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As the holidays wind down and we prepare for the New Year, many of us will be setting resolutions to improve our health in 2017. But with hectic schedules and ever-tightening budgets, what can we do to look and feel our very best that we’ll actually stick with this year?
Since I am a plastic surgeon, you’ll probably expect me to suggest plastic surgery as a means to look and feel better. Right? Not exactly. Although I’m going to offer a few suggestions that can help you look better, I’m also going to offer some tips for improving your health and quality of life. After all, feeling your best is the foundation for looking your best.
1. Take a close look at your diet
Ever heard the expression, “abs are made in the kitchen, not the gym”? It’s a common misconception that exercise is the biggest determinant in our body composition, or how lean and toned we look, but it’s actually the quality of our nutrition that makes the biggest difference in how we look and feel. While I’m not saying to abandon exercise, we all need to pay more attention to the type of food we eat and our portion sizes to help achieve optimal health. If you currently get most of your meals from a drive-thru, you are probably not getting the nutrients you need for top health. Clean up your diet to include mostly fresh, unprocessed foods, and take the time to savor your meals rather than scarfing down a sandwich on your way home from the gym.
Many people ask, is an organic diet really better? It is if you don’t want to ingest pesticides and other pollutants that probably are not going to help you feel good, and may be harmful to your health. If an entirely organic diet isn’t possible, then at least switch to organic where it really counts. Eat free-range meat that is not injected with hormones. Also, be aware that some fruits and vegetables are more prone to absorb the bad stuff because they tend to be sprayed more heavily (and choose organic for these items):
| Apples Peaches Nectarines Strawberries Grapes Celery Spinach Sweet bell peppers |
Cherry tomatoes Cucumbers Sugar snap peas (imported) Potatoes Hot peppers Kale Collards |
2. Develop a meal plan that works for your schedule.
As a former fitness competitor, I learned to pre-make most of my meals using healthy ingredients. This simple task was incredibly helpful in ensuring I had healthy, clean food available, and it helped me avoid the urge to choke down a fast food replacement. In my recent book, Eat Drink Heal: The Art and Science of Surgical Nutrition, I go into more depth on smart, healthy meal planning and outline the essentials to help anyone create a workable plan. This book is intended not only for those going through surgery, but also can help anyone looking to improve their overall health. To encourage you to head down this road to optimal health, we offer signed copies at 10% off retail through our website. To order your copy today, please CLICK HERE.
3. Improve your skin
Your skin is the largest organ in your body and its health reflects your internal health. The first impression you make to others is often related to the quality of your skin, and having a healthy, radiant glow can be a powerful way to show just how good you feel and help you exude a more youthful appearance. To help your skin look its very best, we recommend a few basic tips:
Choose medical skin care
We are constantly bombarded with a deluge of lotions and potions available over the counter; unfortunately, many of these are devoid of any science and lack any real efficacy. Models endorsing these products may look youthful and radiant, but in reality the products may do very little for your skin. To keep your skin in tip-top shape, we recommend a quality medical skin care plan that is easy enough to use on a daily basis. Think medical skin care is too expensive? It is actually a bargain when you look at how many barely-used products you probably have sitting in your medicine cabinet.
To achieve optimal results, a good skin care regimen needs to be followed for at least 3 months. We offer our patients a customized plan designed specifically for their individual skin care needs. When there is good compliance combined with a good skin care plan, the results can be dramatic. Trust me—as someone who just turned 50, I rely heavily on my daily skin care regimen to keep my skin in good shape!
Book a series of chemical peels
You need to revitalize your skin every now and then to keep it in good shape. We recommend a series of chemical peels, such as the new Silk Peel, to exfoliate upper layers and encourage new collagen growth within the dermis. Downtime is minimal and pain is literally non-existent. This, combined with a good skin care regimen can do wonders!
Try microneedling
I have to admit—I was a skeptic about this procedure. But after seeing results from my peers, I added microneedling to our skin care program about a year ago and have since seen amazing results. We are using this simple and effective method to not only brighten skin, but also to treat post-surgical scars and tighten loose skin. Downtime is minimal (about 24 hours at most) and discomfort is non-existent.
Consider BOTOX Cosmetic & filler injections
As our bodies age, we lose fat in some areas while gaining it in others. Overall, we tend to lose volume in our face, which makes us look older. We also develop lines from years of facial expressions, which also make us look older. The proper combination of BOTOX and fillers can help reverse these age-related changes and create results that are dramatic but also very natural.
4. Tighten your waistline (and other areas)
Clean up your diet and you are well on your way to a slimmer body. Unfortunately, a common byproduct of aging and weight loss is loose skin. Until recently, there were few options for tightening skin other than excising it. For the last year, we have been using ThermiRF technology to help our patients tighten areas such as their neckline and abdomen and are now proud to announce the addition of ThermiSmooth Body. This non-invasive procedure can tighten skin and melt fat in as little as 4 to 6 sessions—all with ZERO downtime and little to no discomfort.
5. Book a trip
Travel is one of my passions. It not only helps me recover from stress but also helps me to learn more about the world around me. Many people feel that they cannot afford a lavish vacation, but I encourage you to start small. Just getting away for as little as 24 hours can make a difference. If you can afford more time off, then take it. If you look at the European lifestyle, vacations (or “holidays”) are an integral and expected part of life. Speaking as a recovering workaholic myself, I can attest to the rejuvenating powers of travel and encourage my staff to do the same. Take the time to get out of your comfort zone (even if it is for a short time) and learn more about the amazing world around you!
6. Read a good book…or two
Several good articles have been published on the power of reading and point to reading as a tool which many successful people continue to use as a means to educate themselves both within and outside of their professions. One article suggested that the secret to Elon Musk’s creative ability in multiple areas is directly related to his voracious appetite for reading. He is said to have read as many as a book a day as a child and has continued this habit into his adulthood.
7. Spend time with old friends and make new ones
Relationships are key to our happiness. Many studies show that the more solid relationships we have, the healthier we will be and the longer we will live. In the new year, reach out to friends that you haven’t connected with in awhile, and find opportunities to create new relationships.
From all of us at BEAUTY by BUFORD, we wish you the very best in the New Year and in the years to come. Thank you for your continued support. We look forward to seeing you again soon! To schedule an appointment please contact us online or call us at 303.747.6719
Happy New Year!!!