Now if you’ve done some searches for ingrown toenails on Google, and looked at some of the images – there are some horrific images out there!

I’ve actually had a couple of procedures done on my toes, one was to basically remove the problem part of the nail – but the doctor warned me, if I don’t take care of my feet I’d get ingrown toenails again.  So half the battle is taking care of your feet.

What did the doctor do?  Simple, first he started by numbing my toe by injecting it with an anesthetic.  Next he cut the toenail along the edge that is growing into the skin – in my case on both toenails and both sides of the toenail.

Now I had two long, narrow toenails.  He had then placed anti-bacterial ointment on the sides and bandaged them up.  I was wearing thong-style sandals for a few weeks until my toes healed and then I should have followed the doctors orders, but of course I did not and today — I still suffer from ingrown toenails.

So what should I have done?  Simple…

What should I do to care for my toe after surgery?

• Soak your foot daily in warm water – did this!
• Apply antibiotic ointment to the site at least twice a day – did this!
• Keep a bandage over the site until it heals – did this!
• Take acetaminophen or ibuprofen as needed for pain – did this!
• Keep the wound clean and dry, it’s okay to shower the day after surgery – did this!
• Wear loosely fitting shoes or sneakers for the first 2 weeks – did this, in fact I had no choice as my feet would not fit into shoes, so wore thong-style sandals.
• Avoid running or strenuous activity for the first 2 weeks – oh yah, feet are pretty painful for the first few weeks.
• Call your doctor if you have problems with the area, such as increasing pain, swelling, redness or drainage – never had an issue, but you need to check your feet regularly.
• Avoid high heels and tight-fitting shoes now and in the future – this is where I fell down, I should have worn a dress shoe that is an extra wide width, but I did not.
• Trim nails straight across. Don’t pick at your nails or tear them at the corners – again, something else that I did not do which caused my ingrown toenails to redevelop.

Ingrown toenails are painful, and if they get infected you need to see a doctor.  But with a little care, after getting surgery you could be ingrown toenail free for a long, long time.

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It’s true – and the cure’s creator, Mike Ramsey, himself a hyperhidrosis sufferer, has just published an ebook detailing his simple three-step, all-natural plan that is designed to stop excessive underarm sweating in two weeks or less. So far the treatment plan has proven to be effective for 96% of those who have tried it, Ramsey added.

In “Stop Sweating and Start Living” Ramsey fully describes his practical and unique treatment approach that permanently gets rid of a person’s excessive underarm sweat problem – naturally and without side effects.

Ramsey’s process is made up of three simple steps, takes less than 1 minute a day to complete and relies on readily available and inexpensive products.

Ramsey adds that the process is easy to incorporate into your morning or evening routine, and guarantees that it will keep a person’s underarm sweat problem away for the rest of their life.

Ramsey says he came up with the treatment approach after attending a seminar on natural health.

“The seminar actually didn’t have anything to do with excessive sweating or hyperhidrosis,” Ramsey said. “But what the speaker said got me to thinking and soon led to my discovery.”

Like many others with hyperhidrosis, Ramsey first began suffering from it in high school and over the years has tried just about every treatment he could think of to get rid of it or at least keep it under control: from using dozens of different antiperspirants to applying antiperspirants several times a day to wearing undershirts to soak up the sweat before it reached his outer shirt to changing clothes several times a day to holding his arms up in the car so that they were aligned with the air conditioner vents to using a device that pushes electrical currents through the skin and much, much more.

“Nothing that I tried worked and I was about to give up hope when my wife and I attended that fateful seminar,” Ramsey said. “After years of pain and struggle, using the method I created I was able to cure my excessive sweat problem naturally in just two weeks, and was finally able to start living worry-free again.”

“This technique has proven to be highly practical, safe and effective and it’s worked quickly for me and for hundreds of other people who have read my ebook and tried it.”

To learn more about “Stop Sweating and Start Living” and how you can get rid of excessive underarm sweat the safe and natural way, visit preventsweating.com, where the ebook is also available for purchase.

Technorati Tags: how to stop sweating, stop sweating now, sweat too much

Mike Ramsey, who began suffering from excessive sweating, also called hyperhidrosis, in high school, has published an ebook detailing a simple three-step plan that when followed allows anyone to cure their excessive sweating problem in two weeks or less.

“It’s true,” said Ramsey, author of “Stop Sweating and Start Living: A Practical Guide to Ending Your Underarm Sweat Problem.” “At last, there’s an effective way for anyone to cure their underarm sweat problem – in just two weeks – without prescription drugs or risky surgery.”

Ramsey’s method is a three-step, all-natural technique that he developed after attending a seminar on natural health.

“The technique is highly practical, safe and effective, it takes just a minute a day to perform and can be easily worked into anyone’s daily routine,” said Ramsey.

Ramsey’s discovery comes on the heels of new research that indicates nearly 8 million Americans – almost 3 percent of the U.S. population – routinely suffer from excessive sweating, a figure higher than previously believed.

