How to prevent new cellulites

CELLULITE, the bane of nine out of 10 women, is fat that looks like dimpled skin on thighs, hips and buttocks.

Research into this problem continues to reveal that the best way to prevent and eradicate cellulite is by stimulating blood circulation to purge fat cells of toxins.

Sadly, no miracle cure has been discovered but the use of new generation massage creams appear to make a difference.

Massaging gets the blood going, while the diuretic effect of these creams rush the toxins out of your system.

To prevent new additions, cut back on carbs, fat and salt and increase fibre intake. Start exercising.

Cardiovascular exercises in particular get the blood pumping.

Other factors that can exacerbate cellulite include smoking, tight clothes, high heeled shoes and sitting or standing in one position for long pe

Fitness for Women- Stay Fit and Healthy!

1. Staying fit and healthy starts with a balanced diet. Know and monitor the right weight for your age. Consult your doctor to learn what food you should avoid and follow your eating discipline routines. If you are trying to lose some weight, foods with high calories should be omitted from your meals. Food with high fiber and low fat should be included a priority in your grocery list instead of red meat, sugars and fats.

2. Drink plenty of water. Drinking at least eight glasses of water everyday. This cleanses the body from impurities. It is also advised for lactating women to increase water intake to keep the body hydrated.

3. Take Vitamins and Supplements. Do not forget your Calcium supplement. Sufficient Calcium intake is beneficial for women of all ages. This has been proven to prevent having cramps and Pre-Menstrual Period (PMS) Symptoms. It also prevents Osteoporosis especially for menopausal women. Vitamin E boosts strong immune system. Women who undergo menopausal period should take Vitamin E-400 as it stops night sweats and hot flashes. Also, Vitamin E is said to be best in avoiding wrinkles when aging.

4. Quit smoking. If you are smoking, stop. It is also a big “NO” for pregnant women, as this will affect the health of the baby. Pregnant women who smoke may pass the harmful content of cigarettes to babies through the bloodstream. Recent studies have shown that women smokers are more prone to diseases than men smokers. Women who smoke have a high risk of getting breast cancer. Also limit your alcohol intake.

5. Incorporate exercises in your daily routine. Take a walk after work, use stairs instead of elevator or play with your kids when you are at home. Home exercises are also effective especially when you do not have time to go to the gym and would like to lose some weight. Yoga and Pilates are only a few of the many effective exercises you can do at home. Exercises help in limiting the risk of cardiovascular diseases.

6. Avoid stress. Many women are prone to too much stress. Stress has been known as cause to many sicknesses. As much as possible take time to relax. Read a good book, hang out with friends and engage into sports. Pamper yourself by going to parlors or you can do some shopping. And do not forget to get enough sleep to revive your energy.

7. Use sunscreen to protect your skin from the harmful rays of the sun. Wear hats when under the sun to protect your skin. Too much sun is bad for your skin. The skin is prone to cancer when exposed to too much sunlight. It also speeds up the aging of skin cells, which causes wrinkles to women.

8. Make sure to visit your dentist to keep that beautiful smile. Always have it cleaned to prevent cavities and bad breath.

9. Visit your Gynecologist. Women who are eighteen and above should have their Physical Examination annually especially for the Pap Smear test. Women who are forty and up should have their mammograms and the Breast self-exam is encouraged once puberty has been reached and should be a habit as they mature

10. Safe sex is strongly recommended. Use condoms to prevent sexually transmitted diseases.

Tips on How to Become a Fitness Model

Everyone is busy. But considering what is at stake, making time for exercise needs to be a priority right now. Thirty minutes a day is not too much when you get right down to it. Cut one prime-time show out of your evening television-viewing schedule. Get up a half-hour earlier each morning. Use half of your lunch hour for a brisk walk. You can find time if you look hard enough for it.

In fact, there are people who find time to manage and endorse the advantages of physical fitness just so they can prove to the world what a physically fit person can look like.

It is for this reason that most people contend that fitness models are one of the healthiest and most appealing people in the world. They embody the perfect concept of a physically fit person. Fitness models are, indeed, the epitome of health, life, vigor, and real beauty.

In reality, virtually everyone who has the capability to move can exercise to some degree; and everyone who is capable of projecting the benefits of exercise and physical fitness can be a fitness model.

Therefore, if you think that you have what it takes to be a fitness model, here are some tips on how to be come one.

1. Deviate from the common notion of everybody that fitness is just a matter of the body figure.

The problem with the society today is that people tend to admire and look up to females who are thin and sexy and to males have brawny, muscular biceps, triceps, and wonderful abs.

The upshot is that people tend to exert so much effort in exercise not because they want to be healthy and fit but because they want to like the fitness models that they usually see in TV, posters, and magazines.

To be a fitness model, you should start working your way to a healthier you and not just a sexier, physically attractive person that you want to be.

After all, being a fitness model does not necessarily mean you have to have a “fashion-model” body size.

2. Believe in the saying, “You are what you eat.”

If you want to be a fitness model, you have to believe on the fact that our body shows what kinds of food we eat. Your body will also depict the kind of physical activities that you have in life.

Hence, if you do not conform to this belief, chances are, you will find it hard to be a fitness model, and to inform the people what it is like to be physically fit.

3. Live a healthy lifestyle

Genes play big roles in a person’s health. But these do not certainly influence what you will eat at breakfast, lunch, or dinner, and the kind of activity that you will engage in.

Hence, if your lifestyle will not be healthy, chances are, you can never be a fitness model.

4. Have a “positive self image”

In order to be a fitness model, you have to incorporate positive body image in your life. This means that you should love your body in spite of what is happening in the environment or the occurrences in your life.

You should never wish for a body that you know it is not yours. Do not burden yourself into thinking that life could have been better if you only have thinner thighs or beautiful abs.

Through positive self-image, you are able to gain respect for yourself, which in turn generates other s to respect you and admire you.

The key point here is that, being a fitness model is not all about vanity and physical attributes alone. What matters most is the beauty of being physically fit and healthy that radiates from your body as it exudes the glow of health.

Beauty Tips : Rapid Weight Loss Techniques

Other than physical appearance weight affects a person in many ways. This could be the overall quality of life, self-esteem, depression, health risks, and physical incapabilities. There are a lot of positive changes once a person experience weight loss. It is for this reason why a lot of people are searching for a weight loss technique that will surely trim down those fats and get a super slim head turner body.

The first thing that an over-weight should do is seek a doctor to recommend the best weight loss regimen. This will be done after a full physical examination, which leads to the determination of proper weight loss technique. And to lose weight fast and effectively four aspects of life should be changed: what to eat, how to eat, behavior and activity level.

Here are fast tips that can change an over-weight’s life:

First: Fast weight loss composes of a multi-faceted technique that consists mindset, exercise, and in other cases, diet supplements. Begin by learning a diet food plan that can easily be accustomed with. Incorporate an exercise plan that allows even at least fifteen minutes a day like brisk walking, running, swimming, and dancing.

Second: Set realistic approaches. The ability to focus and have proper mindset enables someone on a diet to quickly lose those extra pounds. With discipline and proper mind set, a dieter will never be discouraged and lose focus.

Third: Listen as the body speaks. Each and everyone’s body metabolism reacts differently to different fast weight loss programs and plans. Try substituting one program for another to compensate the body’s reaction. Exercise program must be suitable to one’s body, as others are not able to exercise as rigorously as others can. If walking is all that can be done, then walk for this is proven the best exercise. Muscles burn more calories than fats so it’s also best to put on a little muscle and looking good too.

Fourth: Eat more fibers for it makes a person full sooner and stays in the tummy longer, slowing down the rate of digestion. A single serving of whole grain bread moves fat through the digestive system faster. Grains turn into blood sugar that spikes the body’s insulin level. Thus, making the body more energized and ready to tell the body when it should stop burning fats or start storing.

