| How to Lose Upper Body Fat Posted: 17 Jan 2018 04:00 PM PST Losing fat from the upper half of your body requires a few different approaches. You'll need to do some cardio workouts to burn fat. Exercise your chest and arms and your back to emphasize your muscles and get rid of pesky back fat. And eating a healthy diet can make sure your hard work in the gym doesn't go to waste. EditUsing Cardio to Burn Fat - Go for a run if you can't get to the gym. Running is a great cardio exercise if you don't have access to cycling or rowing machines but still want a good work out. Try running 20 to 30 minutes at a time 3 times a week. It doesn't matter how fast you run, as long as you're moving faster than you can walk.
- Running is a high-impact cardio workout, so if you have problems with your feet or knees, you might want to try something else.
- Try cycling for a lower impact workout. Cycling gives you the same type of workout as running, but with less impact on your legs. You can cycle on a stationary bike machine, or go for a bike ride outside. Cycle 3 times a week for 30 to 45 minutes per ride.
- If you find that the ride seems too easy, increase the resistance on your bike or cycling machine.
- Go for a swim to work out your whole body. Swimming works the muscles throughout your whole body and also burns a lot of fat. You can use the basic freestyle stroke, or you can mix in the other strokes – butterfly, breast, and backstroke – for variety. How much you can swim at a time will depend on your overall health, but start by swimming 20 to 30 minutes 3 days a week.
- Go for a walk for a low impact workout. Walking is a great cardio exercise if you've been injured or don't have the endurance for a longer workout yet. Go for a 20- to 45-minute walk 2 to 3 times per week. You can walk outside, on a treadmill, or on a track in a gym.
- Choose 1 to 2 of your favorite cardio workouts each week. You should do cardio 2 to 3 times a week for 20 to 30 minutes per day. You can do the same cardio each time, or you can switch it up each day.
- For example, if you do cardio on Mondays and Wednesdays, you can go for walks both of those days, or you could go for a walk 1 day and a swim the next.
EditExercising Your Chest and Arms - Perform a dumbbell bench press to exercise your pectoral muscles. Lie on your back on a workout bench or other flat surface. Bring the dumbbells up to your chest, holding them shoulder-width apart with your palms facing each other. Rotate your arms so your palms face out and your forearm and upper-arm create a 90-degree angle. Exhale as you use your chest muscles to push the dumbbells up. Lock your arms at the top of the push and breathe for a second. Lower the weights slowly as you inhale.
- Perform 3 sets of 8 to 10 reps of this exercise.
- To determine how much weight you should use, figure out the heaviest weight you can use for 1 rep. Then figure out about 60 to 70 percent of that weight for your regular set. For example, if the heaviest weight you can use for 1 rep is , then you should use dumbbells for your sets.
- If it begins to feel like there's hardly any resistance with the weight you're using, try the heaviest weight test again and readjust the weights you use.
- Try a one-arm shoulder press to build your triceps. Stand with your legs just less than shoulder-width apart. Hold the dumbbells at your sides. Bring one dumbbell up so it's even with your shoulder and your palm faces out – this is your starting position. Exhale and push the dumbbell up so your arm is fully extended. Pause for a second and then lower the dumbbell back down. Perform 8 to 10 reps and then switch arms. Repeat 3 sets.
- Perform an upright row to sculpt your back. Stand with your legs about shoulder-width apart. Hold a dumbbell in each hand with your palms facing your thighs. Keep your back straight and your arms slightly bent at the elbow. Lift the dumbbells to your shoulders as you exhale, keeping them as close to your sides as possible. Keep your elbows above your forearms as you lift, and bring the dumbbells as close to your chin as possible. Hold the dumbbells for a second, and then inhale as you slowly lower them back down.
- Repeat 3 sets of 10 to 12 reps.
- Do an incline push-up. Stand in front of a bench or elevated platform. Place your hands on the bench or platform, with your hands slightly more than shoulder-width apart. Move your feet back so that your body is straight back and your arms are straight up from the platform. Keep your body straight and slowly lower yourself to the edge of the platform or bench. Then push your body back up until your arms are extended.
