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Treating Your Skin the Right Way

March 30, 2013 By Leave a Comment

When you’re ready to whip up a healthy meal, you’ve got to have the right ingredients.  Well, the same thing can be said for skin care.  If you’re going to have great and healthy skin, you’ve got to know the ingredients.  At the very least, it’s important to know what to look for, when deciding what the best ingredients are.  And so, The Balancing Act ® is happy to be joined by skin care experts Jason Toms and Lisa Savage – both of Hollywood-based InfiniteAloe® skin care.

The Balancing Act: Hello. It’s great to see you.

Jason Toms: Thank you so much, for having us.

The Balancing Act: Thank you, for being here.  So, let’s talk about Hollywood and about healthy, vibrant, skin.  In Hollywood, beauty is front and center.  When it comes to skin care in Hollywood, what are the beautiful people in Tinseltown looking for?  What are they doing?

Jason Toms: The people in Tinseltown are looking for what you’re looking for; and that is a formulation for skin care that works.  They are looking for formulations that are, basically, heavy and made from natural ingredients.  With no added toxic chemicals and things that are formulated with a really comprehensive delivery system.

The Balancing Act: You know?  Here’s the thing.  When I’m reading ingredient labels, if I can’t pronounce it, I’m wondering if it’s something that I should be putting on my skin.  How do we know what’s good and what’s not so good, guys?

Lisa Savage: That’s definitely where we need to educate ourselves, because it is.  It’s very confusing, especially with so many new products coming on the market every single day.  You definitely want to be careful of products that have heavy chemicals as the first ingredients.  You want to be careful of too much fragrance, because those are irritants for the skin.  And, you definitely want to stay away from anything that clogs your pores, because that’s shown to advance aging.  And, we don’t need any help with that, do we?

The Balancing Act: Girl, please.  That’s already happening at home; so we don’t need any more help with that one.

Lisa Savage: (Laugh) No, we don’t!

The Balancing Act: So, I want to talk a little bit about what I know is a really important ingredient to both of you; and that’s aloe vera.  I notice aloe vera in a lot of skin care products.  What I didn’t know (and, you educated me on this, Jason) there are over 300 different varieties of aloe vera.

Jason Toms: Absolutely.

The Balancing Act: How do I know which one is best for me?

Jason Toms: Luckily, scientists have figured it out.  The number one aloe vera, out of over 300 varieties, is Aloe Vera Barbadensis Miller.

The Balancing Act: What’s so great about this?

Jason Toms: Well, it’s been scientifically proven to heal the skin up to 10 times faster than normal.

The Balancing Act: Wow!

Jason Toms: Yeah.  So, if you get a cut, bruise, burn, or abrasion – that can actually help with the healing process.  Obviously, your body heals itself.  And there are different beneficial qualities to aloe vera such as it is anti-fungal, antiviral, it’s antibacterial, and it’s an analgesic – which relieves pain.  Also, it’s really good for arthritis.

The Balancing Act: So, in general, what should we be looking for in terms of ingredients; and I guess more specifically, is there anything that we should avoid?

Lisa Savage: Well, yes.  From my research that I’ve done, there are certain chemicals you want to avoid that are, actually, harmful to the body.  Such as parabens, propylene glycol, petroleum, mineral oil.  Those are going to irritate your skin.  Plus, not to mention, it’s found that whatever we put on our skin can be found in almost every organ in our body.

The Balancing Act: EEEEEK!

Lisa Savage: So, it’s imperative that we put healthy, natural ingredients on our body.

The Balancing Act: I think you’re right.  Jason, I want to ask you this question: As women age, do you think they need to be paying more or less attention to the kinds of skin care products they use?

Jason Toms: Well, absolutely.  You do need to pay attention; and to be honest, the earlier, the better.  You don’t want to use things when you’re young that you’re going to regret later; but with the right ingredients, you know, it’s never too late.  Your skin changes as you age, too.  So, you kind of want to switch your skin care regimen to suit where you are in, in life.

The Balancing Act: That’s great insight.

Jason Toms: With the strongest aloe vera out there, the Barbadensis Miller, you can care for your skin today in preparation for your skin care tomorrow.  Take our InfiniteAloe products, for example.  They contain tons of oils, vitamins, and antioxidants.  We created a light and non-greasy formula that just soaks into your skin.  Men love the product, children love the product, and you can use it to shave with.

The Balancing Act: So, it’s a multi-use product.  I think is great for our audience, because we’re trying to balance it all.

Jason Toms: We’re all about convenience!

The Balancing Act: Thank you again for being here and for this great information.

