How to Easily Lose 20 Pounds in 3-4 Weeks or 30 Days!

Wait! Did you know that 9 in 10 people will put some or all of the lost weight back on again! I will provide an answer to this puzzle as well if you have been seeking out a way to lose 20 pounds in 3 Weeks, then I have a surprise for you! Make sure to read closely because I plan to explain to you exactly how it can be done easily and effortlessly. Best of all the results you get from this method of weight loss do not rebound as other diets do, because it does what no other diet does, it targets your metabolism.

So How Can I Begin to Lose 20 Pounds Easily in 3 Weeks?

Its simply really, its called calorie shifting and all it asks of you is to eat! Ok I'll admit it isn't that simple, but unlike any other diet you can actually eat a normal amount of food. The trick to calorie shifting is the way in which you eat. You see this system of eating is so sophisticated as it maximizes the times your body burns the most calories of a certain type and convinces your body to burn more of those calories. It also works to constantly switch up your diet and create something called metabolic confusion where your body doesn't fall into the trap of a comfort zone where it doesn't feel compelled to burn fat.

Calorie Shifting Keeps Burning Fat for You!

Essentially by calorie shifting and creating this metabolic confusion you are sending a message to your body to keep burning fat. The reason people experience the rebound effect from most diets is because eating low calories also lowers your metabolism, it attunes itself to it in a way. The problem is with most diets is once you decide to begin eating a normal diet again you are now stuck with an even slower metabolism. With calorie shifting your metabolism will be far more active and most people who try calorie shifting actually find that they continue to burn fat for weeks following a diet.

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Get your legs long & lean

Do you covet the long, lean legs sported by celebrities? Have you been committed to your daily cardio in hopes that it will tone your lower body? Are you ready to change your workouts to make sure you have those sexy gams by summer?

If so, celebrity trainer Gina Lombardi has the five must-do lower body exercises for you! In addition to toned thighs, these exercises will also give you great glutes as well as tighten up your torso. These exercises are the rage with celebrities and by incorporating these moves into your workouts, you, too, can have A-list legs.

These five exercises, recommended by Gina Lombardi, featured trainer on Exercise TV, work the quadriceps, hamstrings, glutes and core muscles. For best results, do these lower body exercises three to four times per week. In addition to consistent cardio and a healthy diet, you will see results in just a few weeks.

Squats on a vibration platform

According to Lombardi, this intense exercise is a favorite of stars Hillary Swank and Madonna. Vibration platforms have become an increasingly popular fitness tool – doing exercises on the vibrating platforms results in increased muscular power, strength, flexibility and balance. The increased stimulus to the muscle fibers also delivers results sooner than doing the same exercises on the floor. In addition, vibration platforms can boost your bone-density and are often used in rehabilitation for a wide range of injuries. Check with your local health clubs and personal training studios for vibration platform availability. (For more information, check out Lifespan Fitness’ vibration plate article.)
The move: Standing on a Lifespan or Power Plate vibration platform, perform the same traditional squat you would do on stable ground. Stand with your feet hip-width apart, bend knees and lower your buttocks until your thighs are parallel to the floor. Keep knees over your ankles and not jutting forward past your toes. Pause and return to start position. Repeat for 60 seconds. Rest. Repeat three more times.

Buddha Lunges

Lombardi says these high-power lunges keep Sally Pressman (from "Army Wives") in tip top shape.

The move: Start with your feet together. Step forward with your right leg, keeping your back straight, and bend your knees until your right knee forms a 90-degree angle. Hold this position for a count of five then push back with your right leg and return to start position. Do 12 to 24 lunges on each side.

Mountain Climbers

Actress Catherine Bell, best known for her role as Sarah "Mac" MacKenzie on the TV show "JAG," keeps her legs fit with mountain climbers. You can do this exercise at varying speeds – the faster you “climb,” the more cardio it will become. Make sure you keep your belly button pulled in toward your spine to best engage your core muscles.

The move: From a traditional push-up starting position (on your hands and toes), lift your right foot and bring your knee to your chest. Touch your right foot down then return to start position. Repeat with your left. Do 24 repetitions for each leg.

