MotoVixens

Ride Confident, Hard and in Control

You are here: Home / Archives for Miscellaneous

PeachesMag.com

By

I recently had the privilege to write a post for www.peachesmag.com about my mission for MotoVixens.  Palmer Davis, founder of peachesmag.com, was at the last Ducati Bellevue Women’s track event and did this brief video about our day.  Peachesmag.com is a sexy site for women by women and their main focus is to empower women in every aspect of their lives.  The following is the article I wrote:

A year ago, the idea of racing around a track would have seemed completely absurd and truth be told not even on my radar.  Yet, here I am today not only racing in my novice year, but just getting my head around all the details of what it takes to be competitive.  My introduction into motorcycling has been fairly current and it started as an escape, doing something that I feared, yet I knew would be empowering should I ever find that “zen” place so many motorcyclists speak of.  There was something mysterious and intriguing about that and I started my journey only to seek that place of peace.  Motorcycling was my escape from hardships I was facing, personal struggles that required and sucked every ounce of energy I had, it was the one place I could be that required full focus and concentration and forced me to leave all that “stuff” behind and be in the moment.  Motorcycling helped me reconnect with myself and allowed me to see things differently, with more clarity and patience, it made me a better in every way.  

I started with taking an MSF course, which I strongly suggest to anyone who wants to learn to ride, this will give you the “basics” of riding.   However, those basics will only get you so far and won’t prepare you for the road conditions you face on a daily basis.  I also encountered difficulty in finding gear and spent a great deal of time surfing the web and buying/exchanging items to find gear that actually fit.  There are a few brands that carry gear for women, but they vary drastically depending on your body type and sizing is confusing.  Male riders can pop into any shop and try things on, but women don’t have the same luxury since many stores don’t tend to carry much women’s gear, making it a challenge to find gear to try on for sizing purposes.  Helmets tend to be easier, but boots and gloves are also an issue as most stores are limited in the sizes and styles they carry.   Since I advocate all gear all the time, I bought whatever fit when I first started, but have since found which brands fit me best and tend to stick with those manufacturers.  However, sizes do change from year to year, so what fits this year may not necessarily fit the next model year.  Being female in a male dominated industry definitely does have its downsides.  In my frustration, I decided to start a website for women riders, www.MotoVixens.com in hopes that uniting women riders would allow for us to one day have a larger voice in what we demand from manufacturers, schools, dealerships, etc. 

 I started the site as an educational resource with links to sites I found particularly helpful and had great success with in terms of gear, linked schools for continuing education and blogs pertaining to riding.   I worked with Ducati Bellevue in hopes to open up an avenue for women riders to learn how to ride more competently and with more confidence.  Since starting my website, we have been fortunate enough to collaborate with some of the best companies in the Pacific Northwest.  Ducati Bellevue welcomed the idea with open arms and has been instrumental in hosting Women’s track schools in conjunction with their track days as well as clinics to educate women about their bikes.  2 Fast Motorcycle Instruction and Track Days has been responsible for the performance school provided by Ducati Bellevue for the Women’s Track Event.  WMST is an instructional school that provides MSF, cornering classes, intermediate and advanced motorcycle training and I have since been certified as an On Street instructor (classes for women to be announced next year).  In addition to the educational aspect of riding is also the technical and mechanical portion we tend to take for granted.  Women riders face a greater range of issues from physical height and weight issues to not fully understanding proper maintenance of a motorcycle.   We are only on two wheels, it is even more important for us to make sure those stay in contact with the road.  Suspension is key to a secure ride, whether on street or on track.  I would suggest that you have your bike setup to you to make your ride not only more comfortable, but safe.   There is a resource page on my site that lists various companies that accommodate whatever needs you may have, take a moment to check it out and feel free to call them with your questions and concerns, they are always willing to help you any way they can.

 My mission is be a strong voice for women riders, bringing their issues and concerns to those who can make the difference.  This is why partnering with Ducati Bellevue and 2 Fast to provide a track school was so important…I hope in bringing events like this to women riders they walk away learning more than they could’ve imagined, sign up with their girlfriends, make new friends, gain confidence and feel empowered.  The beauty of this event is that you can sign up as many times as you like and walk away with new knowledge every time.  There is so much information being taught you couldn’t possibly digest it all in one day.   I continue to learn something new every time I get on my bike, new ways to do things differently and more efficiently…turning, gear selection, positioning, etc.  Take the school as often as you like, it can only make you a better rider and what can be better than that?

