“I’m tired of all this nonsense about beauty being only skin-deep. What do you want? An adorable pancreas?” — Jean Kerr, American author and playwright.

For me, beauty starts with my skin and..from the outside in, works its magic.  Beauty IS art, its ever-changing..and for me, while  its definitely in the eyes of the beholder, it all starts with ME.

When people say “You look good!”..I believe its because my skin looks glowing…at least on my face!  (although I’ve never asked..gee, why do you say that?  Just take the complement and run with it!)

But skin is the largest organ in our bodies by far…and the one that faces the world every day – imperfections, scales, dark circles and freckles and more…

And, now that I’m approaching menopause,  I can’t seem to drink enough water – 8 glasses a day is a real challenge.  So, I have a hard time believing  I’m hydrating my skin enough.

My big question is:  with skin being our largest organ,  do we reap the benefits of drinking water to reduce dryness on the outer layer?

There is alot of controversy on this point.  Many experts refute that drinking water will hydrate the outer layer, or epidermis of skin.   Basically the moisture level of skin is not determined by internal factors. Instead, it is external factors such as skin cleansing, the environment, the number of oil glands, and the functioning of these oil-producing glands that determines how dry the skin is or will become.

Since the water moves through the body system rather quickly, the best solution is to treat the skin from the outside with a suitable and dry skin moisturizer or dry skin lotion. This forms an effective barrier to water loss from the skin.

When choosing your moisturizer, it may take some trial and error to find the right one.   And, if you’re not getting the results you want, try a new one the next time:

1. Note the first five ingredients. Look for common active ingredients, such as lanolin, glycerin, or petrolatum.  Glycerin is less likely than lanolin to cause an allergic reaction, she says. Also, pick a moisturizer that’s made by a reputable company.

2. Go for added sunscreen. Protecting your skin from harmful sun damage is one of the best things you can do to keep your skin looking young, so buy a moisturizer with a sun protection factor of at least 30. You’ll have to do some searching, but more companies are offering face and body moisturizers with sunscreen

3. Make it skin-type appropriate. The skin on your face is thinner and more sensitive, so it’s a good idea to use a different moisturizer on your face than you do on your body. Of course, choose one that’s right for your skin type. If you know you have sensitive skin, it’s always a good idea to look for a moisturizer labeled hypoallergenic. If you have oily skin, go with a light, oil-free moisturizer. If you have dry skin, get something richer. And if you have combination skin, go with a lighter moisturizer for your whole face and dot drier areas with a heavier cream.

Keep in mind that you may need a lighter lotion in the summer, and a cream or ointment in the winter.

Consider using a moisturizer with retinol before bed. Retinol is vitamin A for your skin and it works by increasing the speed at which your skin cells turn over – similar to a lufra.  You can find it over the counter or by prescription, but use it carefully as it may cause a skin irritation, red skin, or dry skin.

To find out more, you’re invited to join our conversation with our skin health expert, Dr. Deborah Sarnoff, renowned dermatologist  and member of the Eucerin SkinFirst Council, about how to keep your skin healthy.   She’ll tell you why and how what you eat and drink, as well as exercise and stress all can have an impact.  You’re invited to join Kelley and Cassie on July 12th at 11:30 am here.

Join us and make your pledge to keep your skin looking great! Proceeds from your click here will benefit HealthyWomen.org.

Sharon, our first featured guest, will talk about her journey from devastated parent to, dare we say, “genius?” A former college chaplain who took the life-altering news of her children’s rare genetic condition and created a movement to improve health outcomes for people suffering from genetic diseases, she is a stunning example of how one Real Woman can make a difference.

Sharon’s joined by fellow guest Barbara Grufferman, author of the acclaimed The Best of Everything After 50: The Experts’ Guide to Style, Sex, Health. Money and More. Recently featured on “The Today Show” and in Huffington Post, The Best of Everything…. is the essential handbook to being a healthy and strong woman “of a certain age.”  It combines practical girlfriend-to-girlfriend advice from Barbara, a self-described “very inquisitive woman over 50,” and professional expertise from leading authorities in women’s health, nutrition, exercise, makeup, hair, fashion, finance, organization and sex.

Seriously, this book is one-stop shopping for those of us looking to feel and be our best!

