aadecisivespring2010digital

d

DECISIVE

®

The Best Source for Cultural and Consumer News

Spring 2010

How to:

Women’s Health Issue!

p. 6 Choose a 3D TV

Laila Ali Aims To KO Heart Disease (p. 14)

p. 7

Our Experts Show You How To: > Create Environmental Environments (p.10) > Grow Fresh Herbs (p.11) > Get Fit In Your Living Room (p.18) > Plan An Alaskan Vacation (p.20)

Shop an iPad

p. 12 Bring Color To Spring

Subscribe to Decisive Digital And Win A Trip For Two To Antigua!!! (p. 24)

The Fast and the Fierce

Options shown

It’s girl’s night out and you’re looking good. All eyes are on you, your crew and your Camry. Yes Camry. The Toyota Camry comes with an available 268 horsepower V6 engine and a dynamically tuned suspension for a little pep in your step.

And with available Streaming Bluetooth®* and an 8-speaker JBL Sound system, the party never stops. *Performance of Bluetooth® compatible phones will vary based on phone software version, coverage, and your wireless carrier. See Toyota.com for more details.

© 2009 Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.

toyota.com

d

DECISIVE

®

The Best Source for Cultural and Consumer News Volume 2 | Issue 2 | spring 2010

Publisher: Randi Payton Editor-in-Chief: Lyndon Conrad Bell.

Editorial Director: Joyce Gates Art Director: Fran Sherman

Womens’ Health Features

Editors-at-Large: Mary M. Chapman, Christopher Jackson, Valerie Menard Senior Editors: Warren Brown, Brian Armstead

14

On The Cover: Laila Ali Aims to KO Heart Disease

16 19

Weight Loss Dangers

contributing writers: Tasha Reiko Brown, Lisa Lenoir, Chris Mendoza, Erin Shakoor Website Content Manager: Monda R. Webb Multimedia Manager: Thuan Ngo On Wheels Media, Inc. Headquarters: 8201 Corporate Drive ,Suite 500 Landover, MD 20785 T. 301,850.2858 • F. 301.390.9144 President & CEO: Randi Payton Vice President: Karen Payton Production/Distribution: Joyce Gates

Former women’s boxing champion teams with American Heart Association to raise awareness of No. 1 killer of Black women.

Trying to drop too much weight too quickly can do more harm than good. Here’s how to avoid the pitfalls of rapid weight loss

BlackDoctor.org A veritable encyclopedia of African- American health and fitness information, BlackDoctor.org is a must visit.

Business Manager: Damon Redmond

departments:

Sales Director: Karen Payton National Account Manager: Leonard Corbin Event Director: Rosiland Triché Content Specialist: David Payton DECISIVE magazine © 2010 is published four times annually as a newspaper-delivered publication and digital e-magazine by Decisive Multi-Media, Inc.

10

20

06 Personal Technology 08 Entertainment 09 Business 10 Green 11 Home 20 Travel

Your complete resource for research and opinion on consumer products and services.

Visit us at www.DecisiveMag.com, email us at: Comments@DecisiveMag.com.

Membership applied for October 2009

Index to Advertisers Cover II - Toyota www.Toyota.com Pages 2 & 3 Ford - www.Ford.com Page 5 Bridgestone - www.Bridgestone.com

Subscribe to Decisive Digital and win a trip to Antigua www.DecisiveMagazine. com/sweeptakes

2`WdS ]\S

| HOW DO YOU TELL THEM YOU’RE BACK? |

| COME WITH IT. |

THE ALL-NEW 2010 FORD TAURUS Empower the driver with technology. Be flawless in every detail. From SYNC,Ž* the hands-free, voice-activated communications system, to Multi-Contour front seats with Active Motion™* to the eight other class-exclusive technologies, it all adds up to the most innovative full-size car in America.** Smarter, leaner, sexier than ever before. *Available features. Driving while distracted can result in loss of vehicle control. Only use mobile phones and other devices, even with voice commands, when it is safe to do so. **Class is full-size, non-luxury cars.

Š2010 Ford Motor Company

Ahea d Beyo of the gam nd e Down the stere . otype right . bad.

ny

pa

or

ot

rd

0

1 20

om

C

M

Fo

Š

A big powe ger, more rful e ngine .

6-spe A respon si ed Se lectS ve h ift trans missi ™ o n.

The o nly ve hicle class with o in its ptio All -W heel D nal rive.* *M idsize class

per R . L. P olk & Co.

THE 2010 FOR FUSION SPOR D T. 2`WdS ]\S

spring 2010 | www.DecisiveMagazine.com

3

publisher’s page

decisions!

decisions!

