Now, I've had FOUR UTI's so I know what I'm talking about when I say drink a LOT of water. Eight glasses a day is great. Ten is better. Drink two as soon as you wake up, and your body will get used to it. PEE a lot too. Every time you feel the urge, pee. I had to time myself to go every four hours. Now I go pretty often. Once you have a UTI, the other ones follow quickly.

The best skin advice I can give it get rid of all your make up before bed. I've been performing on stage for twelve years and my skin has taken a beating. I don't wear make-up anymore except for gloss, but when I do, I get all of it OFF. It's gunk and it's not good for your skin.

And water is brilliant for your skin. Gets rid of toxins and makes you look fresher. Like an apple, take away the moisture and what have you left? A wrinkly, ugly thing. Water is the best thing you can give your body.

I learnt that if I walk around during my periods instead of curling up bed, the cramps lessen. If you're active, I think it eases a lot of the pain, but maybe that works only with some people.

For the bra, I'm 38 E so there is no way I can reach back to hook the thing.

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originally posted by pamie:
How long are you supposed to brush your teeth? I see some people take like five minutes and stuff. If I try and go that long my gums start hurting. When do you know that you're done? And do those tongue scrapers work?

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I've tried the five minute thing and all it got me were bleeding gums. I couldn't do it. I brush for about 2-3 minutes. make sure you brush up and down or in a circular direction. Straight across can scratch your enamel. I figure that I'm done when my teeth feel really smooth and slick.

I've tried tongue scrapers. They're ok, I guess. A cheaper tongue scraper would be to use a plastic spoon or just brush your tongue. I usually just brush my tongue.

I started going to a new dentist about 2 yrs ago and he's great. His hygienist gives all the patients the Junior size toothbrushes. She swears you cover more of the tooth surface because the big toothbrushes are just, to be redundant, too big. After 2 years, I totally agree (and they're cheaper). Try them.

ALSO, floss, floss, floss. I carry some with me. At our high school reunion in June (a big Texas style BBQ complete with stringy brisket), Chickengrrl and I went to the restroom (girls can't go alone, you know, even at our age) and I pull the floss out of my purse. Ms. Chicken says, "Receding gums -- another sign of aging."

Question girls: Which do you use?

I am on Neutrogena right now, but it's still slightly orange.

[wow. that would sound weird to anyone other than the people in here.]

Today i put my bra on properly.

Hooray.

Oh and another piece of random advice. You know those little sandpaper type things that you can use to remove the hair from your legs? Well they do work, but they take way longer than shaving would, and though some people say you can do it while watching tv, who wants little leg hairs all over the living room?

Anyway, the real advice is that while they work on legs, you should really avoid the temptation to use them to take off those little random chin hairs that are normally tweezed. This way you can avoid thinking up excuses when people ask you how you got rug burn on your chin.

Not that it's ever happened to me.

FLOSS.

Yeah, I never believed it was important either. It was difficult and time-consuming and made my gums bleed. But then I realized something.

Try this, just once, if you never have: Floss your teeth (especially if you don't regularly), and then smell the floss. Nasty, huh? And just think, a second ago, that smell was in your mouth. Where would you rather have it be? No matter how diligently you brush, food still collects between your teeth and starts rotting away. First it just stinks, and then it starts to decay your teeth, giving you a whole new set of problems.

We've all known people with disgusting rotten smelly breath. The easiest way not to be one of those people is just to floss regularly. The long-term dental health benefits are an added bonus.

quote:

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Now, here. Help me with this. How long are you supposed to brush your teeth? I see some people take like five minutes and stuff. If I try and go that long my gums start hurting. When do you know that you're done? And do those tongue scrapers work?

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Well, Pamie, you're in luck, because I happen to have a copy of Health Magazine's Fitness & Beauty edition right here at work.

The magazine says this about brushing your teeth:

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"Most people use up to four times the pressure they should. They're wearing away the gums," says Eric Spieler, a former lecturer at the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine. Overzealous brushing, even with the soft bristles experts recommend, can cause your gums to recede from your teeth; consider it a self-inflicted form of gum disease.