2 Fast Track Day at The Ridge

By

In preparation of the race weekend, I signed up for 2 Fast on Friday, August 30th to get some laps in and to have some fun before the races.  There were quite a few gals, which I love to see and one gal in particular who has attended a few track days who I’ve come to know…such is the nature of the sport, you start to see the gals who love riding so much that they start to become regulars at the track.  I hope that women riders know that this setting is far from intimidating, it is an incredible opportunity to learn and ask questions you may have about riding, gear, etc…

[quicktime]http://motovixens.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/IMG_1799.mov[/quicktime]

Track days are not about racing, it is about riding your own ride and improving your skill set, gaining knowledge and getting to go as slow or fast as you wish to your comfort level.  Speed and skill come with time and that is something that just can’t be rushed without consequences.  There is a wealth of information to be sought in the pits alone, caveat being not all information is good information, that being said everyone is extremely willing to help all you have to do is ask.  Also, if you have never ridden two up with one of the guys, take the opportunity to do so.  It will teach you how hard you can actually break, show you better lines around the track and give you pointers on gear selection, it will really open your eyes!

Sullivan has a track day coming up on Thursday, September 5th at Pacific Raceways and currently has openings and OPRT has one coming up on September 9th at the Ridge where I will be instructing.  Also, don’t forget Ducati Bellevue has their Women’s Track School coming up on September 30th, sign up for the first time or again, you will learn something new every time.  Come on out and join us track rats!

Distracted Drivers

By

I’ve spent a lot of time lately on the street thanks to our amazing weather up in the Pacific Northwest and have noticed the increasing number of distracted drivers out there.  As riders, we are constantly scanning our environment for danger, but it is difficult to predict when someone will suddenly maneuver into us or our lane.  I can understand why some individuals are excited to join us in becoming riders, but why they end up giving up the sport completely when they either encounter a near miss or something much more severe.  It is dangerous, purely because every trip down the road is completely new, no two days are the same and we are faced with arming ourselves with the knowledge and skills necessary to allow us to continue doing the thing with love.  I stress over and over that training, constant training is important.  Just like in a job, you are constantly training to keep on top of your game, the same should be true when riding.  We tend to get lazy and just ride, but even a seasoned vet can learn a few new things to help keep his/her mind sharp to have the tools necessary for those “just in case” moments.  Here are a few sobering facts that we should all keep in mind when we get ready to go out for our rides:

For drivers 18-29:

Accessing the internet on a cell phone while driving increased from 29% in 2009 to 48% in 2012

Reading social media while driving increased from 21% in 2009 to 36% in 2012

Updating social networks while driving increased from 20% in 2009 to 30% in 2011

Checking email while driving increased from 32% in 2009 to 43% in 2012

For all age groups:

With smartphones growing in popularity people who report webbing while driving goes down with age

Accessing the internet while on cell phone increased from 13% in 2009 to 21% in 2012

Reading social media while driving increased from 9% in 2009 to 15% in 2012

Updating social networks while driving increased from 9% in 2009 to 13% in 2012

As you can see, the facts are sobering and especially in regards to the younger age group with the combined inexperience of their driving skills.  The interesting outcome of this study was that drivers strongly agreed there should be more stringent laws prohibiting texting and emailing behind the wheel, but 66% believed that those laws are enforced to little or no degree.  The fact is it is up to us to make sure we are safe, no law can protect us from being a casualty, so be aware and ride defensively.  Make your presence known, they can’t avoid you if they can’t see you.  Lane position is key and keep out of blind spots, we have the advantage of speed here, let’s use it to get out of situations and continue to ride for many years to come.

Hope to see you out there!  Vixens Ride!

Night Riding

By

I was at the Ridge Motorsports Park last month for the races and made the unfortunate mistake of leaving my iPad locked in the safe when I checked out. I figured it would be gone and would have to replace it, I called Little Creek Casino and they actually had it in their safe lost and found, kudos to their staff. Seeing I was going be back again soon, I asked them to keep it and I would pick it up when I swung through next…which happened to be this last Sunday – Monday. It was late when I checked in and the person with the key had gone home but would return the next day around 8am. I informed them I was going to be at the track and was checking out around 6:30…they said they would have it at front desk for pickup later that evening. Yeah, you know where this is going…long day at track, tired, driving in a daze on way home knowing traffic is going to suck at 5:30 through base and Tacoma…totally spaced and got home before realizing I forgot to stop and pick it up. I called them and told them to hold it and I would be in the next few days. Good reason to ride and it would be a clearing my head type of trip. It’s been a busy month and seeing our industry is seasonal, it seemed the only way I was going to be able to get my iPad back would be to go really early or later after traffic died down. Spur of the moment decision so as not to disrupt the next day I geared up and set out at 7pm on Tuesday night figuring it would be light out late.

