The Obsession For Whiteness

What is the price of wanting to achieve white skin?

Filipinos have generally tanned skin, or “moreno/morena”, as we call it. While other nations spend so much money on getting their skin tanned, Filipinos, on the other hand, stock their shelves with various whitening products from soap to lotion to creams and to powders, among others.

It has been said that the media is to blame for this obsession. Advertisements, more often than not, promote the thinking that whiter and fairer is more beautiful. In fact, most advertisers use fair-skinned models to endorse their products. Some also say that this craze is due to colonial mentality. Having been colonized by the Spaniards and Americans during the early years, it was the “mestiza” madness that was ingrained in to our consciousness.

Some studies show that one out of two Filipinas use skin whitening products, and remains to be a growing market as advertisements promoting it are scattered from television to radio to billboard and even on the internet. While women are the usual target market of these products, there is now also a wide variety of skin whitening lines available for men, which has a growing market now.

There is nothing wrong with wanting to achieve a whiter complexion. However, consumers should still be wary and cautious of choosing which products to use. Just recently, there have been whitening products that have been pulled out of the market because of its high mercury content.  Those who use skin whitening products in large doses, hoping to become white the shortest time possible, tend to attain more harm than positive results.

Here is an excerpt from www.lailustrada.blogspot.com, a blog whose writer is a Filipina, tackled the  Filipinos’ obsession with white skin:

“Most of the indigenous Filipino have brown skin color, which anthropologically speaking is logical given our geographical position which is near the equator, thus having darker skin is safer and healthier despite long sun exposure. Having more melanin and in turn having a darker skin color is specifically protective against skin cancer. So in spite of this, where does this desire of having whiter skin comes from? Why do Filipinos believe that white is beautiful, and on the contrary, that dark skin is undesirable? Why do we have this absurd complex of wishing to be something we are not? For one, having a whiter skin is associated with wealth and higher education. Those who belong to the lower classes, such as farmers, laborers and fishermen, work under the sun and have darker complexion. In a way having a whiter skin gives others a perception that a person is “sosyal”, and in turn upgrades one’s socio-economic class that others perceive that person belongs to. It is a reflection of the importance that people place on social status, and a feeling or sense of inferiority. Those with darken skin are highly subject to teasing and prejudice, just like those who have other physical features similar to that of indigenous peoples such as the Negrito and Aeta, with mentality that peoples of these groups are inferior. This skin-whitening craze could not be considered as only a fad, and also has historical roots that go with it. On top of this status obsession even before the colonial times of which socio-economic classes are being associated with certain physical features, a colonial mentality has developed in the brains of Filipinos, i.e., associating being mestizo with a higher class in society, and being white is close to being American which is considered as superior.”

Titillating Your Partner

While having sex with your partner is exciting and generally pleasurable, have you asked yourself if you are giving them their personal pleasure and satisfaction? Or have you just been doing the act itself without paying attention to your partner’s pleasure points?

Erogenous zones are various areas in our body with heightened sensitivity which results in sexual response. These areas differ from person to person; however, most men and women share common erogenous zones.

There are two types of erogenous zones in the skin --- specific and non-specific. Specific areas include genitals, nipples, lips, and conjunctiva, which produce stronger sensations compared to normal haired skin since the rete ridges of the epithelium are well-formed and more nerves are closer to the external surface of the skin. Nonspecific areas, on the other hand, are basically areas that receive pleasurable forms of sensation which are perceived to be just exaggerated forms of tickle. These include the underarms, neck, and sides of the thorax.

Delve deeper into your intimacy and give your partner ultimate pleasure. Note that fetishes are different among individuals but the most common can be found at www.thesun.co.uk. Remember, though, that it is also fun to experiment a little!

PLEASURE HER

Lips

The number one zone, packed with nerve endings and full of suggestiveness, the lips are just as important as other areas.

Try teasing small kisses that barely part your lips as well as long, lingering passionate snogs.

Clitoris

The highest concentration of nerve endings in the body.

Experiment above and below the hood with plenty of lubrication.

Vagina

This is particularly sensitive on the front wall (tummy side) where the hidden depths of the clitoris can be stimulated – but don’t miss the famous G-spot either.

Breasts

Men love touching women’s breasts, and luckily for us we love it too!

The sensitivity of the breasts varies hugely with hormonal fluctuations so always check what kind of touch your partner enjoys and follow their guide.

Nipples

Stroke them, tweak them, lick them - nipples are a very sensitive area of the body and the perfect place to start when getting her in the mood.