Thinking to spend your hard-earned money on a new TV? Wondering if now is the right time to take the plunge and try 3D? And what’s all the fuss about the iPad? Wondering if it will do all the things you need it to do, or should you just stay with your trusty laptop?

Helping you make those decisions is the idea behind the name of this magazine––DECISIVE! We’ve spent the last 15 years arming you with the details to help you decide what car or truck to buy. Now we’re doing the same on other consumer products and services too.

Is that new Tyler Perry movie worth going to see?

Wondering where to go for an offbeat vacation––one with a sense of adventure? How about Alaska? You’ll need to rent a car. So what’s the best way to rent a nice ride and save some cash? And when it comes to health care, Black people have issues that don’t affect the rest of the population as significantly. What specifically do you need to know?

4

decisive magazine | www.DecisiveMagazine.com

Here, you’ll find expert opinions and good sound advice. You’ll want to check out the DECISIVE! Web site too. DecisiveMagazine.com launched in March with the generous support of Ford Motor Company.

There, you’ll find more in-depth information plus videos and blogs on each of these topics.

Oh, by the way, that partnership with Ford celebrates a new launch for them as well. The new sedan on the market right now is the all-new Ford Taurus, designed by Earl Lucas. You’ll learn all about it at DecisiveMagazine.com. If you subscribe to the digital edition of this magazine while you’re there, you’ll automatically be entered to win a fabulous Caribbean vacation for two on Antigua.

While you’re looking around the Web site, please take note of what you like and think about what you’d like to see more of. Then, please provide your feedback and suggestions to me on the new site, this magazine and the digital version of it as well. Communication goes both ways. Your thoughts are most certainly welcome. After all, we’re doing all of this with you in mind. Reach me at publisher@decisivemag.com.

For now though, please, read on––hey, those iPads and 3DTVs are going fast!

Randi Payton

the day unfolds like a challenging road that raises the essential question: is high performance in your blood or is it really in your tires?

bridgestonetire.com

tiresafety.com

1.800.807.9555

technology

personal

technology

3DTV: Buy Now?

The latest development in home entertainment is three dimensional television, or 3DTV. Building upon the foundation established by High Definition television

(HD), 3DTV takes the incredibly sharp and detailed images rendered by HD sets and adds an absolutely mesmerizing degree of depth to the image.

Watching 3D programming gives one the impression of actually looking into the screen rather than merely at the screen. The foreground, mid-ground and background are clearly defined from one another and spatial relationships are readily evident. In simple terms, it’s similar to looking at a children’s pop-up book, except the images have shape, definition and of course, motion as well. Also, after viewing for a while, the frame of the set drops away and the image appears to be floating in space.

As of this writing (April 2010), the primary 3D contenders are the Panasonic VT-20 series (50-inch) and the Samsung 7000 series (55inch) sets. The Panasonic uses plasma technology and the Samsung uses LCD. The sticking point for most people is that viewing 3D content requires specific glasses to see the effect. Panasonic includes one pair of glasses with its set, Samsung requires you to purchase the glasses separately. The glasses retail for $150 a pair and employ electronic shutters that feed each eye separately, tricking the brain into seeing 3D. Stealing a pair of 3D glasses from a movie theater and bringing them home won’t do you any good; they don’t work with 3DTV. The good news is with “regular” HD programming, both sets deliver

6

decisive magazine | www.DecisiveMagazine.com

some of the best HD images we’ve seen. In other words, just because the sets are 3D doesn’t mean everything you watch has to be 3D. They display High Definition 2D video as well. Both companies also offer 3D Blu-ray players. These are essential for viewing pre-recorded content, as the current generation of Blu-ray players don’t do 3D. The players also work with regular DVDs and 2D Blu-ray discs. The Samsung player will feed the Panasonic monitor and vice versa. However, Panasonic offers their player bundled with the TV and a pair of the glasses. Samsung currently requires you to purchase everything separately.

Then there’s the question of programming. Currently there’s only one full-length title available in 3D, the animated feature Monsters Vs Aliens. Panasonic offers a copy of it as part of a bundle that includes the TV, a pair of the glasses and the 3D Blu-ray player.

ESPN has announced it will start a 3D network in June, and the Masters golf tournament (featuring Tiger Woods y’all) will be broadcast in 3D this year.

Yeah, there ain’t a whole lot out there––yet.

Bottom line, if you’re just about to take the plunge and get HDTV for the first time, or are about to purchase your second HDTV, then yeah, give the 3D models a look. Pricing for the 3D sets currently run about $300 or so more than the HD model of a similar size. However, if you just got your first HD set for Christmas and are now covetously eyeing 3D, our advice is to wait a year or two. The prices are bound to come down, the technology is bound to improve and For more on programming choices will expand. If you just got HD, 3DTV, visit there’s more than enough DecisiveMagazine.com. there to keep you going wow for another year or two.d



D

iPad: Buy Now?