Fifth: Keep away from fried foods especially deep-fried as this contains a great amount of fat. Although fish and chicken appear leaner than beef, this white meat can contain more fat than when a beef is fried. It is recommended for those on strict diet to opt for grilled food as this does not have or contain less amount of fat after the food is cooked.

Sixth: Takes lots of fluid. Drinking at least six to eight glasses of water a day keeps the body refreshed. Since weight loss depends on how the body eliminates body wastes, the body must stay hydrated.

All in all, discipline and consistency is still the best practice and the key to a rapid weight loss success. Light dieting, workout, and right amount of supplementation applied in a regular way everyday will result in faster weight loss than having a massive action only to be followed a return to old habits as this would only lead to gaining more weight than when the weight loss plan has started.

Seven Diet Secrets of the Stars

Celebrities always look fabulous. Whether appearing in television or films or strutting down the red carpet during movie premiers and awards, they never cease to fascinate us with their larger than life presence. The truth is, it takes a lot of effort to look the way they do, and being the public figures that they are, they cannot afford to slack off when it comes to taking care of their physical appearances. Their livelihood largely depends on how they look. Aside from the clothes, the hair and the makeup, celebrities have to take good care of their bodies.

So it is no surprise that these stars have their own secrets when it comes to staying fit and gorgeous. Their health agenda can range from extreme workouts to well-planned meals. Who doesn’t want to know their secrets in staying absolutely sexy? Here are some of the diet secrets of seven women celebrities.

1. Jennifer Aniston
The star of the phenomenal television show Friends not only mesmerized audiences with her adorable comic sense and her famous hairstyle, she was also known for having one of the sexiest bodies in Hollywood, as she appeared in countless magazine covers. To stay trim, Jennifer follows the 40:30:30 diet method. The diet consists of:

40% Low glycemic carbohydrates
-Foods such as beans, fruits and vegetables, legumes

30% lean proteins
-Tofu, fish, chicken, turkey, beef and low fat dairy products

30% essential fats
-nuts and seeds, fish and olive oils

It is essential that every meal should contain macronutrients to attain the balance of hormones and maximum weight loss.

2. Kate Hudson
The gorgeous daughter of actress Goldie Hawn gained 60 pounds during her pregnancy, which she needed to shed quickly before commencing on her next film. From her previous eating plan, she switched to a higher protein diet. She consumed high protein meals in smaller portions, and she combined this diet with an exercise program that includes weight training and cardiovascular workouts. After getting a lot of flak because of her post-pregnancy figure, Kate removed all that baby weight in only four months and has gained abdominal muscles that gained the envy of many in Hollywood.

3. Oprah Winfrey
As one of the most successful talk-show hosts in the world, there is no question that Oprah needs to maintain her physical appearance for her millions of audiences. Known as one of those celebrities who are constantly battling weight gain, she has recently toned up her figure and has never looked figure in age 50 by combining a regular exercise regime and diet plan. Oprah works out five days a week, spending 30 minutes on the threadmill and doing free weights. Her eating plan consists of legumes, fish, nuts, fruits and vegetables, chicken and dairy products that are lowfat. She limits her consumption of white sugar and flour. Oprah also credits her trim figure to her habit of not eating anything after seven in the evening.

4. Gwyneth Paltrow
A lot of people may find it hard to believe that the perpetually slim Academy award-winning actress actually needs to diet. Gwyneth actually follows a healthy eating plan that resembles Oprah’s, avoiding sugar and white flour. She usually follows a macrobiotic diet, eating foods like vegetables, brown rice, and lean meat. She also eliminated dairy from her diet, and does yoga everyday.

5. Madonna
The pop star known as the Material Girl has always flaunted a body that is to die for, and has become a true fitness paragon over the years. She keeps herself in tip-top shape by having Ashtanga Yoga, and follows a strict diet that mostly shuns junk foods. She adopted a macrobiotic eating plan that includes organic foods rich in lean protein.

6. Claudia Schiffer
The bodacious German supermodel eats salad and steamed vegetables for dinner and eats only fruits before the afternoon. While on locations, she prefers to eat black grapes and drinks tomato juice and herbal tea.

7. Christie Brinkley
Long-time supermodel maintains her all-American good looks by being a vegetarian. She does not keep junk foods of any kind inside her home to make sure that she does not eat them when cravings occur. She snacks on sweet potatoes in place of candy bars, and she adopts a liquid juice diet when she needs to slim down fast.

Celebrities are just like ordinary people. They need to maintain their figures just like anyone else, and there is more pressure on their part since they are constantly in the public eye. Ordinary folks can have celebrity-like bodies, too, and by following these diet and fitness plans, they can also look like red-carpet worthy.

Beauty Tips : The Wondrous Benefits of Soy Protein

Soy protein is emerging as one of the great alternative protein sources for human consumption. Health experts are all excited about how soy protein can change the face of nutrition. What’s all the rage? Here are some great reasons to get with soy protein.

Soy Protein is Plant Protein
Soy beans contain complete protein and have one of the best protein digestibilities among all protein sources. Soy beans also contain little or no fat and have virtually no cholesterol. Lactose intolerant ones will be pleased to know that soy beans contain no lactose.

Being a plant protein, soy is free from steroids and antibiotics animal protein contains. It is also free from the parasites that contaminate some of these products. They also contain none of the diseases one can contract from mean sources such as Mad Cow Disease, and Foot and Mouth Disease.

Vegetarians love this bean as it provides a comparable – if not better – source of protein as compared to its animal counterpart. It provides a protein that is better and easier to digest and is comparable to most protein supplements.

Soy Beans are Very Versatile
Soy beans are very versatile. Various cuisines, especially Asian ones recognize the value of the humble soy bean. A variety of naturally yummy delicacies are all soy based: tofu, soy pudding, Soya milk, and meat substitutes – not to mention condiments such as soy sauce, and hoi sin sauce.

To counter the problem of world hunger, the growing of soybeans has been suggested. Not only are soybeans easy to grow and harvest, they will grow pretty much anywhere and produces much in a little time. There have been farmers reported to have replaced their entire crop line with soy bean plants. These hardy little plants produce much per harvest, and, as said earlier, can grow in even the most trying terrain.

The Great Substitute
Soy is low in fat and can be used to substitute most protein sources. When cooking, you may use soy substitutes instead of flour for a low fat alternative. This makes it a great protein source for those that are looking to lose weight without compromising their protein requirements.

Bodybuilders are considering how this can make their jobs a lot easier. Without the fat and with all the protein goodness – easily digestible at that – bodybuilding has just received a great blessing of a food.

Although these bodybuilders are currently debating how soy can be a help to bodybuilders, it doesn’t take away anything from what soy can contribute to the overall health of a person.

It is very advisable to stick to natural protein rather than processes protein if possible, as processed foods typically have some risk attached to them. The best use of this food can be attributed to how it perfectly fits into anyone’s low-fat, high-protein diet.

Soy products can be incorporated into shakes and drinks. And being lactose-free, lactose intolerant people will still be able to get their milkshake fix without having to suffer so.

Soy products are also a great source of other nutrients such as saponins, isoflavones, and phytosterol. Saponins help support a healthy immune system. It also combines with cholesterol to avoid increased absorption of cholesterol in the body. Phytosterols also help reduce the absorption of cholesterol in the body in the same way saponins do.

Isoflavones are powerful antioxidants and prevent the effects of free radicals in the body. They prevent many of the signs of aging and have been known to help prevent cancer. This alone makes soy a miracle protein source in its own right.

Isoflavones, along with vitamins A,C, and E are among the front liners in the fight against such disease – they also counter the effects of pollution, and stress.

How Much is Too Much
Unlike other protein sources, it is pretty safe to consume a wide amount of soy products. While allergies to soy products exist, cases are few and far between. When changing to a soy diet, however, it would be best to consult your physician or your nutritionist. Ask specifically if the soy interferes with any prescription drugs you are taking.

Soy can be great blessing for people who are looking for a great source of protein that does not entail the side effects of most of the other sources. It would be advisable for one to explore how it can improve one’s diet.