“We’re not talking about people who sweat a lot after a good workout,” Ramsey said. “These are adults who while sitting at their desk in a cool office, sweat through their T-shirt, their shirt, and maybe even their jacket. These are teenagers who avoid going to dances and parties and on dates because they are afraid to be seen dripping in sweat. These are children who continually drop their bottles or sippy cups because their sweaty palms won’t allow them to maintain a good grip.”

What is hyperhidrosis?

Hyperhidrosis is a medical condition that causes people to sweat excessively in specific areas — their underarms, face, palms, or the soles of their feet.

Ramsey’s technique works specifically for the underarms.

“After years of struggle with hyperhidrosis, during which time I avoided potential socially awkward situations like dates and parties, I discovered the real reason for my underarm sweat problem … and after two weeks of self-treatment I cured it,” Ramsey said. “In fact, in the 10 years since, I have never been self-conscious about raising my arms in public. I have never worn an undershirt to soak-up my sweat, and I have never had a sweaty armpit (except during intense physical exercise).”

In an effort to help others who suffer from hyperhidrosis, Ramsey explains exactly how he was able to cure his excessive sweating problem on the pages of “Stop Sweating and Start Living.”

“In this ebook, readers will learn exactly how I, and others who have used my system, stopped underarm sweat for life,” Ramsey said.

To learn more about “Stop Sweating and Start Living,” please visit www.preventsweating.com, where the ebook is also available for purchase.

Technorati Tags: how to stop sweating so much, stop excessive sweating, sweating too much

We were recently introduced to a producted called FUNGINIX.  So what exactly is Funginix, and does it work?  Is Funginix a scam?  First a little information about the product, what it does and what exactly is toenail fungus.

Nearly 40 million Americans suffer from some degree of nail fungus and have concerns about the health of their nails. It’s a condition that a person can contract in a variety of ways and the correct treatment is often difficult to find. Unsightly toenail fungus can make people feel self-conscious about showing their feet and cracking, brittle nails can be irritating and embarrassing.

FUNGINIX is the most sophisticated and complete topical treatment created to fight and eliminate the fungal infections of the finger and toe areas including regions under and around the toenails. Only FUNGINIX has been thoroughly tested to guarantee that it kills fungus and will promote the restoration of healthy nails in a fungus-free environment. FUNGINIX contains the unique combination of proven anti-fungal agents along with a proprietary blend of natural oils and minerals that will destroy the fungal agents and specifically attack the fungus where the infection exists.

What is Nail Fungus?

Nail fungus, or Onychomycosis, is a condition that is caused by the presence of a fungus living in and underneath the nail bed of a finger or toe. The fungus (a dermatophyte) houses itself within the nail bed making it difficult to reach and therefore difficult to kill. The cool and protected area underneath a nail provides the perfect growing condition for dermatophytes.

The fungus starts by attacking the nail and causing the nail plate to turn yellow, cloudy or dark colored as it dies. If the fungus is not attacked quickly, the fungus will multiply as the condition worsens and will cause the heavily affected nails to either thicken or become brittle and crumble apart.

Once affected, nails must be treated for a substantial period of time before all of the fungus has been eliminated. The suggested treatment time to kill all of the fungus once the nails have been affected is 6 months. This will allow for FUNGINIX to eliminate every last fungal agent around the affected area while a new nail grows in healthy and strong

Why FUNGINIX Works

UNGINIX is the best combination of anti-fungal agents, essential oils and fungus-fighting extracts available. In order to create the most powerful anti-fungal solution, we at FUNGINIX took the best of research from both traditional and herbal medicine on how to kill the fungus that attacks nails. After comparing and contrasting the effects of various combinations, we came up with our unique blend of active ingredients like undecylenic acid, herbal remedies like camphor and essential oils like tea tree oil. There is simply no other topical solution created to fight nail fungus that is more effective and complete.

Ingestibles vs. Topical Solutions

Oral medications are available and are often an effective way to combat fungal infections. However, they are generally very expensive and extremely strong medications that must be taken for long periods of time in order to be effective. The medications also have potential side effects to other body organs (especially the liver, skin and/or bone marrow). In order to monitor side effects, your physician should order periodic blood tests (usually monthly) during treatment. Many individuals are not eligible for ingestible treatments because of the potentially dangerous effects these prescriptions can have on the human body.

Topical solutions are the safest and easiest way to combat nail fungus. However, there are many products on the market that make false claims and use worthless, cheap ingredients. Be sure to research which products actually have proven anti-fungal agents and oils in the ingredients. When using topical treatments it is essential to get the solution underneath the nail bed and deep into the cuticle in order to fight the fungus where it lives. Follow the instructions on your bottle of FUNGINIX to eliminate embarrassing fungal infections for good!

Application

It is of major importance to always keep your hands and feet clean and dry throughout the day.

Apply FUNGINIX twice daily. Once in the morning before putting on socks and/or shoes and once in the evening before getting into bed.

Use the brush applicator to work FUNGINIX deep under the nail bed and a finger or cotton swab to work FUNGINIX into the cuticle of each affected nail.

Here are images of a toenail before using Funginix and after – notice the huge difference!