Experts Agree, It’s A Game Changer The iPad is here, the first reviews are in, and the experts have had their say.

The overall consensus is iPad opens up a new paradigm in personal computing. However, perhaps not in the way many people expect. If you’re looking to replace the workhorse laptop you drag around, iPad currently offers only word processing, spreadsheet and presentation apps; along with a docking keyboard.

The New York Times’ David Pogue writes: “The iPad is not a laptop.

It’s not nearly as good for creating stuff. On the other hand, it’s infinitely more convenient for consuming it - books, music, video, photos, Web, e-mail and so on.”

The Houston Chronicle’s Bob LeVitus agrees: “It turns out the iPad isn’t as much a laptop replacement. Instead, it’s an entirely new category of mobile device. For example, now when I want to surf the Web from the couch or back deck, the iPad is the device I choose. Starbucks?

Same thing.”

And while there seems to be a disconnect in terms of iPad’s usefulness as a productivity tool, everyone agrees the device is user-friendly.

Says The Root’s Omar Wasow, “When my family outfitted my 90-year-old grandfather with a new computer a few years ago, he was constantly thrown for a loop by small frustrations like one window being hidden behind another. Had an iPad been available then, it would have been a perfect way to connect him to email, the Web and the drawing software he grew to love.”

The iPad’s real strength lies in what the future holds for it. After all, when iPhone was introduced, we knew it was something special, but we never imagined all of the things it turned out to be useful for––once app developers got their hands on it. If past is prologue, iPad holds some huge surprises in store.

BoingBoing’s Xeni Jardin said it best; “Maybe the most exciting thing about iPad is the apps that aren’t here yet. The book-film-game hybrid someone will bust out in a year, redefining the experience of each, and suggesting some new nouns and verbs in the process. I like it (iPad) a lot. But it’s the things I never knew it made possible - to be revealed or not in the coming months - that will determine whether I love it.”

So, where do we come down on whether or not to buy it now?

Well, as with all things tech, as time goes on, the price will go down.

And, in time, the device is bound to become even more useful. Decisive’s For more going to wait about eight months and see what kind of deals Apple on the offers for Christmas. iPad, visit We advise you to do the same.d



D

DecisiveMagazine. com.

entertainment

Decisive’s

moviepick

Tyler Perry’s Why Did I Get Married Too? For all of those critics who continually question why there are no realistic roles for African-Americans in the cinema, Tyler

Perry’s latest outing is as real as it gets.

Granted, Perry sometimes has a tendency to keep it a bit too real (yes, Madea, and Leroy Brown, we’re talking about you), but with the Why Did I Get Married? franchise, all of the notes are spot on. baReuniting the charismatic cast and characters from Why Did I Get Married?, Tyler Perry brings us the next chapter in the lives of the eight college friends struggling with the challenges of marital life in Why Did I Get Married Too? Gathered together in the Bahamas for their annual oneweek reunion, four close couples eagerly reconnect, sharing news about their lives and relationships. But their intimate week in paradise is disrupted by the unexpected arrival of Sheila’s ex-husband, Mike, who hopes to break up her new marriage with Troy and win her back. The others soon realize they too are not immune to the challenges of commitment and fidelity.

Written and directed by Tyler Perry and produced by Perry and Reuben Cannon, Tyler Perry’s Why Did I Get Married Too? stars Janet Jackson, Jill Scott, Sharon Leal, Malik Yorba, Richard T. Jones, Tasha Smith, Lamman Rucker, Michael Jai White, Louis Gossett, Jr., Cicely Tyson and Perry.

Here at Decisive, we’re fans of Why Did I Get Married?, so we’re happy to see the cast reunited. The presence of the Grand Dame of African-American cinema, Ms. Cicely Tyson, adds an additional dignity to the piece.

Bottom line, Decisive is proud to rate Why Did I Get Married Too? a go see.d D

8

decisive magazine | www.DecisiveMagazine.com

business

how to

promoteyourbook There’s More To Authoring Than Writing…

Written by Pam Perry

Many of us have toyed with the idea of becoming an author, but there’s more to being an author than just writing a book. Decisive’s PR expert, Pam Perry offers these insights: I’ve been getting the same question from a lot of different people lately, so I thought I’d answer all of those questions with this article. The basic gist of what people are asking is this: “Why aren’t my books selling, and how can I get out there so I can speak and sell my books?” happens when they publish the book and announce it to the world, the same Here are the top three methods for selling your book: result is the same—they sell about 200 copies to their friends and family.