- Repeat for 3 sets of 8 to 15 reps.
- Try a tricep extension. Lie on your back on a workout bench or other flat surface. Hold the dumbbells in front of you, with your arms at a 90-degree angle from the bench and your body. Keep your elbows tucked in and your palms facing each other. Inhale, keeping your upper arms stationary, and lower the dumbbells to your ears, bending your arms at the elbows. When your dumbbells reach your ears, use your triceps to raise the dumbbells back up while you exhale.
- Repeat for 3 sets of 6 to 8 reps.
- Choose 2 to 3 of these exercises for your workout. You don't need to do every single one of these exercises. Instead, choose 2 or 3 to do on the days you work out your chest and arms.
EditSculpting Your Back Muscles - Do chin-ups. Grip the chin-up bar with your palms facing out and your arms slightly closer than shoulder-width apart. Your arms should be fully extended above you, and your torso should be as straight as possible. Exhale as you pull your body up until your head is level with the bar. Hold this position with your biceps slightly squeezed, and then exhale as you lower yourself slowly back to your starting position.
- If you don't have the strength to do this on your own, ask a spotter to support you by holding your legs.
- Repeat this for 5 sets of 2 to 3 reps.
- Try a dumbbell row to exercise your back and arms. Rest your right knee on a workout bench and bend at the waist until your upper body is parallel to the floor, then place your right hand on the bench. Use your left hand to pick up a dumbbell from the floor and hold it with your palm facing your torso, your arm extended, and your back straight. Exhale as you slowly lift the dumbbell, bending your arm at the elbow and keeping your upper arm near your torso. Squeeze the back muscles when the dumbbell reaches your chest. Inhale as you lower the dumbbell back to the floor.
- Repeat the move for 3 set of 8 to 10 reps on each side of your body.
- Perform a bent-over rear delt raise. Sit on the edge of a workout bench with your legs together and two dumbbells placed slightly behind your legs. Bend at the waist, keeping your back straight and your palms facing each other, and reach for the dumbbells. Keep your arms bent slightly at the elbows and exhale as you lift the dumbbells out to the side until your arms are parallel to the floor. Hold the dumbbells in position for 1 second and then lower them slowly while inhaling.
- Repeat this for 3 sets of 6 to 8 reps.
- Choose 2 or 3 exercises to add to your workout routine. To really get definition in your back and melt away fat, you'll want to diversify how you work out that area. Incorporating 2 or 3 fo these exercise on back day can help you do that.
EditEating a Healthy Diet - Eat 3 well-balanced meals a day to lose belly fat. Eating 3 well-balanced meals a day can help cut down on your body. Each meal should include a mixture of whole grains, fruits, veggies, and lean protein.
- Stop drinking soda. Even diet soda can increase fat around your belly. Ditch the soda – diet or regular – and instead drink flavored waters. If you miss the fizz of soda, you can try carbonated water.
- You should also cut energy drinks from your diet. They tend to be very high in sugar. You can try sugar-free versions if you like, but check the nutrition facts to make sure there really isn't any sugar in them.
- Eat more fiber to get rid of back fat. Fiber will keep you fuller for longer, which can decrease your cravings for junk food. The empty calories from junk food tend to create fat buildup in your back, so eating more fiber can actually help decrease back fat. Substitute regular bread and pasta for whole wheat versions, and add beans and nuts to your diet.
- For example, you can substitute white pasta for the whole wheat version and still have your favorite pasta dishes.
- Cut sugar from your diet. If you consume too much sugar, your body will produce more insulin and store more fat. Stay away from candy and junk food that has a lot of sugar. Also check the nutrition label on your favorite foods – even low-sugar versions might have more sugar than you think. Stick to between of sugar in each serving of food.
- If you're having a hard time cutting sugar, you can start by replacing high-sugar food with low-sugar alternatives. For example, you can use a natural sugar substitute, like Truvia, in your coffee. You can also snack on sugar-free versions of your favorite candy.