Be careful though, nipples are affected by hormones so start slowly and work out what she likes.

Throat/Neck

Gently kiss her throat, and lift her hair to caress the back of her neck.

The skin is particularly receptive to touch in these areas and this kind of loving attention feels especially intimate.

Belly button

This is more sensitive than you might imagine. Circle an innie and rub the base of an outie, either one will send vibrations direct to the genitals.

Hips

Use a light touch with the whole of your hand to firmly stroke and cup the hips – it will make her feel really feminine.

Inner Thighs

The key here is to always move in an upward direction, getting teasingly closer to her hotspots to build her anticipatory arousal.

Wrists and palms

The skin on the wrists and palms is really sensitive. Try rubbing in a light circular motion on the palm of the hand. Encourage her to open her hands to receive your touch.

Armpits

To know that your whole body is loved and cared for is what every woman wants and what better way to prove that than pampering her pits? Go very gently and softly, and she’ll feel tingly all over.

PLEASURE HIM

Penis

I’m sure it will come as no surprise that the penis is man’s number one hotspot, but don’t just settle for a stimulation style that works.

Take time to explore different types of touch to give him something a little different.

Scrotum

Many men love to have their scrotum stroked and it can be really pleasurable if done gently.

This is definitely an area where you should start gently and check your partner isn’t wincing with terror though.

Perineum

This is the line of skin between the anus and the scrotum, which is rich with nerve endings and super-sensitive.

Gentle pressure on this area can stimulate the hidden prostate with uhmmm…explosive results.

Inner Thighs

The skin on the inner thighs is super soft and sensitive. Use upward strokes to teasingly build his anticipation before hitting his top spot.

Stomach

From the belly button down work at a snail's pace to build anticipation and arousal.

Neck

For him, use long, light fingertip strokes just below the Adams Apple to indirectly stimulate the thyroid gland. In Chinese medicine, the thyroid is directly linked to your sex organs.

Chest

When you stroke and caress a man’s chest, not only are you sending pleasurable sensations through his skin but you’re also affirming his manhood.

If he works out, show your appreciation by paying particular attention to his pecs.

Nipples

Men’s nipples have just as many nerve endings and are just as erogenous as women’s so don’t be frightened to play with them!

Start gently at first and as he gets more aroused take a firmer touch.

Fingers/Toes

The toes and fingers are very sensitive to touching and sucking. Try seductively sucking his fingers or big toe to get his imagination going.

BOTH

Lower belly

The lower part of the belly is known by acupressurists as the Gate of Origin.

Gentle pressure on this hot spot - three or four finger widths down from the navel - will open sexual energy.

Be careful though as it may also make them want to pee!

Inside of arm

This baby-soft skin that rarely gets any attention is a popular erogenous zone for many men and women.

Rake it with your fingertips with the lightest touch to get your lover really excited.

Scalp

A great deal of the human nervous system is located in the head.

A good scalp massage will gently ease away the tensions of the day leaving the head clear to think of other things.

Start with slow, soft moves and increase intensity as you go on, using your nails lightly.

Go ahead and experiment with your better half.  After all, the pleasures of sex should not be guilt-laden.  Pleasuring your partner is enjoying the greater half of sex.

Why Is It So Hard To Lose Weight?

“I keep on trying to lose weight…but it keeps finding me!”

- Author Unknown

Admit it, there is nothing more blissful and comforting than eating food, yet there is nothing more excruciating than going on a diet and working out. Most people say is that it’s because eating feels so good that they seldom bother checking if they’re still eating healthy or not. Besides, majority of the most delicious food are the most sinful (yes, that includes chocolate); and of course, people would prefer to eat food that appeal to their taste buds. However, when a person himself or other people notice that they’re beginning to gain weight, panic strikes and dieting strategies are immediately planned. Then again, most people tend to find more excuses to avoid working out than to avoid binging.

Losing weight is no walk in the park especially to Filipinos who have been accustomed to eating more than three times a day. We have breakfast, coffee break, lunch, merienda, dinner, and midnight snack. Not everyone may be following this meal routine but this is inevitably a part of the Filipino culture.

Paige Waehner, a certified personal trainer through the American Council on Exercise, lists down the reasons why it’s hard to lose weight in her article, 10 Reasons Why It’s Hard To Lose Weight (Are you ready to commit?), at www.about.com:

1.  Your Attitude. If you're only on a health kick to lose weight or look a certain way, it will be hard to lose weight permanently. Why? Because, what happens if you don't see results quickly enough? You give up. Weight loss is a great goal, but unless you have something else to motivate you, what's to keep you going if the scale doesn't budge? It takes time to lose weight--how will you motivate yourself in the meantime? Find more reasons to be healthy--having more energy, dealing with health problems or wanting to live longer to be around for your kids. Those are some darned good reasons, if you ask me.

