What is the best day of the week to start a diet? Monday, of course! Or is it? Who knows for certain?
If there is a particular day of the week that is scientifically proven to provide optimum results, I am not aware of it. After all, if there were such evidence, it would be common knowledge considering the obsession we humans have with dieting.
Personally, when I start a diet (or as I like to call it, a "new way of eating), I always begin my "new me" diet on a Monday. Unfortunately, I typically toss aside the concept of dieting as the aroma of non-fruit or non-vegetarian food wafts toward my nostrils; which is by approximately noon on Monday. Yep, the very same Monday I begin my quest to embrace a "new way of eating" is when my plan is generally shelved by 12 p.m. of the same day.
Surely, such weakness on my part indicates a complete lack of will power. How in the world did my will power tank out so completely? What the heck is going on here?
In the 1980's, my physique was (modestly speaking) sculpted and fit (with big hair, of course). I progressed to curvy-yet-firm (along came blow-dried hair) in the 1990's. Bearing two children in late 90's left me fit as a fiddle. It was the 2000's, and the years since 2010 in particular that have brought me down; dragging me across the path of aging with physical evidence that has slowly crept its way upon every square inch of my person.
Firm chin? Gone. Small waist? Adios. Hair growth on the face (thanks, Grandma), dry heels, dry elbows, dry (you-know-what). It's all gone, and worse yet, living otherwise is becoming nothing more than a fond memory. But must that be the case?
Recently, I decided to deal with an aspect of my physical appearance that I thought would be easiest to "take care of". Before I reveal my decision, take a moment to consider my options. Do you think I went with: (a.) meeting with a nutritionist, (b.) consult with a personal trainer, or (c.) visit with a skin care professional? Ding-ding-ding! If you chose (c.) Visit with a skin care professional, you are a winner.
That's right, instead of working on my weight and nutrition, I went for what I thought (HA!) was the quickest fix I could find to looking like my old self.
I took my sun-spotted, blotchy face (thanks, Mr. Sun) to a dermatologist and asked them to fix my face although that was probably the last thing that needed fixing. I needed to lose about 40 pounds. I needed to quit stuffing my face with everyone's leftovers, I needed to stop eating while hunched over the stove, cooking the family's dinner. I needed to sit down and not read the paper while scarfing down the rejects of the meal that weren't "good enough" (in my mind) to serve hubby and the kids.
PHOTO REJUVENATION
I met with a skin care consultant at my dermatologist's office who recommended "photo rejuvenation" for my face. She said my facial veins and accompanying red blotches were a result of sun exposure as a teen, just now showing up on my skin. I plunked down $150 and prepared for my first photo rejuvenation session the following week.
Photo rejuvenation is a procedure where pin points of laser light are directed to small areas on the skin's surface to get rid of red dots, broken capillaries and other small imperfections.
Photo rejuvenation can be done on the face, chest, hands, arms and legs. Costs vary. My 1st session, as I mentioned, was $150 for treatment of my entire face and to zap a few red spots on my chest. Hands only cost $300 for the first session, likewise legs (lower portion only) and arms. As you can see, costs can quickly add up!
ANGIOMAS (Red spots)
The procedure goes like this: You recline in a dentist-style chair, eyes are covered to insure that your eyes do not suffer side effects of the laser style light. An Aesthetician cleanses your face then begins the photo rejuvenation procedure. Although you cannot see, the aesthetician positions the laser's point to areas of your face and then should warn you that a treatment is about to be administered. Each laser zap feels akin to being shocked with a small zing of electricity. It is superficial and hurts just for a second. In other words, it is bearable! After getting zapped on all of your large red spots you are free to go.
Shortly after my photo rejuvenation treatment (which lasted 30 minutes) I felt as if I had a moderate sunburn on my face which a dose of Ibuprofen took care of. I looked the same, but with more of a red-tone to my face. The next two days, I was (as warned) mildly puffy in the cheek area. The 3 larger sized red dots on my chest turned dark brown by day 3, as did an angioma (red dot) on the inner bridge of my nose by my eyebrow. Today, on day 7, those same 4 red dots are dark brown but shrinking in size.
Small, broken capillaries and veins on my cheeks remain the same - still red and spider-like and thoroughly unattractive. I return to the dermatologist in 2 weeks for a follow up exam and, I hope, promises that one more treatment will get ride of the small veins on my cheeks. I will update in late June what happens.
I'm going back for a follow up visit I see that 3 larger-sized red dots on my chest that
Aetheticians will tell you that "more than one treatment