What I thought would be an easy drive ended up in me sitting in traffic in the carpool lane through Newcastle and Renton, finally clearing up by the time I hit I-5 South. However, the rest of the way was a breeze and it made up the time spent in traffic. Got to Casino and as promised they had it ready for me to pickup. Fueled, hydrated and ate a protein bar then got back on bike. The drive home was gorgeous, it was clear the weather was going to change in the next few days as clouds littered the sky. I had my smoke visor on and it was OK until about 9pm when things were very dark and sketchy, I rode with great caution knowing cars would have a harder time seeing me and I was lane changing to avoid clusters and stay clear of idiots. Portions of the freeway are lighted and others are not, where it wasn’t was much harder to see through the visor and required a lot more focus. I concentrated more on the bold reflective line of the carpool lane to use as my guide, but never traveling without my clear visor again for night riding. Also, deer was in the back of my mind and at the speeds we were all traveling it occurred to me that I needed to be extra focused. The kicker is that it is also hypnotic to focus on that reflective line and that you need to kind of snap yourself out of it and continue checking your surroundings, lane positioning, etc. It was about 3.25 hours of straight riding and I was pretty beat as I pulled in around 10:15, if you don’t need to do night riding, don’t I did see a lot of crazy out there and used my speed to stay clear of them. However, night riding when you aren’t on some mission is beautiful, just be cautious, that is when animals like to come out and people tend to be driving under a bit of influence. Ride safely Vixens, but just Ride!

On Staff at Optimum Performance Rider Training

By

Hello Vixens! I just got back from the track last night and while exhilarated, was completely beat. I was asked to join OPRT to help out yesterday through a friend of mine, Peter Drott (ironically he sold me my first bike). I was unsure as to how I could be of help, but was excited to jump on the opportunity and a day on the track, who could ask for more? Started out as all track days do bright and early, registration, tech, rider meeting, ride around and off we went! I offered help with registration and had the pleasure of meeting Jared one of the partners of OPRT who got me started on the process, he asked if I would do ride arounds and just observe. If I found someone who might need some help getting around the track after following them for a while, I would tap my tail and have them follow me. Basically I got to make sure no one was out of line and make sure safe passing was being observed by all, got to meet quite a few gals yesterday and got to lead them around the track most of the day, that was the most fun. Optimum Performance Rider Training is a 501c3 non profit organization dedicated to the enhancement of motorcycle skills, safety and awareness. Check out their site http://www.optimum-performance.org/ home for more information and for track days.

I am now on staff and will have the honor of leading riders around the track, so please join me when you can would love to see you gals out there! On a humorous note, I have to share a story…as you know a horn blows to notify riders of which level is about to go out, I obviously was either having trouble counting or hearing, don’t know which but it resulted in same outcome. I ended up riding in the 300 group, which was fine, but I was out for a while when I started getting buzzed by some really fast guys…thinking I was in the 200 group my first thoughts were geez our 200’s are getting f’n fast this afternoon! Pulled into hot pit to get ready to instruct the 100 group only to see the board say 200’s were up next, I asked the staff if the board was correct? It was then I realized that I was out in 300’s, about ready to go out in 200’s and would still have to be up to instruct the 100’s…Maybe skipping my morning coffee was not a good idea! I ended up on the track for almost and hour and was wiped out at the end of it, had me laughing that I couldn’t count the horn blows. Lesson of the story is, you definitely need to be aware and alert and know that one group could not have improved that drastically in 2 sessions. What can I say? Maybe a bit too eager to get out there and just ride, but it is for the love of the sport that I do it and I know that you gals can completely relate. Get out and ride!

