FitSugar

I Don't Buy It: Ear Stapling for Weight Loss

FitSugar — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 08:59:53 PST

I have heard of some crazy approaches to weight loss and this one might just take the cake – ear stapling. A stainless steel staple is placed on the inner cartilage of the ear to constantly stimulate the acupuncture point associated with the stomach. The staple is supposed to decrease hunger as well as cravings. The cost is generally around $60 and you can keep the surgical staples in your ears for months. "Placing the staple" is a little euphemistic since the action is more like a piercing and infection rates can be as high as 20 percent. While acupuncture has been around for centuries (and you don't walk around with a needle in your ear cartilage), the stapling procedure is quite new and many states have no regulations regarding the procedure. Mississippi was the first state to require a practitioner to be licensed to perform the stapling and Ohio now requires it too.

According to the Mayo Clinic, there is no evidence that stapling works. There is no magic pill or magic staple for weight loss. Even proponents of ear stapling admit that to lose weight you need to lead an active lifestyle and actively want to lose weight.

Looking to lose weight and need some guidance. These diet tips might just help. Or join Diet Support Group for a little community support.

Source

Snag These Music Festival-Ready Essentials - On Sale Now

Marisa Tom — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 04:00:34 PDT

Whether you're trekking out to Indio, CA, for Coachella in a week's time, or you're in the market for some Summer-perfect staples that have all the boho-appeal of festival fashion, we've got you covered. The sweetest part? Each denim piece, flirty sundress, and eclectic accessory scouted is on sale. Now that's music to our ears. Go bold with an A.L.C. neon-infused frock or keep it basic with a sheer white T by Alexander Wang shirtdress, accent each effortless outfit with a pair of ankle booties, Chucks, or sandals. It's all in here so just keep clicking and make sure to act fast. We have a hunch these stylish concert-going essentials won't be around for long.

How to Create a Modern Cornucopia This Thanksgiving

Diana Nguyen — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 12:15:16 PST

Cornucopias have been a symbol of harvest and abundance since the days of Ancient Greece. And today, the horn-shaped basket spilling with fruits, grains, and other earthly treasures is just as emblematic of Thanksgiving as a juicy Butterball. However, if this autumnal motif puts a chink your chic-party-decor chain, here are a few tips to update the time-honored "horn of plenty" into a modern centerpiece.

Use more refined materials. A wicker basket may be too rustic for your fabulous fete. Instead, opt for baskets or vases made out of glass or metal. The Black Metal Cornucopia ($25), seen above, brings a new twist to the Thanksgiving staple. Also, the glass Blenko 964 Amethyst Horn Cornucopia Vase ($95) from Etsy seller mid2mod is a really sleek alternative.
Spray paint your offerings to match your palette. Sometimes greens, reds, and yellows aren't great for complementing the rest of your soiree. Gather plastic fruits, acorns, and ears of wheat and spray paint them to match your dinnerware. When in doubt, metallic whites, blacks, and silvers really pop. Not into DIY? These painted pears ($8) will add appeal to your bounty.
Go monochromatic. Keep things simple and compile a cornucopia of same-colored elements.
Bring in nontraditional elements. If you're going for modern, opt for the not-so-literal route. Feathers for ears of wheat. Shiny baubles for apples. Rocks for grapes. Your guests will be thankful for the creative interpretation.

How to Make Easter Crowns and Masks

LilSugar — Tue, 19 Apr 2011 03:05:37 PDT

Growing up, my cousins and I used to sit through Easter brunch waiting for the egg hunt to begin. Before we started the highly anticipated contest, we topped off our perfectly pressed holiday garb with handcrafted crowns. Here's a guide to making your own Easter tiaras and masks with your little bunnies.

Bizarre Home Cures That Work

Prevention — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 03:13:50 PDT

We are excited to share one of our fave stories from Prevention here on FitSugar!

Ease pesky health issues with vodka, duct tape — more
From the Editors of Prevention

Of course there are some health staples you should never be without - bandages or OTC pain relievers come to mind. But you can treat or cure a surprising number of minor ailments with these unexpected household objects and foods.

Home cure: Vodka
Use it for: Foot odor
If your feet smell less than swell, wipe them down with a vodka-soaked washcloth to get rid of the stench. It's the same principle as rubbing alcohol (which works equally well if you'd rather drink your Grey Goose). Vodka contains alcohol, which is antiseptic and drying, so it destroys odor-causing fungus and bacteria and dries out the moisture that lets these organisms grow.

