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For those who have been going on a diet, you all know that the most difficult part to trim down is the belly. We all dream of having a flat belly. But it seems to be the most stubborn part of our body and is usually the last part to lose fat. Aside from avoiding food with high carbs and sugar, exercise is a necessary part of the regimen. However, I find doing numerous crunches and other exercises a big strain.

Yoga and Pilates, on the other hand, has been known to have exercises or poses that help a lot in trimming the abs. Here are some yoga poses that concentrates on strengthening the abs and trimming down excess fat. I will add more in futures posts, including pilates workouts that will give you a flat belly.

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Tonight, one of the most popular seasons of American Idol will show the final performances of Adam Lambert and Kris Allen as they vie for the title. Though a lot more hype has been linked to Adam, Kris undoubtedly has the chance to take the crown because of his appeal and conservative nature. Nevertheless, authentic music experts and enthusiasts agree that Adam is the more talented singer because of his singing versatility. Throw in his eccentricity and you’ve got yourself a star in the makings of Queen, Prince, and Madonna. They say the true makings of a singing legend is that he/she should be able to stand out among the mediocre performers in the industry who come and go.

Even if Adam fails to get majority of the audience votes tonight, he has already made his mark and will continue to make more. I believe the very reason Season 8 has become a milestone for American Idol is because of Adam Lambert. Everyone wants to see that unusual artist who can amaze and shock you with his singing and his personal life. Like any singing legend, you either love him or hate him, nothing in between. And it is this very reason that everybody watches and listens to him — he is unforgettable. Enough Adam pimping. Let’s move on to the performances.

Adam sings first with the personal choice category. I’m uncertain if they were required to sing a song they have already sung, but both chose something we’ve already heard (a bit of a disappointment). Adam sings Mad World and renders it just as haunting as he did before, if not better. The judges find no fault and praise him. Simon did criticize his trench coat. Kris chose his best song (in my opinion), Ain’t No Sunshine, and gets the thumbs up from judges, including Simon. Simon says Kris wins this round.

The next round is Simon Fuller’s choice for each contender. Adam sings A Change is Coming (Patti LaBelle) and performs it beautifully as expected. The judges loved it. Kris performs What’s Goin’ On (Marvin Gaye) for this round. It was not a bad performance but Randy and Simon agreed that it was too laid back for a finale performance. Simon declares Adam the winner for this round, though not miles apart from Kris.

In the final round, both contenders sing No Boundaries which was co-written by Kara Dio Guardi. It was not a really great song, even Simon makes fun of the lyrics after Adam’s performance. However, Adam does a decent rendition, though not perfect. On the other hand, Kris seemed way out of his league with the song, especially with the high notes. Adam gets good critiques from the judges. As for Kris, the judges seemed to be appeasing him for his performance at the same time giving him a polite farewell. While we are on this really bad song, may I extend my commendations to Adam for being so polite and tactful when he was asked by reporters about this hideous song during the post-performance press conference.

Despite the judges opinions, we all know the audience choose the winner based on their personal bias. Considering Kris’ appeal to teens and women, he cannot be discounted yet. American Idol is known for its surprises. I guess it’s pretty obvious I’m rooting for Lambert. It’s surprising though that I don’t like rock and Kris’ style is more my preference. But even if some of Adam’s songs aren’t pleasing to my ears, the way he draws me to watch and listen to him is extraordinary. I am not a rock fan, I am an Adam Lambert fan.

Tomorrow, we will find out how America voted. By the way, there was news that Rod Stewart will be performing tomorrow. I wonder if he will do a duet with any of the contenders. While we wait anxiously for the final show, here are the videos from the finale performances tonight.

Adam Lambert performs brilliantly during the top 3 competition in American Idol Season 8. He leaves Danny Gokey and Kris Allen lagging behind.

Adam sings “One” by U2 which was Simon Cowell’s choice for him. According to Simon, he asked permission from Bono to allow Adam to perform the song tonight. Bono replied that it would be their pleasure to have Adam sing the song.

I have updated the post with performances of Adam and Kris. Let’s skip Danny’s.

It’s the Rat Pack tonight for the Top 5 in American Idol 2009.  Their guest mentor for this round is Jamie Foxx.  Since there was a lot more time to kill now, they show a video of the contenders getting a surprise from Jamie.

The competition starts with Kris Allen singing “The Way You Look Tonight.”  It was an outstanding performance.  Danny Gokey really has to keep up now.  Allison follows with “Someone to Watch Over Me.”  It was another great performance.  But I hope the audience gives her a chance seeing how she keeps getting on the bottom 3 despite good performances.

