Is Your Health Portfolio Balanced?

We are all aware of the need to balance our financial portfolio so that in times of hardship or when disaster strikes -- stock market drops, pink slips, etc -- we will be affected by financial challenges as little as possible. Having a substantial bank account allows us many opportunities that people with lesser financial savvy and preparation must forego.

Perhaps you are at a “comfortable” financial level, able to pay off bills and credit cards timely, and have enough disposable income to enjoy a good quality of life. Perhaps you enjoy an “extremely high” financial level, with unending “toys”, travel when and where you want, and other opportunities for the “good life”. Either way you are able to handle sudden financial challenges and able to take advantage of financial opportunities as they come your way. Feels good, doesn’t it?

But what about your health portfolio? When faced with challenges such as a cold, flu season, children’s ear infections, etc. do you just accept them as part of life? What about when disaster strikes in the form of a serious health challenge to you or a family member. Is your health bank account equipped to fight back?

In the United States, the average age of disability (when quality of life becomes so poor that you need help for daily activities of living) is 65 years old. Modern medicine is providing miracles in keeping us alive longer -- increasing our “lifespan”. But what about the quality of our lives? If we want to continue our “healthspan” along with our “lifespan”, it is imperative to raise the level of our health bank account as well as balance our health portfolio.

If you think the cost of health care has gone through the roof now, wait until the majority of baby boomers reach the “age of disability”. Now is the time to take a serious look at your own health bank account and ask “Do I have all the energy I need each day?”, “What is my ‘cushion’ in case of serious illness?” and “Does my health portfolio need balancing?”


Image Makeovers - What's All the Fuss?

It seems lately that there is a lot of interest in image makeovers. We see it on television from extreme makeovers to home makeovers. What is an Image Makeover? Why do people want makeovers? What will they do for you?

Image Makeovers can be extreme and include plastic surgery, hair implants, liposuction and dental work. For the lucky few who are chosen, it will make a great difference in their lives. Image makeovers help raise self-esteem and give those who have them an edge in the corporate and business world that they would have not previously had. It may seem unjust but there is a widely held belief that how you look reflects who you are - your social status, intelligence etc. Whether we like it or not we are judged within the first fifteen seconds of meeting someone. This alone would be enough reason to want a makeover.

The good news is you have control over the image you project. For those who don’t need or want extreme work done but would like a more polished image and want to highlight their assets, there are simple steps that can be take that will create a more satisfying look.

The elements to consider when creating a professional look are: hair, makeup, style, body type and wardrobe building, communication skills and attitude.

Hair: Keep your hairstyle up-to-date. Hair has a huge impact on your overall look and an out-dated style will make you appear out-dated as well. If you are working in the corporate world this could destroy any chance of advancement. If your style is from the last decade it may communicate that your ideas and practices are too. If you need an updated look find a hairstylist who knows the latest hair fashions.

Makeup: If you don’t wear makeup now and you are otherwise well –groomed you will not look completed finished. If you are not sure how to use makeup seek out a professional- it will be well worth the time and effort.

Style: When we dress to suit our personal style or fashion personality we feel more comfortable. Sometimes women don’t want to “dress up” because they feel like they are being someone else. When you dress to fit your personal style you can be “dressed up and feel like the clothing belongs on you.

Body Type: We are not all born with the same shape, so, the style we wear will impact the way we look. Have you ever seen an outfit on one of your friends that looked spectacular but when someone else wore that same outfit it lost its pizzazz? That has to do with the body shape of the two people. Both women could be the same height and weight but have a totally different shape. This has a huge impact on how the outfit looks.

Building a Wardrobe: Have you brought home clothes that you really liked and when you looked in your closet you realized that that you didn’t have a thing to go with it? What do you do? Go back to the store and buy something to match. That’s not always a bad thing if you have lots of money to spend. If however, you don’t, you will want to make wise purchases. Making wise purchases means knowing how to build a wardrobe.


Time Out: Stop Beating Yourself Up

Boxing is a professional sport that you can actually learn a great deal from and apply to managing certain areas of your life. According to the official website for the World Boxing Association, all world championship bouts shall be of a twelve round duration. Each round shall consist of three minutes in duration with one minute rest between each round. Apparently parameters are necessary even in a situation where a motivated opponent with the goal of physical injury is involved coupled with the ongoing task of defending your reputation and a substantial amount of money.