- Control your portion sizes. If you're not paying attention how much you're eating at each meal, if doesn't matter what you're eating. You can decrease the amount you eat by using a smaller plate for meals, pre-proportioning snacks, and using measuring cups to measure your portions.
- If you're using a smaller plate for your meals, try to make sure at least half that plate is taken up by vegetables.
- Use snack-size food storage bags to make your snacks. For example, if you buy a big bag of low-calorie popcorn, divide that large bag into several smaller bags. You're less likely to eat the whole bag that way!
- Use the measuring cups to actually measure out servings. If you make a recipe with a serving size, actually measure it out with a measuring cup. It will help you learn what serving sizes look like.
- Don't eat after dinner. If you eat too close to bedtime, your body won't have the chance to burn enough calories to prevent your body from storing fat. Once you've had dinner, try not to eat for the rest of the night. If you find yourself getting hungry, you can try drinking water or tea.
- If you absolutely have to eat between dinner and bedtime, eat low-calorie foods like vegetables.
- Before you start any serious work out routine, talk to your doctor.
|
| How to Sell a Wedding Ring Posted: 17 Jan 2018 08:00 AM PST There are a lot of reasons you might want to sell a wedding ring. Whatever they are, you want to make sure you get the best price and have a good experience. Prepare your ring for sale by getting an appraisal and having your ring cleaned. You can sell your ring online, but make sure you find a reputable seller. You can also trade in your ring if it's a diamond ring. It's a great way to get a new piece of jewelry. EditPreparing Your Ring for Sale - Get a formal appraisal from a qualified appraiser. Before you sell your wedding ring, you need to know what it's worth, especially if it has diamonds. Take your ring to a qualified appraiser and ask for an appraisal of the ring.[1]
- Look for an appraiser that doesn't sell rings. They're more likely to give you an objective assessment since they're not also trying to make a profit off of you.
- You can find a qualified appraiser using professional appraiser websites like the American Society of Appraisers.
- The price of an appraisal will vary – make sure you ask appraisers their prices before you agree to the appraisal. It can be tempting to go with the lowest cost, but you should also consider any reviews of the appraiser that you can find online.
- Have your ring evaluated by a diamond buyer or pawn broker. If you don't want to pay for a formal appraisal, you can take your ring to a diamond buyer or pawn broker for an estimate. You should visit more than one store for your appraisal. It gives you a range of values and a better idea of what your ring might be worth.[2]
- Have your ring professionally cleaned. A sparkling, shiny ring is more likely to sell than one that's dull. Most jewelry stores will clean rings, even if they weren't bought there, although you might have to pay a small fee. Get your ring cleaned and then store it in a ring box.[3]
- Prepare yourself emotionally to sell your ring. If you've gone through a painful divorce, you might be tempted to sell your ring right away. Give yourself some time to really think about what selling it might mean and whether you might regret it in the future.[4]
- For example, if you have children, you might want to give them your ring one day. If you sell it, you won't be able to do that.
- You might also be selling your ring because although you're happily married, you're in a terrible financial situation. Talk about your decision to sell with your spouse.
- If you're selling a deceased relative's ring, discuss that decision with other family members. For example, if you're selling your mother's ring, discuss that decision with your siblings.
- If you're not sure that you want to sell yet, but you don't want your ring around, ask a trusted friend or family member to hold onto it for you.
EditSelling Your Ring Online - Look for a reputable seller. If you're going to sell your ring online, make sure you do so through a reputable online seller. eBay is a good option, as is the website I Do Now I Don't. Read reviews from sellers who have used the websites you're looking at and make sure the overall experience is a good one.[5]
- Set up an account. For websites like eBay, you'll need an account to sell your jewelry. When you're setting up your account, you'll need to choose a username and how you'll accept payment.
- Set a realistic price. Once you've had your ring evaluated, you'll need to decide how much you want to sell it for. Start with the price point that your appraiser gives you. You can do additional research online to see how much similar rings sold for. You can also check retail stores for the price of new rings similar to your ring. Keep in mind you'll need to discount the price because your ring is used.[6]
- When you're discounting your ring, you'll need to take into account how old it is. Ask your appraiser what a fair discount is based on the age of your ring.