Matt Giraud is next with “My Funny Valentine.” It was pitchy and I bet this is as far as he goes. Then again, there have been surprises in American Idol in the past years. Danny Gokey sings “Come Rain, Come Shine.” He doesn’t make any big changes to the song, but he definitely showed off his vocal prowess here. And finally, we have Adam Lambert singing “Feeling Good.” He did tell Foxx he was going to rock this one. It another unique performance from Adam and he remains consistent in showing the audience the type of performer he is. Though I am not much of a rock fan, I say he is up there among the best veteran rockers of the century. There is no doubt Lambert will make the finals.

Simon had a separate interview prior to the performances tonight where he predicts the showdown to be between Lambert and Gokey. Yet, he said Kris Allen made a big jump and could be the third. Here is my favorite performance tonight from Kris. I think I will add Adam Lambert’s great performance for his fans out there.

As the outbreak of swine flu claimed more lives in Mexico City, world health officials race to prevent the flu strain from reaching other borders.  The US prepared for the worst as news of contamination have already reached their shores.  The swine flue was reported to have spread already to at least 4 countries, though it unusually did not result in deaths similar to Mexico.

To prevent widespread outbreak, the US is preparing as if it will already become a pandemic.  This will ensure that extreme measures are taken to contain the new flu strain.  Meanwhile, other countries have become strict in allowing visitors in their country by placing those with symptoms in strict quarantine.

In Mexico, there have been 152 deaths reported due to swine flu.  Though the country is considered ground zero of the outbreak, Mexican officials claim the origin of the outbreak is still undetermined.  They even believe it could have come from the US.

The World Health Organization raised the alert level to Phase 4, meaning there is sustained human-to-human transmission of the virus causing outbreaks in at least one country.   It was the first time on Monday that it has ever been raised above Phase 3.  Phase 6 would mean a full-blown pandemic with outbreaks in at least 2 regions of the world.

Strangely, 50 cases were reported in the US but none were fatal.  Worldwide there were 79 confirmed cases, including six in Canada, one in Spain and two in Scotland. Thirteen are suspected in New Zealand, and one is suspected in both France and Israel.

Swine flu symptoms include a fever of more than 100, coughing, joint aches, severe headache and, in some cases, vomiting and diarrhea.  The new flu strain is a combination of pig, bird and human viruses that humans may have no natural immunity to.  Nevertheless, Mexico reported that the number of new cases has declined the past 3 days.  To prevent mass contagion, Mexico canceled school nationwide until May 6 and is currently considering shutdown of public transportation.

Most residents of Mexico City wore blue surgical masks, despite reports that it offers little protection.  Many victims are in their 30s and 40s in Mexico while no deaths outside the country due to the flu were ever reported.

WHO officials claim that it could take 4 to 6 months before the first batch of vaccines are available.

Following the success of Twilight, the movie, fans now eagerly await the second in Stephenie Meyer’s Twilight saga. Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson reprise their roles as Bella Swan and Edward Cullen, the star-crossed lovers in Twilight. For those who are unaware of the Twilight saga, Edward Cullen is a vampire who inadvertently falls in love with a human, Bella Swan. The story revolves around the unusual relationship between these 2 teenagers. Meyer’s novels have become a hit worldwide which consequently did the same thing for the movie, Twilight, shown last year. New Moon is scheduled for release on November 20, 2009.

Probably the most anticipated character in New Moon is Jane, a high-ranking guard in the Volturi clan, the ruling clan in the vampire world. The character will be played by no less than Dakota Fanning. I can’t wait to see how she portrays Jane, the vampire guard who has the power to inflict excruciating pain to anyone without even touching them.

While many anxiously await the official trailer, some fans can’t seem to have the patience and took it upon themselves to make one. Here is one of the better trailers I have seen in the web. This is not an official trailer, but it is just as good.

My eldest son was only 10 when he discovered wall climbing. His body was perfect for it and his coach said he was a natural. He went on to become part of the school’s wall climbing team and even qualified as part of the Philippine team. I didn’t know much about climbing and found it necessary to acquaint myself with the sport.

The first thing I had to do was find him the best climbing accessories to support his training and competition. I surfed the net to learn more about the Climbing Gear he would need. There were several online stores offering various gears and brands that I was unfamiliar with. I was able to get him good climbing shoes and a nice chalk bag. I got stuck on getting him harness and decided to choose Petzl after I received good feedback from his coach.

