In the summer, it can be quite challenging to stay healthy 24/7. Even though it’s easier to get lots of exercise by going to the pool or hiking with your friends, for some reason, it seems like you’re barely doing it. You’re outside all the time, but it seems like you’re just feeling dehydrated constantly, and eating and drinking way too much anytime you’re invited to a barbecue. Who knew it could be so hard to stay healthy during the summer? Sure, it’s not as bad as being healthy during the holiday, but it’s pretty close.

That’s why we’ve put together this list of tips for staying healthy this summer. By using these strategies, you can work healthy habits into your everyday schedule, which is key to staying healthy not just now but during any time of the year.

1 Hydrate constantly

We’re always telling ourselves to stay hydrated because we know it’s good for us. But how often are you drinking water (and not soda or beer), and is it enough? The fact is that we’re supposed to be drinking two liters of water a day, which is equal to about eight 8-ounce glasses. That’s so much that you can’t just drink water in the morning or when you’re thirsty. You need to make it part of your day.

Set reminders on your phone to drink water, and carry a bottle around with you. If you spend a lot of time at the office, have a large bottle right at your desk, so that you can hydrate anytime. If you don’t like the taste of water, add a couple of slices of lemon or flavored drops–it’s way better for you than other beverages!

2 Drink less alcohol

We’re all for staying hydrated, as you can see from above. But if you’re mostly staying hydrated by partying hard and drinking lots of alcohol this summer, it’s probably smart to cut down. Just because you’ve been invited to summer events such as weddings and birthday parties, that doesn’t mean that you have to drink all the time. Keep track of how much you drink, and if it’s more than the suggested four or fewer drinks a day for men or three or fewer drinks for women, make a point of drinking less. Not only is alcohol toxic to the body, but it’s also unnecessary calories.

If you think you might have a drinking problem, join a group like AA or see a therapist. Sometimes, excessive drinking is caused by depression. If you’re asking yourself, “why do I feel this way?” think about your mental health.

3 Keep track of what you eat

They say that health starts in the kitchen. And this is very true! No matter how many times you go out during the summer, you need to think about what you’re eating. For some people, a low-calorie diet works; for others, a low-carb one. Figure out what’s best for you, and track what you consume using an app like MyFitnessPal, which has a 4.7 out of 5-star rating in the App Store. That way, you’ll feel in control, and won’t drive yourself crazy saying no to everything. These apps make it easier to consume what you want in moderation, so, go ahead, enjoy that slice of apple pie if you’ve been healthy all week!

Additionally, don’t forget the value of cooking at home. Instead of getting takeout when you stay late at the office or buying unhealthy sandwiches for lunch, bring home-cooked food with you. Cook in batches so you don’t have to worry about it every day. If you have a family, educated everyone about the importance of eating well!

4 Schedule exercise into your schedule

In theory, summer’s a great time to exercise. There’s always swimming at the pool as an option, which is not only good for you but also refreshing and fun. But telling yourself that you’re going to go and doing it is a totally different thing. That’s why you need to schedule a time for exercise so that it happens. Go two to three times a week, and if going to the gym isn’t really your thing, do anything else athletic, from runs to yoga. As long as you’re getting your heart rate up, you’re good. Worldwide obesity has nearly tripled since 1975, so if that is something you struggle with, it’s nothing to be ashamed of. But going to the gym can help you get healthier!

These are some of the best ways to stay healthy this summer. What other strategies do you use to stay healthy, whatever the season?

Where do you go when your natural model potential is tarnished by unsightly scars?

Who can you turn to for your magical cure-all, the answer to all the problems and worries holding you back?

With so much at our disposal to reach the pinnacle of physical perfection, it seems a shame to allow events beyond your control to mar your chances or block your route to looking as fantastic as you feel.

There are plenty of at-home remedies you can take to keep you looking young and healthy, but what about rejuvenation on a deeper level?