- Describe your ring as specifically as possible. People who use websites like eBay will begin their search with specific phrases. They might be looking for a ring in a specific size, with a specific size stone, or a specific metal. The more detail you can put in your ring description, the better.[7]
- For example, listing your ring as "Women's wedding ring, size 8" won't get you as many hits as "diamond and sapphire wedding ring in white gold, size 8, great condition."
- Post pictures of your ring. People want to see what they're buying before they spend money on it. Set up your ring somewhere with good lighting – the shinier your ring looks, the better. You should also take pictures from a few different angles – the top, the bottom, and the sides. If you only have one picture, some buyers might think you're hiding imperfections.[8]
- Use shipment tracking and insurance when you ship your ring. You can ship your ring from the post office or from specialty shipping stores like Fed Ex. When you take your ring in to ship it, ask for a tracking number and delivery confirmation. You should also ask for insurance coverage - the person helping you will ask how much coverage you'd like. Ask for the amount you sold the ring for.
EditTrading in Your Diamond Wedding Ring - Find a store that accepts trade-ins. Many chain jewelry stores, like Kay Jewelers or Helzberg Diamonds, will allow you to trade in your diamond ring for new jewelry. Check the chain stores in your area, and ask which locations allow trade-ins.[9]
- Take your ring in for evaluation. One of the in-store experts will examine your ring for any damage. They'll also evaluate the quality and size of the diamond or diamonds on your ring. Once they've evaluated it, they'll tell you what the trade-in value is.[10]
- If you've purchased the ring from the same store where you're trading it in, you'll get the full original purchase price of the ring.
- Choose the diamond jewelry you want to trade for. Once you know what your trade-in value is, you can select which piece (or pieces) you'd like to trade your ring for. You might be able to do a straight trade, or you might be able to use the trade-in value as a credit toward a more expensive piece.[11]
- Upgrade to more expensive jewelry. If you're looking to upgrade your ring, rather than just trade it in, you may have to pay some money. How much you have to pay out of pocket will vary depending on the store and their policies.[12]
- For example, at Kay Jewelers, the purchase price of your upgrade has to be at least twice the price of the original purchase price of the ring you're trading in.
EditSelling Your Ring In Person - Have your ring appraised. The best way to avoid being cheated when you sell your ring in person is to know what you have before you sell. Have your ring appraised by a professional appraiser. Keep in mind that you'll get less than the full value of your ring, since whoever you sell to will ask for a commission or look for a profit.[13]
- Look for nearby consignment shops that sell jewelry. A consignment shop will display your ring for sale, but you retain ownership of it until it actually sells. Once it sells, the shop will keep 40 to 60 percent of the sale price as commission, and you get the rest. Check in your area to see if there are consignment shops that sell jewelry.[14]
- As you're researching shops, ask their specific policies. They might give you cash for the sale, or they might only offer store credit. They may also mark down the price of your ring if it doesn't sell in a certain amount of time
- Check reviews for diamond dealers if you're selling a diamond ring. A diamond dealer will sell your rings to the public (rather than to stores like an industry dealer would), which means you might get a higher price. The dealer will take a 25 to 40 percent commission for selling your ring.[15]
- Look up any diamond dealer you're interested in on the Better Business Bureau website. You'll see what sort of rating they get and if they can be trusted. Don't leave your ring with someone you can't trust!
- Take your ring in to a consignment shop or diamond dealer to sell. Once you've gathered information about a consignment shop or diamond dealer, decide where you'd like to sell. Take into account how much you'll get for the ring, the reputation of the seller, and your general gut feeling. Sell where you feel most comfortable!
- If you can, avoid selling your ring at "We Buy Gold" stores. They are far less likely to offer you what the ring is worth.