1) Establishing yourself as an author.

The promotion of the book starts before the book is out!

I say that all the time. But, the overwhelming majority of people who publish never really take the time to build a platform. You need to build up an audience of people who would want to buy the For book. Having 1,000+ more of “friends” on Facebook Pam’s advice, is not a readership.

Most people create a visit her blog at book and think evDecisiveMagazine. eryone would want to com. For more buy it and have them information come speak about it about how to once it rolls off the presses. And what shortcut your



2) Market your book.

You’ve just finished your first book and published it. Whew! Now it’s time to sit back, relax and watch the sales roll in. Right? Wrong! Nothing could be further from the truth. Getting your book published is about 10% of the work. The 90% of the work revolves around getting the word out and generating sales. This is where most people typically fail. They see they still have some more work to do, and quit. It just seems way too hard.

3) Invest in marketing support or get a coach.

Those who succeed are those who are prepared. And preparation involves getting information and talking with the right people. Without advice or guidance, you’re dooming yourself to learning by trial-and-error. That can be both costly and time consuming. Don’t make that mistake. Here’s the bottom line. To become a successful author set a goal for yourself, get some information from a professional and stick with it. d D

way to success as an author, visit PamPerryPR.com. spring 2010 | www.DecisiveMagazine.com

9

green

the

environmental environment Five Green Tips for Stylish Home Decorating

You don’t have to sacrifice great style to get a great, green look in your home. You can use these five simple design tips from the HGTV Green Home in Port St. Lucie, Fla. to make your living environment more energy-efficient and environmentally friendly. HGTV Green Home designer Linda Woodrum’s ideas can also help make your green home more visually appealing.

1. Welcome Home.

Create a welcoming entrance to your home by setting your foyer apart from the rest of the house with a shot of color. Use a fabric, tile, texture or decorative motif as inspiration, and use low-VOC paints and painter’s tape to recreate the design on the wall. You’ll get a lot of pow for very little money.

2. Reduce, reuse, recycle.

Unique pieces make a room richer and a lot more interesting. Decorating green is about using antiques, repurposed items and salvage materials. Take a look at the 2009 HGTV Green Home for inspiration on how to use everyday items in unexpected and amazing ways.

3. Create a mood in your master bedroom.

Capture all that’s good about a place or

location through your choice of color and décor, but keep it clean and natural with organic and recycled materials. The recycled glass tile in the HGTV Green Home master bedroom and the wall color in the bedroom evoke a retro-South Florida look, yet have a natural, clean feeling worthy of the finest spa.

4. Saturate with color.

Using one color throughout a room creates a calm, cozy retreat. The HGTV Green Home sitting room carpet and walls are all the same inviting color. It’s easy to recreate this look with low-VOC paint and environmentally friendly carpet -- a perfect example of how green living also means big style.



decisive magazine | www.DecisiveMagazine.com

environmen-

tally conscious

5. Use durable materials in high traffic design tips, visit Chris Mendoza is assistant vice president of areas.

DecisiveMagazine.

Multicultural Your front and back entrances are subjected to a lot ofMarket Development for Masscom . FInsurance or more on Mutual Financial Group, U.S. Group, wear. Using beautiful ceramic tile in both locations is a in Springfield, Mass., where he is responsible the HGTV Green great way to set them apart from the living areas, yet tile is for building relationships and G processes that environmentally friendly and easy to maintain. !d Home iveaway, will enable agencies to effectively market to visit www.hgtv. multicultural consumers.

D

com.

10

For more

home

how to grow

freshherbs year round

Spring is here and the with it comes planting season, however no matter what the season, you can spice up your cooking with fresh herbs from your very own garden. Container gardening is easy, whether you’re a novice gardener or a seasoned pro, and it’s a fun way to add flavor to your dishes.

Here are five easy steps to growing fresh, healthy herbs:

Seeds generally germinate within a week, and many outdoor plants will rebound quickly by simply removing two-thirds of their top growth.

1. Select the right container.

The type and size of your container are important. The container options are endless, so feel free to be creative. Depending on how many plants you want to grow, it will need to be large enough so that root growth is not restricted. Just remember that adequate drainage is your key to success.

3. Choose a good growing medium.

Whether you choose to use a commercially prepared artificial mix or a potting soil mixture, it’s important that the content is nutrient-rich. Growing plants require nutrients to reach their peak, and the correct balance may not be found in your local soil.

2. Start with seeds or existing plants.

There are a few options to get your container garden started, and it’s simpler than you may think to get your plants growing. You can either plant from seed or cut a portion of your outdoor plants.