What People Are Saying About Funginix…

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According to the International Hyperhidrosis Society, a recent study presented at the American Academy of Dermatology Annual Meeting in San Francisco indicates that employees suffering from hyperhidrosis “were limited in performing physically demanding tasks 25% of the time, in mental and interpersonal tasks 20% of the time, in time management 17% of the time, and in work output 11% of the time.”

The study goes on to say that “these rates of workplace limitations are similar to those experienced by workers suffering from depression, osteoarthritis, and rheumatoid arthritis.” The study estimated overall work productivity loss due to hyperhidrosis is “4.9%.”

Luckily for the estimated 8 million Americans currently suffering from hyperhidrosis, or excessive sweating, Mike Ramsey (himself a hyperhidrosis sufferer) has just published book detailing a simple three-step, all-natural plan that is designed to stop excessive underarm sweating in two weeks or less.

In “Stop Sweating and Start Living” Ramsey fully describes his practical and unique treatment approach that permanently gets rid of a person’s excessive underarm sweat problem – naturally and without side effects.

So far the treatment plan has proven to be effective for 96% of those who have tried it, Ramsey said.

Ramsey’s process is made up of three simple steps, takes less than 30 seconds a day to complete and relies on readily available and inexpensive products.

Ramsey says that the process is easy to incorporate into your morning or evening routine, and guarantees that it will keep a person’s underarm sweat problem away for the rest of their life!

Like many others with hyperhidrosis, Ramsey first began suffering from it in high school and over the years has tried just about every treatment he could think of to get rid of it or at least keep it under control: from using dozens of different antiperspirants to applying antiperspirants several times a day to wearing undershirts to soak up the sweat before it reached his outer shirt to changing clothes several times a day to holding his arms up in the car so that they were aligned with the air conditioner vents to using a device that pushes electrical currents through the skin and much, much more.

‘At the time that I came up with this cure, I was working in an office eight to ten hours a day where I was surrounded by and interacted with colleagues continuously,’ Ramsey said. ‘In this environment, I was constantly concerned about my underarms — a distraction that caused me to lose hours of productivity every week. My self-esteem and self-confidence, which were already low, plummeted even further.’

Ramsey went on to say. ‘After years of pain and struggle, using the method I created I was able to cure my excessive sweat problem naturally in just two weeks, and was finally able to start living worry-free again.’

‘This technique has proven to be highly practical, safe and effective and it’s worked quickly for me and for hundreds of other people who have read my book and tried it,’ Ramsey said.

To learn more about “Stop Sweating and Start Living” and how you can get rid of excessive underarm sweat the safe and natural way – as well as boost your work performance visit www.preventsweating.com, where the book is also available for purchase.

Technorati Tags: how to stop sweating a lot, man excessive sweating, sweating too much, women excessive sweating

Ingrown toenails are no laughing matter, I suffer from them and though I should not I will do “self-surgery” to remedy them.  If you also suffer from ingrown toenails, you know what I mean and the pain you go through.

Here are some home remedies for treating ingrown toenails.

First off – if your problem with ingrown toenails is chronic, you should see a doctor for it.  There are many medical treatments available to treat this problem.  Once you’ve been treated, your doctor will give you tips on how to care for your toe nails so that you don’t have a re-occurance.

Tip #1

If you’ve already developed ingrown toenails, they can be painful.  Soak your feet in warm water to releive the pressure.  The water will soften your toenail and skin and will provide temporary relief from this painful condition.  I’ve found that adding epsom salts to the water really helps.

Tip #2

Get better shoes.  Frequently people that suffer from ingrown toenails wear shoes that are either too small for their feet or too narrow.  If you need a wide shoe – buy it!  Your feet will be much happier, and so will your toes.  Wearing narrow or small shoes forces your toenail to grow where it can – usually the sides, which leads to ingrown toenails.

Tip #3

When you cut your toenails, cut straight.  Don’t cut the nail too short and don’t cut it a curve.  This is what will also cause your ingrown toenails.

Tip #5

If you’ve already developed an ingrown toenail, you may want to wear open-toed sandals to relieve some of the pressure – atleast until you deal with the problem.

Tip #6

To avoid getting an ingrown toenail, if you’ve done everything right including the right shoes you may want to avoid shoe inserts – you know, the extra padding you can buy to keep your shoes smelling nice or to add the extra “bounce” in your step.  There is nothing wrong with them, but adding a few extra millimeters may press your toe against the top of the shoe causing an ingrown toenail.  I like inserts in my shoes, but found that this was causing problems so I’ve done away with them.

If you have any tips that you can share, please leave us a comment!

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First off – there are no statistics on just how bad body odour is in the workplace.  I don’t keep any stats on it where I work, nor do I think any organization does.  I’m also not aware of any statistics being kept about body odour in the workplace.

As I was researching to prepare this post, I did come across an interesting series of posts from a site called Workplace Law Network – the site was geared towards the UK but presumably the legal and ethical questions this brings up would apply wherever you are.  I’m NOT A LAWYER nor am I an expert in HR so the information provided here is for educational purposes only.  Ideally if you have someone in your workplace with body odour problem you need to speak to your manager or HR department — they may be better equipped to help resolve these issues.

