Touch of Beauty August 2018

Touch of Beauty August 2018

Beauty Now

www. touchofbeaut yspokane. com Phone : (509) 252-0988

AUGUST 2018

FROM THE DESK OF Nadia Vingert

CELEBRATE EVERY DAY WITH THESE ODD AUGUST HOLIDAYS!

16. National Tell a Joke Day

1. National

Girlfriends Day

17. National

2. National Ice

Thriftshop Day

Cream Sandwich Day International Beer Day

18. Bad Poetry Day

3.

19. National Potato Day 20. National Radio Day 21. Senior Citizen’s Day 22. National Tooth Fairy Day

4. International Hangover Day

3 INSANELY TOUGH FITNESS CHALLENGES Push Yourself to the Limit

5. International

Forgiveness Day

6. Wiggle Your Toes Day

In general, improving your fitness is a solitary pursuit. You may have a group of gym regulars you see frequently, but it’s rare for you to all be doing the same exercises at the same time. While this personal journey has its own rewards, sometimes you want to test yourself against others. Many people enter a 5K or other race to see how far they’ve come, but the most exercise-obsessed among us may want to seek a greater challenge. If you fall under that umbrella, consider these over-the-top events that aren’t for the faint of heart.

7.

National Lighthouse Day

23. Ride the Wind Day

24. Vesuvius Day

8. Sneak Some Zucchini onto

25. Kiss and Make Up Day 26. Women’s Equality Day

Your Neighbor’s Porch Day

TOUGH MUDDER

9. Book Lover’s Day

The Tough Mudder is so difficult that it isn’t even considered a race; it’s simply a test of endurance over a grueling 10-mile course filled with various obstacles. Per the organization’s website, “Tough Mudder isn’t about how fast you can cross the finish line. It’s about pushing yourself — and your team— to discover what you’re really made of.”While there are 5K and half versions of the challenge, the Tough Mudder Full is the main attraction. While obstacles vary from event to event, you can expect to see a few signature challenges on every course. These include “Arctic Enema,” a dive into a dumpster filled with ice water; “Electroshock Therapy,” a trudge through a pit of mud with live electrical wires hanging overhead; and “Everest,” a climb up a quarter pipe slicked with mud and grease.

10. National S’mores Day 11. Son and Daughter Day

27. Just Because Day

28. Race Your Mouse Day 29. More Herbs, Less Salt Day

12. Middle Child’s Day

13. Left Hander’s Day

30. Frankenstein Day

14. National

31. National Eat Outside Day

If that doesn’t sound daunting enough, Tough Mudder also hosts a series of competitions culminating in the World’s Toughest Mudder, a 24-hour challenge that could best be

Creamsicle Day

15. Relaxation Day

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that wasn’t enough, there are also frequent elk and mountain lion sightings. Oh, and thunderstorms are so common that participants have been struck by lightning on numerous occasions! Conditions can change at a moment’s notice, so runners are given updates and warnings about when to simply get off the course and wait for a storm to pass. Perhaps no race combines the majestic beauty of nature with the challenge of endurance running quite like the Hardrock 100. Luckily, there are 14 aid stations throughout the course where runners can stop, warm up, rest, and replenish. Without them, we’d venture to say that the Hardrock 100 would be more aptly named the Hardrock Impossible. These are just three of the many ways fitness junkies can take their passion to its absolute apex. Of course, you shouldn’t enter these events or others like them without plenty of preparation. That being said, for many people, challenges like these are what make the hours spent in the gym pay off in spades.

Each year, entrants sign up to compete either individually or in groups in both stand-up and prone divisions. The course itself spans the Ka’iwi Channel, which translates to “the channel of bones.” As the name suggests, it’s no lap pool. With gale-force winds and massive ocean swells, it’s known for being treacherous and intense. In adverse conditions, it’s borderline unnavigable. Needless to say, M2O is not for novices. A 100-mile endurance run sounds tough enough as is. Add more than 60,000 feet of elevation change, and you have a recipe for one of the toughest races in the world. That’s exactly what the Hardrock 100 offers competitors each summer. Racers have 48 hours to complete the course, with various resting points along the way. Beginning and ending in Silverton, Colorado, the closed course passes through mountains, rivers, and everything in between. As if HARDROCK 100-MILE ENDURANCE RUN

described as insane. Participants are tasked with completing a course as many times as they can in 24 hours, with the winners completing in excess of 100 laps. World’s toughest, indeed.