How hard is too hard? Think of plaque as film on a window, not petrified egg on a frying pan. Gentle wiping will suffice.

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So maybe you're doing what I used to do: You're using a medium or hard bristled brush, and you're scrubbing way too hard. My gums used to bleed every day. I would wear out toothbrushes really quickly, because I was applying so much pressure the bristles would fold and then collapse. After I read that article (You should try to get hold of it-- it's the Summer 2000 edition), I switched to a soft bristled brush, and I stopped attacking my teeth like I used to. Too late, though, because I have already caused my gums to recede a bit, for which the dental hygenist gave me supreme shit. They don't grow back. But my gums don't bleed when I brush anymore, and my teeth actually feel cleaner. Oh, and hard brushing will also scratch the enamel of your teeth, too.

Also, not necessarily girl related, but grapefruit juice w/caffine, doubles the effects. Of the caffine. Just in case you needed the extra boost or like grapefruit juice (like I do) but don't want the caffine craze! Apparently grapefruit juice also reacts to some drugs, but I don't remember which ones.

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I noticed the post on tan in a bottle:
Question girls: Which do you use?

I am on Neutrogena right now, but it's still slightly orange.

Suggestions?

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I use the Nutrogena one, too, in a spray. The secret is to get the lightest one you can, and be really careful applying it. These self-tanners actually chemically change the colour of your cells. It's not a dye, so they all come out the same, because they all use the same chemical.

What I do is this:

I take a quick shower to make sure I'm clean. I don't go too long, because I don't want my skin to swell from the heat. The I dry off, but I don't scrub too hard for the same reason: I want to avoid the slight swelling. When I'm totally dry, I apply a moisturizer, and I rub it in well. Then I apply the tanner, and I go from bottom to top (I only do my legs, BTW. They're way pale). I rub the tanner in as evenly as I can, in small circles. I allow it to dry, and then I apply a little bit more moisturizer. I know what I said about over-moisturizing before, but I do that so that the tanner gets rubbed in some more. I then avoid anything white for a while, just in case (The tanner does transfer to white fabric). The tanning should start to take effect in 2-4 hours.

This won't keep it from going orange (Only you body chemistry can change that, I think) but it does keep it from streaking. Also, you can always go back and apply more if your tan isn't dark enough.

[Edited to say this about calcium: Viactiv. Someone on one of the other forum threads put me on to these calcium suppliments. They're chews (think the Kraft caramels we used to get at Hallowe'en when we were kids), and each chew has 500mg of calcium, as well as some vitamin d-something to help you absorb it. They come in Caramel, Chocolate and Mocha, and they're yummy (I have the Chocolate ones right now. The cost about the same as a bottle of calcium pills for 60 chews). I have two to three a day, usually with meals, and it's really not like taking a suppliment at all. If you're looking for a source of calcium, but don't want a horse-pill, try these Viactiv chews. Really.]

And Laural - not only do I have allergies, but I am also very tasty to insects, so the back itching problem does come up occasionally. I try to get it with my left arm, which is still capable of reaching pretty far around my back. If that doesn't work, holding a pencil or other implement and scratching with that usually does the trick.

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Originally posted by Kelly:
the back itching problem does come up occasionally. I try to get it with my left arm, which is still capable of reaching pretty far around my back.

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when my back itches, I'll lean against the back of my seat and move up and down a little (that also sounds strange) until the itch is gone. or I'll reach over my shoulder with a (closed) pen and take care of it that way. my arms have a fairly long reach, which I'm grateful for.

The reason I think this bears mentioning, is that my best friend has frequent yeast infections, most people think that, that makes her nasty or dirty (including her jerk of a boyfriend who constantly teases her about it).

Most yeast infections are caused by antibiotics, a close second come from hormones (being pregnant, menapause etc).

The yeast infection itself is pretty nasty and dirty, but you don't have to be to get one.

Re: the whole teeth brushing issue... may I recommend the SonicAire toothbrush? It costs a grip of money, but I so love it. I have more that a mild case of dentist anxiety, and I was looking for something to keep me out of that chair for as long as possible. This thing is brilliant. My hygeinist was so impressed.