Sometimes, life deals us a hand we’re simply unable to play without scarring. This is a truth well-known to Doctor Nathan Holt and his specialist team at Cambridge Laser Clinic, who embrace aesthetic procedures as a science and art.

Laser treatment to resurface skin or remove scars is one of the most advanced options available to restore your unblemished shine. A mighty weapon in battles against ageing and a whole host of scar tissues, not to mention a comfortable and convenient process.

Surely if Ponce de León had such a remarkable choice before him, his quest for the fabled Fountain of Youth would have been marked a resounding success.

If you’re ready to discover your miracle and say sayonara to scars from acne or trauma, sun-damaged skin, pigmentation irregularities, mottled and rough skin textures or the fine lines, wrinkles and laxness of ageing, you’re in the right place, and you hardly need to be a conquistador or embark on an epic journey, either.

How laser skin resurfacing removes scars. 

Firstly, there are many different types of lasers for the various categories of scars and work at hand. Depending on the resurfacing you need and the laser clinic you’ve found, experiences can vary.

The lasers practitioners use create beams of thermal energy which are targeted with pinpoint precision to vaporize damaged skin. Adjusting the type of laser used, dermatological experts like Nathan Holt and his team can effectively neutralise even the most obnoxiously defiant scars.

There are two main methods accompanying the array of lasers fit for the task.

Traditional laser skin resurfacing involves exposing the entire surface of the skin to the laser, removing the older layers to free the fresh skin beneath.

Fractional laser resurfacing only exposes part of the skin surface, leaving the uninjured skin surrounding the treatment site which acts as a barrier and promotes rapid recovery. Most skin and laser experts recommend this method.

Because of the way laser scar removal works, your body’s natural healing is stimulated. This provides the best possible outcomes as both old and new damaged cells are replaced with healthy, radiant skin.

What to expect from laser treatment. 

Just as with any bespoke diet or training regimen, the best first step is seeking expert advice.

During your consultation, you’ll get a feel for how many treatments you’ll need based on your goals and lifestyle.

The treatments themselves can be painful, but the local anaesthetic takes care of that to ensure minimal discomfort. For readers considering laser skin resurfacing for larger areas of scarring, it’s worth noting your procedure might need to be performed in a hospital under general anaesthetic instead. Night night.

After the treatment, your skin may feel similar to a minor sunburn. This tenderness can last a few days, and some of you may experience some swelling or flaking. This is all perfectly natural, and you’ll have had every opportunity to discuss this with your dedicated dermatologist beforehand.

Good news for those who hate their jobs, there’s a chance you’ll need some time off work while your skin heals. Again, your doctor will advise you during the consultation of the likelihood as this depends entirely on the scope of your treatment and the lasers used.

While healing, it’s important to accept you might need to modulate your activities. After all, you wouldn’t want to undo any of the miracle effects, would you?

Aftercare is always down to you, so make sure you take care of yourself and try to avoid situations which could put you at risk of infection with you heal, like public swimming or gym time.

But best of all?

The results are not only immediate but they’re progressive, too. This means that, even though your skin feels softer and silky smooth post-procedure, that velvety texture will only improve.

In the months which follow, your skin will appear flushed with new life, looking brighter and boasting more even tones. Can anyone in their right mind decry laser skin resurfacing and scar removal as the key to eternity?

Who should do the procedure? 

Choosing a professional practitioner is a vital first step in your journey to smoother skin with laser resurfacing.

While laser treatments could not be safer under optimal conditions, in the hands of the poorly trained they are equivalent to trusting your dietary plan to Santa.

To avoid causing more harm than good, do your research and be sure to pick a highly trained professional. Experience, training and qualifications are a stamp of excellence, one you should have eyes peeled for if you long for laser resurfacing to help your dream self rise to reality.

A true expert like Doctor Nathan Holt at his laser clinic in Cambridgeshire, UK, knows the points to discuss during the consultation. Dedicated dermatologists will understand the results you’re seeking and instil authentic faith in you that you’re dealing with a trusted specialist.

