Self discipline is what most people lack. Need to know more? Just look around you; it doesn't need rocket science to analyze who is a stickler for and who ignores it.
It's now time to change all that. Let's begin with the top part of our body, and then work all the way down.
Hair
My first hairdresser studied in Japan for five years. Her advice: “Only wash your hair when it feels too oily or too dry. Daily wash will only weaken hair-roots. Use shampoo that best suits your type of individual hair; cost isn't always a deciding factor (Australian celebrity hairdresser Joh Bailey confirms this, adding: “There is a snobbery relating to hair product usage”). Trim tips regularly to prevent hair splits. Apply hair-dye only whenever it's absolutely necessary; entire hair length every six months, base reapplication every five to six weeks is adequate. Total exercise: five minutes hair-wash, fifteen minutes waiting time for hair-dye to work, five minutes hair-rinse. Total: twenty five minutes. Face & Neck.
My mum's beauty tips: apply the same facial cream to your neck as well. It's amazing how many aging beauty neglects this factor; and it shows. Their face may look amazingly youthful, but in stark contrast, their neck is a dead give-away. To prevent stiff neck, rotate your head clockwise twice, and anti-clockwise twice. Total exercise: five minutes. Shoulders
Tone up by exercising regularly. 1.5 kg dumbbells-lift in varying degrees is the key to beautifully shaped shoulders and upper arms. To make your exercise less regimental, listen to your favourite music while doing it. Hold dumbbells firmly in each hand. Lift right arm 90 degrees forward ten times, then alternate with left arm ten times. Repeat for 2 rounds each. Now lift 45 degrees backwards ten times alternately. Stretch both arms in a straight line level to your shoulders, now swing both arms down to touch your upper thighs without hitting them. Repeat the exercise ten times. Hold the same position, but swing upwards till hands almost touch. Repeat this ten times. Lastly, hold arms straight down, bent right elbows upwards towards your chest, and then swing down again. Repeat twenty times. Now do the same with your left arm. Total exercise: 7 minutes. To achieve shoulders and arms tan, wear a singlet or a camisole and do your exercise outdoors at sunrise. Better still; prune your garden wearing the same attire. Gardening is a great way to burn calories slowly. Be amazed at the result; bronzed shoulders and toned upper arms. Duck indoors when the sun gets too warm for comfort; you definitely do not want to contract skin diseases. Look beautiful but endeavour to stay cancer free. Total exercise: ten minutes. Breasts
Regardless if your partner is a breast or a leg person, it's vital to keep your breasts looking nice. Size is un-important; it's the firmness that matters. A former village beauty gave me her best tip: “Throw icy-cold water onto each breast twenty times daily, throughout all seasons. First thing in the morning is the best time to do it. The sudden shock will make breast tissues to perk-up to react. This in turn will condition breast tissues to stay, well, perky. Total exercise: five minutes. Waist
To retain a slim waist-line, do a simple exercise. Stand with your legs apart to maintain balance. Stretch your arms level to your shoulders. Now bend to the left, keeping your body aligned. With your right arm, reach as far as you can without straining yourself. Hold this position and count to five. Straighten up again, then bend to the right, reach as far as you can with your left arm, hold the position and count to five, then straighten up again. Repeat this exercise five times. Total exercise: five minutes. Hips
To retain slim hips, hold position 5 (Waist), only stretch your legs further apart. Now bend to the left all the way down, holding your lower leg just above the ankle. Hold this position and count to five. Alternate left to right bending, completing five rounds each. Total exercise: five minutes. Stomach
Most of my friends dread this routine. All you need to do is to lay down flat on your back, and bend your knees upwards. Stretch your arms forward and try to reach your knees. Start with two stretches one day; build it up to four the next day, then six the following day, and so on. Twenty stretches daily will give you the flat stomach you dream of in less than a month. Total exercise: five minutes. Buttocks
You can do this while waiting for the kettle to boil for your much needed cup-a-tea, coffee or soup. Hold the kitchen bench with your hands for balance. First bend your head backwards facing the ceiling. Now bend your right leg backwards, try to touch the tip of your head. Don't be disheartened if you don't; it's only an exercise to aim the most of your ability. Alternate with your left leg, and repeat for five minutes. Thighs and Calves
You can do this either walking up and down a staircase or on the spot. Walk up and down the stairs on tiptoes for five minutes. Alternately, rest your hands on your hips, raise your feet so you stand on tiptoes, hold it for five seconds (count to five), then rest your feet. Repeat this exercise for five minutes. Internal organs
After all the external beauty is taken care of, it's now time to look after our internal organs.