Resolve to Exercise

Make exercise a routine part of your life. Studies have shown that people who diet and exercise shed pounds more quickly than those who just diet or just exercise.

Here are some tips on efficient exercise:

Aerobic exercise is best for burning calories. While the recommended 30 minutes of moderate exercise most days helps lower the risk of heart and other diseases, you’ll have to push a little harder if you want to lose weight.

Exercise harder. If you simply can’t devote 45 minutes a day, seven days a week to exercise, increase your intensity when you do exercise.

Lift weights. Resistance training builds bone density, which guards against osteoporosis and builds muscle.

Talk to your doctor before starting any exercise program to find out which program is right for you.

More exercise helps keep weight off

Overweight women who want to lose weight and keep it off should try to get at least 275 minutes of exercise a week, or about 55 minutes a day for 5 days a week, in addition to limiting calories. Staying in touch with your weight loss team and healthier eating habits may also be important factors in weight loss success.

Grace Kelly | How To Look Like Her

She was a woman with style, grace, and class. Grace Kelly always appeared dignified and elegant in whatever she wore. The public embraced not only her refined beauty but her dignified poise when she was in the public eye. How many women throughout time have tried to emulate her beauty and class? If you study the style of a woman like Grace Kelly, you can learn much that you can apply to your own beauty regimen. Here’s how to look like Grace Kelly:

How to look like Grace Kelly: The art of dressing

Grace Kelly dressed with simple style and flair. She avoided clothing that was overly frilly or showy and instead opted for simple, understated elegance. She frequently played up the simplicity of her clothing with statement making accessories such as large sunglasses, beautiful designer scarves, and stylish hats.

To emulate the style of Grace Kelley, think simple, monochromatic and elegant. Choose a neutral color that’s flattering with your skin type and build a wardrobe of high quality, well made pieces around that color. If brown is a flattering shade, invest in a cashmere brown sweater and a pair of brown pants and a skirt that matches. Get a pair of high quality shoes that will match the brown pieces in your wardrobe.

Gradually build your wardrobe by adding pieces that coordinate with your basic brown items. Over time, you can add some interesting accessories to give variability to your wardrobe. It’s far more flattering to have a simple, well made clothing items in monochromatic colors than it is to have a closet full of printed, detailed clothing that you’ll get tired of quickly.

How to look like Grace Kelly: Choose simple jewelry

One of Grace Kelly’s favorite pieces of jewelry was a strand of simple pearls. Pearls are almost universally flattering and elegant and Grace Kelly instinctively knew this. She wore them frequently when she appeared before the camera.

Defiant protesters amass in Tehran for third day

TEHRAN, Iran Demonstrators on Monday defied a government decree that had declared their rallies illegal and began to gather at Tehran University for a third day of protests.

Supporters of Iran's defeated presidential candidate Mir Hossein Moussavi protest on Sunday.

"They are chanting slogans -- 'Death to the dictator' " -- said a witness who CNN will not identify for safety reasons.

"We are here. We will not leave the scene until our presence is known."

Earlier Monday, Iran's government had rejected a request by opposition leader Mir Hossein Moussavi to hold a nationwide march to protest the results of the country's presidential election, Iranian media reported. Gallery: Emotions run high after election »

The country's government-funded Press TV was among several media outlets Monday that quoted the Interior Ministry as saying it had declared such a march illegal.

But Moussavi's supporters, in messages on social-networking sites, indicated the rallies would continue with or without the blessing of the administration.

Tens of thousands of people around the world championed them on social-networking Web sites and urged friends to wear green in solidarity.

Official results from Friday's elections had President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad winning with more than 62 percent of the vote. Watch report on latest violence in Iran »

But Moussavi, the hardline incumbent's leading opponent, has disputed the results, and his supporters have fought in the streets with police and Ahmadinejad's supporters since the vote.

Hatred, chaos and savage beatings in Tehran

TEHRAN, Iran -- He was surrounded and pleading for them to stop but six men with clubs, batons and metal rods kept battering a young Iranian man with ruthless force. The swing that keeps replaying in my head was the black baton that smashed the man in the skull behind his left ear.

An eyewitness says the hatred is palpable on both sides in the streets of Tehran.

more photos »

Seconds earlier the man had dared to stand up to the baton wielding men because they had shoved a 14-year-old girl. For his chivalry he got one of the most savage beatings I have ever seen at the hands of four Iranian riot policemen and members of the Baseej, Iran's plain clothed volunteer militia.

"To hell with Iran," he said as he sat beaten and battered along the sidewalk. "This is not my government. This is not my country."

A grown man who watched the beating burst into tears.

This was a glimpse of the ugly aftermath of Iran's presidential elections, which sparked outrage among supporters of candidate Mir Hossein Moussavi.

Moussavi's backers are calling President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's landslide victory a sham. They're demanding the vote be annulled. The government's response has been a ruthless and violent crackdown.

For eight chaotic hours I saw the two sides clash throughout the streets of Tehran. These were Iranians versus Iranians, but the two sides were worlds apart in appearance, ideology and brute force.

Moussavi's supporters were mostly young 20-something men and women. They were college students, young professionals with degrees demanding social freedom, a better way of life, and better relations with the West.

Two teenage girls carrying bricks had French manicured fingernails and designer sunglasses. The protesters threw objects, burned trash bins, honked their horns and chanted "death to the dictator!"

They were loud, until they heard the roar of the motorcycles.

The motorcycles belonged to two groups of Ahmadinejad supporters: Iran's riot police and the Baseej.

The riot police looked like modern gladiators, muscular and menacing with camouflaged uniforms, black boots, black bulletproof vests and black shielded helmets. They rode in pairs. One drove while the other wielded a club or a baton. They swarmed crowds of rowdy protesters in packs of about 20, beating anyone who got in their way.

On several occasions I saw female Moussavi supporters plead with their male counterparts not to run away. But they almost always did. They were clearly intimidated by the brutal show of force.

The Baseejis were just as ruthless. Those who didn't ride on motorcycles walked the streets in large packs carrying clubs. They didn't wear uniforms, so they could easily ambush protesters. They beat one protester so badly that he collapsed in the middle of an intersection and trembled uncontrollably. I saw one battered young man crawl into the lobby of an apartment building, curl up under the stairwell and sob. He had welts on his forehead and bruises up and down his arms.

"They hit me with everything," he said as he gasped for air. "They hit with clubs. They hit me with chains."

When the two sides weren't throwing objects at one another, they were hurling insults. I heard and felt the hatred on both sides.

During a Saturday afternoon news conference Ahmadinejad compared the violent crackdown against the protesters to a citation after a traffic ticket.

A few hours later thousands gathered in midtown Tehran to hear Ahmadinejad deliver a victory speech. The re-elected president said the elections belonged to Iran's people.

Never since the Islamic Revolution of 1979 have Iran's people appeared this divided

True hearth healthy tips that may work for you

True hearth healthy tips that may work for you:

1. Always cook heart healthier meals.

2. Substitute one whole egg with 2 egg whites OR if a recipe uses 3 eggs, you can always discard 2 of the yolks. Remember, only egg yolks contain cholesterol.

3. Use low fat milk in place of coconut cream or dairy cream.

4. Use a moderate amount of meat, but fill up that meat dish with lots of vegetables.

5. Be light handed with you cooking oil. Remember that the more oil you end up using, the more fat you will be consuming in your diet.

6. Pack it – avoid eating out so much by packing lunch to take to the office or school.

7. Add lentils and beans to stews, soups and curries to boost fiber and to cut down on meat.

8. Try to include deep sea fish such as cod, seabass, trout and mackerel about 2 times a week in your daily diet. A sensible portion is a 100 grams of fish (about the size of your computer mouse or a deck of playing cards)

9. Switch to lower fat versions of milk, cheese, yogurt, margarine spreads, mayonnaise, etc.

10. Cut down on deep fried foods. Other cooking methods such as braising, boiling, steaming, baking, roasting and grilling do not require the use of so much oil.