They will know the best lasers to use, and might even advertise the range at their disposal so you know the ones chosen for you are the right choices, not the only ones.

True laser removal specialists have trained eyes to recognise types and classifications of scars, enabling the optimal choice of therapy.

Did you know there are over eight categories of scarring, or how rare it is for a patient to present only one type?

Experts of the Cambridge skin and laser scene, Doc Holt and his team are among the pinnacle of restorative perfection, and you should settle for no less than the same.

Take advantage of your consultation to grill your prospect on everything which makes your situation unique, and force them to wrap you in the security of their abilities.

This is your body and beauty on the table, here. Treat it like royalty.

If your purported professional seems lacking in skills, equipment, knowledge or ethical standards, think twice.

Don’t sell yourself short on cheap alternatives. Professionalism need not break the bank, and at the Cambridge Laser Clinic, you can take those first steps with absolutely free consultations with no obligations.

Is the treatment suitable for everyone? 

The short answer is, maybe.

While it’s true that those with darker skin tones may experience less than ideal results, or that those prone to dermatological conditions, such as cold sores or blisters, could be unsuitable, this is no one size fits all sweeping statement.

This should be the final convincing you need to seek a consultation with a renown expert. Someone with proven experience you can trust, who can advise and guide you safely through to the other side of the Fountain of Youth.

If you’re ready to take that journey, check out Nathan Holt’s scar removal and laser skin resurfacing.

A lot of people have recently turned to make their own e-liquids because they think it saves money. Even if we were to believe this argument, the risks far outweigh the benefits. Today we’re going to go over these disadvantages and tell you why you should just buy e-liquid instead of making it. 

SAFETY 

Safety is the utmost concern when you’re dealing with chemicals. Regardless of how much practice you’ve had, working with chemicals in an uncontrolled environment can still be a massive risk and one wrong calculation or one clumsy mistake can cost you more than just money and time. If you do not have the right safety equipment then chemical burns and nicotine poisoning is a genuine risk. 

COMPLEXITY 

Making your own e-juice isn’t a simple as mixing a few chemicals together. It takes calculations and thorough thought to produce a high-quality e-liquid. Having the wrong amounts of chemicals in your mixture could affect more than just the taste of the vapor and you could be inhaling the wrong concoction causing all manner of health complications. 

INCONSISTENT RESULTS 

If you’re not working in a controlled environment, you’re going to end up with very inconsistent results. A chemical reaction is not the same as cooking and different light and atmospheric factors can have a massive impact on the overall taste and feel of the e-liquid. There’s a reason why some states have laws to produce these products in controlled environments. Consistent results allow for consumer satisfaction. 

HAZARDOUS WASTE 

Considering you’re working with chemicals, a good amount of thought has to be put into the disposal of any residue or leftovers. The reason there are strict conditions under the law regarding the disposal of chemical waste is the level of risk it poses to the public if proper precautions are not taken. Not only would you be putting yourself at risk, but you could also be endangering innocent bystanders in the process. 

COST 

While many argue that one of the benefits of creating your own e-liquid is to that it saves money, the truth is it really doesn’t. Even if done properly and consistently, it still doesn’t change the fact that you’re spending a decent amount of time perfecting the recipe and then storing it. Buying e-liquid ends up being a lot cheaper when you consider the return on time and opportunity cost. 

LIMITED OPTIONS 

While you could make your own e-liquid, chances are you’ll be stuck making only one flavor of e-liquid at a time. The process is complex enough as it is and making two different liquids at the same time is just foolish especially since the above risks are potentially doubled. To “save money” you’ll have to make a pretty big batch too meaning you’re stuck with the flavor for a while! 

As you can see, the risks far outweigh the benefits. Other than just diluting the experience of vaping, the health hazards of making your own e-liquid should discourage you from even trying this venture. Let the professionals do what they’re good at and the rest of us can just enjoy the experience.