In addition to featured guests, Real Women on Health! continues to bring listeners “Inside the Beltway” news from Robin Strongin, a Washington DC public affairs leader and creator of Disruptive Women on Health, an online platform for provocative ideas, thoughts, and solutions in the health arena.

RWoH! wants to hear your answer to the question: what are your tips for being a fabulous woman over 50?  Tune in Wednesday night and tell us what you think by calling 203-845-3044, or email us at  talktous@realwomenonhealth.com.  This is your big chance – we’ll be giving away a copy of Barbara’s book to a random caller.

Real Women on Health! is broadcast live on 1350 WSTC/1400 WNLK Fairfield County’s News Talk station from 8 pm to 9 pm EST and available via streaming at http://wstcwnlk.com/.  It can also be uploaded as a podcast on-demand after our live show.

From Healthcare 2.0, to summer sun and skin cancer prevention, to sleep and sex, to a 6-time Olympic winning Guinness World Record holder….Real Women on Health! May 19^th radio show runs the gamut of guests and conversations.

The health consequences of sleep deprivation are already known, how cheating your body of the R&R it needs can make you more prone to illness, stress, traffic accidents and even weight gain.   Arianna Huffington believes getting enough shut-eye is the next feminist issue.  After all, women have already broken glass ceilings in politics, sports, business and the media – just imagine what we can do when we’re fully awake.

Can’t get to sleep?

You’ve heard wrong.  Sex is exercise and a way to get yourself to sleep.  Too tired to do much of anything?  Listen in for some solutions that can help you in this area.

Lastly, you’ll get a taste of the inspirational this week with Anne Abernathy, a Guinness World Record holder who’s the oldest woman ever to compete in the Winter Olympics Games.  Tune in to Real Women on Health! blogtalkradio at 12:30pm EST on Friday, May 21st to learn more about how she took up lugeing at the age of 33 (“the ski slopes were crowded”) and overcame multiple health issues to now become a women’s health advocate especially around bladder control.

Please join Kelley and Cassie hosts of  Real Women on Health! and their guests this Wednesday, May 92th at 8 pm – 9 pm EST streaming live on your computer. Or, if you’re near Fairfield County, Connecticut,  its 1350 or 1400 on the AM dial!

]]> http://realwomenonhealth.com/2010/05/16/better-sleep-the-next-feminist-issue/feed/ 2 http://realwomenonhealth.com/2010/05/15/looking-for-inspiration-look-no-further-than-anne-abernathy/ http://realwomenonhealth.com/2010/05/15/looking-for-inspiration-look-no-further-than-anne-abernathy/#comments Sat, 15 May 2010 20:33:03 +0000 admin http://realwomenonhealth.com/?p=1070 OK. It’s almost summer, and barreling down a luge looks icey… but inspiration is season-less:))

You’re invited! Tune in and ask questions as Kelley and Cassie talk with Anne Abernathy, aka Grandma Luge, here on our radio show Friday, May 21st at 12:30 p.m.

Not exactly sure who Anne is? Anne is a six-time Olympic luger who has broken boundaries, records, and stereotypes throughout her career. Anne began competing in the Olympics at age 33, an age when most other luge athletes retired. Her career spanned 26 years. She is the first woman to qualify for six Winter Olympics and, despite battling through major life threatening injuries, cancer, and numerous knee surgeries, she has made multiple comebacks and become a fixture in the sport.

Before her first Olympic appearance in 1988, Anne was diagnosed and treated for Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma. Although the cancer returned several times during her sports career, Anne tried to keep it hidden from the public through three Olympic appearances until it was revealed in a front-page article of the Washington Post prior to the 1998 Nagano Olympics. These were the days before Lance Armstrong broke the stigma of cancer making athletes ‘less than.’

During her career as a luger, she also suffered a serious accident resulting in a brain injury that caused significant medical problems. Within a year of therapy and rehabilitation, she was able to return and qualify for the 2002 Winter Olympics.

Anne is in the Guinness World Records book as the oldest woman ever to compete in the Winter Olympics Games. She broke the record first in the Salt Lake City 2002 Olympics and again in Torino in 2006.

In 2010, Anne joined TENA, maker of bladder protection products, to let women know about the  “Be Tenacious” campaign and is inspiring women to face this common condition head on and to speak out and seek solutions. As an older athlete in her sport, when Anne experienced bladder control issues she faced a challenge of which her teenage peers were unaware and one that many of her contemporaries were reluctant to discuss.