11. Educate yourself on what a heart healthy diet entails. Read health magazines, books, newspaper articles and reputable health websites. The more knowledge you gain about matter, you’ll be a much wiser food consumer.

12. Make your heart healthy diet realistic. One that is too strict and extreme can ‘bomb’ on you in the long run.

13. If you’re craving a salty crispy snack, give potato chips a miss. Instead, try baked potato chips, Japanese rice crackers or low – sodium pretzels.

Body Care Tip - Weight Reduction

Counting Calories:

All the food you eat is a source of energy and can fatten you, but some foodstuffs are more fattening than others.For instance, fats are more fattening than both carbohydrates and proteins.Calories are a simple way to measure, how much energy and how much fattening potential your foods contain.Foodstuffs differ in thier caloric content because of two reasons: Firstly they contain varying amounts of fats, proteins, and carbohydrates and secondly, they contain different amounts of water, an ingredient which truly has zero calories.Similarly the energy you spend when working or exercising can be measured in calories.So the simple basis of a “calorie control” diet would be to limit your calorie intake, while making you use up the usual or more number of calories.Your body will then have to draw upon the fat stores to fill the energy gap and you would begin to lose weight.

While on a weight reducing diet there are certain foods you must avoid:

1.All fried and greasy foods.

2.All sweets:Honey, ice-creams, cakes, pastries, jams, chocolates, candies.

3.Dry fruits and nuts:peanuts, almonds, cashewnuts.

4.All alcoholic drinks.

5.Fruits: Bananas, grapes, mangoes, strawberries.

6.Vegetables: Potatoes and other tubers.

Foods which you can eat as much as desired without causing any problems:

1.Salads: Carrots, radish, tomatoes, onions, cucumbers, lettuce.

2.Drinks: Clear Soups,Lemon Juice, jaljeera, Buttermilk.

To Lose Weight Sensibly:

The safest and the most effective way of slimming is to lose weight slowly.Crash diets should be avoided as they often fail.This is simply because they just cannot be sustained.Moreover, crash dieting can adversely affect your beauty, making you look haggard.An advantage of a gradual diet control, is that your taste in foods can be adjusted over a reasonable period of time so that the craving for certain food items is reduced.

An average woman spends about 2,300 calories a day.If you want to reduce your weight, you should aim to eat about 1,200-1,300 calories daily.If you persistently eat about 1000 calories less every day, your body will have to make up the short fall, by using up about 100grams of your body fat daily.So in about ten days you would be able to lose a kilo of your weight.On this diet you should not expect a rapid loss of weight.It may take you sometime to lose the desired weight.Even though it would be slow, if you are steady in your diet control you are sure to be a winner.

How Fattening Are High Protein Foods?

There is a popular notion that protein-rich foods are not fattening.This is absolutely a myth.Proteins actually provide the same number of calories per gram as carbohydrates and so are equally fattening.But protein-rich(and even fatty foods) foods, do not leave the stomach as quickly as carbohydrates, so they tend to satisfy your appetite for longer periods of time and you do not feel hungry quickly.It is for this reason that a serving of mutton appears more filling than a bowl of cereal and sugar, even though the portions have been adjusted to give you precisely the same number of calories.

However a slimming diet which recommends protein foods, such as eggs, yoghurt or fish rather than starchy and sugary foods is very likely to be rich in minerals and vitamins as well.On the other hand refined carbohydrate foods can be easily eliminated from the diet without causing any deficiency of vitamins and minerals.

How To Cut Down On Fats:

Since fats contain more than twice as many calories to a gram as carbohydrates and proteins, a low fat diet would seem a very sensible way to cut down on the calories in your daily meals.The danger here lies in the fact that when you cut out on the fatty bit of your meals, you tend to feel hungry much sooner and if you succumb to your hunger-pangs, you might well end up eating more(snacks, sweets and other foods) before your next meal is due, and ruin your dietary schedule.

We consume a large amount of fat in our diet; actually 40% of our daily calorie intake is derived from fats.Half of this is visible as the oil we cook our food in, and the butter we spread on the breakfast bread.The other half, however, is not so obvious; the margarine present in the cakes and biscuits, the fat in a boiled egg and the cream in our morning cup of tea or coffee.

The first step in beauty

Expert Advice

The secret to radiant, youthful-looking skin is regular, gentle, thorough cleansing. Products applied afterwards are better absorbed and skin is free of impurities, remains radiant and is less prone to blemishes and imperfections.

Expert Secret

The cleanser you use is important. It cleans your skin twice a day every day, so it’s important to choose a cleanser of the highest quality.

Clarins advice.

. It’s essential!

Even if you’re not wearing make-up, cleanse skin before bed (even if it’s late) to remove all traces of impurities. Be sure to cleanse again in the morning as well, to eliminate nightly secretions.

. Cleanse in the right order.

Always start by cleansing the eyes, or you risk wiping impurities onto a clean face.

. Gently does it.

Pulling the skin stretches tissues and speeds up skin aging. Discover the Clarins cleansing method from our Institute’s expertise to remove all impurities without pulling or stretching skin.

. Absorb don’t rub.

For the same reasons as above, never rinse or wipe the face by rubbing. Instead, place a tissue over the face and absorb.

. Make the right choice.

For your eyes only: Use Gentle Eye Make-Up Remover Lotion or Instant Eye Make Up Remover. For Tthe fresh feel of water, use: Gentle Foaming Cleanser. For Qquick cleansing: , use One-Step Facial Cleanser, One-Step Gentle Exfoliating Cleanser and One-Step Cleansing Waters.

For total comfort: Cleansing Milks and Extra-Comfort Cleansing Cream.

A little extra tip!

Make cleansing a pleasure! It’s the first treat of the day and the last of the evening! A tip: use a variety of textures for different sensations – the fresh feel of water, a silky-smooth lotion, a revitalizing exfoliator or a soft, gentle cream.

· Which products should be applied during the day and which ones at night?

In the morning, we recommend using a product which will provide a gentle ‘lift’ effect like Eye Contour Gel, Advanced Extra-Firming Eye Contour Serum or Eye Revive Beauty Flash. These products will work primarily on diminishing the eyes’ fatigued appearance.

At night, choose products with a richer texture, a balm or cream according to your needs.

Eye Makeup Tips

Below are some useful Eye Makeup Tips :

* Moisturizing first during your makeup routine will help any foundation and/or concealer blend easier.
* Mixing foundation and moisturizer can make a good tinted moisturizer.
* Curling lashes open up your eyes. Do so by squeezing them with a lash curler from lash line to three fourth way toward tips.
* Apply blush upwards and outwards on the apples of your cheeks, towards the hairline.
* For added natural beauty look, extend a very fine line to the innermost part of the upper lid.
* Apply two coats of mascara, sweeping the wand from roots to ends. Wiggle the wand a little as you move upwards to detach the lashes and make them stand out.
* Line lips with a pale-blue eyeliner pencil; blend color inward with a fingertip. Then brush a shimmery pink lipstick over your entire mouth. The blue edges soften the color, creating a striking, ice-kissed look.
* Before using mascara, remember to curl your lashes with a lash curler to open up your eyes.
* Try applying a dark shadow tone as a liner to accentuate the upper lash line by using the thin edge of a disposable applicator to draw a soft line just above the upper lash.
* Apply two shades, use either medium or dark, and light.
* Select a foundation which is compatible to your skin tone and dab some spots around the center of your face.
* Liners-Normally done in shades of black, grey, brown and sometimes green or blue, liners serve to emphasis the contours of your eyes.
* Eye makeup remover is a special kind of make up remover made to flux budge proof eye cosmetic such as water proof mascara and flase eye lash glue.

Coloring your Eyebrows - Eyebrows Tips

If you feel you need to color your eyebrows because they do not suit the color of your hair or your complexion, it is relatively easy to do at home. Use a facial cream hair lightener, which youI think is the cheapest, safest and easiest way to lighten your eyebrows.