EditSources and Citations
Cite error: <ref> tags exist, but no <references/> tag was found
|
| How to Wash Toms Shoes Posted: 17 Jan 2018 12:00 AM PST Toms shoes are comfortable and fun to wear, so they're probably going to get dirty from a lot of wear. You can wash them by hand using a simple cleaning solution, or you can pop them in your washing machine. Let them air dry – the dryer can ruin the fabric. If you need to freshen up the leather soles, mix up your own deodorizing powder. EditCleaning Your Toms by Hand - Use a dry soft bristle brush to dust your Toms. It's important to use a soft bristle brush – like a nail brush – on your Toms. Otherwise you might ruin the fabric. Starting at the heel and moving toward the toe, brush all of the dirt and dust you can from the shoe.[1]
- Pour cold water into a bowl. You won't need much water unless you're cleaning multiple pairs of shoes. Start with and add more if you need it.[2]
- Add a a few 2 squirts of mild detergent to the water. You can use a mild laundry detergent or dish soap. Squirt a couple of squirts of detergent into the cold water. It should only be enough to make a few bubbles when the solution is mixed.[3]
- Use the brush to apply the solution to your Toms. Wipe off the brush you used to dust your Toms. Once it's clean, dip it in the cleaning solution. Place your hand in your shoe, holding it from under the fabric. Gently scrub the fabric until it comes clean.[4]
- If you have Toms with sequins, make sure you brush in the same direction the sequins lay. Otherwise you might pull a few off.
- Let your Toms air dry. If you put your Toms in the dryer, the fabric will shrink and they might not fit. Instead, let them air dry. How long they'll take to dry depends on how much scrubbing you had to do. They should be completely dry after a few hours.[5]
- Spot clean stubborn stains. If your Toms dry and they're still stained, you'll need to repeat the cleaning process. Instead of cleaning the whole shoe this time, just spot clean the stubborn areas. If that still doesn't work, you can throw your Toms in the washing machine.
EditCleaning Your Toms in the Washing Machine - Set your washing machine to a gentle cycle with cold water. You should choose the gentlest cycle your washing machine has. It might be marked with a label like "delicates" or "lingerie." Set your washing machine to the coldest water setting it has.[6]
- Use 1/4 of a regular dose mild detergent. Add the soap to the washing machine. Make sure you pour it on the bottom of the machine. This way all of the soap will be covered with water and sud up well. Use about a quarter of the amount of liquid soap you would for a regular load of laundry. The detergent should be mild, without bleach.[7]
- Let the washer fill 3/4 of the way full. Turn the washer on and watch the water level fill up. Once it's about ¾ of the way full, put the shoes in. Then let the washing machine do the rest![8]
- Let your Toms air dry. If you put your Toms in the dryer, the fabric can shrink and rip. Instead, take your shoes out of the washing machine and let them air dry overnight.[9]
- Spot clean stains. If you take your Toms out of the washer and they are still stained, spot clean them. Mix together cold water and 2 squirts of a mild dish soap. Dip a soft-bristle brush into the mixture and scrub the stain. Then put your Toms back in the washing machine.
EditDeodorizing the Leather Soles of Your Toms - Mix your own deodorizing powder. Add of cornstarch, baking soda, and baking powder to a resealable plastic bag. Seal the bag and shake it to mix the 3 powders together well. The combined powder will act as a deodorizer.[10]
- Add essential oils if you want to add fragrance. Lavender and sage oils have antibacterial properties, so they make good additions to deodorizing powder. You can add your favorite essential oil just to scent the deodorizing powder. Add 5 drops to your mixed deodorizing powder, reseal the container, and shake it well to mix.[11]
- Don't dump straight baking soda into your Toms. By itself, it can dry out the leather.
- Sprinkle the powder into your Toms and let sit for 8 hours. Sprinkle just enough in each shoe to cover the sole. Then let the powder sit overnight. If your Toms are really stinky, you can let the powder sit for a full day.[12]
- Remove the powder In the morning. After you've let the powder sit in your shoe, use a soft-bristle brush to gently brush the soles. That should get up anything stuck to the sole. Then dump out the powder.[13]
EditSources and Citations
Cite error: <ref> tags exist, but no <references/> tag was found
|
No comments:
Post a Comment