Exercise Equipment Needs

Recently, I've been doing a great deal of online window-shopping for exercise equipment. Because I'm not outfitting a full gym, I've avoided looking at commercial fitness equipment. Size, weight, and cost keep professional machines out of my range. Or so I thought.

While we have space issues, I discovered that price isn't automatically a problem. Refurbished equipment, coming out of the local workout club, can offer features not available on items designed for the home user. And, because the gym is anxious to upgrade their treadmills and stair climbers, the used machines may not be much more expensive.

I can't say how the quality compares. But it might well be worth a closer look.

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Fighting Wrinkles

An evening spent reading wrinkle cream reviews ends up creating more questions than answers. All products claim to work wonders; that their ingredients are the best. But are they?

There's no argument that collagen, which the young have in abundance, is what keeps skin smooth and supple. Where to get it, or more accurately, how to increase collagen production is the real issue. It's also where opinions, products, and web sites diverge - dramatically.  . . . 

  Read More  Fighting Wrinkles

From what I've read, using products with collagen in them doesn't do any good. The skin can't absorb collagen, so it simply sits on the face. Stimulating production is the key, and there are - actually - many ways to do it. At a variety of prices.

Dermatologists use laser treatments, peels, and microdermabrasion to stimulate the dermis, the middle layer of the skin where collagen lives. Naturally, these are not inexpensive treatments, but they are going to be more effective than department store versions. On the plus side, some of these treatments, which require more than one visit, are effective for years.

Topical solutions vary as well, from source to source. Consistently, however, articles mention creams containing peptides to be effective. And, typically, no two articles agree on which peptides are best.

My favorite? The article that lists dozens of foods that stimulate collagen and elastin production. It helps that I happen to love greens, cantaloupe, citrus, asparagus, cashews, pecans, almonds, and avocado.

Darn it! Now I'm hungry!

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Treadmills

Here it is, the beginning of March, and we're already thinking about summer heat. In Arizona, it gets warm early, and stays warm (okay, hot) for a long time. Makes me wish I had a treadmill about now.

There are dozens of sizes, speeds, and models to choose from. Some aren't nearly as expensive as others. Which may or may not be a good thing.

I know I wouldn't enjoy having my equipment crumble under my feet - in mid run. Just imagine - like a comedy routine - flying off the running surface and into the nearest wall! Definitely in the not-a-good-thing category.

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Branson Vacation

Being a curious sort, I was wondering about what a Branson vacation would offer. It's a place I've always wanted to visit. But, was fairly certain that I wouldn't find much to keep me occupied.

I knew there would be musical shows, of course. In my mind, that's what Branson was all about - great concerts. Boy was I wrong. Well, not wrong as much as seriously uninformed. Seriously!  . . . 

  Read More  Branson Vacation

Yes, there are over 100 shows, but not just musicals. Entertainment options include magic and comedy. Remember Yakov Smirnov? Well, he performs in Branson.

Then, there are dinner cruises, tours, a water park, a permanent Titanic exhibit, museums, and a zoo. For the outdoorsy types, the area offers trails, golf courses, and three lakes.

Much more than just concerts, isn't it?

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Ordering Wrinkle Creams

One common complaint I've read about ordering some acne treatments and weight-loss supplements is the automated ordering process. The customer opts for a (usually) 14-day free trial; just pay shipping and handling. Websites may or may not explain that, unless the account is cancelled within that 14 days, the product will automatically ship at full price.

They also don't mention that the 14 days starts from the moment the order is placed. And full price is never cheap.

Although more common with other products, some wrinkle creams pull the same tricks. I know. They got me a couple of years ago.  . . . 

  Read More  Ordering Wrinkle Creams

Now, don't get me wrong. It's a perfectly good product. Two steps, applied right after cleansing, you can actually feel the skin on your face firm up.

Or maybe it's just an astringent in the mix, tightening up the pores. But, I could feel it work - the few times I remembered to use it. All in all, I was rather impressed ... until I got the charges on my card.

Then, I was simply angry.

When I contacted customer service, they insisted that I had agreed to all of their fine print when I place my trial order. Nope; sure didn't. In fact, I will go to my grave confident that there was zero warning of the automatic shipping policy.

Happily, they did refund the charges quite quickly. And I learned a valuable lesson. Ain't no such thing as free.

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Wrinkle Removers

Since my last birthday, I've been making lots of jokes about wrinkle creams. It's tough to get up in the morning, look in the mirror, and not see the 20- or even 30-year-old face I (for some reason) still expect to see. But wrinkle cream?

Admittedly, not all moisturizers are the same. They run the gamut from simple face cream to instant wrinkle remover, and everything in between. But which work? Which are safe?

It's tough to know. And, since there are new products every day (or at least new websites promoting products), I try to review regularly. Imagine my surprise when I saw a product, previously touted as the best weight-loss pill, offered as a skin treatment. You know I had to check it out.  . . . 

  Read More  Wrinkle Removers

Ah, yes! The Super Foods pill! I remember Lipovox!

It does everything but wash the dishes and scrub the floors. Yet, who came up with this magic pill?! How do you track down the original? That's the fun part.

If you search "I worked with one of the largest Nutraceautical company's in the world and had them find the HIGHEST Concentrates of All 10 Super Foods." you will find no less than 121 sites sharing this story - complete with the typographical errors. There is one 'official' site, but who knows. Half of them look like copies of each other.

The bottom line?! There is no scientific proof that this pill does anything - except empty your wallet. Although, chances are - if you consumed a sufficient quantity of these 'Super Foods' - you would probably notice a benefit. But does this pill provide it?

If you've actually tried Lipovox - please leave your comments below. (Note: Moderators reserve the right to expose spurious claims.)

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