Mix the lightener according to the directions on the box. Stand in front of a mirror, apply the cream gently to your brows and watch it. The color will change from black to brown to red to blond. Wipeit off at the stage you want, before it reaches the color of your hair, because eyebrows should be a shade darker, otherwise the whole world will know you have been coloring them! Remember, coloringdoes dry out your brows, so don’t do it too often. And when you take off the lightener, apply moisturizer to your eyebrows and leave it there. I always put moisturizer on my eyebrows just as I do on myface at night. It is a good way to avoid dry, flaky skin in that area.
More Eye Makeup Tips and Tricks

* Eyeliner is meant to add depth to eyes and give definition to lash line. To do so, hold the eyelid skin taut with fingertips of one hand and draw as fine a line as you can very close to the lash line with the other hand. Your hands should be steady for the purpose.
* For the soft smoky look, smudge the edge of the line with the smear end of the eyeliner pencil.
* For added natural beauty look, extend a very fine line to the innermost part of the upper lid.
* Lining the lower lashes add the dramatic effect to your looks. You can do so by adding tiny dots to lash roots and a fine line on the outer half of the lower lash line.
* Liquid eyeliners give more glamorous look but require more skill too.
* Use slate, blue, grey and plum eye shadows for brown eyes, pink, salmon, mauve and brownish pink for green eyes and brown, camel and taupe shades for blue eyes.
* Curling lashes open up your eyes. Do so by squeezing them with a lash curler from lash line to three fourth way toward tips.
* Stick to dark colored mascaras such as navy blue or plum for they look more natural.
* Apply two coats of mascara, sweeping the wand from roots to ends. Wiggle the wand a little as you move upwards to detach the lashes and make them stand out.

Tips for Healthy Hands

After washing your hands, pat dry and, while moist, use a moisturizer on the hands, cuticles and nails. Chemically enhanced moisturizers that contain urea of lactic acid are even more efficient in binding water to the skin.

Wear gloves when doing work that might damage the hands or nails, such as gardening or shovelling snow.

Nail polish protects the nail from stains, physical trauma, and acts as a barrier to chemicals. Use it but don`t overuse it or it may stain and dry nails, particularly if nail polish hardeners are used frequently. A base coat will allow your polish to last longer.

Every night, before bedtime, massage your hands with a cream for few minutes.

After your bath or any washing , always massage your hands with a lubricating cream. In fact, barrier creams should always be used when tackling particularly dirty and greasy jobs.

Get into the habit of giving yourself a weekly manicure, which will make your hands look good along with helping them to combat annoying problems like chipping, splitting, peeling and cracking.

Do not use too much polish remover. Apply moisturizer after using nail polish remover in order minimize the irritating and drying cation of the acetone.

As they age, the nails thicken, grow more slowly, repair poorly and are susceptible to various skin diseases. Watch for changes and see your dermatologist early enough to treat problems.

You can give an instant refresh treatment to your hands at home by soaking your dry hands in warm olive oil. Fill a teacup with the warmed oil, dip in your fingers and let them soak for a few minutes. When you remove them rub the oil into your hands and allow as much of it as possible to be absorbed before rinsing away the excess. Alternatively, you can smother your hands with rich cold creams.

You must wear gloves while working in the garden and kitchen. In case you find them uncomfortable use the barrier cream. A few recipes of the same are given below.

Angelina Jolie Beauty Secrets

It goes without saying that Angelina Jolie looked great after giving birth to her child and now looks great after giving birth to 2 more children. What is her secret? Happiness, loving and caring husband, children … ? Definitely, but there is one more point – she was reported to enjoy Ginger Root, Garlic and Yoga. Let’s clear it out.
According to scientist, ginger is widely known for its ability to settle indigestion and upset stomachs. Also, (there are no proofs) it can fight against cholesterol. Garlic is perfect against cold and cough and cholesterol.

And the last option is – yoga

Lipstick - How To Wear Red Lipstick

Red lipstick is a universal classic and has yet to go out of style, according to the fashion magazines, yet many women assume they can’t wear it. They’re wrong. Here we show you how.

Rule No. 1: The secret lies in the rest of your face. The paler the skin, the bigger the pop. Go light on the eyes and the blush, otherwise you’ll risk looking like a clown. Here’s how to do it: Skip eyeliner and go only for mascara (black for brunettes, brown for blondes and redheads), making sure to apply to bottom lashes (it opens up your eyes). Dust face with powder and cheeks with a soft blush.

Rule No. 2: Line inside of lips Red lipstick tends to bleed, so fill in lips with lip liner first, suggests makeup artist Ashunta Sheriff in the December 2006 issue of Harper’s Bazaar.

Rule No. 3: Pick the right color If your complexion is pink, you’ll look better in plum shades, while girls with yellow tones are flattered by warmer reds that have a brown base, according to celebrity makeup artist Jemma Kidd in the December 2005 issue of Harper’s.

Rule No. 4: Don’t let nails clash We prefer non-red nail polish when you’re going red on the lips. A clear polish or light color is cool, and black polish is a trend that shows no sign of going away anytime soon. If you want to go red on the nails, make sure the color matches your lips.
Rule No. 5: Blending is in Few makeup artists stick to one shade of any lipstick, they tend to blend a few to create the perfect colors. If you’ve bought a red lipstick shade that’s too bright, dark or whatever, don’t throw it away. Instead, experiment with other lipstick shades you have on hand to create the perfect shade of red.

Skin care treatment for the most common skin conditions

A glowing and healthy skin is an asset. Skin is not all about beauty but also health. So, skin care treatment should be treated with all seriousness. If you develop a skin related dilemma, you need an appropriate skin care treatment. Skin care treatment, for any skin disorder, starts with actions that are aimed at prevention of the disorder (what we can also call as proactive or preventive skin care treatment). Building and following basic skin care procedures is what one could classify as preventive/proactive skin care treatment. Skin disorders can occur even if you have followed this preventive skin care treatment. Preventive skin care treatment just reduces the probability of occurrence. Let’s check the skin care treatment for some of the common skin conditions.

Acne is one of the most common problems. Again, the first type of skin care treatment is to control acne and prevent it from getting worse. So avoid tight clothes; they are known to cause body acne by trapping sweat. Do not touch the blemishes over and over again (rather don’t touch them at all), you might end up aggravating the condition. Also, do not try to scrub too hard or squeeze them. Use of mild cleansers is a recommended skin care treatment for acne. Obtain an over-the-counter skin care treatment for faster treatment of acne.

Skin care treatment of dry skin is generally easy. Moisturisers, applied in the right way and in the right quantity, are the best form of skin care treatment for dry skin. For best results, apply moisturiser while your skin is still damp. Also, do not apply too much or too little moisturiser. In exceptional cases, where you don’t notice any improvements in 3-4 weeks, you might have to visit your dermatologist for skin care treatment of your dry skin.

Brown spots, which appear on sun-exposed areas of skin i.e. face and hands, are caused by over-exposure to UV radiations. As a skin care treatment for brown spots, use a sunscreen lotion which has a high SPF (sun protection factor), say 15. This should be used irrespective of weather – sunny/cloudy. Another form of skin care treatment is covering up the exposed areas with clothing (caps, full sleeved shirts/t-shirts, and umbrella).

Also, if the general skin care treatment or the over-the-counter medication is not working for you, you should immediately consult your dermatologist for professional skin care treatment. You should also inform the doctor about the skin care treatment that you have undertaken till that time. So take the details of the till-date skin care treatment (and products) along with you. Based on the skin condition and the details of your till-date skin care treatment, the dermatologist will prescribe a skin care treatment e.g. oral antibiotics, chemical peels, retinoid etc and you will be on your way to recovery.

Quick tips how to prevent dry, wrinkled hands

RESPECT YOUR HANDS. Our hands take more abuse than any other body part, and this usually shows. No matter how careful you are with your skincare routine, your hands will reveal your true age if not cared for. treat your hands with respect and you’ll see results almost immediately.

