Archive | October 2015

Deception by the mirror…

Oct27

Sounds like a Lifetime movie, but it happened to me!  Has it happened to you?

weight loss

Is that really you looking back? Which you is you?

   I was with a group of friends at Fleming’s.  When one of the ladies returned from the restroom, she said the have the best “skinny mirror” here.  Another replied, “Oh, I’ll have to make a break to the restroom soon and try it out!”  I felt lost in the conversation even though I had been following it from the start.  I had to ask, “what is a skinny mirror?”  One proceeded to explain that a lot of restaurants are using these mirrors in the restrooms.  “They make you look really good and really like your outfit” she added! I immediately thought about the mirror at Season’s 52.  I always liked that mirror and could not figure out why!  I remember always thinking, “I did not realize how nice this outfit really is” when I walked past it.  I was beginning to feel so deceived!  She then told me retailers are using it too.  She said Ann Taylor uses them.  I asked about Anthrolpogie.  I had just shopped there last week and even subconsciously made a comment to myself in the fitting room that they really have great angles with the lighting in here to make everything look good on you! She confirmed that “yes, they use them too!” Deep sigh came from me!

cat

Am I the lion or the kitten?

How did I get so far and not know about these mirrors?  All the other women knew about them.  I was a little disappointed in myself for not being in the know, but I was more disappointed in this concept.  I mean there are two sides here.  The mirror company claims their mirror makes you look 5-10 pound lighter and gives you self-image confidence.  I get it!  Fake it until you make it…kind of! Maybe the mirror will inspire you to work out more, but what if you are like me and don’t know about the “secret skinny mirror?”  What if I think the dress or bathing suit looks good on me and then I catch a reflection of myself in a window while at the public pool….and I am not digging it? Yikes!  Do I curse the store?

scared

Louise Hay does a lot of “mirror work” to help you learn to love yourself again, but you are actively involved.  With the mirror work, you stand in front of a mirror and repeat affirmations to yourself a couple times a day.  Overtime, your self-esteem and self-love improve.  So, the mirror can help your self-esteem, but with your participation and actual rewiring of thoughts.  What if we had a real mirror and just put some affirmations on the mirrors in these bathrooms?

For me truth is a huge deal.  I don’t like being deceived.   Authenticity is my moral compass!  So, while I like the idea of the mirror, I would prefer to know it’s a little artificial. I am one who likes to know all cards I am being dealt…Don’t sugar coat it!

So WARNING, there are skinny mirrors out there!

Don’t be deceived, You Are Beautiful!

#PeaceLoveBotox #Loralee

How do you think stress can age you?

Oct20

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Have you ever reviewed the pictures of the president as they went through office? I noticed as a young girl how fast a president of the United States aged when they were in office.  And heaven help them if they were in for two terms!  I mean if you are carrying the weight of the country on your back for several years, I guess that could cause a few sleepless nights and ultimately lead to some serious scowl lines. Luckily, we don’t have the weight of the country or the world on our back, but our family, clients, and employees can all be depending on us.  And at times, it can be quite overwhelming and feel like the world is depending on us.

Freeing slaves can really take its toll!

    Freeing slaves can really take its toll!

Learning how to put it all in perspective can help.  First, is this a life or death situation?  (If so, turn away from the device and call 911 immediately!)   Luckily, most of the time (if not all), if feels a lot bigger than it is.  Remind yourself of that.  Second, can we get through it with some laughter? That makes everything better.   Remember, sometimes we have to laugh at our self.  Third,  how can you clear your head as to make a better decision?  What’s your form of meditation? Ohmmmmm…..sitting on the pillow, running, painting, singing, dancing?  Just do it so you can make this “big” decision from the heart and not he head.  Once you make the decision, be good with it!  Don’t question your decision and live in the past!  Full speed ahead, Matey! 🙂

Don’t let the world weigh on your shoulders.  It will age you too fast!  Let the president worry for us!  That’s why we elect them, right? Try to…de-stress….unwind…chilax!