Anyway, it is timed, and it goes for two minutes.

My only other tip for healthy and happy living: Don't wait until you really have to pee when you are wearing drawstring pants. It's very uncomfortable when you can't get the knot out.

[edited because I saw a typo onced this post, but for the life of me I cannot find it now. Poo.]

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Originally posted by vinne:
[B]So, uh, Heather? What are we girls with combination/acne prone skin to do? I'm with you on the moisturizer. But what would you recommend as substitutes for Biore strips and spot treatment creams? /B]

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Hi - I've never posted before, but I thought I would recommend a product called DHC Skincare. It has done absolute wonders for my acne prone skin. I hardly ever break out anymore, which is a huge improvement, believe me. Anyway, you can buy the stuff or ornder a catalog here http://www.dhccare.com/ The catalog is neat b/c it has all these letters from women that use the product and love it.

Using public bathrooms.

Listen, I know there are some public bathrooms that are fairly clean, but those are way hard to find. Some of us will put nothing other than our foot on the handle of the toilet to flush it -- why put your tushie on the icky seat?

Women don't have to sit on them to pee! Okay, it's weird sounding, but y'all have no reason not to stand up and pee in those really disgusting bathrooms. It takes a little bit of practice in the comfort and privacy of your own home, but it can be done.

No germs from public bathrooms anymore. No thought of "ew, what woman put her {insert body part of choice} here?"

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Originally posted by pamie:
So, Meg... are you the one that's leaving pee all over the seats? Because I HATE that.

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(innocent glow) That's not me. (/innocent glow) I never use public bathrooms because I am convinced that women are pigs. And I say that as a dedicated woman.

I also hate that pee on the seat thing. That is just gross, man. Don't do that.

Speaking of public bathrooms. What am I supposed to do with knee length hair if I ever have to use one of these digusting cubicles? There is no place for it. I hold it away from the toilet, of course, but I have to let go of it sometime to pull my clothing back up. Men have it too easy.

(Side note: I about died with laughter when I read your journal entry about long hair, Pamie. The "What the hell...?" comment about did me in.)

In fact, on that note, fresh clean sheets are one of life's simple pleasures. They make you sleep better, I swear.

Use a man's beard trimmer (they do make bikini trimmers for women, but I find they're kind of puny) and trim up at least a little a day or two before you start your period. If you use pads, you'll feel cleaner and be less likely to suffer extreme adhesive accident pain. If you use tampons with applicators, you're less likely to pinch hair in the applicator.

If shaving under your arms gives you ingrown hairs (or is just way too much of a bother), and not shaving at all makes your deodorant useless because it can't get to the skin, use the beard trimmer for that, too.

When you find a pair of shoes that are really comfortable and you really like them, go buy another pair or two before they quit selling them.

Know how to change a tire and how to check your oil, water, and battery. Make sure you have a working spare, jumper cables, a good jack (like, probably not the one that came with your car), and a small toolbox in your car. You may never need them, but someone else might.

Always join the Frequent Flyer club before booking an airline ticket. Even if you don't fly often. You'll get better customer service if you need it.

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Originally posted by pamie:
How do you know that you're smelling the floss and not your fingers? I'm just sayin'.

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quote:

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Originally posted by Daisy Bird:
...if your car starts to overheat, turn on the heater! Some random fact I learned in physics and thought was the coolest. Of course in my case it also helps if you know what the symptoms of overheating are...

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Oooh! I know this one! I lived in Florida briefly, and my roommate's car constantly overheated. Neither she nor I knew a damn thing about cars then, and her dealership's service department took great pleasure in screwing her over just because they could.

Years later, a then-boyfriend taught me the automotive mysteries (okay, so it was the one thing he was good for). When you've been driving a lot in hot weather, especially in stop-and-go traffic, and steam starts pouring out from under the hood, your car is overheating. The steam might smell like something sweet burning if there's antifreeze/coolant in your radiator. When this happens, pull over as soon as possible, open the hood and let the car rest and cool down.