Slip on a pair of gloves when doing housework to prevent overexposure to water and harsh chemicals. Better yet, apply a thick layer of moisturiser before wearing the gloves.

Once a week, slough off dead skin cells with a solution of coarse sea salt and lemon juice. Pat dry, then coat hands in a mixture of honey and olive oil and stick them into sandwich bags for half an hour. Or you could plunge your hands into a bowl of warm milk whenever you’re lazing in front of the TV.

Tips for a Healthy Glowing Skin

Include plenty of raw foods in your daily diet, like fruits, salads and sprouts.

Drink plenty of water to keep your system well flushed of toxins, and wastes.

Daily exercise helps to improve blood circulation to the skin and facilitates the elimination of wastes.

Adequate sleep is a must for good skin. The process of repair and renewal is enhanced during sleep.

Take time to relax. Stress can trigger off many skin problems.

Avoid smoking and alcohol. They deplete the body of the essential nutrients and are skin agers.

Protect your skin with moisturizer and sunscreen when you are out of doors, to counteract the damage caused by the sun’s ultraviolet radiation and chemical air pollutants.

Keep your skin well moisturised during the cold, dry season.

Never neglect night-time cleansing of the skin, to remove the grime, make-up and pollution that have collected during the day.

Seek professional guidance and treatment for problems like acne in good time.

Facial Care Tip

Never go to bed with your make-up on. Make-up that is left on overnight will clogs the pores and prevents the skin cells from shedding, which may cause blemishes and/or blackheads. The skin needs to breathe over night. Waterproof make-up is most easily removed using a gel cleanser.

The most important thing that you can do for your facial skin is to avoid sunlight or use liberal amounts of sunscreen. Sunlight causes the skin to age and causes skin care which is the most common malignancy in humans. The most common area for these tumors is the face. If you do not believe that the sun ages your skin, then look at the skin under your upper arm and compare it to the skin on your face and the back of the hands.

Alpha hydroxy acid applied daily will help prevent acne out breaks if you have acne prone skin. If you have acne and the above measures do not help, see your dermatologist. There are so many prescription treatments for acne.

Israel PM calls for demilitarized Palestinian state

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday that Israel would agree to a peace agreement with Palestinians under which there would be a "demilitarized Palestinian state."

Israel PM Benjamin Netanyahu said he would agree to peace with Palestinians.

The area under Palestinian control would have no army, would not control its airspace, and would not be allowed to bring in arms, Netanyahu said.

Netanyahu, who recently returned to the prime ministerial post he held 10 years ago, has previously not endorsed a two-state solution.

In his address, Netanyahu discussed the pain and loss through bloodshed on both sides of the conflict.

He said the root of the conflict lies in the refusal by the Palestinians to accept that the Jewish people have a homeland in Israel.

Netanyahu also called on Palestinian leaders to take immediate steps toward peace talks.

Rossi pips Lorenzo to win Catalunya MotoGP

World champion Valentino Rossi pipped Fiat Yamaha team-mate Jorge Lorenzo on the finish line in a thrilling finale to the Catalunya MotoGP.

Rossi shows his delight after clinching a thrilling victory over Jorge Lorenzo in Barcelona on Sunday.

With Lorenzo starting on pole, the two riders dominated the race throughout before exchanging the lead several times on the final lap.

But Italian Rossi eventually sealed victory by just 0.095 seconds in front of 90,000 fans in Barcelona -- the 99th win of his remarkable career.

Casey Stoner finished third, meaning that he, Rossi and Lorenzo are now all level at the top of the championship standings on 106 points.

Stoner's Ducati managed to hold off the challenge from Repsol Honda's Andrea Dovizioso, who finished fourth, while Loris Capirossi came fifth.

Daniel Pedrosa, Colin Edwards, Randy De Puniet, Mika Kallio and Nicky Hayden completed the top 10 on Sunday.

"It was a great battle, the two Yamahas were flying on this track," Rossi told BBC Sport. "After some laps I knew I had to fight and it was a great fight to the end, I wasn't sure of the result until the end."

Stoner revealed afterwards that he had not been fully fit. "I've been slowly getting a little more sore and sick each day, and I was cramping after the warm-up," he said.

"I was really afraid about finishing the the race -- halfway through I just gave up, I had nothing left, and I decided to just run for the points."

Pajar85: Review: 'Pelham 123' doesn't measure up

Pajar85: Review: 'Pelham 123' doesn't measure up

Review: 'Pelham 123' doesn't measure up

In the new "The Taking of Pelham 123," a minor '70s classic gets a big-ticket upgrade in Tony Scott's subway thriller.

Denzel Washington stars as a transit dispatcher in "The Taking of Pelham 123."

Ostensibly based on John Godey's novel, not Peter Stone's screenplay for the 1974 film, this adaptation represents an evolution, but not necessarily an improvement.

The plan is essentially unchanged, at least at first. A group of armed men hijack the titular New York subway train. They decouple all but the lead carriage, hole up between stations, and the leader, who calls himself "Ryder" (John Travolta), calmly informs the radio controller that the city has just one hour to cough up a $10 million ransom to secure the lives of the passengers.

On the face of it, it's a bewildering scheme. Escape seems unlikely. But there's no question these men mean business. When the transit dispatcher, Walter (Denzel Washington), is replaced by a professional hostage negotiator (John Turturro), Ryder signals his displeasure by shooting the train driver dead. Walter is returned to his post, too late for his colleague, but still with an outside chance of saving the day.

The first "Pelham" is remembered for three things: the color-coded criminals (a conceit that Quentin Tarantino would replay in "Reservoir Dogs"), a vintage Walter Matthau performance and the clever kicker.

Scott's version -- written by Brian "L.A. Confidential" Helgeland -- axes the first and third elements entirely, and substitutes Matthau's baleful transit cop with Denzel's disgraced manager, demoted to the dispatcher's desk after accusations that he's taken a bribe.

From this dubious original sin, Helgeland fashions a textbook redemptive arc for Walter, and a phony connection between the civil servant and the crook, whom he immediately pegs for a Catholic. (An earring in the form of the cross confirms it.)

The two men take turns playing priest and penitent, detective and quarry, while Scott desperately tries to rev up the action, crashing several police vehicles as authorities race the ransom money across town.

Scott, a moviemaker who instinctively feels the need for speed (as Tom Cruise put it in Scott's "Top Gun"), isn't exactly playing to his strengths here. His hyperactive panning and shuffling don't so much disguise the talk-talk at the center of the script as distract from it. iReport.com: Share your reviews of 'Pelham'

The relentless sideways shunting motion becomes such a tic that when a real action sequence presents itself -- a runaway train careering down the tracks -- Scott contrives to make it look almost inert, as thrilling as a stoplight.

More than anything, though, the new "Pelham" reflects how New York has cleaned up its act over the last three decades. The racially obsesssed vernacular of the '70s is gone, for the most part. (Travolta lets off a few cracks at the expense of Italians, but no one else rises to that challenge.) The rank but pungent smell of the old boroughs has given way to scratch-and-sniff references to terrorists, Wall Street and a philandering mayor (James Gandolfini).

Perhaps as an unintended side effect, the colorful character bits fleshed out in the original by Hector Elizondo, Jerry Stiller and Martin Balsam (to name but three) are steamrollered by the new movie's twin star turns. Even a reliable scene-stealer like Luis Guzman barely gets a word in edgewise as John and Denzel go through their paces.

It's an uneven fight, but that is by design. Travolta, goateed and tattooed, goes for the jugular, ranting and raging entertainingly, but to diminishing effect. Washington is the tortoise in this race: slow and steady. No prizes for guessing who comes out on top ...

Yup. That would be Walter Matthau. As simple as 1, 2, 3.

Nia Vardalos " What’s the big fat deal? "

Nia Vardalos

Actress/Writer/Director

It’s just weight. Just 40 pounds of fat now gone from my body, but wow, it’s pretty much all I get asked about. In the last year, I got to star in a movie, wrote and directed my next one, and adopted a three year old from American Foster Care. But guess what I’m asked…how did I lose the weight?