Jason Toms: We were happy to be here.

The Balancing Act: For more skin care information, visit the skin care experts over at infinitealoe.com.

The Balancing Act ® produces shows that offer a fresh approach to current topics and give a new spin on morning television. The Balancing Act is the first production company to earn the WomenCertified® Seal. If you would like to learn more about The Balancing Act visit thebalancingact.com.

 

 

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The Balancing Act Lifetime Interviews Athene Annuity & Life Assurance

March 25, 2013 By Leave a Comment
The Balancing Act Lifetime

The Balancing Act Lifetime

As part of the Family Health Series on The Balancing Act Lifetime, we’re going to explore new areas of interest – Your financial health.  Are you saving money?  Are you financially ready for retirement?  It is the single biggest challenge facing Americans right now; and to get as pointed in the right direction, we’re pleased to be joined this morning by Chris Grady, Executive Vice President at Athene Annuity & Life Assurance. 

The Balancing Act Lifetime: Hey Chris, good morning to you.

Chris Grady: Hi there. How are you?

The Balancing Act Lifetime: I’m good.  So, let’s start off by acknowledging that subject we’re going to discuss can be uncomfortable or confusing for some.  But, I think we should just delve into this. In these tough times, it is hard for a lot of people to save.  Especially for retirement.  What do you suggest, for people who would like to prepare themselves?

Chris Grady: Yes, retirement is critical; because many people are going to spend more time retired than working.

The Balancing Act Lifetime: That’s a great point.

Chris Grady: If you don’t prepare and get ready for retirement, that amount of gap that you’re going to have when you do retire, is going to be a big problem.

The Balancing Act Lifetime: Such a great point.

Chris Grady: One way to handle retirement is to treat it like you were going to budget for a car.

The Balancing Act Lifetime: Ok.

Chris Grady: Let’s say you were going to save for your retirement.  Pretend that you’re trying to buy a car; and instead, put aside $200 per month.  Just save your money like it’s a budget.  Another great key is to think about retirement is to treat it as not just an accumulation of money; but, rather, how much money you’re going to need to pay your bills.

The Balancing Act Lifetime: I think those are great points.  Here’s another thought that I’d like your input on:  More Americans, are living longer than ever before; therefore, we can assume that one may be alive longer in retirement, than ever before.   What are the methods that people typically use for saving?

Most people say to themselves, “Oh, I have Social Security” and then “I might have a little retirement plan at work”.  Well, if you think about Social Security for the average American, Social Security will only replace 20 to 25 percent of your earned income.

The Balancing Act Lifetime: That’s it?

Chris Grady: That’s it.  And then you have your retirement and that might replace 5 or 10 percent.  So, the person that’s making $50,000 a year from their employer plan or from the government plan, you might only get half of that.  And if I asked anybody how would you like a 50 percent cut in pay?  And continue to live, it’s not easy.  So we think that filling that gap is critical.

The Balancing Act Lifetime: So let me ask you this, then.  How do we know if we are saving enough money to retire the way we want, to kind of live at the same lifestyle we did when we were working?

Chris Grady: Everybody’s needs, goals, and wants are different.  So, this is what’s critical.  You have to evaluate what’s really a “need”.  For example, your mortgage payment or your health care bill.  And then determine what your “wants” are.  Do you want to pay for your grandchild’s college?  Or do you want to donate money to charity.  So you’ve got to add the 2 up.  You’ve got to figure out how much that is going to be a month and then you’ve got to prepare for having a solution that’s going to provide that income.

The Balancing Act Lifetime: I want to get into the tax issue, here, right now; because, how does that affect the way people are preparing and saving for retirement?

Chris Grady: Many people save for retirement with what I would call “incorrect products”.  In other words, the government has already created incentives for annuities and they actually give benefits to annuities and 401k tax benefits.  And these products are designed for retirement solutions.  Many other products are more designed for “Oh, I’ll pay for college with that money.”  Or, “I’ll pay for a new house or a vacation with that money.”  That’s not what the retirement money is for.

The Balancing Act Lifetime: Ok.  So let me ask you this, then.  What is the biggest tip you would give to people who are tuning in, if you had to summarize everything into just one?

Chris Grady: Take control of your retirement.  That’s what i would say.  Evaluate it and treat it like it’s an important bill.

The Balancing Act Lifetime: And would you also say the earlier the better?

Chris Grady: The earlier the better.  It’s never too early to start.

The Balancing Act Lifetime: Never too late either – huh?

Chris Grady: And it’s never too late.  So the key is there are solutions for everybody, regardless of where you are in the life cycle.

