The Tano Lifestyle

                                          (Photo credit: Drugabuse.com) Up until last month, I had never been honest with my doctor about my alcohol use, ever. I would avoid physicals at all costs but eventually would go to get it over with. I would always get asked the question "do you drink?" and I would ALWAYS say "yes, occasionally." Knowing damn well that two bottles of wine 5-6 times a week was not occasionally. My doctor would order labs, give me the sheet to take down there for a blood draw and I would throw it in the trash and never go. I was always too afraid to get the results, it was like I would rather not know.  For a few years, I would notice a dull pain in my upper right abdomen especially after a night of drinking. I chalked it up to inflammation from drinking so hard the night before. I figured it was nothing a ton of water and healthy eating that day couldn't fix. I figured I was right because the pain would go away later that day. This happen

Slow cookers or crockpots are the definition of set it and forget it. They're ideal for those working families or anyone who doesn't feel like cooking. I use my slow cooker not only because it's convenient, but I get to smell the aromas of all the ingredients marrying together. Below are the internet's most popular full-proof slow cooker meals you and your family will love! 1. Slow Cooker Pork Chops                                             (Photo credit: TasteofHome ) I personally can only eat pork chops if they're fork-tender.   I grew up in a household that favored well-done meats. I hated pork chop days as a kid because it was too dry and flavorless for me. I didn't start eating them again until later in my adult life. I make this slow cooker pork chop recipe a few times a month and now look forward to pork chop days. Dredging the chops in the seasonings and flour is the key to retaining the juices.  Ingredients:   1/2 cup all-purpose flour, divided 1/2 ts

                                         (Photo credit: Yogajournal.com) Now that I have been practicing yoga every day and really reaping the benefits of it, I started coming across several types of practices I had never heard of. Currently what is working for me is Hatha yoga and vinyasa. However, I'm open to learning about new types of yoga that can improve my strength and relax my mind. With so many different styles of yoga, it can be overwhelming. With any exercise, you should choose what's right for you and what you enjoy. Below are several types of yoga beyond the mainstream to help you decide if you're in the mood for strength or if you're needing a more restorative type of practice. Yin Yoga Yin yoga has origins in both yoga and martial arts. Its style is slow, with poses held from one minute to five minutes long. The act of holding the poses for long periods of time benefits the mind by staying still.  It's an excellent practice to help increase blood flow

                                  (Photo credit: Times of India) Yoga typically isn't looked at as a form of exercise to lose weight. Yoga is more about de-stressing, encouraging patience, increasing flexibility, meditating, and becoming in-tune with your mind and body. However, that doesn't mean you can't use yoga as a weight-loss tool as well. There are many types of active yoga practices that help burn more calories during and at rest. Active yoga practices implement more difficult poses and movements with an emphasis on cardiovascular fitness and strength.  Those who already practice yoga know that it builds total-body strength. When you build muscle mass, you increase your metabolism. The following yoga practices will elevate your heart rate, increase your strength, and turn up the burn! Vinyasa Vinyasa works the entire body by moving from one pose to the next without resting in between. I personally love vinyasa yoga because no two classes are the same. This particula

                                        (Photo credit: Cosmopolitan)   Every year as we age we lose collagen, hyaluronic acid, and elastin by 1.5%. This results in unsightly wrinkles, loose skin, and fine lines. Most men and women really notice this by the time they reach their mid-40's. Being 41 myself, I can attest to noticing the beginning stage of sagginess in my jowls, cheeks, neck, and eyebrows. When the facial skin loses volume it creates a fatigued appearance. No one likes to hear "you look tired" especially, if you aren't. Instead of going under the knife and having an invasive facelift, a PDO thread lift sounds like an attractive option in more ways than one. If you've already had a facelift, a thread lift could be a great way to maintain your results without undergoing a second surgery.  What Is A PDO Thread Lift? The Kardashians, Jenners, and Bella Hadid are just a handful of celebrities that have had PDO thread lifts. The thread lift procedure involve

                                  (Photo credit: Andrew Frankel ) Lip fillers are one of the most sought-after cosmetic procedures in the U.S. The problem with hyaluronic lip injections is they are temporary lasting only about 4-6 months and around $1,200 each time. You also run the high-risk of the duck lip look. Now, there's a procedure called the lip lift that is becoming a more appropriate procedure aesthetically for many patients that's also permanent.  Why A Lip Lift? A lip lift raises the upper lip so you see more of the pink without injecting any dermal fillers. As we age, our upper lip can become elongated, losing its volume and plumpness. A lip lift will shorten the upper lip area making it appear more curvaceous and volumized. Most people opt for a lip lift to shorten the space between their nose and upper lip for a more aesthetic look. Dermal fillers aren't the best solution when it comes to correcting long philtrum distances. They can only do so much to lift th

The only diet that has ever worked for me is a low-fat diet. Keto diet lovers can feel free to click out of this post. I did keto for a while because it was easy for me to stick to since I love meat and cheese. However, having a physical 8 months after, I found out I was in the worst health I had ever been but that's a whole other post. These desserts are low in calories and fat without compromising flavor and decadence. I eat one off of this list at least 5 times a week and am still building muscle and losing weight.  1. Iced Whole Wheat Sugar Cookies                                            (Photo credit: Jennifer Causey/Cooking Light) Using whole-wheat flour doesn't mean your desserts will come out bland. Whole grain flour intensifies the flavors of vanilla and butter more than all-purpose flour can. These cookies are only 84 calories and 4 grams of fat per serving.  Ingredients (cookies): 2 cups whole-wheat flour 1/2 tsp. salt 10 tbsp. butter 1/4 tsp. baking powder 1/2 cu