Step-ups

You can do this exercise using only your body weight or you can hold a 5 to 10 pound dumbbell in each hand for added resistance. This is another exercise that targets your muscles while also boosting your heart rate.
The move: Using the stairs or another step (you can use a sturdy chair, if you are tall), step up with your right foot. Bring your left foot up to touch the right foot and then step back down to start position with both feet on the floor. Repeat with your left leg. Do 24 repetitions on each side.

Squats with Kettlebell swing

This is another hard-core exercise favorite of Army Wife Sally Pressman. Kettlebells are one of the newest and most effective tools in functional fitness (and considered a celebrity fitness secret!). Kettlebells are solid cast-iron weighted cannon balls with U-shaped handles. They come in a variety of weights from ten pounds up to over 100 pounds. Kettlebell training is a full-body modality that improves overall strength and also gives you an awesome cardio workout. Best of all, according to fitness experts, when you use kettlebells, you can get superb results in half the time of traditional exercises. (For more information about kettlebells, check out this article!)

How to get Rid of Pimples Quickly

There is nothing worse then an outbreak of pimplesa few days before a big event such as your wedding, the prom, or that first big date with someone you have always wanted to go out with. You go to sleep one night and the next morning there they are, a few red blemishes that you know are going to grow into ugly red bumps crowned with a little with pustule.
Where did they come from and how can you get rid of those pimples quickly? Pimples are a product of a bacterium that lives a normal peaceful life on the surface of your skin. Its name is Propionibacterium acnes.

This bacteria is normally harmless until it gets into the pores and hair follicles of your skin. Normally these pores and follicles have a substance called sebum that flows to the surface of the skin, keeping the bacteria out. If the hair follicles get plugged the bacteria get into the pore and start growing until the body reacts by sending white blood cells to deal with the infection. This causes inflammation and swelling and a pimple is born.

For most people the first reaction is to pop the little buggers. But this is not always the best choice for getting rid of pimples quickly. Popping pimples can actually cause more harm then good and can lead to more pimples.

Why? Think about it. A pimple is nothing more then a tiny little infection in the skins pores. By popping it you break down the protective barrier the body's immune system has built to contain the infection. When you pop a pimple this barrier break down and the pus and bacteria can spread underneath the skin to form new pimples. Plus if you keep digging at a pimple you can end up with a nice looking scab and in some cases scars. The best plan of action if you have to get rid of your pimples quickly is to actually hide their presence while the body naturally deals with the problem. Here are a few tips to help hide or conceal pimples.
1. Use a concealor – This is just basically a skin toned base makeup that will mask pimples from even the most discerning eye by blending it into the natural color of you skin.
2. Ice – Apply ice to the pimple a few times a day. This will reduce the swelling and make the pimple much less noticeable.
3. Toothpaste – Many people claim that toothpaste applied to a pimple before they go to bed can reduce the swelling and make the pimple nearly disappear by the next morning.
4. Drink water – Water lubricates and helps facilitate the removal of toxins from the body that may contribute to acne.
5. Use pimple cream – There are many over-the-counter pimple creams on the market today. They contain benzyl peroxide or salicylic acid that have been shown to help get rid of pimples. Many of them come in flesh colored tones, which helps conceal the pimple at the same time.

Getting rid of your pimples quickly is not always easy to do in a short amount of time. But with the tips given above you can hide your outbreak until your pimples disappear on their own.

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3 Steps to Help You Gain Weight

There are people who will want to put weight on at some point during their life. Some will find it easier than others because  they will have a lower metabolism which means less fat is burned. For those who have higher metabolisms or just have problems putting on the extra weight, this article is for you. In this article, there are 3 steps which you need to take to ensure that you can easily gain weight.

Step 1 - Figure out why you aren't putting on weight.

It may seem stupid, but quite a few people don't assess why they aren't putting on weight. A main reason for people not putting on weight is negative nutrition. This is a condition that reduced the amount of nutrients your body absorbs from foods and if you aren't absorbing the nutrients you won't be able to put on weight. You can eat as much as you want, but still no weight gain. Factors that cause negative nutrition are:

- Smoking
- Coffee
- Alcohol
- Fast Food

You need to cut down (or cut out if you can) on these so that you can start absorbing the much needed nutrients.