MOLOKAI 2 OAHU PADDLEBOARD WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

For many people, paddleboarding is a relaxing way to spend a summer afternoon. The brave souls who sign up for the Molokai 2 Oahu PaddleboardWorld Championships (M2O) aren’t looking for leisure, though; they are testing themselves in choppy waters over a course 32 miles long. In fact, the M2O is so dangerous that every participant has a boat nearby in case they fall in rough waters or get too tired to continue. While the race started in 1996, it has its roots in the ancient cultures of the Hawaiian Islands. Polynesian people, the first migrants to Hawaii, often paddled their way from island to island in search of a place to settle. It’s with this spirit in mind that M2O was created. It didn’t take long to become extremely popular.

Why Celebs and CEOs Swear by It 3 Benefits of Intermittent Fasting

Tom Hardy, Christian Bale, Chris Hemsworth, Liv Tyler, and Beyonce — all of these celebrities have used intermittent fasting (IF) to meet their fitness goals. Fasting dates back thousands of years — in fact, one of the most popular fasts is called the “Daniel Fast” because it mirrors Daniel’s abstinence from food as portrayed in the Old Testament. This ancient trend is gaining popularity in the nutrition community. Here are three ways IF might benefit you. One of the most common misconceptions about fasting is that you can’t eat any food. The truth is that we all fast for a period of time each day while we’re asleep; intermittent fasting simply extends that fasting period. After eating, your body transitions to a fed state where your food is used for fuel. However, after 8–10 hours without food, your body enters a fasted state in which your body burns stored fat for energy, which leads to weight loss and more muscle definition. With intermittent fasting, you fast for a specified period — typically 16 hours — and eat all of your meals within an 8-hour period. WEIGHT LOSS

MENTAL ACUITY

Fasting has become popular among the Silicon Valley crowd in recent years due to the endorphin rush and mental acuity associated with IF. When food is scarce and you haven’t eaten, your brain sends endorphins into your bloodstream to make you more alert. Your brain then digests information more efficiently. This is thought to be a holdover from our hunter-gatherer days, when we had to be alert enough to find food or we’d starve to death. CEOs in the nation’s tech capital have begun using this strategy in recent years to increase their productivity.

BOOSTED IMMUNE SYSTEM

According to researchers at the University of Southern California, fasting essentially flips a regenerative switch in the body. “It gives the ‘okay’ for stem cells to go ahead and begin proliferating and rebuild the entire system,” says Valter Longo, Ph.D., director of the USC Longevity Institute. “Fasting cycles can generate, literally, a new immune system.”

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Book a Caribbean Cruise

After last year’s devastating storm season, would-be tropical travelers are undoubtedly hesitant about purchasing those discounted plane tickets to the Caribbean Basin. No one wants to face a possible evacuation during their vacation — or worse, be forced to weather a hurricane at a beachfront resort. If you want the most bang for your buck while enjoying the turquoise waters of the Caribbean this fall, consider booking a cruise. Cruise-ship travel is a fun and adventurous way to explore any time of year. After all, what could be more magical than a floating hotel room where you fall asleep in one country and wake up in another? This charming mobility is also what makes cruise travel the safest option for visiting the Caribbean and the coast of Mexico this time of year. Much like resorts and airfare, cruise lines discount their Caribbean fares significantly during peak hurricane season, from August to October. However, unlike a traditional hotel, these massive ships have the luxury of navigating out of a storm’s path with ease. For all their ferocity, hurricanes move slowly across the Atlantic and have relatively predictable trajectories. Meanwhile, modern cruise ships carry the most sophisticated weather-tracking instruments, allowing them to bypass even small storms and inclement weather. SAFE SAILING THIS HURRICANE SEASON SAFETY AND SAVINGS