5. Feed and water regularly to keep plants healthy and happy.

Container plants can often run out of food quickly since their roots can’t expand to find nutrients. At planting time, mix controlled-release fertilizer granules into the soil mixture, or apply a diluted liquid fertilizer with every other watering. But remember that nutrient needs vary with plants, so check each herb’s requirement. And don’t forget about water; if the soil feels dry, it’s time to water.d



4. Give it adequate sunlight.

Your container garden needs at least five hours of direct sunlight. If window lighting is not an option, fluorescent lighting can also work well.

For more information, visit Decisivemagazine.com or nutrientsforlife.org.

D

spring 2010 | www.DecisiveMagazine.com

11

beauty

spring

beautybrights

the

Pretty Colors Are On More Than Just Flowers This Spring Written by Tasha Reiko Brown

Spring has sprung! Flowers are in bloom, the sun is out and the weather is getting warm. Time to put away the coats and bring on the dresses. In addition to your wardrobe, also in need of a warm weather update is your makeup wardrobe.

Decisive’s beauty expert, Tasha Reiko Brown, offers these tips for the sunny season.

12

decisive magazine | www.DecisiveMagazine.com

As winter lifts and the days get brighter, so should your makeup palette. Taking a cue from the recent awards season’s red carpet and fashion week trends. The verdict for spring is go bold!

Choose a bold lip or a bright eye color. Think shimmer, sheer textures and fun!

The key to successfully incorporating a brighter palette for spring is complimenting your skin tone. The darker your skin tone, the brighter the colors you will be able to pull off. Darker complexions can wear bright colors with ease without going overboard. Jewel tones are hot, and for the

adventurous, try neons. Keep the textures sheer and there’s not a color in or under the rainbow that you can’t wear. Light to mid skin tones should try deep pastels to get their pop of color. Keep in mind to only choose one feature to highlight though, choose either bold lips or a bright eye, but never both.

For lips, put away the red and pick up pink and berry shades.

Do away with the matte textures and use satin or sheer lipsticks.

Glosses are always my number one pick for spring. The shine makes lips look fresh and you can always find one with a lot of pigment to rival lipstick. For a subtle

look, choose a bright stain. It lasts for hours and is a great pick for the beach.

The current trend for eyes is to make them pop. You can choose either a bright shadow or an adventurous liner. My favorites for spring are bright cream shadows.

Try a royal purple for darker skin tones and a bright lavender, (I recommend Dior Spring 2010) for mid skin tones. Mascara is a must for all seasons. Keep it front and center for your spring beauty looks. If you’re vacation- or

beach-bound, go waterproof.

Blush, if any, should be kept soft and pretty. Too many colors all over the place and your makeup will resemble a melted bag of Skittles––never a good look ladies.

The point is to highlight and bring attention to the features you love.

To go all the way, brighten your nail color. Big runway trends in the tents this year featured soft pastel nails. My top pick is a steely blue or soft lavender. Your attention to detail will get noticed and will subtly brighten up a solid color outfit.

Tasha’s Top Spring Color Picks For All Skin Tones: Lips: Pink Poodle by MAC Eyeliner: Prunella by MAC Blush: Laguna by CARGO Eyeshadow: Jolie Poupee by NARS Polish: Huckle Buckle by Essie d D



Tasha Reiko Brown does hair and makeup for some of the brightest Hollywood. for more of her tips and advice, see her blog at Decisivemagazine.com, or visit her website; tashareikobrown.com. stars in

spring 2010 | www.DecisiveMagazine.com

13

aila Ali:

women’s health

Fighting to KO Heart Disease Women’s Boxing Champ Takes on Number One Killer

W Written by Wendy Ida

While most women think the leading cause of death in women is breast cancer, the truth is heart disease is number one in the United States. It’s bigger and by far nastier than most women are aware. In fact, more women die of heart disease than all types of cancer combined––in spite of the fact that heart disease is one of the most preventable maladies.

Each year, the figures show that death rates due to heart disease in women are growing.

Why? The reason is simple. More than ever before, women are leading incredibly unhealthy lifestyles. The American Heart Association is working to turn this around with the help of Laila Ali, former women’s boxing champion and daughter of boxing legend Muhammad Ali. Says Ms. Ali; “I participate in programs that encourage people to live healthier lives because it’s the right thing to do. Programs like Start! are needed because our country is facing so many health problems like heart disease. I feel celebrities should use their visibility to promote programs that are created to help make our world a better place.”

Ms. Ali says one of the easiest ways to combat heart disease is simply to

walk. “People just need to be active regularly.

Whether you walk, swim, or play sports, the main thing is to just get up and get moving.”