2. Your Workouts. If you don't workout consistently enough, it's hard to lose weight. Yes, it's possible to lose weight through diet alone, but you'll likely hit a plateau. You don't need to spend hours in the gym, you only need to set up a reasonable workout schedule that you can follow each week. It's not about killing yourself with workouts--it's about finding something you like and that you'll continue with for the rest of your life. You have to be willing to be more active on a regular basis--not just for a week here and there.

3. Your Eating. Changing the way you eat is another thing you're going to have to do for long-lasting weight loss. You need to be willing to replace unhealthy foods with healthier choices--every single day. This might mean:

• Keeping a food journal
• Spending more time in the grocery store reading food labels
• Spending more time preparing meals
• Saying no to extra portions
• Making conscious choices about what you put in your mouth.

For permanent weight loss, you need to pay attention to what you eat and make good choices more often than not. Maybe a structured diet eventually ends, but healthy eating never stops...there will never be a time when you're done eating healthy. You might feel you're sacrificing the good stuff (pizza, fast food, etc.) and your life won't be fun if you can't have those foods. Guess what? You can still have them...just not whenever you want. Are you ready to make these changes? Are you ready to stop giving your body the most convenient thing available (and often the most fatty) and, instead, spend time planning what and when you'll eat? Because that's what it takes to get healthy...permanently.

4. Your Lifestyle. If you want a healthy life, you have to be willing to change how you live. It doesn't mean changing everything overnight, but simply being open to new ways of doing things. Some things you might need to change for a healthy life are:

• Daily Routines. You may need to get up earlier to prepare your lunch or squeeze in a workout, use your lunch hour for exercise or go for a walk after work instead of watching TV. Are you willing to do this?
• Limits. You might need to set new rules for yourself limiting how much TV you watch or how long you sit at the computer. You'll need to pay attention to how you spend your time and where you're out of balance so you can add more movement.
• Your Pantry. I'm the kind of person who will eat an entire bag of Doritos if they're in the house. That means I don't keep them in the house and if someone (ahem...husband) brings them home, he must immediately re-locate them elsewhere. If you want to be healthy, you may need to get rid of those foods you just can't resist.
• Your Schedule. If you're not willing to sit down and change the way you live each day to include exercise, time to prepare meals and time to nurture yourself with sleep, it's hard to lose weight. People use busy schedules as an excuse not to be healthy...are you one of them? If you're not ready to take responsibility for the schedule you've created, it will be hard to lose weight.

5. Your Surroundings. Sometimes, you can't control the things around you. At work, you may be surrounded by temptations--donuts, vending machines and the like. That's just one thing you have to deal with...but what about your home? Surround yourself with things that will support you in your efforts to get healthy. That might mean spending some money on home workout equipment, setting up a corner of the house for your gear or commandeering the TV a few nights a week to do an exercise video. Set up an environment that encourages those healthy choices and reminds you of them--just walking into my kitchen and seeing that bowl of fresh fruit is often enough to remind me of all the healthy choices I'll need to make that day.

6. Your Support System. While getting healthy may be something you're doing on your own, it's a big help to have a support system. At the very least, family members who understand what you're doing and are either willing to participate or help. If you have a spouse who wants to continue eating the kind of foods that tempt you, you need a plan to deal with that so you can still reach your goals and keep your relationship together. Try to surround yourself with people who support what you're doing and avoid those people (like that co-worker who always offers you a donut even though you refuse on a daily basis) who don't. A workout buddy is also an excellent idea for support.

7. Your Spiritual and Mental Health. If you have other reasons for being overweight--past hurts that you've used food to deal with, depression or other problems, it's hard to lose weight. For many of us, food is a comfort and something we've relied on all of our lives to help us deal with emotional problems. If that's the case for you, pinpointing those behaviors and what drives them is important for becoming aware of what you're doing and why. A counselor can help you with this or take some time to read about emotional eating. Be willing to learn why you make the choices you make and to confront them.