Top 3 Issues for Motorcyclists

By

Many of us ride pretty much blissfully unaware that there are those who are continuously fighting for our rights as motorcyclists. I try to keep up with the issues that are being brought up and how they might affect us purely because I love riding and want to know how those decisions will affect me. Some of us are newbies, others more seasoned, but the decisions made on our behalf (whether we play an active role in them or not) will affect not only where, but how you ride. Those bringing up these issues tend to be individuals who are not riders and could care less about our rights. Here are the issues we are presently dealing with:

ABS (antilock braking system)-there is a chance that the federal government will require all streetbikes be equipped with ABS. First there is the issue of cost and then personal choice. Sure ABS is wonderful, my Monster had it and it saved my butt a few times, but learning to ride without ABS is a skill that should be learned (say in case of a malfunction). Advanced rider training and track days are places where riders can get a chance to learn how to safely test the limits on how to safely stop a motorcycle, it is a life skill that will serve you well.

CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) has made the statement that “Motorcycle crashes create a burden to society, consuming public funds for emergency room costs and insurance premiums.” All I can say is that is absurd! Sure there are tools that are constantly making most of us riders look terrible, but we have the right to share the road with cars and to be able to do so safely. The fact is cars are the biggest culprits, but we couldn’t very well say that could we? Let’s pick on the minority, which ladies happens to be us motorcyclists.

E15 (15% ethanol gasoline) has been approved for use in cars 2001 and newer, light truck and medium duty passenger vans. E15 is not approved for use in your motorcycle, ATV’s, boats, etc. so make sure when you pull up to a pump that you check you aren’t accidentally pumping this gas into your bike, it will void any warranties you have on your bike. Even if there is a pump with various options, don’t pump the gas find somewhere else or a dedicated pump where this gas is not mixed in. It takes 4 gallons of gas to dilute the E15 mixture and most of our tanks do not take that much gas which would mean we could be getting an even higher concentration. So look before you pump!

Those are some of the hot topics being discussed presently and it is our duty to make sure we support the groups who do fight for us and our rights as riders. If you haven’t joined the AMA, consider joining, no just join…they fight relentlessly for our rights and there are many benefits to joining including free towing. I have a link on my site, just click and join, you will feel secure knowing that your right to ride will be taken care of and they will continue to fight vigilantly for our ability to keep doing what we love. Ride on Vixens!

Why I Advocate Track Training

By

I recently bumped into some individuals who became members on my site and asked why I was purely a track related website…I had to correct them that this site was created to inform and be a resource to all types of riders. I only use the track as a training tool and heavily advocate track training purely because outside of MSF courses and even specialized on street courses, there is no where to really up your confidence at real life speeds. MSF courses are fantastic and teach you safety and maneuvering, but at very low speeds and as all riders know it is not realistic when applying it to everyday situations. It is like getting your graduation certificate and then getting that smack on the ass to say, “Good luck!” Scary as hell when confronted with a situation at speed and have to recall the training you received at say 20 mph. Having the confidence to know you can avoid these situations, corner with confidence and educating yourself (as you would in any endeavor) can only be a benefit to you. That is why I post so many track days and track school events, education and hands on learning are the only ways to improve your riding abilities and to gain the confidence you need to apply to your everyday street riding.

I have teamed up with 2 Fast Track school, Ducati Bellevue, OPRT (where I will be one of their new rider instructors) and WMST to continue my quest to educate and empower women riders. I hope that you take the opportunity MotoVixens tries so hard to provide when we bring these special events to you at discounted prices. Every time you sign up, you show the schools and dealerships you are serious about learning and they will continue to give us the opportunity to provide these events for you. Track days and events are not just for racers, many individuals sign up to hone their skills and new riders sign up to gain the confidence they need to street ride competently. I commend those individuals because they take their riding seriously and quite honestly most who try track days get hooked, they get to go way above speed limits and not worry about getting ticketed as well as not worrying about some car coming at you unexpectedly. If you never have tried a track day, join us (look in the event section) and if you have, I won’t have to twist you arm you already know it is a blast. In August I will be receiving my certification for On Street training and will be able to help you ladies in the future through WMST and possibly through private instruction. I will notify you of the details and hopefully see you out there with me soon. Vixens Ride!

Group Rides

By

If you have never joined a group for a ride, it is an experience that can either bring you back for more or turn you away from it altogether. Trick is finding a group you will not only want to ride with, but socialize with as well, the reality is you start to become an extended family and a place you know where you are accepted. Searching for a group can be challenging and there are plenty of sites that you can peruse to find them, but join with caution, some groups are testosterone driven free for alls and will not only dare you to push your limits, but could very well end you in the hospital. Ask to ride with the groups a few time to view the dynamics, the organizers and their safety protocol. I think the biggest test in a group is how they organize their rides, how well all the organizers and assistant organizers communicate, safety briefings (especially in big groups) and the general vibe you get from everyone. If you don’t feel that they get along, time to bounce, you know that once you are on the road you may be dealing with egos jockeying for position and you don’t want to be a part of that.

