Meal Replacements: Are They For You? - Fr Yahoo

Meal replacements — those products that provide an entire meal's worth of nutrition and calories in a single bar or shake — are often used as a core component of the American dieter's meal plan. You have probably seen them in the supermarket and in TV ads. Just one small shake or bar, and you've got yourself a complete meal.

Meal replacements sales have now topped 1 billion dollars a year. What makes them so popular? The simple answer is that they work: Eating fewer calories will naturally result in weight loss. But meal replacements only work when you stick with the plan.

If you want to lose weight and think you'd like to try a meal-replacement product, first weigh the pros and cons. On the plus side, meal replacements:

are convenient

can save you time

are calorie and portion controlled

are often fortified with vitamins and minerals

often have a sweet taste that can satisfy a sweet tooth

On the downside, meal replacements:

can be expensive

often become boring because they don't come in many varieties. For example, Slim Fast® shakes only come in a few flavors.

might not satisfy your appetite the same as a meal would — drinking a shake may not be as satisfying as eating a turkey sandwich.

sometimes leave a vitamin aftertaste — and if you don't like the taste, you won't stick with the program and lose weight.

In sum, meal replacements can be effective for weight loss when replacing one or two meals each day. They are generally safe, as long as your calorie intake doesn't fall too low. If your calorie intake falls below 1,200 per day, you should ask your physician to supervise your diet.

Meal replacements can work if you do the work and follow the plan.

Take 5 Years Off Your Face - fr Yahoo

Your eyes are one of the first places on your face to age. I’ve got nothing against getting older, but anything I can do to prevent looking older, I’ll try (as long as it doesn’t involve needles!).

Here are a few easy secrets I’ve learned as SELF’s editor-in-chief:

Block the sun: If you’re an outdoors person like I am, you probably know that sunglasses, even the big-framed ones everybody’s wearing now, don’t always shield the full eye area. Rays can leak in from the sides or top, and rays reflected off pavement or sand can sneak in from the bottom.
I’ve always been leery of using sunscreen near my eyes because somehow it always seems to migrate into them, and that stings! But my beauty editors turned me onto sunscreens made with mineral (as opposed to chemical) ingredients, such as titanium dioxide or zinc, which don’t irritate. They’re often labeled "no-sting" or "tear-free." Another hint: Formulas for babies or kids may use those ingredients, too.

Fake a good night’s sleep: Believe it or not, moisturizer is the answer to lightening dark circles. That’s because undereye skin appears darker when it’s dehydrated. Look for a cream with hyaluronic acid; I can’t explain exactly how it works, but it binds up to 1,000 times its weight in water, leaving you moisturized with no greasy feel.

Prevent puffing: Pile on the pillows (even one extra will do) when it’s time to snooze. The added elevation prevents fluids from pooling underneath your eyes.

Wake up with makeup: It seems like every single makeup artist SELF talks to says one of the quickest, best ways to make eyes look big and bright is to use an eyelash curler. I confess I don’t always do this (when I’m in a hurry, it just seems like one step too many), but when I see myself in the mirror and think "You look tired," the curler’s the first thing I pull out now. Try it.