Step 2 - What you need to eat
You need to get into your head that you aren't one of these people who you read about in magazines who eat certain foods. For example, you are not a 6 foot boxer who has a highly intense physical training regime and eats a lot to pile on the muscle. If you are then fair enough, but most of you aren't so don't look at what they are eating! The only way you are going to find out what to eat is to see how many calories you are meant to be eating to put weight on and then how many calories you are actually taking in and compare the two results.

The next thing you need to consider is the fact that you don't have to make drastic changes to gain weight. Small changes to your food intake can make a huge change in your body.

Step 3 – Exercise
It is important to eat right to put on weight, but you don't want that extra weight to convert to fat do you? No! What you want is exercise so that the weight you are putting on is converted into muscle. The best way to do this is by exercising 5 times a week doing strength and cardio training to keep yourself in shape.

As long as you follow the above three steps you will be on your way to putting on weight. Just remember to reduce your negative nutrition, eat healthily (balanced diet) and exercise to convert the weight to muscle mass. These steps will help you to gain weight.

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‘Hautest’ hair trends

It’s not just the clothes that are getting shorter and skimpier in the summer, experts agree that this is indeed the best  season to experiment with hair length.

Afterall, what’s a better way to beat the heat than with a sexy short crop ala Gul Panag. Not only does it help you keep a cool head — bet that’s something a lot of us could do with — it also works to send your style quotient zooming skyways.
Gone are the day’s of never ending, poker straight hair. “This season it’s all about mid length hair in loose, easy and light curls,” says noted celebrity stylist Savio Pereira who has styled the hair of some of our sizzling hotties including Priyanka Chopra, Shilpa Shetty and Neha Dhupia. So what are the styles to look out for? The bob, the fringe, the crop look, the layered look and the sleek side parting are sizzling hot.

Coleen Khan, well-known hairstylist says shorter hair length is a much better option for Indian summers. She favours the soft, unstructured hair look and says, “Waves are in as is hair that’s not too blow dried.” People with hair that’s too frizzy should get it relaxed it a bit, she adds.

Meanwhile, Najeeb Ur Rehman, chief colour and styling consultant for the Ponds Femina Miss India contestants this year opines that movement in hair is totally happening this season. “Styles range from the classic bob to more whispy layers which camouflage the face,” he says. However, he warns against directly going in for a short crop if you have very long hair. “Instead opt for a medium length hair — just above the shoulders — before going in for a short haircut. There are lesser option in short hair,” he explains.

Another happening trend according to Najeeb is flicks while Coleen says thick and heavy bangs and side bangs in particular are in. “Apart from these, the 40's style buns, neatly tied back ponytails and soft waves and tousled up hair reminiscent of the 30’s and 40’s are also rocking the hair fashion scene,” she adds.

As for the colours, this season, it’s hot to mix colours. “Try playing with colours. Three to four colours in the hair work to add texture and enhance the cut. Don’t just follow someone else, personalise your cut and your colour,” says Savio adding that warmer tones such as browns and auburns are the ones to watch out for. “Rich colours —golds and coppers and shades ranging from violetish to reds,” says Najeeb while for Coleen it's softer browns and chocolate shades. TOI

How To Remove Dark Circles Under Your Eyes

Author: Mila Sidman

Many women have dark circles under their eyes on a regular basis. In fact, 9 out of 10 people have to deal with dark circles under their eyes at one time or another. The condition has been blamed on anything from lack of sleep to the wrong diet. It is actually caused by one of three primary reasons.

Vascular inflammation caused by enlarged blood vessels beneath the thin skin under your eyes. Staying up late and allergies can cause the inflammation.

The bone structure of your face and add shadows under your eyes, making them look even darker then they are. This mostly affects people with deep-set eyes.

The third reason is hyper-pigmentation, a condition that is passed on through genetics.

Let's take a look at what you can do to get rid of these dark circles under your eyes, or at least "camouflage" them.
Get plenty of rest. I know it sounds very clich�, but you really do need your beauty sleep. Do your best to get at least 7 hours of sleep each night.

Eat well and drink lots of water. Include plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables, fish and lean meat. The vitamins and minerals in healthy food will improve your complexion, give you more energy and overall make you feel better. It will show in your eyes as well. Combine this with drinking at least 8 glasses of water an d your skin will stay more elastic which helps with the appearance of dark circles in addition to many other skin problems.

