of it, or see it. This treatment can be used all over, or to help in patchy areas, specifically—just be sure to read and follow the package directions.

GOOD TO KNOW

Finally, keep in mind that there is a myriad of reasons why each of us may be experiencing hair loss or slow hair growth. Stress levels, cancer treatment, styling choices, diet, medical conditions, pregnancy, hormones, and medication changes can all be factors at play. We naturally lose 50-100 strands of hair each day, but if you’re experiencing greater hair loss, thinning patches, or other noticeable issues, you may want to consult your doctor to find the true cause of the issue before trying to treat it alone.

by Violet Knight