#Namaste

#PeaceLoveBotox

#Loralee

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Does facial asymmetry bother you?

Oct13

Many times my patients come in asking for me to make them more symmetrical.  They don’t like their imperfections-one fuller cheek, their higher brow, or their lower side lip.  While I have been known to be a creature of symmetry myself and steer clear of dresses that come off one shoulder, I try to encourage myself to embrace a little asymmetry every now and then.

Did you know asymmetry gives you character? Here is Marilyn Monroe…epitome of beauty!  Did you know she was an asymmetric hot mess?

MM asymmetry

The middle is her real picture….the left is symmetry with two left sides and the far right is symmetry with to right sides of the face.  Two beauty marks? Spooky huh? It does not even look like the same person!

As we get older, the changes will be more noticeable, but you have to remember the face ages as sisters not twins. It is two separate halves.  We are not genetically programmed to age symmetrically.  And if we throw in the daily variables of sun exposure on the driver’s size window and squishing our face in our pillow as we sleep, we could really speed up one side! WTH?

MM WTH

So while I will always help you get more symmetry, please learn to love that slightly crooked brow!  Think about this: most movie stars are crooked in some way!  It apparently makes you more memorable..and that makes you more beautiful!  Check out this website for more details and some fun pics! click here

MUAH! Loralee

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#Beauty #Loralee #PeaceLoveBotox

       Asymmetry Photo from changesplasticsurgery.com

What do you fear?

Oct9

8898-Joseph-Campbell-Quote-The-cave-you-fear-to-enter-holds-the

What are you afraid to do?  What do you fear?

As humans we are all creature of habit.  Breaking out of the normal daily routine can send me a little crazy.  But actually not varying my daily routine will most likely lead me to become crazy! Huh?

I walked into yoga today and a sub was there.  I had had this sub before…And she kicked our butts.  Well, maybe just mine!  I had better speak for myself!  I love yoga, but I’m not one to sign up for “kick me in the ass” yoga.  I was actually debating on crawling back in bed after the kids were off to school this morning.  So, when I saw her in the room, I thought I wanted to kick myself…in the butt!  “I should have got back in bed,” I thought!  I really wanted yoga today, but not hard yoga. But it’s not like I could get up and leave or could I; the thoughts wrestled in my head.   I guzzled up some more water and decided to give it my all.  I had to ask her to turn the AC on at one point because I was really sweating, but I hung in there.   My mind was not happy with me.  My muscles worked with me.   I feel like I was able to accomplish atleast 90% of the poses she guided us through.   I was really happy to see Shavasana at the end.  I worked hard for that hour.  It was an accomplishment!

At the end of class, I went up to tell her thanks for pushing me today.  I shared that I was nervous when she walked in, but I was glad I stuck through it.   I felt more confident when I left.  “Maybe I don’t give myself enough credit for what I can do in yoga,” I thought.   I liked the conversation I was having with myself.  It reminded me we need to enter the cave of the unknown every now and then.

Apparently brains put up a fight when we want to change something or we want to do something new.  That’s where the uncomfortable annoyance is stemming from.  The brain wants to stay in homeostasis like the rest of the body.  Think of it like a teeter-totter.  When you creep too far out one way, an imbalance ensues and the brain must compensate.  So, the imbalance makes the brain (amydgala) turn on and readjust.  When you do this regularly, the brain works and stays young. We begin to fight Alzheimers.   The problem is we all become too robotic because routine is comfortable and requires little effort or energy exertion.  We can accomplish so mush more when tasks are routine based.  However, when we get into chronic daily routines and make picking a flavor of cheese the most exciting part of our day because we go through the rest of life as a robot, the brain gets lazy!  The amydgala begins to shrink!

So, think about some little thing you are fearful of doing and DO IT!  Not only will it make you feel good and give you a sense of accomplishment, you will exercise your brain and keep it powerful!  Your amydgala will thank you!

Rock on my friends!

Namaste!

#Loralee #Tampa #PeaceLoveBotox