DO NOT try to take off the radiator cap right away. That steam is under a lot of pressure, and if you open the cap, it's all going to blow up in your face. If the cap is hot to the touch, it's still too hot to open, so wait a while longer. Also, DO NOT try to cool your radiator faster by pouring cold liquid on it. You risk cracking the metal, not only letting out the aforementioned high-pressure steam but also requiring you to replace the whole radiator.

Okay. Radiator cap is cool enough to handle with your bare hands? Now unscrew it. Don't stand with your face right over it; some steam might still come out. Reach into the opening with your fingers, and pull out a little circular metal doohickey, flat on the bottom and kind of pointy on top. This is your thermostat. It's now ruined. You need a new one. The good news is that they are very cheap (around 5-10 bucks, I think). Top off the water/coolant in the radiator (don't use cold water!). Replace the cap (without putting back the thermostat). You're now ready to resume driving.

The thermostat is there to regulate the flow of coolant according to temperature. When a car overheats, the mechanism in the thermostat gets fused shut so the coolant doesn't go where it's needed. The good news is that you can drive around indefinitely in hot weather without a thermostat, without doing any damage. You need to have the thermostat in there when it's cold, though (when the job of that radiator fluid changes from "coolant" to "antifreeze"), so be sure to replace it before winter.

What's a "waterbra"?

Floss. Definitely. I just had a tooth pulled, because the damage was too extreme to fill. FLOSS.

Trust everyone on the sunscreen.

More info on the "turn on the heater when your car is overheating" bit: Your car overheats because it can't shed waste heat fast enough. It sheds waste heat by running coolant through the engine, and then out to the radiator. When you turn on your heater, coolant gets routed to another radiator-like dingus (your heater core) which happens to live inside the vent system in your car.

No matter what I do, if I'm using non-clear deoderant (my Secret Platinum (the best stuff ever!) ran out so I'm using the backup) the second I put a shirt on I've got deoderant all over the bottom of the shirt, the sides of the shirt, sometimes the front of the shirt. I'll pull the edges down around my underarms-- lifting them away from my skin-- but it never fails. I thought I got off fine this morning, but I just looked down and saw that I've got the white mark on my shirt front yet again.

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Originally posted by pamie:
Seriously, I need help with this.

No matter what I do, if I'm using non-clear deoderant (my Secret Platinum (the best stuff ever!) ran out so I'm using the backup) the second I put a shirt on I've got deoderant all over the bottom of the shirt, the sides of the shirt, sometimes the front of the shirt. I'll pull the edges down around my underarms-- lifting them away from my skin-- but it never fails. I thought I got off fine this morning, but I just looked down and saw that I've got the white mark on my shirt front yet again.

What's a quick and easy way to get that off of your clothes so you can go to work?

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You can use a piece of tape on fabrics that are not delicate. Just a few little pats with a piece of tape and the white marks will come off. As for removing it off of delicate fabrics, I don't really have any solutions other than waiting until your deodorant is dry to get dressed. *G*

Anyway, Kristal's post reminded me of something. If you're going to scratch your back with a pen, and you do it with the cap on, um, make sure the cap actually IS on, and that you don't just THINK it is. It's pretty hard to explain why your back looks like a doodle pad when you take off your shirt at home.

You guys do realize that all my advice is just random and in no way relates to anything i've ever done myself, right?

Also, like KC, i've heard that using a hair dryer is a good way to avoid yeast infections, though i would suggeset you use the lowest setting possible, because think of the ouch potential if you leave it on high heat.

Oh, and my apologies to KC for blatantly rippind KC off, but i must agree that it's the funniest smilie i have ever seen so i'm going to throw it in here just to say.

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Originally posted by Ian the Terrible:
What's a "waterbra"?

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It's like a padded bra, only instead of padding, it's got a water-balloon-type-thing sewn in. Okay, wait, that makes it sound even more ridiculous than it is (which is already pretty silly). It's like a bra with implants in it. It feels/moves/looks all natural-like.

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Originally posted by MorganG:
So if I wore them I'd have a craterboob. Anyone know how to fix that, by chance?

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No but it bugs the crap out of me too. I don't need the enhancement of padding, but I appreciate the coverage. I'm not into being a human temperature gauge.