Wall climbing did help my son a lot in terms of fitness. Though he was a bit lanky for his age, I noticed how much stronger his limbs had become. He could open jars without even flinching and his resistance has absolutely improved. According to his coach, it is a good exercise for those trying to lose weight. Climbing up one wall is equivalent to running the treadmill for 30 minutes. Most of his trainees have lost considerable weight while gaining strength and flexibility. I am actually consider climbing with my son soon.

When he qualified for the national team, my son asked if I could get him a Suunto Vector as his reward. Apparently it’s a great watch used by most climbers. It was a cool watch and I was really proud of his accomplishment. I did give in despite the price. It was definitely worth every cent.

Are your daily moisturizers eating up your budget? Instead of going to your local beauty store, why not look around your kitchen? Remember that most of the ingredients active in branded moisturizers can be found in your kitchen like the almond oil.

A light touch of almond oil on the body does wonders that can match the effects of expensive moisturizers in the market. It is easily absorbed and you don’t feel like jumping on a frying pan or oven.  Almond oil has a substantial amount vitamin E which is considered one of nature’s age-fighting anitoxidant. It also restores skin moisture and does not leave any scent that will mix with your perfumes or colognes.

If you check the ingredients of some lotions and other beauty products, almond oil is among the main ingredients.  Among those in the market are L’Occitane’s Almond Supple Skin Oil ($30 for 3.4 oz.) and Almond Body Butter from The Body Shop ($8 for 1.7 oz.). However, there is nothing like the real thing which will cost you half the price at twice the volume.

Who said beautiful skin had to be expensive?

After another unusual performance this week in American Idol 2009, Megan Joy Corkrey gets the least number of votes and bids the competition goodbye.  It’s really too bad because her voice is one of the more unique among the group and she is absolutely gorgeous.  Unfortunately, her song choices were just as eccentric.  And it seems she will not compromise her taste to get the judges’ nods.

Anyway, my favorite performance of the week is from the sexy Kris Allen.  This time, he shows his versatility by abandoning his guitar and taking on the piano instead.  Tres cool!  Here’s a video of Kris Allen with Ain’t No Sunshine.

Would you believe it possible for a brassiere to prevent breast cancer?  Well, a recently well-marketed brassiere claims that it can prevent the disease most women fear.  It is called Brassage, a bra built with bumps on the side that supposedly massage away toxins from the breast.

According to its maker, Christina Erteszek of Intimate Apparel, traditional bras are hazardous to women’s health as they typically cause toxins to be retained in the breast.  And of course, this revolutionary $59 bra with its massage bumps stimulate lymphatic flow and flush those toxins away.

ABC news investigated the claim and sought the advice of Dr. Susan Love, a breast cancer researcher.  According to Dr. Love, there is no scientific proof that toxins accumulate in the breast on a daily basis.  In other words, it’s all bull.  It is also worth noting that the doctor who invented the bumps in the Brassage as published in their website is not actually a physician, he is actually a chiropractor.

When ABC News’ Juju Chang pointed out Dr. Love’s comments to Erteszek during an interview, Erteszek became upset and stalked out.  She did return eventually after calming down, but her confidence and composure was not the same as it was during the start of the interview.  Following the interview, the manufacture of Brassage has ceased and only a few retailers now carry the product.

There are more products out there that offer unsubstantiated claims. Needless to say, women should not allow other people to exploit our fears.  Let us be more discerning and avoid falling prey to these unscrupulous merchants.

Human vanity encompasses not only the skin and body figure.  A large part of vanity involves a healthy head of hair.  They say that the hair is the body’s crowning glory and enhances beauty.  Thus, hair loss has been considered a major problem for most people, especially men.

Hair loss is common for men due to the natural occurrence of “Male Pattern Baldness.”  In this phenomenon, men gradually lose hair over the front, top, and the crown while those on the sides and lower back of the head are retained.  With this pattern, specialists developed hair transplant which is considered the most successful remedy to balding or thinning hair.

With hair transplant, donor hair will be taken from the sides and lower back of the head and transplanted to the balding areas.  The procedure results in the most natural solution to hair loss.  Transplanted hair is exactly the same shade as the rest, it can be cut and combed as if it had naturally grown there.

Nu/Hart Hair Clinics are considered the experts in hair transplant.  Some of their clients are popular Hollywood stars or international celebrities that bank on their looks for a living.  The procedure is done by a specially trained physician.  They have mastered it so well that it now translates to faster healing, more grafts, and the best results in just 6 months.  Due to their success, they now have 10 offices around the world and have already performed over 30,000 successful hair transplants.