8. Your Goals. If you've set impossible goals, you are guaranteed to fail. Weight loss becomes hard to achieve if you feel like a constant failure...who wants to feel like that? If that's how your weight loss experience is, it's no wonder you keep quitting. The key is to set reasonable goals. So what is reasonable? That's going to be different for each person depending on your genetics, eating habits, exercise, and metabolism to name a few. You're better off setting a long-term goal (whether it's to lose weight or compete in a race) and then focusing your attention on daily or weekly goals. Your weekly goal might be to get in 3 cardio workouts, minimum. Pick things you KNOW you'll achieve so you're always successful. It can be as small as you like, as long as it's attainable.

9. Your Flexibility. You hear a lot about lifestyle changes, but it's daily choices that really test you. What happens if you have to work late and you can't get to the gym? Or what if you get stuck in traffic and miss your fitness class? Any number of things can happen in a day that may throw you off track. The trick is to be flexible. It helps if you're always prepared--keep some workout shoes in the car so you can stop off at the park for a quick walk. Keep some food handy so if you get stuck in traffic, you get a snack in before your workout. Often people skip workouts because something comes up and they simply aren't ready for it or they aren't willing to give themselves other options--can't do 45 minutes? Why not just do 10? Something is always better than nothing.

10. Your Willingness to Fail. You will not be perfect every day. As a perfectionist, I have to say that is a frustrating concept for me but, the truth is, everyone (even perfectionists) has good days and bad days. On the good days, you'll eat all your fruits and veggies, say no to that pizza and do your workout even though you're tired. On the bad days, you'll wake up late, forget to bring your lunch, have an extra piece of cake at your friend's birthday party and skip your workout. The bad days will happen if you're a human being. The trick is to never give up, even when you mess up. You're not a loser just because you make some mistakes...you're simply a person trying his or her best to make good decisions.

It is hard to lose weight because it is more than just counting calories (incidentally you can count your calories by going to www.fitwatch.com and see how much you’re eating…it’s a great free application online) and exercising regularly. We do not get rid of fat that easy because we are not wary of what age, weight set point, and genetics on our efforts to losing weight.

Never feel bad if you find it hard to lose weight. Just remember that it essentially involves self-discipline, exercise, and making healthier choices. Keep your eyes set firmly on your goal, find a motivation and find ways to strengthen your desire to achieve your desired weight. It is never too late.

Wrinkles 101

For some people, having wrinkles could mean three things:

1. Wrinkles are the roadmap of your life.
2. Wrinkles signify wisdom.
3. Wrinkles show a level of maturity.

However, what concerns most people is that having wrinkles is generally associated with aging, and in this generation’s pop culture, “aging” is not viewed positively, thus the abundance of anti-aging products and treatments in the market.

Wrinkles are an after-effect of aging. Also known as rhytide, these are fold, ridges, or creases in the skin. As we age, skin cells divide more slowly, and the dermis (our skin’s inner layer), starts to thin, which makes the skin’s stretchiness and structure break. While the skin naturally ages all over the body, it does much more on the parts where sun exposure has been the greatest like in the hairless scalp, face, neck, the backs of the hands, and on top of the forearms.

According to the article by www.webmd.com entitled: Cosmetic Procedures and Wrinkles, the following are factors that contribute to the promotion of wrinkling:

• Smoking

-        Smoking limits the collagen production of our skin, which serves as a major part of our skin structure. The collagen deterioration gives way for wrinkles.

• Facial Muscle Contractions

-        Lines between your eyebrows (frown-lines) and lines jutting from the corner of your eyes (crow’s-feet) are thought to result from facial muscle contractions. Smiling, frowning, squinting and other habitual facial expressions cause these wrinkles to become more prominent. Over time, those expressions, plus gravity, contribute to the formation of jowls and drooping eyelids.

• Sun Damage

-        Getting too much sun damages your skin. That leads to wrinkles. To prevent them, stay out of the sun between 10am and 4pm, and get in the habit of wearing sunscreen every day, even when it's cloudy.

In this generation of technological advancement, there are now numerous treatments for wrinkles ranging from topical medicines and creams to invasive techniques. Its efficacy reaches to the extent that they change the nature of the aging collagen, they make the skin stretch, they fill in depressions in the skin, or they paralyze the muscles that make the skin develop creases.