The American Heart Association’s Start Walking Now Web site (startwalkingnow.org) offers a wealth of prevention information, as well as an organized program to raise money and awareness of this growing concern. Heart disease is this country’s number one killer. But by exercising for as little as 30 minutes each day you can reduce your risk. That’s what the Start! Movement is all about: Walk more.

Eat better. Live a longer, healthier life.

If you have a family history of heart disease it is urgent you do something about it now so you don’t follow in the same footsteps. Don’t be fooled into thinking it can’t happen to youd

Decisive Fitness Expert Wendy Ida offers the following tips for a healthy heart: 1. Get off the couch and away from the TV, exercise or participate in an activity that will challenge your heart for at least 30 minutes daily. That means make sure during your activity you are pushing your limits. You should barely be able to talk if you’re on a treadmill.

2. Seek out more nutritious meals, swap out old eating habits for the new. Never eat the skin on poultry or fatty meats.

Limit your salt, trade in saturated fats for olive oil, and eat an apple instead of nachos.

3. Give up smoking; it dramatically increases your risk of heart disease.

4. Reduce alcohol consumption and add years to your life, need I say more?

5. Check with your doctor. By all means know your stats or where you stand on the medical charts.

Get your annual physicals and demand a written report to further understand your body. I always recommend to my clients that everyone not only have a medical doctor (the band-aid approach to health) but, a holistic doctor too (they use the proactive approach to helping your body heal itself).

Ida says, “You have the power, you can take control, but you have to want it!”

D

spring 2010 | www.DecisiveMagazine.com

15

women’s health

the

fivedangers

M

of rapid weight loss

Written by Wendy Ida

Most people who need to lose a little bit of weight would like to lose it quickly. There are some dangers associated with fast weight loss that bear consideration and should be avoided. Here are five of those dangers and why you should avoid losing weight quickly.

1. Fast weight loss often results in a rebound of weight gain. This is because we are not teaching ourselves healthy eating habits whenever we lose weight quickly, and we are perhaps putting ourselves on a regime that is unsustainable.

2. Fast weight loss taxes parts of the body, such as the hair, skin and many of the internal organs. This could lead to further difficulties after the weight-loss has subsided.

3. Loose skin is another danger of fast weight loss. If you are losing a lot of weight, rapidly, your skin may not be able to keep up with the weight-loss. This is often one of the biggest cosmetic issues with individuals who lose weight, and in many cases it is avoidable.

4. Fast weight loss takes more than fat. On the contrary, you are losing precious muscle and other bodily fluids and you do not want to lose muscle. It gobbles up the fat and keeps you going, among other things. TV shows like “The Biggest Loser” give many viewers a false sense of reality.



For more fitness ad-

vice from

Wendy,

see her blog at

Decisivemagazine. com.

16

decisive magazine | www.DecisiveMagazine.com

Losing more than two pounds a week is generally not recommended and can be hazardous to your health unless you are under the direct guidance of a doctor. Although it does take a bit more patience, you can avoid the dangers of fast weight loss by eating a healthy diet that maintains a calorie deficit and getting a reasonable amount of exercise. Although it may not be as exciting as losing weight quickly, it’s healthier and has the added advantage of sustainability.d D

A

top

5 skin care tips

A

Written by Scott-Vincent Borba

As we head into the sun this spring, it’s important to remember to protect our skin from sun damage.

Here are Decisive’s Beauty expert Scott-Vincent Borba’s top five tips for protecting against and caring for sun damaged skin.

Apply Sun block: 1. Since we’re on the run all the time, use a physical block like TD and Zink. They work immediately with contact to the skin so you don’t have to wait before you head to the car or to the beach (e.g. any BORBA SPF product).

2. Look for a tri-spectrum product (like the Advanced Aging SPF 45 and Hand Cream SPF 25) that incorporates the full spectrum (UVA, UVB and UVC) for carbon protection from the ozone and environmental factors to help fight against burning rays all in one step. Be certain to use a product that has matting ingredients to keep skin looking healthy but not greasy (e.g. BORBA Clarifying cotton).

Treating Sunburn: 3. Chill your aloe vera, or anti-inflammatory moisturizer or cream in the refrigerator for an hour before you apply it to your skin. The sheer coolness will help against the sensation of burning and will help to calm redness and work to help repair skin (chill any BORBA SPF for further sun protection post sun exposure).

4. Keep skin hydrated. A mobile atomizer is a welcome skin quencher (e.g. BORBA atomizer).

Continuously spritzing or misting the skin will allow it to absorb and help lock in the moisture to re-balance itself.

