✚Helpful Hints #11 - Winter Edition

HEALTH and WELLNESS

LET IT SNOW!

Shovelling snow can be quite strenuous.  The average person burns about 200 calories with 30 minutes of activity.  So do you want to get your new year's resolution off to a great start?  Start shovelling snow!

WINTER JOGGING/RUNNING TIPS
Jogging in winter used to be unheard of but with the latest in apparel that keeps us warm and dry in subzero temps and the need to keep fit, there's no reason to stop as long as you keep these tips in mind:

Photo by Flickr user souho

• Try breathing through your nose.  Cold, winter air is dry and breathing through your mouth increases the dryness while decreasing the temperature of the air, so sayeth fitsugar.com. Because your lungs do not like dry air, you can experience asthma-like symptoms, like wheezing and coughing, when you breathe cold air in through your mouth. Breathing through your nose not only filters out air impurities, but it helps to regulate body temperature as well. It also heats up the air, decreasing those asthma-like symptoms.
• But I can't breathe through my nose!  If you are like many others and start to get a runny nose as soon as you hit the cold air - bring some kleenexes along!  Get those handy travel packs you can buy at most stores! 
• Avoid breathing direct cold air.  Some runners may experience throat irritation if they breathe cold air directly—avoid this by wearing and breathing through a scarf a ski mask or a neck warmer.  
• Be flexible with your running schedule. Run during the warmest time of the day, which tends to be midday when the sun is high in the sky.

BEAUTY and FITNESS

MEN - MULTI-TASK FOR A BETTER SHAVE - SHAVE IN THE SHOWER!

Photo by Flickr user Cult Gigolo

Not only is this time saving, but it will make shaving easier!  The humidity of your shower will keep your skin moist and your pores open and even make the hair softer and easier to remove.  Of course, there are few things you should know before doing this:

1. Buy a fog-free mirror or shower mirror. (Otherwise, rub in some of that same shaving cream onto your mirror till it's clear and that should keep it fog free for weeks!)
2. Wash face, then lather face with shave cream or gel, or just use bath soap.
3. Lather body with soap - take your time, this gives the shave cream time to soften your beard.
4. Shave cheeks first, neck next, and finally the upper lip and chin. This order is important as it leaves the toughest whiskers til last, giving them more time to soften.
5. Then rinse, dry your face off and apply the usual after shave or moisturizer.

WOMEN - HELP DRY AND FLAKY SKIN DURING WINTER WITH THIS HOMEMADE TIP
From Cosmopolitan - If your face is so dry and peely that all your moisturizers just aren’t helping, try this remedy from NYC dermatologist Lance Brown: Soak a washcloth in ice-cold whole milk, and lay it across your face for 10 minutes. The natural lipids in the milk will plump up and rehydrate your skin, while the cool temp and lactic acid will tone down redness and remove flecks.

HOME and AUTO
5 TIPS FOR STORING YOUR MOTORCYCLE DURING WINTER.

1. Location is key.  Choose a warm, dry place such as a heated garage and keep the bike away from windows and direct sunlight.  Cover your motorcycle with a breathable cover, not a waterproof one that will trap moisture.
2. Check tire pressure.  "Store your bike on the centerstand or on a motorcycle lift jack - this removes the majority of the weight from the tires," says John Pineo, honarary president of the Canadian Motorcycle Association.  Ift it isn't possible, Pineo recommends fully inflating the tires before putting the bike in storage and checking the pressure monthly.



Photo by Flickr user macwagen

3. Charge your battery.  Use a battery tender to maintain the charge throughout the winter.  "These chargers monitor the state of the battery and charge it when needed," says Pineo.  "You only need to check the connections once a week."
4. Fill your fuel tank.  "Store your bike with a full tank of gasoline," says Pineo.  "An empty tank leaves the interior vulnerable to rusting and also dries out any rubber seals or hoses inside the tank."  Pineo also recommends using a fuel stabilizer to prevent the fuel from breaking down and clogging the injectors and jets.
5. Top up fluids.  Change your oil before storing your bike - even if it isn't due for a oil change. To prevent the cylinder wall from rusting, you might also want to remove the spark plugs and pour engine oil into the cylinders.  Put the spark plugs back on, start your bike and let it run for a few minutes to let the fresh oil circulate.