FLEXIBILITY IS A MUST

The flipside of this ability to dodge storms is the fact that your ship may not be able to stick to its original itinerary. You may have to anchor at an island you weren’t expecting to or miss out on seeing a port you were supposed to visit. If you have your heart set on seeing a specific location, cruise travel this time of year may not be for you. But if you are simply looking for a safe, affordable vacation to a beautiful region, then it doesn’t much matter which white-sanded beach you wake up to next. While unpredictable weather will always be a concern for any vacation, the safety and variety cruises offer make them great options for anyone looking for a Caribbean getaway before the holiday season. So if you have a flexible schedule and a healthy sense of adventure, it’s time to call your travel agent, pack your sunscreen and bathing suit, and head to paradise!

Take a Break

SUMMER GRILLED HALIBUT Ingredients

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2 pounds mixed tomatoes, sliced

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4 boneless, skinless halibut fillets, about 5 ounces each 1/4 cup olive oil, plus extra for drizzling

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1/2 cup hearts of palm, drained

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Basil leaves, for garnish

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Kosher salt and black pepper, to taste

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1 lemon

Directions

4. In a mixing bowl, combine

1. Lightly oil grill grates and heat grill to medium. 2. Grate 1 teaspoon lemon zest onto halibut fillets. Drizzle with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. 3. Grill halibut, turning just once, for about 5 minutes on each side.

tomatoes, hearts of palm, juice from lemon, and oil. Season with salt and pepper. 5. Garnish salad with basil. Spoon salad over grilled halibut. Serve.

PAR BIRDIE DRIVER GREEN

STROKE HOLE IN ONE PGA CADDIE

SWING PUTTER GOLF CART DRIVING RANGE

Recipe inspired by Good Housekeeping

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1105 N. Lincoln St. Spokane, WA 99201

A good night’s sleep is one of the most important things you can do for your mind and body. One study published in the Journal of Psychosomatic Research found that the quality of your sleep is much more important than the quantity — that is, if you want to feel rested. And we all want to feel rested. So, what can you do to improve the quality of your sleep and get the rest you need? LISTEN TO YOUR BODY. This, above all else, is crucial to a good night’s sleep. Your body knows when it’s time for bed. Generally, you want to go to bed when you feel tired, whether that’s at 8 p.m. or 1 a.m. Whenever your body tells you it needs rest, you should make a habit of going to bed then. The more consistent you are, the better your sleep will be. WAKE UP NATURALLY. Jolting yourself awake with an alarm or radio isn’t doing your brain and body any favors (it can be stressful on INSIDE THIS ISSUE From the Desk of Nadia Vingert PAGE 1 America’s Most Grueling Fitness Events PAGE 1 3 Must-Read Benefits of Fasting PAGE 2 Safe Sailing This Hurricane Season PAGE 3 Summer Grilled Halibut PAGE 3 Sleep Better and Feel Great PAGE 4

HOW TO ACHIEVE A MORE RESTFUL NIGHT’S SLEEP

nucleus (SCN), which helps regulate your circadian rhythm, and screen time before bed can throw off normal SCN function. Put your excuses for staying up too late to bed. Say no to “one more episode.” And all those emails? They can wait until tomorrow. Not getting enough quality sleep is harmful to your mental and physical health. When you get into the habit of following these three tips, you’ll find yourself feeling rested and refreshed in no time.

the body and even elevate blood pressure, which is not good first thing in the morning). If you do need an alarm, consider a wake-up light. Wake-up lights mimic the sunrise, slowly brightening the room, waking your body in a natural, gentle way. KICK THE SCREEN HABIT. You’ve heard it before, and you’ll hear it again: Looking at an electronic screen — a TV, computer, tablet, or smartphone — before bed is detrimental to sleep quality. Light from these devices is disruptive to your brain’s suprachiasmatic

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