Surprising Reasons Why You Smell

Home cure: Licorice
Use it for: Calluses and corns
"Licorice contains estrogen-like substances that soften the hard skin of calluses and corns," says Georgianna Donadio, PhD, director of the National Institute of Whole Health. Make this homemade licorice paste: grind up a few licorice sticks, mix them with 1/2 teaspoon of petroleum jelly, and rub the mixture into the rough areas of your feet.

How to Get Soft and Sexy Feet

Home cure: Baking soda
Use it for: Urinary tract infections
At the first sign of symptoms, drink a solution made with 1/4 teaspoon of baking soda mixed in eight ounces of water. Continue this once a day until you can get a culture done at a doctor's office and start antibiotics. Baking soda makes the bladder environment more alkaline, which reduces bacteria's ability to multiply, says Larrian Gillespie, MD, a retired assistant clinical professor of urology and urogynecology in Los Angeles.

Keep reading for more home cures.

Halloween Costume Idea: Catwoman

Miriam Lacey — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 03:05:26 PDT

The costume: Catwoman
Batman's sexy nemesis/paramour has been a sexy costume staple since the 1960s (when the lovely Eartha Kitt played her on TV), and she shows no signs of fading away. Plus, as long as you have an all-black outfit, cat ears, and a mask, she's a really easy character to put together. Do it this year, before everyone copies Anne Hathaway's Catwoman from next year's The Dark Knight Rises.

Hair and makeup: Black kitty cat ears, of course, and a black mask, with plenty of red lipstick and black eye shadow. Also, sexy hair is a must, preferably curls or big retro volume.

What to wear: Black leggings, black gloves, black boots, and a tight black motorcycle jacket or long-sleeved top.

Take it to the next level: Add Catwoman's "claws" by gluing or pressing on some super-long acrylic tips. You can even paint them red for extra feline flair.

Faux Fur Cat Ears $8 - Topshop	Sequin Bat Mask $8 - Topshop
ASP French Extreme Smile Line Nail Tips $9 - Sally Beauty	Casey Driving Glove $48 - Free People
Revlon Satin Luxurious Color Eyeshadow, Polished Bronze 010 $4 - drugstore.com	L'Oreal Clr Riche Serum Inside Lipstick $8 - Target
Ankle-Zip Liquid Legging $16 - Charlotte Russe	Jou Jou Jacket, Faux Leather Motorcycle $69 - Macy's	Gabriella Rocha Anderst $23 - 6pm.com

DIY: Book-Wrapped Trophy Mount

Elka Karl — Fri, 13 May 2011 05:00:00 PDT

Over a year and a half ago, I ordered a Styrofoam taxidermy mount with the intention of finishing it in some fun, unexpected way. Then the mount sat in my garage for over a year while I attended to other projects. Just a few months ago, I finally got around to finishing the mount. If you admire the look of the trophy heads you've seen everywhere from Anthropologie to Neiman Marcus, but don't want to spend upwards of $600 on something that may be a trend, you can DIY your own for under $50. Here's how.

What You'll Need:

Styrofoam Deer Mount like this one (you can order other animal shapes, but they're often a lot more expensive). While this one is listed at $40, I found one on sale for $12, so shop around.
Mod Podge
Thin paper for covering the head (college readers, dictionaries, and other large books work well)
Paintbrush
Branches
Swiss army or whittling knife
Paint
Masking Tape
Newspaper

Keep reading to learn how to make your mount!

Look to Try Now: Jennifer Morrison's Freeform-Braided Updo

Jaime Richards — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 11:27:00 PDT

Classic chignons and tousled buns are updo staples that are easy to re-create at home, but if you want something with a bit more of a twist, look to Jennifer Morrison for inspiration. Jennifer, who you may know as Zoey from How I Met Your Mother (or the upcoming Once Upon a Time with Ginnifer Goodwin), looked both fresh and sophisticated donning this easy-to-do, freeform-braided updo at the Warrior premiere in LA yesterday. To get tips for trying out the look yourself, just keep reading.

A Reader Recipe: Light Fish Chowder

Fit Community — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 00:41:50 PDT

If you're craving chowder but want something less fattening and calorie-laden, try this light fish chowder recipe from FitSugar reader Dara8182. She posted this in the FitSugar Healthy Recipe community group.

Chowder is a New England staple, but not the healthiest soup. I created this light version using fresh fish, grilled corn and herbs. It has only a tiny bit of light cream. The flavor is intense and authentic without being heavy.

Learn more about this recipe after the break!