Black Tea bags make for a great eye remedy. The black tea will help tighten the skin around your eyes, and it gives the eyes themselves a nice glow. Just brew yourself a cup of black tea and then use the teabag on your eyes. Don't burn yourself, but put it on there as hot as you can comfortably stand it.

Grate some potato with a cheese grater and put the potato pieces under your eyes. Let them soak in for about 15 minutes, then rinse with plenty of warm water.

When everything else fails, hide your dark circles under some light concealer. Pick a shade just slightly lighter than your makeup. Put some on your index finger and gently tap it under your eyes. Use a sponge to smooth it out. Don't use your fingers or the concealer stick to rub it in. That will make the circles appear even worse.

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Meditation helps build stronger brains

A new study has confirmed what many people believed: meditation helps increase

gray matter.

A research team from University of California, Los Angeles scanned the brains of people who meditate and found that certain regions in the brains of long-term meditators were larger than in a similar control group.

Meditators showed significantly larger volumes of the hippocampus and areas within the orbito-frontal cortex, the thalamus and the inferior temporal gyrus - all known for regulating emotions.

"We know that people who consistently meditate have a singular ability to cultivate positive emotions, retain emotional stability and engage in mindful behaviour," said Eileen Luders, lead author and a postdoctoral research fellow at the UCLA Laboratory of Neuro Imaging.

"The observed differences in brain anatomy might give us a clue why meditators have these exceptional abilities," Luders added.

During the study, the research team looked at 44 people. Half were asked to practice various forms of meditation such as Zazen, Samatha and Vipassana and the other half acted as the control group.

More than half of all the meditators said that deep concentration was an essential part of their practice, and most meditated between 10 and 90 minutes every day.

The brains of the meditators showed larger volumes of the right hippocampus and increased gray matter in the right orbito-frontal cortex, the right thalamus and the left inferior temporal lobe. Because these areas of the brain are closely linked to emotion, Luders said, "these might be the neuronal underpinnings that give meditators'''' the outstanding ability to regulate their emotions and allow for well-adjusted responses to whatever life throws their way."
The study is published in the journal NeuroImage.

Indian bridal make-up guide II

Base: Dab on white essential foundation by Chanel to give the face a natural glow, then nib down smootllly towards the neck to draw the attention effortlessly toward .
Eyes: Sweep red and bronze shimmer by Urban Decay along the lid, and a smog green along die browline to create the autumn dew effect. Then apply a smooth line of Chanel liquid before topping it off with Max Factor mascara.
Lips: Create- soft, sensual lips by applying a creamy rose lipstick by Chanel and define them with an Elizabeth Arden lipliner. 
Hair: Part hair into three sections and carefully backcomb the top to create a quiff  of the hair back and pin it up to allow it to sit comfortably under the clupatta. - AWI

Indian bridal make-up guide IV

Base: Because of the intricate detail on the outfit and the jewellery, it's important to keep the make-up understated. To smooth out the skin to give a flawless complexion, you can't go wrong with a blend Krvolan Foundation FS36 and 38.

Eyes: Antique green and golds, with just a hint of lilac to contrast with colours in the outfit has been applied underneath the eyes. The brow has been highlighted, with a soft gold applied to the corner of the eye.

Lips: A nude warm pink Mac makes a perfect compliment to the colours of the outfit.

Hair: Backcombed from the front to give height and volume, then pulled into the low bun preferred by the faishionista of the Mughal Empire, allowing the regal tikka to work its magic.

Indian bridal make-up guide III

Base: Create flawless skin with a. glow of radiance injecting a dose of glamour onto the skin. Because the bride's outfit does most of the talking, if’s important to not to do overdo it - instead keep the emphasis on contouring to really bring out the cheekbones.

Eyes: Drama is the key word here, with inspiration drawn from. Umrao jaan. The- idea here is to match the jewellery and outfit, with golds and browns applied to create the perfect matching shimmery effect necessary for maximum royal impact.

Lips: Gold and peach combine to keep the lips soft and subtle, yet unmistakably regal. Hair: The low bun and side parting peaking out of the dupatta gives the bride an unmistakable elegance.
- AWI

Magic Wands

The latest batch of mascara brushes come in all sorts of technical shapes and sizes, which would confuse even the most experienced make-up junkie. But don’t worry! To guide you through the mascara maze we’ve selected the key wand designs and figured out what they do. Follow our guide to make sure you’re in the know when it comes to dressing your lashes.