In an article entitled Wrinkles at www.medicinenet.com by Gary W. Cole, MD, FAAD, a board-certified dermatologist from California, he listed down both medical and surgical methods of treating wrinkles:

Medical treatments

• Vitamin A Acid (tretinoin [Retin A, Renova]): This ingredient, available by prescription, has the longest track record of success in treating aging skin and fine lines. Creams containing tretinoin must be used on an ongoing basis. They may produce redness and peeling at first, but discomfort can usually be minimized by lowering the cream's concentration or applying it less often until the skin gets used to it.
• Alpha-hydroxy acids: These so-called "fruit acids" include glycolic and lactic acid. Preparations containing these fruit acids are quite safe and cause no more than mild and temporary irritation. They produce only subtle improvement though.
• Antioxidants: These include preparations that contain the vitamins A, C, and E, as well as beta-carotene. Such creams may provide a certain amount of sun protection as well as mild improvement of fine wrinkles.
• Ordinary moisturizers: Creams that don't contain any of the above substances can only make wrinkles look temporarily less prominent ("reduce the appearance of fine lines").

Cosmetic procedures

• Glycolic acid peels: These superficial peels can make a very slight difference in the intensity of fine wrinkles.
• Deeper peels: These peels use ingredients like salicylic acid and trichloroacetic acid and penetrate somewhat deeper into the skin. Deeper peels do a better job of smoothing fine lines. The deeper the peel, however, the greater the risk of side effects, such as long-lasting pigment changes (changes in the color of the skin) and scarring. Such peels do not require anesthesia. Mild sedation helps ease short-term but fairly intense discomfort.
• Microdermabrasion: This refers to "sanding the skin" with a machine containing silica or aluminum crystals; many estheticians offer this service, usually in "packages" of six or seven sessions. Microdermabrasion does not change skin anatomy, though it may make the face feel smoother. Cosmetic products marketed as "home microdermabrasion" are just mild exfoliants, harmless but not likely to produce any meaningful change in wrinkles.
• Dermabrasion: This is a true surgical procedure, often performed under general anesthesia. The treating physician uses a rotating instrument to sand the skin down. Depending a great deal on the skill and experience of the operator, dermabrasion can result in excellent improvement but can also produce significant side effects, including scarring and permanent changes in skin color.
• Laser resurfacing: Using instruments such as the carbon dioxide and erbium lasers, physicians can achieve results similar to those of dermabrasion with greater reliability and precision. The laser is passed several times over the area to be treated until the peel reaches the middle of the dermis, the skin's second layer. This helps stimulate the body's natural collagen synthesis (production), which plumps up sagging skin and wrinkles. Some doctors perform laser resurfacing under "conscious sedation," in which the patient remains awake and receives intravenous medications to calm and ease pain. This sedation is combined with the application of topical anesthetic creams such as EMLA, as well as injections of local anesthetics like lidocaine. Procedures may need to be repeated to maximize improvement. Skin takes a long time to heal (weeks to months) after resurfacing. In addition, this procedure, like dermabrasion, can cause permanent pigment changes and scarring.
• Fractional resurfacing: Newer lasers work through a modification of traditional laser resurfacing. Treatments affect not the whole skin but instead only evenly spaced spots surrounded by undamaged skin. Healing is much faster than traditional resurfacing, with less "downtime" afterward. Several treatments are needed to achieve full benefit.
• Non-ablative laser resurfacing: Newer lasers attempt to stimulate collagen synthesis under the skin without peeling or damaging the epidermis. Studies and clinical experience suggest that such procedures can improve fine wrinkles, though not as much as laser resurfacing. Several treatments may be necessary. These procedures are almost painless and there is little or no redness, peeling, or downtime afterward.
• Heat and radiofrequency: Another variation of noninvasive facial rejuvenation is to heat tissue using radiofrequency devises and infrared light sources. Techniques are still being developed but results to date suggest that such treatments are safe and can produce visible and lasting improvement, though not as much as surgical techniques like facelifts.
• Plastic surgical procedures: Surgical facelifts, brow lifts, and similar operations can be very helpful for selected patients.
• Botox: Injection of botulinum toxin, the muscle poison, can paralyze muscles that produce the "frown lines" on the forehead, fine lines around the eyes, and other wrinkles. Improvement lasts several months and must be repeated to sustain improvement. Injected properly, Botox is quite safe; the muscle poison does not spread through the body to do damage elsewhere.
• Fillers: Fillers are injected into the skin to increase volume and flatten wrinkles and folds. For a long time, the most popular filler was collagen, whose effect only lasts a few months. More recently, new filler substances such as hyaluronic acid (Restylane, Juvederm) and calcium hydroxylapatite (Radiesse) have become popular because their effect can last six to nine months or even longer.

However, it is advisable that a person considering getting any of the above-listed treatments should consult a doctor who has experience in at least one of the mentioned techniques. It is important that the patient is fully informed of the potential risks and benefits before going through a chosen procedure.