Why use sprays, shampoos, pills, or laser treatment?  Reliability of such remedies are so poor that many realize too late that they have wasted so much money for nothing.  If you are not a candidate for hair transplant, Nu/Hart can offer other solutions that would still achieve better results than other treatments.  If you are still wary about the procedure, you can avail of a free consultation to get expert advice on what would be the best solution that would fit your problem.

Most women obsess about getting wrinkles or looking old. It is no wonder that the cosmetic industry continues to grow at a fast and steady pace. Now, even men have their own skin regimen. It is a fact that no human being wants to grow old. In the ancient times, myths about the Fountain of Youth revolved into so many tales.

While you will hear so many claims from cosmetic manufacturers about the magic they can do for your skin, you may want to stick with the natural and non-branded way of taking care of your face.

1. Use a soap-free cleanser. It is not necessary to purchase expensive facial cleansers for your face. The objective is to rinse off dirt, oil, and other impurities on your face without making it dry. The key is to use a soap-free cleanser that will help retain moisture while cleaning your face. For oily skin, a foaming gel or an alpha hydroxy acid wash works best to degrease your face. Massage your face with cleanser at least 30 seconds to be able to break down make-up and sebum on the surface.
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The bottom 3 this week in American Idol 2009 are Allison Iraheta, Michael Sarver, and Alexis Grace. Based on my personal assessment of their vocal talents, I was pretty sure Michael Sarver would make the exit. Unfortunately, the last one that I thought would be booted out was the one — Alexis Grace. What?!

Alexis is considered one of the better singers among the remaining contestants and it was a bit of shock for me. She didn’t perform Jolene that well the other night, but then again, I couldn’t even understand a word of what Michael was singing. It was totally undeserved. There was no doubt Alexis could redeem her poor performance in the coming weeks. Country music had always been the more difficult genre during the final rounds of the competition. It was too early an exit for such a talented singer.

Since the judges have a one-time option to save anyone from elimination, they did give Alexis a chance to be saved by letting her sing Jolene again. Although her singing was a little more passionate from desperation, it was no better than her previous performance. The judges deemed her undeserving to be saved. I’m pretty sure they are keeping that option for emergency purposes to save either Gokey or Lambert in the event any of the 2 gets a surprise kick.

Anyway, we look forward to next week when the contestants go for Motown music. Michael would have to come up with something spectacular to stay in the competition or pray that someone else messes up big time.

For the past decades, the world continues to be plagued by various incurable and terminal diseases. More and more people die of cancer and new disease crop up which also continue to elude remedies despite furious studies made by experts and scientists.

Many believe that the reason world health deteriorates is because of our bad eating habits. We consume junk and other food that is not beneficial to our body. There are likewise many suggestions and nutritional advice from all sources to keep our body strong and healthy. The newest theory that has emerged is that cooked vegetables and fruits do not provide any nutritional value to our bodies. Tonya Zavasta is the advocate of this new eating practice called the Rawsome Diet. Raw Food Diet, according to Tonya, is the body’s natural source of nutrients as God intended. According to studies, cooking vegetables and fruit deplete them of their essential nutrients that the body needs. It is the same reason that vegetables lose their beautiful color when cooked. Their vibrant hues are signs of the nutrition that the body can benefit from.  It is also considered the best in natural skin care as it maintains your skin’s youth.

Raw vegetables, fruits, and nuts are the secret to a healthy and trim body. For people who want to lose weight and maintain their youthful vigor and looks, try out the Raw Food Diet of Tonya and the feel the difference.

No other industry has developed and expanded like the online retail industry. At the moment, almost anything and everything can be purchased online. Many have considered it a blessing to consumers because of better prices and perks that can be obtained with online purchases.

The pioneer in ecommerce is AllegroMedical.com, one of the largest online retailer of life-enhancing products such as medical equipment, health care supplies, exercise equipment, nutritional supplements, and maternity/baby supplies. Since being the first ecommerce site to offer medical equipment and health care supplies in 1998, it has now expanded into a comprehensive online store that provides more products to improve health and fitness. They also offer the best and most comprehensive collection of patient care products such as overbed tables, heel protectors, cervical traction devices, and many more.

When it comes to your family’s health and well-being, there should be no compromises. Choose only products only from the pioneer and reliable online sites such as AllegroMedical.com.