5. Stay out of extreme temperatures. Going into a super refrigerated environment after sunburn could potentially shock skin. Ease skin to a comfortable temperature with gradual steps.

Cold compresses are a wonderful relief to high temperature skin, (see Tip #3).d



For more advice from Scott-Vincent, read his blog at Decisivemagazine. com and visit his website, www.borba.com.

D

spring 2010 | www.DecisiveMagazine.com

17

women’s health

Wii be fit…

Video Game Helps Women Stay Fit

F Finding the time to exercise is hard, especially for busy women juggling a career, family and a social life. But the “exergaming” phenomenon has made it easier for many to workout in the privacy of their own home at their own pace while cutting gym costs drastically.



See Daisy Fuentes

discussing her

18

Pilates game at DecisiveMagazine. com. For more on Wii Fit Plus, visit wiifit.com. decisive magazine | www.DecisiveMagazine.com

These fitness games go beyond the one-way static workouts of traditional DVDs. They provide customizable programs and instant feedback - having a virtual trainer there with you every step of the way.

Perhaps the best known of these is Nintendo’s Wii Fit Plus. An easy, affordable way to help women stay fit in the comfort of their own homes. Wii Fit Plus lets women have their own customized workout routines that fit their unique schedules, activity preferences and fitness goals in a variety of fun ways.

Another Wii exercise game is Daisy Fuentes Pilates, a new and unique way to teach awareness of breath and aimed to strengthen the deep torso muscles. Pilates focuses on the core postural muscles, which help keep the body balanced and are essential to providing support for the spine. Celebrities love it for the way it builds long and lean muscles.

Daisy Fuentes Pilates also allows players to track their results and customize their workout routine while offering real-time feedback from Daisy Fuentes herself. She also provides healthy diet tips throughout the game to encourage a well-balanced lifestyle.

Wii Fit Plus combines fun and fitness into one product. It can change how you exercise, how you balance, and even how you move.

Expanding upon the original Wii Fit software, Wii Fit Plus is packed with every feature from Wii Fit—plus new exercises and tools to personalize your exercise routine.d D

blackdoctor .org

I

It’s no secret that African American women have a number of health risks that women of other races don’t need to be as concerned about. In fact, this is true for Black people in general. So, where does one turn for culturally specific medical information? Well, we here at Decisive recommend BlackDoctor.org.

The site offers new innovative approaches for Black health, including free referrals to Black doctors. It provides effective strategies for managing your health, nutrition, weight loss, exercise tips, free advice from Black doctors and more. The site aims to be a credible and trusted resource for African Americans to get healthy lifestyle information. A “WebMD” for Black consumers is a good way of looking at it. The site contains a comprehensive database of accurate, relevant information and can readily serve as the first point of call whenever African Americans need medical/dental information or a referral to a qualified Black doctor.

The people at BlackDoctor.org understand the uniqueness of Black culture, our heritage and traditions and how these all play a role in our health. They also understand there is a lot of distrust with African

Americans and the healthcare system. The articles and advice found on the site go a long way toward easing that anxiety and arming people with the information they need to make intelligent decisions regarding their health care.

You’ll find descriptions of the various tests physicians perform when attempting to diagnose a malady, definitions for commonly used but little understood terms like cholesterol, angioplasty and balanced diet.

The site has sections for children, weight loss, the various health conditions that predominate among African Americans, and much, much more. When it comes to our health BlackDoctor.org has it covered, quite literally, from A to Z. And that’s why Decisive ranks the site a must visit. dD

spring 2010 | www.DecisiveMagazine.com

19

travel

alaskan road trip Get Off The Boat, Get On The Road

With the summer travel season rapidly approaching, now is a good time to consider planning a driving tour of Alaska, America’s least explored state. While Alaskan cruises are a popular way to see glimpses of our largest state, driving can actually immerse you in the culture and history of Alaska.

Kris Valencia, editor of The Milepost, the legendary guide that has accompanied Northern travelers and residents on their trips throughout Alaska since 1949, offers these ideas for driving vacations in the 49th state.

20

decisive magazine | www.DecisiveMagazine.com

1. Gold Rush History: Remnants of early gold rushes litter the landscape, making it a rich topic for travelers to explore.

Don’t miss Skagway, a town that sprang to life as the gateway to the Klondike Gold Rush of 1898-99. Along the Steese Highway, try gold panning at Pedro Creek, Nome Creek or Long Creek. See the old Chatanika Gold Camp, built in 1925 to support gold dredge operations in this area. Dozens of gold rush history sites include Crow Creek Mine, Independence Mine and Indian Valley Mine.