Bourjois Yes to Volume No to Clumps Mascara, £7.95
This separator comb smoothes the lashes from root to tip, building volume without clumping.

Bare Escentuals Big Tease, £13
(0870 850 6655)
A unique dual brush design singles out every eyelash for extra volume, length and definition.

Lancôme Fatale, £17.50
Its innovative configuration of 3 combs and 3 flat surfaces on this 3-D comb is the secret to creating instant volume and shape with evenly spaced lashes.

L’Oreal Telescope Mascara, £8.99
This flexible multi-comb wand with its spiral structure offers lash-by-lash separation. Its four rows of combs glide through the lashes and offer spectacular lengthening.

Giorgio Armani Maestro, £18
(020 7318 2486)
With four rows of thirty comb-like teeth, this applicator distributes in a single stroke just the right amount of mascara to effectively dress and separate lashes, and shape to precision.

Shu Uemura Precise Volume Mascara, £16
A pin-point, two-way brush allows for a precision layering effect without clumping.

Clinique High Definition Lashes, £12.50
A specially designed, double-sided brush-comb applicator elongates lashes to great lengths. The revolutionary wand defines and singles out lashes you didn’t know you had.

Chanel Inimitable Mascara, £16.50
The elastomer, latex like bristles on this brush reaches even the finest lashes - even those easy to miss ones at the corner of the eyes.

Lash Aids
Remove even the most stubborn waterproof mascara with Talika Lash Conditioning Cleanser, £10.99
Clean away smudges after application with Shu Uemura Cotton Swabs £4.50

AWI

Indian bridal make-up guide II

Base: Priming skin with moisturizer is an essential first step before applying concealer and foundation. A flush of pink on the cheeks and Dior highlighter across cheekbones adds model-like contours to the face.

Eyes: Allure is the key clement of this look. Lashes are coated with layers of mascara, while of purple and glitter brings the eyelids to life, before black and navy shadows arc smoked across the outer corners to add mat touch of mystery. A stroke of black liquid liner keeps the look polished.

Lips: Neutral lipstick and Lancome Juicy Tubes gloss keep the lips subtle but lip-smackingly gorgeous.

Hair: Hair is pulled away from the face in a chic high bun to allow the dupatta to rest effortlessly. - AWI

Indian bridal make-up guide

Traditional Bridal: For a matt look use Mac foundation in a color very close to the bride’s skin tone, then set with powder. Mac shimmer helps to illuminate the cheekbones while crating contours in the face.

For Eyes: Use metallic red in the inner corners, blending towards the outside of the eyes with a deep green for a smooth finish. A forest green has been used underneath the eyes to emphasize shape and color for this enchanting bridal look.

Lips: Create neutral lips by lining with a Mac tawny brown lip liner then filled with a creamy neutral lipstick. A dense lip-gloss over the top adds volume and sophistication.
Hair: To emphasize the eyes and makeup, simply part on the side and clip off the face – perfect fro the day or night. – AWI

Bollywood actresses on ramp

 

Sparkle of Tanishq

From Tanishq comes a stunning new collection called Aria, a classic seven stone diamond collection, set in 18k gold and crafted with modern design aesthetics. The collection has over 300 complex and simple designs in necklaces, earrings, pendants, rings, bangles and nose rings.

Few basic dos and dont’s of skin care in the parlour

Choose a treatment only after careful skin diagnosis consultation with the expert on call. Discuss centra-indications first.

Check out the steps of the procedure and product ingredients before, not after, however intimidated you may feel. Any cosmetic surgery or injection, if done by untrained and inexperienced practitioners, could prove dangerous and even fatal. It is better to be safe than sorry. Do not be afraid to ask or walk out if in doubt.

What may work for your friend may not necessarily work for you.
Get an allergy or patch test done before you go in for any kind of cosmetic procedure or even facials, exfoliations or scrubs. Mention allergic conditions or medications you are currently under.

Diabetic? Had herpes? On heart medicines? Certain procedures are a no-no. Those allergic to aspirin must avoid applications that contain salicylic acid.

Insist on polythene strips for waxing that cannot be re-used. Better still, insist on disposables and fresh or new laundry for every procedure, including the sheet that you lie on.