Source: http://www.workplacelaw.net/forums/listComments/thread_id/446

PRACTICAL ADVICE

Excessive body odour is caused by bacteria.

In order to combat this, body hair such as that under armpits should be trimmed. Obviously showering daily is helpful as is using deoderant on freshly washed skin. Using a deoderant with a 24 hr anti-perspirent is essential. In addition b.o may be controlled by applying antiseptic cream such as sudocreme to the affected areas.

The initial question that was raised:

Does anyone have any suggestions of how to approach a fairly new member of staff regarding his body odour problem?

One good response was:

Although this is not a performance or discipline matter, it is a problem that can cause irritation (and therefore poor performance) among other employees.

Before you address this particular problem, you should consider drawing up a plan of the route you a prepared to take in such cases, preferably in consultation with interested parties (health and safety manager, HR, union rep, etc.).

For example, you may wish to start with a private conversation where you inform the employee of the problem, and try, where possible, to address the cause (e.g. medical problems). You can then move to your formal disciplinary route if the employee fails to act.

You should record all conversations and keep a record on file.

It goes without saying that a high level of tact will be required to avoid causing offence and potentially ending up in front of a tribunal. The employee will appreciate the matter being kept private.

Another response:

I have had experience of having to deal with this problem with an employee. I had a private conversation with the him where I raised the issue of his odour. Despite it being quite strong he was unaware of it and was at a loss as to it’s cause, that was the first question he asked me. His odour did improve and both his confidence at the workplace and his relations with other employess benefited.

I agree with Ciaron that you should try and address the cause, and be prepared to do so. These could range from inneffective laundry, through to diet or a more serious medical problem. You should also act promptly, it may harm the employees relationship with other staff if the problem is not dealt with.

You may also be able to get some guidance from EMAS.

As to Simons comments, I can find little but fault! As I said the employee I dealt with was unaware of the problem. A card and a smile probably won’t do much to manage stress, and the cure is probably best left to the employee personally (unless he requests help) or his medical practicioner.

The series of posts is excellent, and well worth the read and it will give you some great information on how to approach someone in the workplace that has body odour issues.

Technorati Tags: statistics workplace body odor, statistics workplace body odour, workplace body odor, workplace body odour

First off these suggestions are NOT limited to adult.  Children (yes, children) should also practice personal hygiene — it’s up to parents to help them and teach them.  I can’t tell you how often I’ve stood in line at a grocery store to see kids covered in dirt or picking their noses or other parts of their body.  PARENTS – WHERE ARE YOU?!?!?!  Show some responsibility and leadership and tell your kids what’s acceptable and not acceptable in public.

OK.  That aside you can teach hygiene to your kids.

Are you guilty of this:

• Kids come from the pool and their clothes are thrown in with all the others?
• They’ve gone out to play, and you decide to keep the clothes for another day.
• Gone shopping and you figure they are clean enough to be kept with all the other clothes.

Bad, bad, bad.  Kids touch everything.  Then they wipe their grimy little hands on their clothes.  I speak from experience as I have a 6-year old boy and while he’s probably a little sick of us encouraging proper hygiene it pays off: he’s hardly ever sick and he’s learned from a young age what is and is not acceptable.

Why is it WRONG to “re-use” kids clothes when they’ve come from the pool.

Answer – have you seen the floors in the pool?  Do you know whether a kid has urinated there or not?  The floors are disgusting and lets face it it’s not easy to change a kid in a pool without them having to touch the ground (or their clothes touching the ground).  Yuuck.  When we come back from swimming, the kids clothes go in the wash AND he gets another bath.

Why is it WRONG to “re-use” kids clothes when they’ve come in from outside.

Answer – it’s dirty outside.  Plain and simple.  Buy extra shorts/shirts.  Once they’re done playing, the clothes should go in the wash - no excuses. 

Why is it WRONG to “re-use” kids clothes when they’ve gone shopping.

Answer – it’s dirty outside.  Plain and simple.  If they sit in the cart – do you know who (or what) was in the cart before them?  The carts generally stay outside.  You can have all types of bugs or even birds on them.  My son is quite tall, so can’t fit into the carts anymore but that doesn’t stop him from touching everything and anything when we go shopping.  His clothes go in the wash regardless.

You may think that we’re a little overboard when it comes to cleanliness – and maybe we are but you know what, my kid rarely gets sick and when he does it’s usually something he’s caught from someone at school.  He’s got it in his head that he doesn’t want to look or smell so even at 6 takes pride in ensuring that his clothes are clean and when he goes out that he looks “smart” and “handsome”.

You don’t have to go to the extremes that perhaps my wife and I have gone to – but if you start teaching your kids at a young age the steps needed to keep a clean body it will become a habit and they will keep it with them forever.

Technorati Tags: personal hygiene for children, steps to a clean body

How to Be Hygienic

from wikiHow – The How to Manual That You Can Edit

While standards of hygiene vary around the world, the purpose is the same: To promote health and prevent the spread of infectious disease. This remains an issue not only in developing countries, but also in industrialized nations.[1] Not only will being hygienic decrease your chances of getting sick (as well as protect the people around you), but it generally makes you feel, look and smell better.