Safety when riding in groups is a challenge and of extreme importance, there are always varying degrees of skill level and you want to be in a group that will cater to all and keep them relatively happy. The organizer should have a video or before every ride a pre-ride safety meeting to go over hand signals (which for the most part is the only way you are going to be able to communicate to the other riders), formations and answer questions . A good organizer will have posted the route, the gas/food breaks and basic eta from one point to another. Chances are times will vary depending on size of group, but generally speaking it runs pretty close to the times posted. There should also be a clear blueprint of what to do in an emergency (benefit of riding in a group, plenty of help) and everyone should be sporting and I.C.E. card (in case of emergency card). If you aren’t a member of the AMA, you should join up (you can find the link on my home page), it is beneficial in many ways. One being that they will tow your bike for free, but check out their site for a list of benefits. Your group should also have a list of requirements for gear they expect you to have, trust me when you go down jeans are not protection, basics should include: Protective jacket, pants, DOT approved helmet, gloves (preferably gauntlet) and boots. Most importantly though is how you will fit into the group, most groups have a core group and many other groups within sometimes bound by skill level, friendships, etc. But they should all be able to mesh together cohesively when on a ride and it should be about having fun and doing it with people you actually want to spend time with. Many friendships come from joining groups like this which is why finding the right group is so important.

I am part of several groups, but there is one that I hold very dear to my heart (Eastside Sportbikers) and I play a very active role in every chance I can get. They took me in as a rider who could barely keep her bike from tipping over (while standing on tiptoes) to being my fans as I entered my novice year of racing. They encouraged me when I was a newbie and they gained my loyalty in return, I love this group and the people in it, the friendships that have developed and the camaraderie. Those are the feelings you should get when you decide to join a group, if not, move on. There are plenty of them out there and just like finding a mate eventually you’ll find one that is “Just Right.” Meetup is a great channel to find groups in general so give it a try and find out how much fun riding in a group can be. Ride on Vixens!

Fact or Fiction

By

We are all looking for ways to stay healthy and there seems to be conflicting reports about what to eat and drink. Red wine is good, fried food is bad, gluten is bad, only organic produce will do, the list goes on and on. We could drive ourselves crazy just trying to figure out how to stay healthy right? Here are some facts to help you make wise decisions in your choices to leading a healthier life.

I love to imbibe every so often, but I am not a red wine drinker, my drink of choice is Vodka preferably a martini, with olives of course! Red wine, gets to be the saint of the liquor world, it was the drink of the gods and it has health benefits, blah, blah, blah. Well, here is the lowdown, alcohol (any kind) is what boosts levels of HDL or “good” cholesterol which lowers your risk of developing blood clots, good news to those of us who choose to drink liquor. But if you throw back more than two a day, you’ve just negated the health benefits, moderation is key.

Since we just spoke about alcohol, we are going to discuss fried food since this is what you end up eating while sitting at happy hour or munching at a meal. Believe it or not, deep frying can be just as healthy as sauteing. If food is properly deep fried, food soaks up minimal oil and the added calories are negligible. The oil though needs to be at the right temperature in order to be intense enough to cause the moisture in the food to evaporate and create steam pressure that blocks oil from entering. So stop feeling guilty and enjoy the moment, once in a while is just fine.

Is wheat really our enemy? So much has been brought out by the media about gluten-free diets, but wheat is packed with nutrients including folate (a B vitamin). In fact, unless you are truly an individual with celiac disease or a gluten sensitivity going without whole grains may even cause you to gain weight! REALLY! Whole grains boost serotonin in your brain helping you feel full, without this you would end up snaking throughout the day not getting the signal you are satisfied. I need my carbs to function so this is happy news to me, plus I tend to become a diva when I’m hungry.

Salt, ah yes, salt tastes good, it flavors food and it should be used sparingly. Here is the problem, unless you cook from scratch at home and you can monitor your salt intake, chances are you are getting more than you think. 90% of the sodium in our diets come from processed and restaurant foods, even ones that don’t taste salty. So read labels and remember that 2,300 mg of sodium is the daily recommendation. And even more reason to take a cooking class to help you and your family eat healthier.