She now hopes to be a resource for other women and to bring the condition to the forefront of women’s conversations. For more information on bladder control issues, as well as a wide range of other health topics,  go to HealthyWomen.org

How do women find the time to “do good” these days and have fun?

Enter Mary Jo Wallo.

Mary Jo Wallis is your basic renaissance woman.  In addition to surfing, snowboarding and running her own investment company in San Diego she has taken on the mantle as a national leader to Fight Frump (and Give Back!), or do “Altruism with Attitude!”  How, you ask?  Yes the sports play a role but there’s also her vision as co-creator of The Blue Thong Society, a national social and philanthropic women’s organization that’s grown since its inception in 2006 to 300 chapters and 5000 members.

Mary Jo joins Real Women on Health! as our featured guest this week, where she’s going to talk about The Blue Thong Society, give tips on what women can do to “Fight Frump!” by finding like-minded women and giving back, and tell us how BTS  was born.  A hint: it all started at her 50^th birthday when a friend noted that it could be time for the gift of a red hat.  Mary Jo laughed and said a blue thong was more her style…..and the rest, as they say, is history!

We’ll also hear from clinical professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Yale University School of Medicine and private practitioner in New Haven, Connecticut.  Dr. Mary Jane Minken, widely known in the field of gynecology and as a leader in women’s health education both inside and outside the medical community, is giving a couple of minutes of her time to talk to us about powering your pelvic core….

Join Kelley Connors, host, Real Women on Health! with Cassie, Mary Jo and Dr. Mary Jane Minkin,  this Wednesday, May 12th at 8 pm – 9 pm EST streaming live on your computer or, if you live near Fairfield County, Connecticut  listen “on the AM dial” at 1350/1400.

Our show is sponsored by Zestra, essential arousal oils, a patented blend of botannicals that is clinically proven to improve desire, arousal and satisfaction for 70% of women.  Check this out and use promo code ZPASS5 at check out!

Self-acceptance and self-esteem are closely related…and arises as you learn that you are perfect with all your  accomplishments, victories, and … vices.  Self-acceptance is as essential to one’s well-being as water is to a blooming flower.   Have you ever re-framed your “inadequacies”  and lack of self-acceptance into a humor and candor….where laughter has a place in healing and well-being?

Move over Candace Bushnell… and meet Amy Cohen, a New York Times Best-selling author of “The Late Bloomer Revolution”.   Amy says it well here, “I like to think of myself as a late bloomer, one who will, however, late come into bloom.   Although when, and if, I bloom remain a mystery.   I wish I knew how to speak a foreign language fluently.  I wish I knew how to cook a simple roast chicken, or that I had read the Idiot whose main character sounds like someone I can relate to.

By 35, Amy learned to ride the bike of her life.    Click here to take the Late Bloomer’s Quiz and join “The Late Bloomer’s Revolution”.    And, try your guess on our last question of the Late Bloomer’s Quiz here to talk with us.

Speaking of living life on our terms…learn what’s going on “inside the beltway” and take control of your healthcare with our radio show’s Washington, DC correspondant, Robin Strongin.   A true woman’s advocate with the connections to make it happen, she reveals the knowledge that will empower us women to become our own best health and wellness advocates.

Robin is the founder of Disruptive Women in Healthcare, a thriving blogging community of high powered women who are driving innovation in healthcare with thought-provoking ideas and commentary on the nation’s challenges.   This week,  she’s disrupting the status quo with a grasp on why you can’t take clinical trial information at face value…what you need to ask your doctor to stay in control of your health and well-being.

Join Kelley, Cassie, Robin and Amy on Real Women on Health! live talk radio this Wednesday, May 5th at 8 pm – 9 pm EST on your computer at www.wstcwnlk.com streaming live or, if you live near Fairfield County, Connecticut  listen “on the AM dial” at 1350/1400.

Our show is sponsored by Zestra, essential arousal oils, a patented blend of botannicals that is clinically proven to improve desire, arousal and satisfaction for 70% of women.  Check this out and use promo code ZPASS5 at check out!

Have you ever wondered why anybody these days would need a muse?  They don’t pay the bills, they don’t find you a job, and they don’t take care of your awfully well-behaved teenagers.  They’re well…just pure inspiration.