I am embarrassed to be in the position of answering questions about my body again. On the publicity tour of ‘My Big Fat Greek Wedding’ I was asked over and over again, if, as the writer, I felt it was a fair depiction of real life to have someone of my er, below average looks, hook up with hottie John Corbett.

It’s been years, and I have sat through many a movie like Sideways, where nobody blinks an eye when Paul Giamatti gets together with gorgeous Virginia Madsen. And, then ‘Knocked Up’….well, the visual of Seth Rogan on top of Katherine Heigl made me put the popcorn down and reach for my purse. Not because I was grossed out but because I knew the film was about to stop and Ashton Kutcher would now jump out and go “aha, you’ve been punked, that would never happen.” I waited. But no Ashton. The film went on. And many a reviewer, who probably look like sweet Seth (yes even the women) gave it a thumbs up.

Yes, there’s a double standard for women. Whatever. Yawn, we all know it, perpetuate it – we make it worse every time we buy a magazine showing “Stars with Cellulite.” And women, we do buy those magazines. Yes, we do. No, not just at the airport – you have a subscription, admit it. So do I.

So, it’s our fault. Let’s accept it and move on. Socially, the issue of men’s weight is simply not a big deal. Let’s face it: Russell Crowe is fat and no one ever talks about it. Alec Baldwin just orders his suits a size bigger and we continue to swoon.

So, what exactly is up with my weight loss? I get hit with this awkward question daily and have answered it in press interviews, at the grocery store, at the newspaper stand. Why? Because I see their anxious, open faces needing the secret, the new pill, the cure, anything. Just please share the secret. So I hesitantly answer and am always met with the same response: the glaze-eye slack-jawed face.

Because they don’t want to hear the truth: I had a blood sugar problem so my Doctor ordered me to lose weight, it was really hard but I did it through diet, exercise and it took a year.

This is when the boredom sets in on the querying person. I might as well just shove an Ambien up their nostril. The gleam in their eye fades and they get sleepy.

No one wants to hear the facts about weight loss. It’s simple. Take that bag of Doritos and throw it as far as you can. Now chase after it. Pick it up, do it again.

Or don’t. You don’t have to lose weight, unless like me, it becomes an issue of health. I thought I was attractive when I shot ‘My Big Fat Greek Wedding.’ Studio executives and movie reviewers let me know I had a confidence in my looks that was not shared by them. In other words: they labeled me with words like, overweight, unattractive, unappealing. Hey, just say fat. I love the word fat. I used it in the title. It’s actually not a naughty word. We give it a power it actually doesn’t have. So, you’re fat. Big deal.

If now, I have a sudden validity because I look different on the red carpet, check out my Before pics on my Twitter. (@NiaVardalos) I am showing what happens before Team Miracle comes over in the Hazmat suits and works on me for a few hours. Anyone can look like they make me look. That’s why most malls offer a Glamour Shots booth.

I am just telling you the truth.

Here’s another fact: A studio executive recently asked me to change a male lead in a script to female because “women don’t go to movies.” He went on to explain some studios were no longer making female-lead movies because women don’t go to them.

Wow. I pointed out ‘Sex And The City,’ ‘Mamma Mia,’ and ‘Obsessed,’ and he called them “flukes.”

He shrugged and explained he was just telling me the truth.

I wonder, is this the truth? Do we support female films? My film is out now and Sandra Bullock’s film ‘The Proposal’ opens soon. (Gasp, is she talking about a rival studio’s movie?) Yeah, I am. See it. See us both (just see us first, we’re low budget.)

So, I ask, can we tell that studio executive the truth? That women do go to the movies. Can we speak up with our wallets? Or did you doze off?

Commentary: Chastity, 'Good luck, brother!'

Jamison Green is an educator, adviser and advocate on transgender issues, and the author of "Becoming a Visible Man" (Vanderbilt University Press, 2004).

Jamison Green transitioned from female to male just before his 40th birthday.

Welcome, Chaz!

Before the word "transsexual" had been coined in English, an intrepid young person whose family belonged to the British nobility set out to transform herself from female to male. He received a medical school education, obtained hormones -- relatively new substances that were poorly understood at the time, and independently began living as a man in the early 1940s.

Eventually, he found a plastic surgeon to help him, and his physical changes were complete by 1949, but his family rejected him. The British tabloids hounded him. To escape publicity, he was forced to carve out a life for himself virtually alone. He became a Buddhist monk, and died in Tibet in 1962 at the age of 47.

His name was Michael Dillon, and he one of the Western world's first transsexual people, that is, someone who changes sex and/or gender by medical means. His extensive writings were suppressed and destroyed by his family -- only fragments survive.

By 1988, when I began my transition (just before my 40th birthday), there was scarcely more information about female-to-male transsexualism available than there was in 1949. Even in the early 1990s, doctors told transsexual people that we should not socialize together, because people might notice there were things about us that were different from "normal" people.

Many transsexual women were tall and some had broad shoulders, large hands and feet. Most transsexual men were on the short side, and had small hands and feet. It's one thing if you mix in with other people where there is a lot of physical diversity, but if you congregate with others like you, you may risk discovery.

To be discovered as a transsexual person was a horrible fate. And fitting in, being "normal," was the goal of treatment, after all. I was convinced that having a "sex change" was going to be a very straightforward process. I would take the hormones, have some surgery, and then go home and mow my lawn. I expected life to just be ordinary, just the way it was supposed to be.

There were a few surprises in store for me, though, not the least of which was that I learned that the fear and shame of being known or discovered to be a transsexual person was probably responsible for a tremendous amount of suffering.

I learned that people like me hid themselves from the world, often were under-employed or unemployed, avoided seeing physicians when they were ill, and often expected that they would never have intimate partners.

After I began transition, I met more and more transsexual men like myself, and I saw firsthand the fear and shame that limited their lives. These were kind, gentle, thoughtful, serious men, and they did not deserve to live in a state of fear and shame.

I knew then that education about who we were, and what our lives were like, would be absolutely necessary to do two things: first to let people like me know we were not alone and we didn't have to be afraid; and second to let other people know we existed, to make the world safe for us, for our difference and our uniqueness.

Like a handful of other trans men in North America, Europe, England, and Japan, I began to do public education, to write about our experience, and to educate legislators and policy makers, helping them change the laws, hoping to ease the suffering of others like ourselves who would follow in our footsteps.

And now Chaz Bono announces his transition through his publicist. O, brave new world! The words are here, some protective laws have been passed, America has learned that it can no longer simply destroy what it doesn't understand. Not that some people won't try, though.

Chaz, here's hoping your transition from female to male will be effortless, but experience tells me you're liable to have (at least) a few surprises and inconveniences along the way. Here's hoping you can maintain the privacy you want, and that you have the ability to experience your transition fully, that you aren't robbed of the experience by the demands of a public life.

Your visibility can bring new understanding. Where others of us have run from the spotlight, and still others have been denied a voice by a disinterested public, you have the ear of the media, and you will not be ignored. But don't be tempted to expose yourself when you're not ready. Your life must be your own.

For me, the goal of transition was not to become "normal" -- whatever that is -- but to become balanced as myself. It's a life goal that non-trans people strive for, too, and we all have different paths to get there. My path worked for me; I hope yours works for you. Good luck, brother!

Stronger, faster iPhone 3GS will hit stores June 19

A new, faster version of the popular iPhone will hit stores June 19, Apple said Monday.

The new iPhone 3GS will have a camera that shoots video and zooms, among other new features.

The iPhone 3GS is billed as a more powerful, feature-laden follow-up to the 3G, which the company says revolutionized the way people use mobile phones.

The 3GS features a similar look to the current iPhone, complete with a sleek rectangular shape and a large touch screen. But the phone comes packed with new features inside, according to CNET reporter Erica Ogg, who blogged live from the event.