Steps

1. Understand how infectious diseases spread: through certain bacteria and viruses generally referred to as pathogens or germs. They can be found in any bodily discharge, from blood to tears to feces and urine. Some can survive away from a body for extended periods of time and be picked up by another person later on.
2. Wash your hands after using the bathroom every time. According to Dr. Val Curtis at the London School of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, hands are a “superhighway for transmitting germs” that, if washed properly, could result in cutting the number of children who die from diarrheal diseases in half and reduce the number of upper respiratory tract diseases by a third.[2] If this isn’t convenient, then use hand sanitizer.
3. Avoid touching your (or anyone else’s) eyes, nose, mouth, ears, or any orifice unless you’re certain that your hands are clean.
4. Take a shower daily. A quick shower will suffice. Even wiping your body with a soapy, wet rag will achieve the desired effect, which is to remove any dead skin cells and unwanted visitors from the surface of your skin.
5. Cover your nose and mouth when you cough or sneeze.
6. Clean your clothes and surroundings regularly. The idea is to remove any lingering germs from any surface you regularly come in contact both at home and at work or school (e.g. your office phone handset, your desk, your sheets, toilet bowl seat).
7. Exfoliate your face once or twice a day. Bathe after any activity that can make you dirty. Be sure to use moisturizing lotion.

Tips

• Keep your nails clean. If possible, trim them weekly. Brush them daily with soap so that no dirt or residue remains beneath the nail. Don’t bite your nails, either.
• Brush and floss your teeth regularly to keep your mouth and gums from becoming a home for germs. This is especially important if you share food, drinks, and/or kisses with others. It will also help to prevent bad breath.
• If you’re around animals of any kind, don’t touch them before eating. If you do, be sure to wash your hands before eating.
• Don’t lick your fingers (such as when turning pages in a book).
• Menstruating women should take care to change pads or tampons frequently. Some menstrual cups can be sanitized by boiling between periods.
• Uncircumcised men should clean daily under the foreskin with soap and water.
• Wash your hair every second day.
• If going out, brush your teeth/use mouthwash, make sure you are clean and have exfoliated your face, and shave. Wear perfume and deodorant, having brushed your hair too.

Warnings

• Brushing your teeth too much can hurt them.

Related wikiHows

• How to Bathe When Water Is Scarce
• How to Use Hand Sanitizer
• How to Sanitize a Public Toilet
• How to Protect Yourself from Gym Germs
• How to Avoid Food Poisoning
• How to Perform Wudu

Sources and Citations

1. ↑ http://www.unilever.com.au/ourvalues/nutritionhygienepersonalcare/hygieneandpersonalcare/
2. ↑ http://www.unilever.com.au/ourvalues/nutritionhygienepersonalcare/hygieneandpersonalcare/

Article provided by wikiHow, a wiki how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Be Hygienic. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

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A few days ago I posted a brief introduction into the next topic that would be discussed around the theme of Personal Hygiene For Men.  Previously we looked at one of the most important aspects of personal care and hygiene and that is showering (see Personal Hygiene For Men – Showering).  This applies to ALL men regardless of size, but is of particular importance to someone that is large since we tend to sweat a little more than most others.

In this post we are going to look at another area of personal hygiene, and that is personal grooming.  We will cover these topics:

• manicures and pedicures
• proper haircuts
• trimming bears
• dental care (like flossing, and regular brushing)
• body hair and dealing with it (arm pits, back, chest, abs, arms, legs, and the ‘nether’ regions)

Manicures/Pedicures For Men

I can hear the laughing already!  Manicures?  PEDICURES?!  For men!  No way.  Yes way.  Yes there was a time when men never had to think about manicures, pedicures or a good haircut – nobody cared.  But a lot has changed over the years and more men in the business world are opting for perfection (or as close as they can get to it) by taking care of themselves and presenting a positive self image to others.  Like showering daily or more often, manicures and pedicures take care of another part of the body that is more visible.

So first question is just what is a manicure?  Simplest answer – it is a treatment for hand and/or nails. 

Next question is why should men get manicures?  I mentioned one reason above – to present a positive self image to others (the FULL package).  The other reason, and a damn good one is to keep your nails neat, trim and clean. 

In professions where the hands are more lightly used, manicures are great for men and women alike. Especially those people who must use their hands in sales professions, in performing arts, or in business will benefit from have nicely manicured nails. Also, it’s a great way to simply have some pampering on the side, as well as for keeping a clean and trimmed appearance.

Pedicures are meant for the same reasons – while few men will be wearing open dress shoes to the office, the idea behind the pedicure is to take care of your nails and feet for the same reasons – to keep them clean, trimmed and neat.

There are so many benefits men can receive from getting regular pedicures. For instance, helping to stop foot odor by removing dead excess skin from the soles and the prevention of ingrown toenail, calluses and corns (if you are a diabetic proper feed care IS A MUST).

You can go to a day spa (yes, men do go to day spas and spas in general) for a manicure or even visit your nail salons – there are even salons that cater towards men specifically.  Listed below are some resources for manicures and pedicures for men.