Boy, do I have a muse to share with you…actually, I have more than one!

It all started last year on the wowOwow web site when our friends June and Kath answered a blog post created by their now “uber-muse” Allegra Huston called “What is It About Adam Lambert?”.  That blog, which has prompted 20,000+ responses (and counting!) included two prolific writers, June Kinoshita and Kath Hollinsworth. The process of their self-discovery – as they blogged through the summer – created a serendipity that transformed their lives and resulted in the publishing of their just-released book, “On the Meaning of Adam Lambert”,  which is analytical, entertaining and downright funny (but don’t take our word for it….see reader reviews on Amazon and Juneau and Xena’s blog).

As June said, “Life has a way of stuffing you into boxes. I was happy and fulfilled with the roles I was playing, but this Adam experience made me break out of my mold and tap into a creativity and passion I’d kept on tap for years.”   Clearly, their inner-Adam has been lit through writing about him and connecting other women who have also experienced a shift in their lives and relationships through the “glambertinas” and On the Meaning of Adam Lambert.

This week, we’re thrilled to be the catalyst to bring together Allegra with June and Kath in an online  dynamic and empathetic conversation that will help you find  your own muse…and tap into your passions, in unexpected ways….in our upcoming one hour Real Women on Health! radio show on “Finding Your Muse,” April 7th at 8:30 pm EST.

What will we talk about?

Ideas for “how to” release the energy that helps you find your muse, your spark.  How to ID the passions that have lain dormant and are ready for the light of day.  Stories from June and Kath’s  book… you won’t believe it but Scrabble will never be the same!  And you can call in and share your tips and stories of how you climbed out of your box.

Just so you know… If the name Huston sounds familiar you’re right on.  Allegra has no interest in name-dropping so all you have to do is pick up her acclaimed memoir “Love Child”. soon available in paperback, to find out more.  And check out her upcoming movie, “Good Luck, Mr. Gorski”

Don’t miss this one!   Join us on April 7th at 8:30 pm EST.

Have you heard about Jenny Sanford’s new book “Staying True”?

Just recently, Jenny Sanford talks to the women on “The View”. Open communication can create opportunities for healing and understanding – even in the most difficult of situations. Jenny Sanford’s release of her new book highlights her journey in coming to terms with her husband’s affair with his mistress from Argentina. And, her ability not to be a “victim” turns out to be inspiring for many women.

Yet, many women have opinions about how Jenny Sanford got married in the first place as Mark wanted to get rid of the word “fidelity” in their vows.

What’s your opinion on this? Should she have married him despite his inability to say that he would be faithful in his marriage. As Jenny says, everyone has doubts about getting married:))

Better yet, what would you have done?

I asked one of our Real Women on Health! experts, Janis Spring, PhD, that same question as she is the author of the best-selling “After the Affair”. Janis said, “I haven’t read Jenny Sanford’s new book, but on the question, should you marry someone who wants to delete the idea of fidelity from your vows?”, I’d start with wanting to know the meaning of that partner’s objection. It may mean tons; it may mean little. After all, most people enter marriage swearing fidelity, but, often, end up having affairs. Other people question whether they can promise fidelity but stay true to their partner. I’d say, verbal promises and commitments provide no guarantee of fidelity but, while the wedding bells are still ringing, if one partner has serious doubts about the likelihood he’d/she’d stay faithful, I’d say the other partner who values fidelity should have as much discomfort with their willingness to tie the knot.”

Dr. Spring is a Diplomate in Clinical Psychology, a recipient of the Connecticut Psychological Association’s Award for Distinguished Contribution to the Practice of Psychology, and has served as a clinical supervisor in the Department of Psychology at Yale University. She received her B.A. from Brandeis University, magna cum laude, her Ph.D. in clinical psychology from the University of Connecticut, and her post-graduate training from Aaron Beck, M.D., at the Center for Cognitive Therapy at the University of Pennsylvania. In private practice for more than three decades, Dr. Spring is known for the richness and originality of her clinical skills and trains hundreds of therapists each year. She is a popular media guest on programs such as NPR, Good Morning America, Anderson Cooper 360, and the CBS Early Show, and she presents regularly at such public venues as The Smithsonian Institute, Harvard’s Continuing Education Conferences, Smith College School of Social Work, and Kripalu Institute. She and her husband live in Westport, Connecticut, and have four sons.