The Balancing Act Lifetime: Well, great information.  It was great to meet you.

Chris Grady: Oh great to meet you.

The Balancing Act Lifetime: Such great information on how we can make smart decisions for our retirement and our finances.  And to learn more about retirement income planning go to atheneannuity.com and be sure to click into the consumer education section as well, a lot of great information there.

Now in its fifth year, The Balancing Act Lifetime endures in enabling women, in all aspects of their lives. The aim at The Balancing Act Lifetime is simple – It strives to benefit today’s contemporary woman “balance it all”, by bringing them outstanding resolutions to everyday issues.  Viewers can watch America’s foremost morning show The Balancing Act Lifetime weekday mornings on Lifetime television at 7 am (ET/PT).

 

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Weight Loss Secrets Revealed in BrandStar Entertainment Interview

March 15, 2013 By Leave a Comment
BrandStar Entertainment

BrandStar Entertainment

Weight Loss. It’s a topic and concern women take seriously, and why not? We want to look and feel our very best, right ladies? But where do you turn when the battle to lose extra pounds and inches becomes a losing one? BrandStar Entertainment ® spoke with a guest who knows a four-hundred year old weight loss secret she wants to share with us. Her name is Julia Lundstrom, CEO of Okuma Nutritionals.

BrandStar Entertainment ®: Good morning.

Julia Lundstrom: Good morning.

BrandStar Entertainment ®: It’s nice to have you here.

Julia Lundstrom: Thank you for having me.

BrandStar Entertainment ®: Ok, whenever I hear the word, “secret”, I’m all ears. Our ladies out there all want to know – what is the secret to slim down?

Julia Lundstrom: Very, very appealing, always, these secrets.

BrandStar Entertainment ®: Yes.

Julia Lundstrom: This one actually has been around for probably more than four hundred years and a billion people know it, just not here in the United States. It is tea. Tea is a weight loss secret and they drink it in China. They’ve been drinking it for thousands of years; but recently, we have discovered that tea actually can help you lose weight.

BrandStar Entertainment ®:  When I go to the market, there are just so many teas to choose from. Which is the best one for you – you know – that consistently help you lose weight and burn fat?

Julia Lundstrom: Actually, there are only three real types of tea. Most people don’t know this. All the other teas that you see out there are herbs or they’re a spin-off of these three types of teas. You have your black teas, your green teas and what most people have never heard of in this country – “Oolong” or “Wu-long” tea. Wu-long is the tea that is specific for weight loss.

BrandStar Entertainment ®: We hear a lot of the health benefits when it comes to green tea. Wu-long: Is it better for burning fat and losing inches?

Julia Lundstrom: It absolutely is. Because we only have three main types of tea, they all come from one tea leaf. That one tea leaf is fermented in different ways. You have black tea, which is fully fermented. The second, green tea, is non-fermented. Oolong is a semi-fermented tea. That fermentation process brings out a couple different compounds that help raise your metabolism and help you lose weight.

BrandStar Entertainment ®: A lot of my friends tell me I have problems with my metabolism – that I can’t get it going.

Julia Lundstrom: That’s what Oolong tea does. It raises your metabolism, up to 12 percent higher in twenty four hours. Think how many calories you’ll burn, raising your metabolism that much.

BrandStar Entertainment ®: A lot of women suffer from “Yo-Yo dieting”. They lose weight and then they gain some back. They keep going up and down that roller coaster. Does Wu-long help stop that ride?

Julia Lundstrom: There is no such thing as a magic pill; we don’t claim that this is a magic pill. What we do encourage people is that this is a great addition to any diet and exercise program. If you’re on a program where you’re going to lose a few pounds, this will help accelerate that loss. Don’t forget, it did take a long time to put those pounds on. It will take a long time to take them off. This is such a great benefit, not only for the weight loss, but for a variety of antioxidant effects. Wu-long helps your skin look better as well as strengthening your teeth.

BrandStar Entertainment ®: While we continue to talk, I’m going to pour us both a cup of tea, since you brought the tea bags with you. Is there a time that you suggest our viewers for having the tea? Is it better to having in the morning or at night?

Julia Lundstrom: The English drink tea in the afternoons, but we suggest taking the tea fifteen minutes before breakfast and lunch. What that will do is help satiate your appetite. It will fill you up and boost your metabolism at the same time. By the time you actually eat, that food is going to go through your system faster.

BrandStar Entertainment ®: You know, everyone in this country drinks coffee. Does coffee actually speed up your metabolism?