Personal grooming is so important to give you that polished look that tells others that you do take care of yourself.

Resources for Manicures and Pedicures For Men

• http://www.professorshouse.com/family/health/manicures-for-men.aspx
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manicure
• http://www.lindarose.com/art-manicure-men.asp
• http://www.expertvillage.com/video/19471_mens-grooming-manicure.htm (video if you want to do it yourself)
• http://vonhof.typepad.com/happy_feet/2005/12/pedicures_for_m.html

Proper Haircuts

Guys – the haircut kit you bought years ago is not going to work anymore — unless you’re bald and would rather do it at home DON’T give yourself (or anyone you know) a haircut at home to save money.  It’s just not worth it should you slip and lose a good section of hair.

If you are someone that hates spending a fortune on a simple haircut – LOOK AROUND!  You can get a good haircut from $12.00 and up.  Over the years, I’ve rarely spent more than $15 or $20 on a haircut and I’ve been happy with my hair.  As I’ve gotten older and my hair has thinned out, I don’t spend as much as I did – but there is nothing like getting a proper haircut since the stylist or barber will ensure that all the trimming is done and is straight.

For men there are few styles to choose from, basically you want something that is neat, clean and easy to care for.  In the buiness world, most men will opt for short hair – I’ve met very few men that keep long hair; remember most guys don’t want to spend hours in front of a mirror making their hair just right.  You want to be able to wash, dry, comb and go.

Do I need to say anything else about getting a haircut?  Hope not.

Get Your Beard Trimmed

There is nothing particularly cool about an unkept beard.  Honestly it looks disgusting.

I found lots and lots of examples of scraggly, unkept beards but hesitate showing them as I don’t want to embaress those individuals – eventhough they are quite anonymous.  But plain and simple, if you wear a beard or goatee – keep it trimmed.  You can buy kits to do it at home, but if you opt to do this ensure it looks good – otherwise pay your barber or stylist $5 or $10 extra and let them do it.  They’ve got better tools that you or I will ever have.

A well kept, and trimmed beard will make you look smarter, and more refined – most people will be able to tell if your beard is done by a professional or by the wearer.

Resources for Beard Trimming

• http://www.mensflair.com/grooming-abcs/beard-trimming.php
• http://menshair.about.com/od/facialhair/ig/Facial-Hair-Styles/ (excellent)

Dental Care

Aaaah dental care.  Where to even start?  Do you like the dentist?  If so, completely ignore brushing, flossing or any care whatsoever.  You’ll be in dentures in no time and won’t have to worry about anything other than tossing them into a cup to have them cleaned.

I work with people all day – in my current job and in previous jobs, including retail.  It’s disgusting when you speak to someone and they smell of garlic or something that they’ve just eaten.  Even worse is if they hygiene is so bad that their BO combined with bad breath makes you feel weak and about to faint.

Guys – carry some gum with you, better yet carry a toothbrush and if need be a small toothpaste – like those travel sizes.

After each and every meal brush your teeth!  You should also be flossing to remove any food stuck between your teeth and to remove bacteria that can grow just below your gum line.  I don’t feel that have to even go into HOW to brush or floss.  If you don’t know by now, you’re hopeless – sorry to say.

Now while is may be funny to talk about dental care - did you know that the bacteria that forms can get into your arteries and cause stroke or heart attack?  This is especially important for diabetics.

Not taking care of your teeth and gums can result in some pretty bad stuff happening in your mouth – for example gingivitis or gum disease, bad breath (halitosis), cavities, plaque build up, periodontal diseases.

Flossing

Flossing removes plaque and bacteria that you cannot reach with your toothbrush. If you don’t floss, you are missing more than one-third of your tooth surface. Plaque is the main cause of gum disease. It is an invisible bacterial film that develops on your teeth every day.

Within 24 to 36 hours, plaque hardens into tartar (also called calculus), which can only be removed by professional cleaning. Floss at least once a day, and plaque never gets the chance to harden into tartar. Getting into the habit of daily flossing is easier when you floss while doing something else like watching TV or listening to music, for example.

Brushing

Regular, thorough brushing is a very important step in preventing tooth decay and gum disease. Brushing removes the bacteria that promote tooth decay and the plaque that can cause gum disease.

Ideally, you should brush after every meal, because the bacterial attack on teeth begins minutes after eating. At the very least, brush once a day and always before you go to bed. Brushing your teeth isn’t complicated, but there is a right and a wrong way.

I think that that’s more than enough when talking about dental care.

Resources for Dental Care

•  For diabetics – http://www.webmd.com/oral-health/guide/dental-health-dental-care-diabetes
• http://dentistry.about.com/od/dentalhealth/a/dental_howtos.htm
• http://www.cda-adc.ca/en/oral_health/cfyt/dental_care/flossing_brushing.asp

The last topic that I really wanted to get into was body hair and dealing with it – but this post is getting pretty long at just over 1300 words and I don’t think you want to sit through more.  I also want to talk about skin care, as it is very important as well but we will leave these topics for another day.

Enjoy!

