Do you use Sunscreen?

Do you wear sunscreen daily? Not just on the beach, but every day. You may already know that sunscreen is a good idea if you are outdoors alot, but do you know why?

MOST OF WHAT YOU CALL AGING IS REALLY YEARS OF SUN DAMAGE.

Wearing sunscreen daily saves your skin from years of visible damage later. 90% of visible aging comes from skin damage caused by the skin.

THE SUN IS STRONG EVEN WHEN IT’S NOT SUNNY OUT!

Many people think they don't need sunscreen on overcast days or for brief stints in the sun, but for the ultraviolet rays that damage your skin, a little cloud cover means nothing. UV light penetrates clouds with ease, so you need protection even on cloudy days. Everything I buy has sunscreen built in. It doesn't even require an additional step. I make sure the lotions I purchase have sunscreen with an SPF of at least 20

SUN DAMAGE IS CUMULATIVE.

Don't be fooled into thinking you can build up a safe tan; there's no such thing. I repeat THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A "SAFE" TAN. I swear I hear "I've got to bulid my base tan" all of the time. It makes my skin hurt just hearing that statement. Every exposure contributes to possible damage at the cellular level.

Spare your skin tomorrow and wear your sunscreen today.

The picture is of me at the beach this past month. No umbrella's were available. I found a sliver of shade near the lifeguard stand and then used Kevin's T shirt to cover my legs from the sun. I don't play with the sun! Yes, I realize I'm on the Beach but my skin is more important.

In Health, Jessica Bailey

Mansplain

I almost puked on myself back in January after reading Donald Trump's tweet about the Women's March: “Beautiful weather all over our great country,” a perfect day for all Women to March. Get out there now to celebrate the historic milestones and unprecedented economic success and wealth creation that has taken place over the last 12 months. Lowest female unemployment in 18 years!”  He knows why we marched, correct? This is another example of Mansplaining. “Mansplain” may be a mash-up of “man” and “explain," yes, this is a weird word.

Normally,  when this happens to me its subtle things — interruptions and unasked-for explanations that leave me feeling like I'm overly sensitive that this behavior angers me. I feel ashamed that I am "worked" up by this.

When a man “mansplains” something to a woman, he interrupts or speaks over her to explain something that she already knows — indeed, something in which she may already be an expert — on the assumption that he must know more than she does. Sadly, this happens to me EVERY SINGLE time I go to a hotel gym. Usually, it's my "body alignment" or my weight routine that these "know it all's" bother me about. When men interrupt or presume to correct me it feels like they are saying “Shh. I know best.” But, really, who is the expert in this case? It's me, and I'm totally fine with you ignoring me. The latest instance was when I was doing wall sits on my beach vacation. This dude working out tried giving me tips on how to work my legs. I didn't ask for ideas or even make eye contact with him. He then went on to tell me and show me different exercises.  Ugh! I know this guy wasn't purposely trying to devalue my  experience that day, but he did! This dude just couldn’t stop himself from “helping out” with unsolicited and misinformed explanations.

Is this the world we live in now? I'm just supposed to accept these conversational dynamics as the norm?

What are your experiences?

Love,

Jessica Bailey

Mexico Vacation

I'm so excited for my much needed vacation. This time my husband and I are taking a trip ALONE. No family, just us. Vacations are not a luxury; they are a necessity for a well-balanced, healthy life!  I truly believe it. I love my job but it's a job where I am "giving" and I get run down. I need to "reset" 2xs a year. I feel taking a vacation is as important as eating well and getting exercise. They are a priority in my life and I make them happen. You should to. Here is why:

Taking a vacation is healthy. When I return to work, I am well rested and energized, which means I’ll be able to do an even better job.

You would never say to your employer, “Hey, why don’t you skip paying me this week? I’m probably not worth it, anyway.” But that, is precisely what you are doing when you never take a vacation. Vacations Relieve Stress! Chronic stress can be destructive to our bodies. Getting away for regular vacations and leaving our every day stresses give us a break from the constant high levels of these hormones and a chance to repair some of the damage.

I'm off to Mexico for a week of doing nothing. I've got 0 planned. Just what I need. Give me a beach, some sunscreen, a book, the gym, a comfy bed and I'm all set.

Love,

Jessica Bailey

An online tool to help with your fitness

Well, it's the beginning of February and motivation to improve health and fitness is fading. Those gym visits have shrunk or have all together have gone out the window. I have found something that is super fun and addicting that you can do to maintain your motivation to help you to stick to a plan and it can be found online!

Online Health and Fitness Roulette Wheel

This one is fun, addicting and healthy. Ladbrokes have designed a Roulette Wheel designed to gently guide people through their exercise routine. This is all you have to do: spin the wheel and see what type of exercise you have to do. This is a great way to ensure your fitness regime doesn’t get boring. It is important to ensure you incorporate different exercises into a routine workout and this is a simple way to do it. The more interesting the workout session is, the more motivated you will be to do so stave off the boredom by playing with this online tool.

Don’t just stick to the same old workouts and exercises in the same place, as this is a sure fire way to get bored and lose interest. Maintain your motivation by adding something new to your regime!

Good Luck!

Jessica Bailey

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