HEALTH
WHAT NOT TO DO
Don't overindulge
"Pick and choose wisely. Most of us can't handle very many extras in our diet," says Gina Fina, owner of Perfect Balance Weight Management, 935 lowa St. Eat fruits, vegetables and proteins first, then decide on a little something extra, she says. Then get some physical activity. And remember, a mixed drink with an umbrella contains 500 calories, on average, she says.
Don't crash diet
If your beach body still isn't up to par, crash dieting is not the answer. It will deplete you energy storage and your body will store more of the calories you ingest as fat, says Renee Horinek, a personal trainer at Body Boutique, 2330 Yale Road. Depending on your current fitness level, she recommends doing 45 minutes to an hour of cardio and engaging in a low-impact full-body weight-training routine four to five time a week.
Don't go tanning
"What they're saying is I'm going to go damage my skin before I go on spring break," says Dr. Lee Bittenbender of the Dermatology Center of Lawrence, 930 Iowa St. "If your skin is tanned, by definition, it's damaged," he says. People with sun-damaged skin look older and more wrinkled, and have uneven pigment, less elasticity and pre-cancerous changes, he says. If you want to look as good as you can for as long as you can, he says, protect your body from the sun by using sunscreen and wearing a shirt or hat in the middle of the day, when the sun is at its strongest.
Don't forget spring break is exactly that — a break.
Three days before:
Get your hair did
Practice good sleep hygiene, moderation and stay hydrated, says Cathy Thrasher, clinical support services coordinator at Watkins Memorial Health Center. Don't have too much fun on spring break and come back exhausted, she says.
If you have horrible roots, the sun will only make them look worse, says Jessica Walker at Avanti Salon, 1540 Wakarusa Drive. So if you want to look good on spring break, get your hair done a few days before, just in case you're not happy with the result and want to have it fixed.
For women, bobs, bangs and body take the cake this season. Walker says, and men are going for a shorter look. As always, highlights are back for spring and summer.
Two days before:
Confirm your vacation plans
Reconfirm all of your trip arrangements 24 to 48 hours in advance, says John Novotny, travel agent at Travellers, B31 Massachusetts St. If you used an on-campus representative to plan your vacation, Novotny says to ask what type of security deposit is due when you check in and about the process of checking out. It also always a good idea to have contact information for each component of your trip (transportation, hotel, etc). Novotny says.
Get waxed
The day before:
"Your skin is the largest organ of your body; one of the major functions is excretion," says Serena Teopaco, esthetician at Lada Salon & Spa, 4931 W. Sixth St., "Whatever we don't get out by going to the bathroom, we get out through the skin."
If that isn't reason enough to exfoliate, the process also helps with circulation, speeds up cell turnover and help lotions (especially sunless tanners) penetrate the skin, Teopaco says. She recommends the Aveda Smoothing Body Polish ($22), which features ground-up walnut shells instead of harsh salts to gently slough off dead skin.
Make your waxing appointment at least two days before you leave, because you don't want to go in the sun for 24 to 48 hours afterwards, says Sally Bremenkamp, esthetician at Color Hair, Spa and Retail Studio, 2330 Yale Road. Waxing is a great way to go for spring break, she says, because you won't have to remember to pack a razor. The hair being waxed needs to be at least a quarter of an inch long, but if it's much longer, trim it before you come.
Exfoliate you skin
Go (sunless) tanning
Unless you've been living under a rock, you know the sun is bad for you. Luckily, there's an alternative: Mystic Tan. Mystic Tan is a UV-free spray application of sunless tanner that eliminates the possibility of human error, says Mary Ellen Hall, owner of Jamaica Tan, 1540 Wakarusa Drive. Unlike conventional tanning, the results are almost immediate. A single session, which lasts up to a week, is $31, but if you're a first-time, it's only$ 14.95.
Treat your feet (and hands)
There's a good chance your feet haven't seen the light of day for some time.
so it's a good idea to give them a little pick me up."We have a fair number of men who come in for pedicures," says
Helena Peter,
receptionist at
Images Salon &
Day Spa, 511 W.
Ninth St."It helps
them look better."
Pedicures are $35
and manicures are$ 20. Light pink
polish helps the
polish helps the skin look tanner, but bold colors on the toes are still the most popular.
St. Patty's Day IN STYLE
COME FOR THE BRUNCH STAY FOR CELEBRATION IRISH BUFFET for lunch and Irish food specials for dinner
2 FOR 1
IRISH MARTINIS
$2.50 BOULEVARD IRISH ALE AND SMITHWICKS IRISH ALE DRAWS
701 Massachusetts | 785-749-1005
www.elrdridgehotel.com
THE ELDRIDGE
03.08.2007 JAYPLAY <17