Mohamed

Technorati Tags: personal grooming, personal grooming for men, personal grooming tips

I also did a quick side trip to talk about how large men should dress – by no means am I an expert, but with the help of my wife and the few places I purchase my clothing I do know what looks good and what does not.

If you’ve missed any in the series, here are the posts so far.� As each new post is made, the part/post number will increment and I’ll continue to add the new items to the list.� I will also be adding a widget to track important posts so that it is easier to find them and read or look for the tag PERSONAL HYGIENE.

Here are the posts so far (as of June 20, 2009):

 

• http://www.lose-weight-feel-great.com/2009/05/26/personal-hygiene-for-men/
• http://www.lose-weight-feel-great.com/2009/05/27/personal-hygiene-for-men-showering/
• http://www.lose-weight-feel-great.com/2009/05/28/how-to-look-sexy-if-you-are-big/
• http://www.lose-weight-feel-great.com/2009/05/26/fat-man-dont-dress-like-this-please/
• http://www.lose-weight-feel-great.com/2009/05/17/overweight-men-dress-for-business-success/
• http://www.lose-weight-feel-great.com/2009/05/28/how-your-undies-track-the-recession/
• http://www.lose-weight-feel-great.com/2009/06/10/7-steps-to-personal-hygiene/
• http://www.lose-weight-feel-great.com/2009/06/08/personal-hygiene-at-work/
• http://www.lose-weight-feel-great.com/2009/06/04/personal-hygiene-for-men-personal-grooming/

Added October 22, 2009:

• http://www.lose-weight-feel-great.com/2009/10/22/workplace-statistics-regarding-body-odour/

It’s about time for the next post in this series, which will be all about personal grooming which goes to things that men don’t spend a lot of time on:

• manicures
• pedicures
• proper haircuts
• trimming bears
• dental care (like flossing, and regular brushing)
• body hair and dealing with it (arm pits, back, chest, abs, arms, legs, and the ‘nether’ regions)

And now something for your reading pleasure, atleast until I complete writing the next post and post it, here is an article from 2004 (yah, ancient history) from MSNBC�- http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4751816�- here is a small (excuse the pun) snippet from the post “The style, Mitchell says, depends on what their wives and girlfriends want. Men go along, she explains, because removing the hair makes the whole package look bigger. She charges $85 and up for the service.” – and I leave the rest to you.

Enjoy!

Mohamed

Technorati Tags: obesity personal hygiene, overweight men, Personal Hygiene, personal hygiene clothes, personal hygiene for men, personal hygiene for overweight men, personal hygiene teeth, personal hygiene workplace, should I shower every day?, showering daily, why shower every day

OK I got quite the chuckle on a story that appeared on Sympatico/MSN Finance section titled “How your undies track the recession” – here are a few excerpts but you should read the full story (by Michael Brush) – link below…

“To help predict a recovery, economists such as Alan Greenspan look to men’s underwear sales. Here’s what those and other unusual economic indicators say about the road ahead.”

…

“If you’re like most men, you’ve got more than a few skivvies in, well, less than perfect condition.

If you’re put off buying replacements — and your significant other hasn’t done it for you — then guess what? The recession probably ain’t over yet.

In fact, right now men’s underwear sales suggest that things have bottomed but not started to recover.”

…

“Greenspan reasons that because hardly anyone actually sees a guy’s undies, they’re the first thing men stop buying when the economy tightens. (He told this to National Public Radio’s Robert Krulwich years ago.)”

…

“Folks such as Greenspan don’t seem to look as closely at women’s lingerie — reasoning, perhaps, that women are more sensitive about wearing worn undergarments.

But Cohen says a pickup in sales of bras, as well as denim and footwear, will indicate the economy is on the mend.”

…

Read the entire article – http://finance.sympatico.msn.ca/investing/michaelbrush/article.aspx?cp-documentid=20040810

Guys this goes to the series of articles I am posting on Personal Hygiene for Men (introductory post) and the first in a series Personal Hygiene for Men – Showering. 

Enjoy!

Mohamed

Technorati Tags: dress for fat guys, fashion tips for fat man, guys fashion how to dress, how should a big guy dress, hygiene for overweight guys, hygiene for overweight men, personal grooming

Welcome to the first in a series of articles on Personal Hygiene for Men (in particular for the bigger guys).  This post will concentrate on showering – yes, the very basics but it’s incredible how many guys DON’T shower regularly.  Trust me, it’s easy to spot AND smell (and no, I don’t go around smelling guys – when you have to work closely with a group of people, it’s easy to tell who showers and who does not…).

Guys – if you’re king sized you MUST shower daily.  There can be no ifs ands or buts.  Bigger guys sweat more because of all that insulation surrounding us – but that’s no reason that you cannot smell nice!

Ideally shower first thing in the morning – so you feel clean and fresh.  You should also be showering before going to bed, to get rid of all the dust and sweat that your body has accumulated througout the course of the day — whether you work in an office, or outdoors you need to take a shower 1-2 times per day.