Ogg says the 3GS has a new camera that shoots video and zooms. A touch-screen feature also lets iPhone photographers tap the area of the photo they would like to put into focus, she says.

The new phone reportedly will have a longer battery life.

iPhone 3GS will be available in the United States on June 19 and will hit 80 countries by August, Ogg says.

The new iPhone carries a price tag similar to the old iPhone. A version with 16 gigabytes of storage will sell for $199 with a new contract; one with a 32-gigabyte storage capacity will cost $299. Watch Wired.com's Dylan Tweney on Apple's big announcement »

Apple also said it has dropped the price of the current iPhone 3G to $99 ahead of the release of the 3GS. The $99 model features 8 gigabytes of storage.

The announcements came at Apple's much-anticipated Worldwide Developers Conference in San Francisco, California. The annual event was attended by 5,000 Apple tech developers, Fortune reports.

WWDC, as the conference is called, is known for its innovative announcements. Apple appeared to meet expectations of many tech bloggers, who had been awaiting a new iPhone model.

Perhaps the only disappointment was that Apple CEO Steve Jobs did not make an appearance on stage. There had been speculation online that the popular tech figure would make a cameo at the event. Jobs has been on medical leave since January.

Apple also discussed a new iPhone operating system, version 3.0, which adds a cut-copy-paste feature to current iPhones. Apple said the new software adds 100 new features.

One of those getting the most buzz was the Find My iPhone feature, which will be available only for customers of Mobile Me, an Apple service that lets users sync e-mail and other data between computers and iPhones.

If you lose your phone, Mobile Me will display a Google Map that shows where your iPhone is, as long as it's turned on. You can then send a message to the phone, and it will sound an alarm, alerting nearby people to save it for you. If you think you've lost the phone permanently, you can remotely wipe all your data; if you find your missing phone later, you can plug it into iTunes and restore all your data.

New iPhone applications were also discussed. Apple has gotten widespread praise for the fact that independent developers can create programs for the iPhone.

Read blogs from CNET and Fortune for details on the latest iPhone apps and other news from Monday's event.

Apple's laptops and computer operating systems were also discussed Monday.

Apple Senior Vice President Bertrand Serlet took the stage to demonstrate the company's newest operating system, called Snow Leopard. It will hit stores in September, although a "near-final" version was made available for developers Monday.

Serlet also said that Apple's Safari 4 browser, which was released in beta in February, will ship Monday.

Apple marketing head Philip Schiller also unveiled a new version of a 15-inch MacBook Pro, which he said will feature up to seven hours of battery life. The unibody aluminum laptop boasts a new battery that can handle 1,000 recharges and should last five years before its life begins to diminish, he said.

Phones remained the focus of the event, however.

Apple's phones are the second-best-selling consumer smartphones in the U.S., according to the NPD Group, an online market-research firm.

Smartphones are a category of mobile phones that act kind of like personal computers, allowing people to surf the Internet, share photos and keep up with e-mail while on the move. About a quarter of all consumer phones sold from January to April of this year were smartphones, NPD says.

The iPhone faces new competition from the Palm Pre, a smartphone that debuted Friday and claims to combine Apple's popular touch screen with a more functional keyboard, like the one found on a popular business-class smartphone, the BlackBerry.

Ahmadinejad likens protests to 'a football match'

TEHRAN, Iran -- Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Sunday dismissed violent protests against his election victory by comparing voters' anger to a "football match."

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad hailed the election as an "example" for the entire world of the people's will.

"Some people are sentimental and become excited," he added. "As I said, I compared it to a soccer match. Their team has not won in the match."

"In the end, I don't think we'll have any serious challenges," he said. "Sentiments are high and sometimes they do some stuff on the streets, but in the end we had 40 million people participating and what is happening on the streets is like a football match."

In a news conference, Ahmadinejad portrayed his apparent win in Friday's election as a victory over foreign powers.

"The era of a few countries making decisions for the rest of the world has come to an end," he said. "Those who want to hamper the progress of the Iranian nation, the Iranian people will resist." Watch Ahmadinejad say that Iran in 'the most stable country in the world' »

Ahmadinejad, the hardline incumbent, defeated reformist rival Mir Hossein Moussavi, a former prime minister, in Friday's election, according to official results. Opposition supporters claimed ballot fraud.

Riot police fired tear gas and brandished batons to disperse about 100 stone-throwing protesters in central Tehran.

"There was this cat-and-mouse game between the rioters and the police," said Samson Desta, a CNN producer, who was hit by a police baton. "For the time being, it seems like police have things under control. But we spoke to a lot of students and they're saying, 'This is not going to go away. They may stop us now but we will come back and make sure our voices will be heard.' "

It was the second day of protests in Tehran. On Saturday, thousands of demonstrators -- shouting "Death to the dictatorship" and "We want freedom" -- burned police motorcycles, tossed rocks through store windows, and set trash cans on fire. Watch as Ahmadinejad is declared the winner »

There were conflicting reports on whether his rival, Moussavi, had been placed under house arrest.

Some reports indicated that he had been detained. Others said he was at home, conducting meetings, but was free to come and go as long as he informed authorities. Guards were stationed outside his house, but it was not immediately clear whether they worked for him or the government.

In other parts of Tehran, the streets were eerily calm with some residents worried that violence may escalate when Ahmadinejad supporters come out for the victory celebration.

"We are all worried about that," said Yashar Khazdouzian, a student. "People against people is the worst kind of riots in Iran." Eighty-five percent of the country's 46 million eligible voters went to the polls Friday -- an unprecedented turnout, Iran's Interior Ministry said.

When the ballots were counted, the government declared Ahmadinejad the winner -- with 62.63 percent of the vote. Moussavi, the man many analysts had expected to win, received 33.75 percent.

Moussavi disputed the results, blaming "untrustworthy monitors." Independent election observers were banned from polling places.

"The results announced for the 10th presidential elections are astonishing," he said in a statement. "People who stood in long lines and knew well who they voted for were utterly surprised by the magicians working at the television and radio broadcasting."

Angered by the returns, Moussavi's supporters took to the streets Saturday. With handkerchiefs and surgical masks shielding them from the pungency of tear gas, they clashed openly with police in a rare challenge to the regime. Watch angry protesters take to streets »

Foreign reporters were blocked from covering the demonstration. And the government reportedly shut down access to networking sites, such as Twitter, making it difficult for information to seep out to the outside world.

Iranian authorities closed Al-Arabiya's Tehran bureau for a week without offering a reason, the Arabic network announced on its Web site Sunday in Arabic and English. Two female reporters were attacked outside Moussavi's headquarters on Friday, according to Reporters Without Borders.

Immediate reaction around the world was guarded, with the United States and Canada voicing concern over claims of vote irregularities.

"In light of Tehran's ongoing policy, and even more so after Ahmadinejad's re-election, the international community must continue to act uncompromisingly to prevent the nuclearization of Iran, and to halt its activity in support of terror organizations and undermining stability in the Middle East," said Israeli Deputy Prime Minister Avigdor Lieberman.

Ahmadinejad hailed the vote, saying it was a "great ordeal" but one that pointed "the way to the future."

"The people of Iran inspired hope for all nations and created a source of pride in the nation and disappointed all the ill wishers," Ahmadinejad said in his television address. "This election was held at a juncture of history."

Many analysts had expected Moussavi, a former prime minister regarded as a reformist, to defeat Ahmadinejad.

Moussavi is credited with successfully navigating the Iranian economy during a bloody eight-year war with Iraq in the 1980s. He also enjoyed tremendous support among the nation's youth. Iran's population has a median age of 27.

But Ahmadinejad -- despite being blamed for Iran's economic turmoil over the past four years -- maintains staunch support in rural areas.

No matter who won, the ultimate power in Iran still resides with Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Khamenei lauded the results and urged Iranians to support the re-elected president.

The system was set up after Iran became an Islamic republic in 1979 when the ruling monarchy was overthrown and Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi was forced into exile.