2. Glaciers: Alaska has an incredible variety and number of glaciers, and these ancient rivers of ice make a fascinating vacation theme. Several glaciers are easily accessible by highway: Matanuska Glacier northeast of Anchorage; Portage Glacier south of Anchorage; Worthington Glacier on the Richardson Highway; and Exit Glacier near Seward on the Kenai Peninsula. Childs Glacier in Prince William Sound takes a bit more effort, but is worth the ferry ride to Cordova and the 48-mile drive out the Copper River Highway.

3. The Alaska Highway: Many people don’t know it, but there is a substantial piece of Black history in Alaska.

During World War II, the U.S. Army sent three African-American Regiments, (the 93rd, 95th & 97th) to help build one of the most challenging roads in North America, the 1,520-mile long Alaska Highway. And while there are few memorials to those men (among them the Black Veterans Memorial Bridge), the highway traverses some of the most beautiful country in North America.

For more Alaskan driving vacation ideas, visit themilepost.com.d D

spring 2010 | www.DecisiveMagazine.com

21

travel

eight time and moneysaving

carrentaltips Between spring break, vacations and sunny weekends where driving a convertible would be so choice, a lot of people are renting cars for the first time. If you’re among them, here are a few tips to help you get the most for your money.

1. Research car rental companies before your trip. Find out what companies are in the area, their rates and their policies. Always ask for hours of operations and return policies. Many rental locations offer a key drop or off-hour returns, but don’t assume that all do.

2. Reserve your car ahead of time and always call the renting location at least a week in advance to confirm the reservation.

3. Check online for discounts and last-minute rates. Also, remember that it’s cheaper to rent a car on weekends and holidays. With 70 percent of the car-rental business geared toward business travelers, the best rates for vacationers are available during non-work times.

4. Look into “neighborhood,” or non-airport, car rental companies. They usually offer more reasonable rates and will often come to the airport to pick you up. Off-airport rental locations have grown in popularity with budget-conscious travelers who take advantage of lower rates resulting from the absence of airport rents, airport taxes and concession fees.

5. Choose the right mileage plan. Many infrequent renters will unnecessarily request unlimited mileage, paying the premium rate.

Consider lower mileage packages that might still cover your trip. A car with 100 miles per day built into its price can travel 700 miles in a

22

decisive magazine | www.DecisiveMagazine.com

week - more than double the average amount of miles traveled by U.S. drivers.

6. Pay attention to fuel efficiency. Upgrading to a larger sized vehicle for just $5 to $10 more per day may sound like a good deal, but remember the hidden costs of driving a larger car that is less fuel efficient.

7. Check out the savings between new and used car rentals. In almost every case, you’ll find that a used car rental company such as Rent-A-Wreck provides clean, late-model quality used cars often for half the cost of renting from a new car rental company.

8. Thoroughly inspect the rental car, and circle the block. This mini test drive will allow you to make sure you’re comfortable with your vehicle before you’re on your way. In particular, find the controls for For more the windshield wipers, lights, emergency and turn signals. money-



Now, take the money you saved and buy something nice.d D

saving travel tips, visit

Decisivemagazine. com/travel.

humor T:4.35”

T:4.375”

NewsUSA - 7

Celery_ADM_NEWS

23

spring 2010 | www.DecisiveMagazine.com ark:Volumes:SGL_JuniperPark:Juniper Park_Frito Lay:WOS_Women Set:WomenSet_Production Files:P90567_Woman’s World_Comic Strips:2009 Comic unications for BBDO Toronto • 2 Bloor St. West, Toronto, Ontario • phone 416.413.7495 • fax 416.944.7883

EntEr to Win a 7-Day, 6-night antigua Vacation!

Subscribe to the digital edition of DECISIVE magazine and you’ll be automatically entered to win an all-expenses paid trip to antigua for two.

Your FREE subscription to the digital edition of Decisive magazine could land you on one of Antigua’s 365 white sand beaches. Steel bands, calypsonians, jazz groups, limbo dancing, and moonlit cruises are all waiting for you.

SubScRibE now! You and a guest could win a stay in a luxurious Antigua ocean-view property. Trip includes round trip airfare for two from any major U. S. city, 6 nights hotel accommodations, and breakfast vouchers for two.

Must be 21 years of age or over to enter and a U. S. citizen.

DECISIVE is the best source of cultural consumer and automotive news.

SuBScriBE noW! Only one entry per person will be considered valid. Decisive Multimedia reserves the right to substitute another prize of equal or greater value. Only one vacation will be awarded. Decisive reserves the right to substitute a prize of equal or greater value.

Must be 21 years of age or over to enter and a U.S. citizen. Your odds of winning will vary depending upon the number of entries received. Your entry constitutes your understanding of, and agreement to, these conditions.