TRY NOT TO DO THIS WHEN WARMING UP YOUR CAR IN THE WINTER.

Photo by Flickr user slworking2

Did you know, idling a car is not the best way to warm its engine?  The engine warms faster if you simply start the car and drive off.  Make sure all windows are cleaned off before doing so.

With today's modern engines, you need no more than 30 seconds of idling on winter days before driving away. For every two minutes a car is idling, it uses about the same amount of fuel it takes to go about one mile.

As a matter of fact,  If you are going to be idling or parked for more than 30 seconds, turn off the engine. Ten seconds of idling can use more fuel than turning off the engine and restarting it.

I've always known this fact about not idling your car for too long in winter or otherwise, but I never knew why it wasn't good to do so... until now.  As Consumer Energy Center explains:
Excessive idling can actually damage your engine components, including cylinders, spark plugs, and exhaust systems. Fuel is only partially combusted when idling because an engine does not operate at its peak temperature. This leads to the build up of fuel residues on cylinder walls that can damage engine components and increase fuel consumption.

FIREPLACE TIPS

Photo by Flickr user Shutter Daddy

Keep it shut. Traditional fireplaces are an energy loser - it's best not to use them because they pull heated air out of the house and up the chimney. When not in use, make absolutely sure the damper is closed. Before closing the damper, make sure that you don't have any smoldering embers. If you decide not to use a fireplace, then block off the chimney with a piece of rigid insulation from the hardware store that fits snugly into the space (dampers don't shut fully without some leaking).

However, if you must use your fireplace....

Choose hardwoods wisely. The wood you use for the fireplace should have been stored in a high, dry place for at least six months prior to burning. Look for woods that are dense, such as oak — avoid woods that are resinous, such as pine. These can create more creosote in your chimney. 

Keep the damper open when burning. Gases can accumulate very quickly if a fireplace is closed up too tightly. Always keep the damper open to provide continuous airflow.

Avoid using chemical products. Place the logs on the metal grate at the back of the fireplace, and always try to use kindling to light the fire.  Those easily combustible small sticks or twigs used for starting a fire works just as well without giving off any noxious fumes.

SEX and RELATIONSHIPS
Women, winter time is not the greatest time for us in terms of feeling sexy and in the mood. However, men find you even more sexy!  As for you men - don't pack away those sleeping bags just yet!

WOMEN - EMBRACE YOUR BODY... AND GET BUSY ON THE CLOTHES DRYER!
As stated on the Women'sHealth website - guys actually find you sexier in the wintertime, according to a study published in the journal Perception. In the summer, they see so much skin that they become more critical of women's bodies. But in the winter, women aren't showcasing their toned butts and abs, so men are more accepting of different body types and are more likely to overlook flaws. Don't feel comfortable lounging around naked? Throw on something that highlights your best assets, like a cute pair of boy shorts or a sexy tank top.... (Or wearing one of their over-sized sweaters with nothing underneath!)

Photo by Flickr user Jon.Jennings

Get busy on the clothes dryer.  Yeah, the laundry room is for getting things clean, but you can also use it to get down and dirty. Hop onto the humming dryer while he stands between your legs, and let him give you oral attention. "You can hoist one leg over his shoulder to give him easier access," says Fulbright. The heat from the machine plus the vibrations will amp up the experience.

RAUNCHY WRAP-UPS!
Cosmopolitan says: Drag your sleeping bag out of storage and zip yourselves up in there. Not only will you be totally snug but the restricted space will make the whole experience super-intimate. Stick to slow, sensual movements and when things start heating up in there you can break free and go wild.

OK SMART ASSES....

TIME FOR THE IMPOSSIBLE QUIZ!
Boy do I feel retarded!  I think I got as far as #8.  Oh well.  YOUR TURN!

So how far did you guys get? 



Resource(s):

consumerenergycenter.org/, blog.builddirect.com/, Womans World magazine, cosmopolitan.com/ Men's Health magazine, askmen.com/, Reader's Digest magazine, rd.com/, Consumer Reports magazine, tips.become.com/, The Oprah magazine,  Quirkology.com, Best Health magazine, homesafe.com, Money magazine, fitsugar.com/, Macleans magazine, womenshealthmag.com/, Better Homes and Garden magazine, beauty-tips.net/, caamagazine.ca, ehow.com/