Go in for facials or other surface treatment at least a week to ten days before any special occasion. It gives your skin time to settle and glow!

Ayurvedic and natural products cause minimal reactions, but check all the same.

Nothing beats a good regimen of proper diet, exercise and plenty of water.

Health is in your hands. Follow a simple at-home skin care programme of cleansing, steaming, toning and moisturizing once a week for a healthy, radiant look!

Breakfast for a slimmer you!

Is your expanding waistline giving you nightmares? Well, take heart. Researchers have found that a breakfast of muesli with milk, tinned peaches and yoghurt can help weight loss.

Experts at the University of Nottingham suggest that the low GI breakfast with apple juice helps the body break down fat better than a high Glycaemic Index start to the day of sugary cereal and white toast, reports The Daily Express .

Scientists discovered that the type of food you eat before exercise can directly impact on your health. A study led by Dr Emma Stevenson looked at young women after an overnight fast. In one study period they were given a breakfast of food known to cause large rises in blood glucose – those with a high GI, including cornflakes and milk, white bread and jam and a fizzy, sugary drink.

In another period, they breakfasted on food with a low GI, although both breakfasts had the same amount of calories, carbohydrate, fat and protein. The low GI breakfast was muesli, milk, tinned peaches, yoghurt and apple juice. Three hours after eating, the women walked for an hour on a treadmill. A lunch – the same in both study periods – was then provided. Throughout the day blood samples and samples of expired air were taken.

From analyses, researchers found blood glucose levels were higher after the high GI breakfast than the low one, and had returned to normal by the time the women began to exercise. However, plasma free fatty acids (FFA) – which show the amount of fat used up for energy – began to rise two hours after the low GI breakfast, the researchers found. Exercise then led to a rapid increase in FFAs in both groups – but concentrations were higher in the low GI group. After lunch the concentration of FFAs was the same in both groups, but overall fat oxidation was higher in the low GI group than the high GI group.

Dr Stevenson said: “We concluded that consuming a low GI breakfast increases fat oxidation both at rest and during subsequent exercise. A low GI breakfast also had an impact on appetite, with test subjects feeling fuller for longer after they’d eaten these types of foods.” - TOI

Don’t let age become a fashion hurdle

Bryan Adams might have popularised being 18 Till You Die, but we know better. Ageing is an inevitable process. Earlier, stricter fashion rules forced our moms and grandmoms to dress to look much older than their age. But today’s fashionistas strongly believe in age appropriate power dressing – without looking boring.

However, some women still make the mistake of either attempting to hang on to their youth by dressing too young or dressing in dowdy, frumpy garments, adding unnecessary years to their looks. DT got the experts to tell you what you need to top that ‘Sexy Forever’ list.

Most fashion designers say that the rising levels of health consciousness in society has resulted in older women being fitter and flaunting toned bodies. “Today, older women are smarter and can carry off most designs with as much elan as a 20 or 30-year-old,” says designer Narendra Kumar aka Nari.

So what are the style essentials that a 40 plus women should remember? According to designer Wendell Rodricks, other than getting rid of stuff from the wardrobe, it’s more important that women throw away things that look from a certain period. “It’s most important to do away with a look from a certain period. Women who grew up in the 60’s or 70’s should not have hair or make-up from that period,” he explains. “Know your personality and choose clothes that complement your body shape and style,” advises designer Lina Tipnis. Wendell adds, “Cleavage is great at any age. So go for it, armed with a good flattering bra. Take away attention from hips by layered, sheer effects. It’s not as much about the clothes as it is about good skin, hair and natural make-up.”

According to Nari, short kurtas or blouses with well-detailed necklines teamed with elegant trousers look great on older women. “Though dresses are still seen as clothes for the young, the longer ones, that end just below the knees, can also be a stylish option for those women who can carry them off well. But ensure clean and elegant cuts,” he adds.

Wendell’s list of strict no-nos include minis revealing dimpled knees, sleeveless garments if cellulite has taken over the arms and most importantly, excess make-up. “Also, no branded bling bags. It’s plain senseless when an old woman lugs around a massive branded bag that looks like it can house a football,” he adds. Meanwhile, Lina cautions against mid-riff revealing tops. “That’s definitely one thing older women must avoid,” cautions Lina.