Julia Lundstrom: Absolutely. Caffeine will speed up your metabolism, but the problem with caffeine is you get that instant jolt and soon after, you crash. Like I said, only one cup of Oolong can actually boost your metabolism all the way through a twenty-four hour period of time. If you think about it: who really drinks just a black cup of coffee? Do you put sugar in your coffee?

BrandStar Entertainment ®: You have no idea! I put cream, sugar and everything else in my coffee.

Julia Lundstrom: Exactly. So, some of those coffee drinks can contain up to six hundred calories. That should be a third of your calorie intake in a day. So, we encourage and challenge viewers at home to take a look at their coffee intake.

BrandStar Entertainment ®: What do you suggest doing, instead?

Julia Lundstrom: We encourage everyone to swap out their coffee for our Oolong tea for at least thirty days. If you accept the challenge, tell us how you feel and how much weight you’ve lost. We want you to really get on board with this because we are going to give twenty percent off to everyone who orders today.

BrandStar Entertainment ®: Did you hear that? Viewers at home can use the promo code provided and save twenty percent off of the entire order. And if you’re not a tea drinker and are not crazy about tea, in general, Julia has great little capsules that’ll do the same thing. Can you tell our viewers about it?

Julia Lundstrom: Sure. We have taken our tea and created a concentrated capsule form. There are no additives; nothing but tea. You will actually get almost four hundred percent more of the compound to lose weight. It’s a very convenience way to get your dose of Oolong. If you don’t like tea or you are on the go, the capsules are a great alternative to have on hand.

BrandStar Entertainment ®: I would love to try them as well. Can I?

Julia Lundstrom: Absolutely.

BrandStar Entertainment ®: We appreciate it, Julia. If you’d like to find out more about the benefits of Wu-Long Tea for better health, including slimming down and shaping up, visit wulongforlife.com.

BrandStar Entertainment ® produces shows that offer a fresh approach to current topics and give a new spin on morning television. BrandStar Entertainment ® is the first production company to earn the WomenCertified® Seal. If you would like to learn more about BrandStar Entertainment ®, visit brandstartv.com.

 

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The Balancing Act on Lifetime with Lew Lautin

April 17, 2012 By Leave a Comment
The Balancing Act

The Balancing Act

The following segment aired on “The Balancing Act” on Lifetime Television. Joining the show was Lew Lautin to discuss his photography project geared toward raising awareness for the homeless.

The Balancing Act Host 1: Hi there, good morning, everybody.  I’m Danielle Knox, it’s Friday, January 13, 2012, coming up on the show this morning, a story of giving in the simplest way.  We’ll show you how a photographer’s amazing pictures of the homeless is changing lives and communities.  Also ahead this morning, dry eye: a look at the symptoms and remedies with a doctor and a patient who suffers from this often overlooked disease.  Also, they’re back—our friends from SeaWorld are here!  Get ready to see some exotic animals and, of course, those two adorable penguins who can’t travel without each other, Pete and Penny are here in the house this morning.  We talked about the photographer who is giving his time to the homeless and that inspired The Balancing Act’s daily question today: “Have you ever volunteered with a charity organization?”  We would love to hear from you on this one so you can vote by calling us at 855-3balanc, that’s 855-322-5262.  Press one for yes and two for no,  stay right where you are, “The Balancing Act” starts right now.

The Balancing Act: Host 2: Well, he has a passion for people and a skill for photography.  Combine the two and you get a wonderful undertaking by my next guest to take on a new project that not only helps the community but is impacting lives of just so many people in such a positive way.  I am so happy to welcome to the show this morning, photographer, Lew Lautin.  Good morning to you, Lew, good to see you.

Lautin: Good morning, thanks for having me here.

The Balancing Act: I love what you’re doing because I think what happens is many people will drive or walk past the homeless and see them but not really see them and so, talk about what you’re doing in your community and where the idea for this came from.

Lautin: I got a call around two and a half years ago from Marti Foreman who’s the executive director of lifenet4families and she asked if I would shoot a video for their twenty-fifth anniversary and I said “Sure,” and I went down to the lifenet4families center and I immediately fell in love with the people there in a very unusual situation.  They’re homeless, they’re near homeless, they live on the streets and they go there for a meal or a shower or some help or some tutoring or some financial help.  After I spoke to Marti about doing the video, I said, “Can I bring my cameras back and can I bring my studio lights in?”  I started going every week bringing my camera and these big studio lights and sitting down with the clients there and I started taking pictures of them and then the following week I’d bring them back copies.