Unfortunately, the parameters established for professional fighters are leaps and bounds above what I extended to myself. I was taught at a very early age to dig my heels deep into every situation:

•Push
•Sacrifice
•Endure
•Achieve
•Acquire
•Succeed
•Contribute
•Excel

All the above are very worthy attributes, but similar to medication we take for illness, the dosage must be regulated, and will vary from person to person based on our unique differences. Like most people, I never regulated the dosage as I forged ahead personally and professionally. Also, I didn’t allow much room for error or rest from beating myself up when I missed the mark. Missing the mark these days isn’t very difficult with the increasing demands of life, in general. A short list of our roles and responsibilities include:

•Parents
•Employees
•Sons
•Daughters
•Business Owners
•Soccer Moms
•Neighbors
•Wives
•Grandparents
•Husbands
•Community leaders
•Friends

Often, we tend to concentrate a great deal more on what we’re not, rather than who we are. Our focus is in most cases lopsided, seldom acknowledging all of the many reasons there are to be very proud. I can relate to this so well having lived this way most of my life. For as far back as I can remember my concentration has always focused on the following:

•Tasks I had not accomplished
•Achievements that fell below my expectations
•Victories that had not yet been won


As an older and hopefully wiser person, I’ve learned to decrease the amount of self- inflicted injuries by taking a few simple steps that may be effective for you as well:

1)Make a list of your accomplishments- when feeling the urge to take a swing at yourself, review the list as a powerful reminder. This exercise renews your self confidence to face obstacles and develop creative solutions. Remember to include both professional and personal accomplishments and continually update your list.

2)Set realistic expectations – goals should be challenging but realistic. Achieving the right balance can be tricky. Allow yourself to make needed adjustments as you move along.

3)Be patient – some victories take longer than others. We often try to apply a fast, got-to-have-it-now approach that is simply not applicable. This step is particularly challenging to me, but I’m improving, so there is definitely hope for you.

Time out is an effective tool that helps you put things back in perspective. Several large corporations recently have been involved in ugly scandals. At some point, they stopped beating themselves up in order to move forward. This is a critical lesson for all of us. On a daily basis, do your very best in each role. Allow yourself to make mistakes but most importantly learn from them and please move on.


Jeans That Fit: How to Find Them

We all own jeans and they truly are the main ingredient of any casual wardrobe. However, they are not all equal or equally flattering. We are not all born with the same shape, so, the style we wear will impact the way we look. Have you ever seen an outfit on one of your friends that looked spectacular but when someone else wore that same outfit it lost its pizzazz? That has to do with the body shapes of the two people and sometimes the color of the garment. Both women could be the same height and weight but have a totally different shape. The same holds true for jeans. Here are a few hints when trying to find jeans that will fit and look great on YOU.

Small flat behind:

If you have a small flat behind and your jeans tend to make you look smaller, choose a design with detailed pockets that are high and slightly smaller than those found on most styles. Pockets will drawn attention to the eye and will create the illusion of width and lift.

To add curves Wear low-rise jeans in a cotton-Lycra blend. The clingy fabric hugs the body and a contoured waistband will help create curves. Choose a pair that has been lightened at the thighs and knees to make legs look more shapely. Avoid standard boot cut jeans that have little shape.

To flatten a tummy:

Try a medium to high-rise (no higher than the belly button) in a dark color.

For the appearance of smaller thighs:

Stick to dark colors for sure and wear flared styles that will draw the eye downward and create balance. Don’t wear them too tight or too loose.

For the appearance if slim hips:

Do look for jeans without front pockets or jeans with slit pockets and stay away from front patch pockets. Buy dark colors with stitching that is the same color (or very close) as the fabric. Avoid light stitching and designs.

To prevent a gap at the waist:

If your hips are much larger than your waist then you will probably have this problem. What to do? Wear stretch denim jeans and stay away from crisp or heavy fabrics such as cotton.

To make your legs appear longer:

Wear a high-heeled shoe and flared jeans that will completely cover them.