Chicken or Burger? Surprise, the burger is better! Why? Chicken can tend to be injected with a salt-water solution to keep it moist so that chicken sandwich can have more than double the amount of sodium than a burger. The chicken also has more calories than the plain hamburger, so don’t feel guilty about having that hamburger, enjoy it.

Organic or not? We all think organic is far superior than the conventional grown produce, better taste, more nutrients, closer to nature. However, research published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that they don’t have any nutritional advantage. Less chemical residue, sure, but the issue of pesticides leading to disease was based on farmers who were subjected to huge quantities. If you still prefer organic, spend it on produce with peels you eat, like apples, carrots, tomatoes… Also remember that while fruit is high in vitamins and fiber, it is also high in sugars and calories. A banana has about the same calories as two chocolate chip cookies! If you are trying to lose weight, have 4 servings of fruit (1/2 cup) a day and a serving of protein to slow down digestion and keep blood sugar steady.

Is high-fructose corn syrup getting a bad rap? It is being blamed for causing obesity in America, but it really is no different from sucrose or table sugar. It is the same number of calories and your body processes it the same way as table sugar, it is just extremely cheap so manufacturers add it to the majority of their products. The fact is that people eat more processed foods which in turn means eating more of these sugars, consumption of any added sugar in excess is bad for you and leads to weight gain. The only way to solve that is to cut back on processed foods and read labels, limit the amount of sugars including “dextrose, maltose, beet sugar and fruit juice concentrate.” It’s all about moderation.

I hope this helps in some of the choices you make while dining out and getting you bikini ready for the summer months. For some of us, it is just to keep us capable of putting on those leathers and not feeling like a stuffed sausage. The cost of a suit, keeps me thinking about what I choose to eat. 🙂 Ride on Vixens and remember to wave at the gals who are rocking it on their rides!

Timing is everything

By

Timing is EverythingFrom the sound of the blog it would sound like we are talking about timing your braking and turn entry/exit, huh? Well, it has been a while since I blogged about something health related so we are going to switch “gears” here, no pun intended. We all have a master internal timer that is our circadian clock and it keeps every bodily function on track daily. Your memory, energy level, metabolism and chances of getting sick actually change throughout the day so let’s break it down a little.

Eating breakfast within 90 minutes of waking up help get your energy levels up and revs up your metabolism, while satiating your appetite to keep you from overeating later in the day.

Getting some sunlight (at least 15 minutes) before 10am cues your brain to stop releasing melatonin which will signal your brain to wake up you up and improve your mood (I call it getting your happy rays).

Your core temperature rises between 10 and 11am and again from 5-7pm, this is when your muscle, nerves and joints warm up and you feel sharper and more energetic. Your brain also tends to be the most agile during this period so this would be prime time to tackle a challenging project at work.

Have a medical procedure before noon, there are studies that show physicians are most alert before noon thus making fewer mistakes in the morning. Scheduling a doctor’s appointment in the morning is also beneficial as they are more alert to catch anything suspicious during your examination.

Between noon and 2pm your body temperature naturally dips causing you to feel sleepy, go for a walk to help overcome this lull.

If you are going to cheat on your diet, do it between 11am and 2pm, it allows enough time for your body to burn off the excess calories and get back on track before bedtime.

Between 5 and 6pm our body temperature peaks which means you are most agile and less likely to get injured, your hand-eye coordination is the sharpest, lung function is high, muscle fibers are warm and your mood is brighter. Did you know that this is the time of day when Olympic records tend to be set?

If you are going to grab a drink after work keep it between 4pm and 8pm, even better reason to hit happy hour now! This allows the alcohol to metabolize before you sleep, any later and you are more likely to toss and turn all night. Eating dinner before 8pm helps your body metabolize the food well before you turn in for the night, if you have too many late nights, it causes a change in metabolism and insulin production which will eventually lead to weight gain. Our bodies are designed to sleep when the sun goes down, so don’t mess with mother nature or she will get you back with added pounds.

Apply anti-perspirant at bedtime, the chemicals that keep you from sweating are better absorbed when your skin is dry. Most people apply it when their skin is damp after a morning shower, but if you use it at night it’ll plug your sweat ducts and help you stay fresh for 24 hours.

In the middle of the night we tend to be most creative, so if you find you can’t sleep, let your mind wander and come up with ideas or solutions. While it is not wise to do this often, on occasion it can help you solve a difficult issue you may be struggling with while putting it to rest and then allowing you to sleep more solid.

For more information, check out “The Body Clock Guide to Better Health” by Michael Smolensky and Lynne Lamberg.