The Balancing Act: Aww, how do you make a project like this a success and really make a difference in their lives because, you know, they feel like, “Oh, here I am, I’m homeless, nobody cares.”  How do you insure that somebody cares?

Lautin: I think there are two aspects of that.  The first is when I go back the next week and I bring them copies, I’ve handed pictures to people and they say I’m going to send this to my mother.

The Balancing Act: They say that to you, they’re going to send, ohhh?

Lautin: Yes, “she hasn’t seen a picture of me for two or three years.”  And the other aspect of it is to sit down with somebody who’s homeless or near homeless, big studio lights, make them feel like a CEO, make them feel somebody, like they’re important ,and spend fifteen or twenty minutes with them, engaging them in dialogue, if they wish.  Some don’t wish to engage in dialogue.  Make them feel important; make them feel like somebody cares, ten or fifteen minutes.

The Balancing Act: Oh, that just touches my heart and when you take these pictures, what happens to them afterwards.  I know that you give them to them and they send them to their friends and family and then, is there something else that you do with the pictures, as well?

Lautin: Yes, I also volunteer at Boca Helping Hand to take pictures there of their clients and when you walk into Boca Helping Hands, there are big portraits around fifteen/twenty people I’ve taken pictures of and for lifenet4families.  Whenever they have a big event, I provide blown up pictures for them and it shows the community that these are real people, these are people who are suffering, and these are people who need help.  A lot of these people were donating to places like lifenet and Boca Helping Hands a year or two or three ago and, unfortunately, they’re not in a position today to help and they need some help.

The Balancing Act: Absolutely and I think with the economy and the recession and everything that’s going on, that is such a true statement.  When you talk about the response that your photography receives, not just for maybe other people who see it but also from the homeless that you’re taking pictures of, what do you think this does to them, kind of emotionally?

Lautin: I think it’s a whole gamut of emotions.  Some of them feel sad seeing pictures of themselves in the situation they’re at, some of them feel elated, and some of them feel very good about how they look.  So it’s a whole gamut of emotions that’s out there, just like the homeless population or the near homeless population, but they are a people; they’re our neighbors, our brothers, our sisters.

The Balancing Act: I think that is the resonating point.  They are people, and you, as a person, have accomplished so much as a photographer.  I know you’ve worked a lot with the fine art photography.  Your work has sold for really high prices.  I mean, you’ve accomplished a lot in your career.  How does this project differ?

Lautin: This project differs on the emotional gut level.  You’re sitting down with people who need help; you’re sitting down with people who don’t get respect, people just walk by them and ignore them.  If I can touch one person and make them feel important, make them feel loved, wow!

The Balancing Act: Yeah, you know, I was telling you that I encountered a homeless man the other day and had given him money and didn’t know his back history or his story but everybody has a story, right, everybody has a history?

Lautin: I just did a composite of six homeless heads with the constitution of the United States behind them and that was just shown at ArtServe and the last person on the right died six months ago and I’ll get a call from lifenet: do I have a picture of somebody.

The Balancing Act: Oh, my goodness.

Lautin: For a memorial.

The Balancing Act: Let me ask you this with just about thirty seconds here left: what do you want your photography to do, what is the take away, what would you like viewers who are watching to take away?

Lautin: I would like viewers to go to their phone right now, figure out how they can help, how they can help people who need help desperately, how they can volunteer—whether it’s at a soup kitchen, whether it’s volunteering at a hospital, whether it’s mentoring, whether it’s Women in Distress or Meals on Wheels, Trash to Treasure—help.  You have the ability to do something, you have the ability to make a difference in somebody’s life, it’s never too late.

The Balancing Act: It’s never too late and also, I think what people tend to think is somebody else is going to do it.

Lautin: You do it; you do it today.  Pick up the phone and do it.

The Balancing Act: Absolutely, Lew Lautin, great interview, thank you so much for coming by this morning.

Lautin: Thank you so much for having me.

The Balancing Act: And if you’d like more information in terms of how to make a difference in your own community, simply pick up the camera and make someone’s day special, and for more information on Lew or to see his work, be sure to check out his website.  It’s lewlautinphotographer.com.

The Balancing Act is the only morning show in America produced by women specifically for women. Every morning, The Balancing Act on Lifetime hosts Danielle Knox and Kristy Villa tackle the issues that face today’s woman. Popular show segments include live weather updates with Mark Mancuso, surprise celebrity visitors, and news about the latest trends affecting your life, home, career and family. The Balancing Act on Lifetime Television airs daily on Lifetime at 7 a.m. ET/PT. For more information, visit The Balancing Act on Lifetime Television’s website at www.thebalancingact.com.

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