It’s not all in your head, it’s not a sign of age, nor is it even a lack of interest: About seventy million American men and women have problems in the bedroom. Join health psychologists Dr. Robert Fried and Dr. Lynn Nezin to learn about the eating plan for sexual vitality.

Sexual function requires an adequate arterial blood supply to the endothelium, or inner cell lining of arterial vessels. The endothelium produces the gas nitric oxide, or NO, that relaxes the blood vessels and increases blood flow not only in the heart but, importantly, in the sex organs.

Damaged endothelial tissue impairs blood flow during sexual arousal, and SAD (the Standard American Diet) is particularly damaging to the endothelium. Impaired blood flow is associated with sexual dysfunction in both men and women.

Tune in to hear more about cardiosexual nutrition as we discuss “Great Food, Great Sex: The Three Food Factors for Sexual Fitness.’’ Our plan focuses on three Food Factors that help supply the body with the ability to synthesize NO, as well as provide important sources of antioxidant-rich foods to help lower LDL, or “bad” cholesterol that can cause plaque to build up in vessel walls. Learn how to plan delicious, healthy meals that can take you from the kitchen to the bedroom.

Join Kelley and Cassie with Drs. Lynn Nezin and Bob Fried, this Wednesday, February 10th @8:30 pm EST. And, sign up to join our community on our home page, and get the top recipe that Lynn and Bob recommend you try out for this Valentine’s Day!

Robert Fried, Ph.D., is a New York State licensed clinical psychologist, professor of biopsychology and neuroscience at Hunter College, City University of New York (CUNY), and Doctoral Faculty in Biopsychology and Neuroscience, CUNY. As the former director of the Stress and Biofeedback Clinic at the Albert Ellis Institute for Rational and Emotive Behavioral Therapy, NYC, Dr. Fried taught the stress-reduction techniques he developed to his private and corporate clients. In addition to University teaching duties and his clinical practice, Dr. Fried, as consultant to the “nutraceuticals” industry, has developed a number of widely sold sexual vitality-enhancing dietary health products.

He is the author of a number of book including his most recent, “Human Sexuality” (Whittier, 2010), and “Great Food, Great Sex” with Dr. Nezin (Random House, 2006), “The Arginine Solution” (Warner Books, 1999), and his popular stress-reduction book, “Breathe Well, Be Well” (John Wiley, 1999). In addition, he has authored several textbooks and more than fifty scientific journal articles.

Lynn Nezin, PhD, holds a doctorate in clinical health psychology. She is a senior strategic planner at Medicus Life Brands in New York City. She is the former assistant to the president of the American Health Foundation. Dr. Nezin’s research includes body image in older women, nutrition in diabetes and cardiovascular disease, and physician-patient interactions. She is a former marathon racewalker and certified personal trainer.

“Reinvention…Restoration…Relaxation..or Get Real!

Upcoming on-line radio show this Wednesday, February 3rd at 8:30 pm EST

The women-to-women on-line radio show will be dynamic conversation to help women de-code the meaning of Reinvention for their own personal and professional lives. The outcome of the show will be greater insights into how women can access and embrace their true self in attaining personal wellbeing.

We realize that women have many different ways of thinking about Reinvention…and we’re going to explore them all!

Join us live and online for our next RealWomen on Health! online health salon and radio show with Suzanne Douglas Harris, MBA, Personal and Professional Life Coach and Susan James, Co-Founder, Self-Discovery Group, LLC in a dynamic conversation with Kelley Connors, MPH, Women’s Wellness Coach and Cassie Holm, Women’s Advocate and Communications Strategist.

Suzanne brings a distinctive blend of expertise, solid experience and personal empathy, especially around career and life changes.  Susan brings a mastery of cutting edge techniques that put her at the forefront in the field of human consciousness evolution and “true self” facilitator of leaders around the world.   They’ll be the catalyst for you to explore “reinvention” in your own life.

Just dial in on Wednesday, February 3rd at 8:30 pm EST to www.blogtalkradio.com/realwomenonhealth. If you have not registered yet, please do so and you’ll receive a link that will allow you to listen through your computer. If you would rather use a phone to listen, just dial (646) 929-2625 and you’ll be connected to our conversation. You can choose to listen or talk!