Sarees with clean cut blouses, salwar-kurtas that flatter the body shape and sleek trouser suits make for other options for formal evening wear. “Make sure you focus on accessories. They go a long way in enhancing the overall look,” Lina adds.
Nari concludes, “For today’s smart woman, 40 plus is not old. Hence, as far as dressing sensibilities go, unless they are trying to ape teenagers in their style statements, they can opt for almost any garment.” - TOI

How To...Impress Him On A First Date

By Brian Alexander

Imagine if we could get an easy-to-follow blueprint that covers the big relationship moments we all face, and keeps it simple. Sounds good, huh? Well, if there were such a thing (written by him, for you), that could see you both through those tricky moments that life, and love, throw your way, this is how it would look. Brian Alexander gives us the skinny on how to impress him on a first date...and how most definitely not to.

Speak
Women accuse men of only talking about themselves, but maybe we're just trying to fill the empty conversation space. "I've been out a few times with women who seemed open and friendly until I asked them to dinner," reports Noah. "They sit there and don't say a word. They make me feel like they either don't want to be with me in the first place or they have nothing to say, which is lame."
Be Smart
No doubt some men - maybe many men - are intimidated by smart women. But brains are sexy! (Glasses are too, but maybe that's just me)
Be sexy, but not that sexy
"I thought she'd expect money to change hands by the end of the night," replied Rob when I asked him if a woman had ever dressed up too much for a first date. "I spent the night watching men watch her and worrying I'd wind up in a bar fight defending her honour." Remember this: We are attracted to you or we wouldn't have asked. So we already think you're sexy.
Pay attention
Don't take phone calls! "I've had women sit across the table from me and take three, four, five phone calls or check their BlackBerrys," my friend Abe reports. "They always say, 'Sorry, it's work,' as if that made it ok." Turn your mobile off, look him in the eye and have a conversation. This is called courtesy.
Don't sleep with him on the first date
You are not hearing this from me, got it? Yes, we may try to sleep with you on the first date. But when I'm sitting and thinking about it rationally, coolly, without having had three glasses of wine with a woman wearing a miniskirt and Louboutin heels, I think of my first date with Elizabeth when, after a beach picnic, we made it as far as her bedroom, lips locked, faces flushed, and she broke off the kissing. She smiled at me and said, "I'm not sleeping with you."
"Ever?" I said.
"I didn't say ever."
"Ok," I said, "how about I leave, then knock on your door and we call that our second date?" That didn't work, but I admired her ability to set a boundary and her challenge to me to overcome it. A game? Maybe. But I came back for a real second date, then a third, and she made me glad I played.

21 Secrets You Never Need to Share

1. That you do pelvic-floor exercises to get you through that really dull meeting.

2. You got ever so drunk one night, pulled the horrible, but inexplicably magnetic, barman in your local, and it was HOT.

3. That you once dreamt you snogged your uncle.

4. About the one time you just couldn't wait and peed in the bush outside your house.

5. Every now and then, you have to pluck out an extremely long, blonde facial hair.

6. You've tried desperately not to, but you still fancy one of your boyfriend's friends.

7. You sometimes irrationally fret that ghosts do exist and thus your long-dead grandma can see every little immoral thing you do.

8. Whenever you walk past a building site you pretend to talk on your mobile to avoid the 'Alright, sweetheart?' sleazy chat.

9. You shoplifted a Snickers when you were 12 - and felt a delicious thrill at getting away with it.

10. You talk to your cat in a baby voice.

11. The insane jealousy you feel for your little sister, who looks just like you - only younger. Not fair.

12. That you couldn't find Poland on a map if your life depended on it.

13. You'll never understand why people think sex on the beach is romantic. You want sand there?!

14. You sometimes fantasize that your infuriatingly me-me-me colleague has a horrible accident and loses her voice.

15. That you think your friend's baby looks a bit like Yoda from Star Wars.

16. Your local MP could be called Delilah Stardust for all you know.

17. You've been known to look at Facebook pictures up to, oh, three times a day.

18. You go to art galleries to feel sophisticated, but are actually largely bored.

19. That you once read his text messages and then felt really guilty because there was nothing remotely incriminating.

20. You agree with Sex And The City's Samantha that, "They don't call it a blow job for nothing, honey."

21. That the gorgeous three-course "home-cooked" meal you served his parents wasn't just food, it was M&S food.

- GM