If you’re fortunate enough to work in an office where there are shower facilities – you may even want to consider taking a shower mid-day.  The area where I work is nice and open, and people go out for walks – even on the warmest of summer days.  But that walk will result in you sweating.  As we have shower facilities, it’s very easy to go in for a quick shower and head back into the office for the remainder of the day.

Of course there are many types of soaps available – scented, and unscented; anti-bacterial and even shower washes for men with conditioners.

Most recently I’ve started using Irish Spring Body Wash for Men – but there are other companies that sell similar products such as Axe, Old Spice and Dial (all body washes for men).  The reason that they have conditioners is because they are meant for head-to-toe use so you can use it in your hair.

I like the Irish Spring Body Wash for Men as it has an long lasting 8 Hour Scent system – which seems to deliver on the promise.

If you prefer to use soap instead, again you can opt for a scented soap (like Irish Spring - the smell is very nice and not ‘sweet’) or look for an anti-bacterial soap.  Now you may be asking “Is Anti-Bacterial Soap Any Better Than Regular Soap?” – honestly, I’m not sure – but HowStuffWorks has a good article on it – I won’t reproduce it here, but you can find it by visiting the site – http://health.howstuffworks.com/question692.htm and reading up for yourself.

Regardless of the type of products you use – the gist of this post is for you to stay CLEAN and to ensure that there are no foul body odors emitting from you.  Remember – as a kingsize guy you probably are already getting stared at so why fit the stereotype?  Do what you can to show a presentable image to everyone – your partner/significant other/spouse will love you even more!  Not only that, people that you work with or have to interact will have a much better impression of you.

TIP: When you are cleaning up - remember to get into every nook and cranny on your body!  That includes in between the toes, and … um, anywhere else “stuff” could hide.  Enough said.  Hopefully you don’t need a lesson in cleaning yourself. LOL!

By ensuring that you are clean from head to toe at the start of the day, not only will you feel refreshed and CLEAN.  Here are a few sayings and quotations about cleanliness:

1. Cleanliness becomes more important when godliness is unlikely. – P.J. O’Rourke
2. Krishna insisted on outer cleanliness and inner cleansing. Clean clothes and clean minds are an ideal combination. – Sri Sathya Sai Baba (Indian spiritual leader)
3. Cleanliness is indeed next to Godliness – Christopher Morley
4. One, who maintains cleanliness keeps away diseases. – Sam Veda

Personal hygiene starts from the very basics – which is keeping clean and you start that by regular daily showers.  Remember personal hygiene extends beyond showers, it includes the total package – from head to toe and inbetween.  Simple stuff like haircuts, keeping your moustache or beard trimmed and even ensuring your nails are cut and clean.

Now you will not beleive this, but as I was writing this post I thought of searching for the topic “Why Shower Every Day” and was amazed to find that some people DON’T shower every day!  I think my wife would faint – or kick me out of the house if I didn’t shower daily.  Don’t give me the “conserve” line – guys should be showering daily – EVERYONE should be showering daily!  There was a time when people did not shower daily – thank gawd we’re past that.

All that bunk about skin flaking, dry hair, blah, blah, blah is just that – BUNK.  Don’t shower YOU WILL STINK and someone WILL tell you you stink.

I’ll be tackling a different topic every few days.  If you like what you see – spread the word.  You can also follow me on Twitter by using the link on the right side of the page.

Mohamed

Technorati Tags: Personal Hygiene, personal hygiene for men, should I shower every day?, showering daily, why shower every day

Being a big guy – big men are often judged on how they are dressed (and if you are in a long line up) how good (or bad) you smell and your general appearance.

Guys – appearance counts to everyone: your family, friends, the public, your employer, your co-workers – no matter what, people judge everyone by the way they look (whether they are the right weight, overweight or underweight).

Hygiene is not just about smell – it’s about personal grooming as well, things like getting regular haircuts, if you wear a beard ensure it’s trimmed nicely, making sure your fingernails are clean and cut (and yes, if so required going for a manicure), using an anti-perspirant (most have deoderants included), wearing colognes (evening) or using aftershave (during the day), taking care of your teeth (regular dental appointments, brushing, flossing). 

It’s also about washing your clothes regularly, changing under clothes often (a couple of times per day if so required) or even changing a shirt twice per day.  It can even include removing excessive hair on your body (under your arms and groin — don’t make faces!  If you’re an excessive sweater, and have seen a doctor they will ALSO give you that advice).

Guys – it’s the COMPLETE package!  This is not only to make you look good regardless of your size, but so that you look attractive to the opposite (or same sex, depending on how you swing), and when you’re at work you’re not looked at as the “big guy” – but as part of the crowd because you do take care of yourself.

You may be thinking that this is “girly” – after all most women can easily spend hours on personal grooming (women reading this – no I’m not stereotyping you, and actually admire women who do take the time to ensure that they look good).

So stick with me over the next few days, and weeks and you’ll be treated with some practical advice on staying fresh, and looking good!

Mohamed

Technorati Tags: obesity personal hygiene, overweight men, Personal Hygiene, personal hygiene clothes, personal hygiene for men, personal hygiene for overweight men, personal hygiene teeth, personal hygiene workplace, Weight Loss, well dressed overweight men