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Summer Holidays are over……Time to Relax  As we come to the end of the holiday season, it often feels like you need another break to recover from the one you just had. If there are kids involved (even if they aren't yours) this becomes doubly true. The effort of arranging a holiday, packing, flying to your destination, getting by with limited understanding of the local lingo, then in no time at all, having to repeat the whole process to get home, often makes you question if it is all worth it, especially if you had to fly with a budget airline at 2 am in the morning!Obviously, taking another break is not an option for most of us. And if someone tells you to do some exercise, you would probably hit them. But hold that fist for a moment. While strenuous exercise does actually recharge the batteries to a surprising level, it is obviously not for everyone. There are other much less strenuous forms of exercise that may just tick the right box for you. Yoga is one form of exercise that may just be right for you. There are many types of Yoga these days, so it is advisable you do a little research. It's probably not a good idea to begin with one of the more challenging forms of Yoga that require a fair degree of Yoga fitness and skill. Going down that road will only lead you to failure, and certainly won't invigorate you. To find the right Yoga for you, simply search for beginner's yoga online and there will be thousands of results. There are many variations, including some that use modern equipment such as a FLEXI-BAR. Adding products such as a FLEXI-BAR to your yoga workout ensures that all the correct stabilizing muscles are switched on and doing their job to help you maintain the correct postural positions. The variations are endless.So what are the benefits of participating in a few yoga sessions a week? The list of positive physiological benefits is huge, and includes: • Decreased blood pressure • Decreased heart rate • Gastrointestinal function normalizes • Flexibility improves • Posture improves • Strength and resiliency increase • Energy level increases • Weight normalizes • Sleep improves • Pain decreases It is a pretty impressive list. However, that's not all. There are also a range of psychological benefits as well: • Mood improvements • Anxiety & depression decrease • Concentration improves • Memory improves • Attention improves • Well being increases The very nature of a Yoga workout is one that makes it ideal for doing at home, as well as in a studio. The movements are performed slowly with good clear instructions, so there is no racing to get through things in time, or being left behind because you can't keep up. You don't need huge amounts of room either. Clear the coffee table away and you're ready to go. Don't stress if you are not flexible. This will improve pretty quickly and before you know where you are things will be pretty comfortable, plus your aching back, shoulders, neck etc will probably be a thing of the past by that stage as well.So if you need a bit of a pick me up to get you working again, try fitting in a couple of short Yoga workouts. Even 10-15 minute workouts will have a big impact on how you feel. When was the last time you saw a stressed out Yoga participant? Can you be a loser too? For those who have never seen this programme, the concept is quite simple. A bunch of obese contestants enter a house where they are split into two groups, and are then handed over to two of the country's top personal trainers who train them to the extreme, change their eating habits and basically work them so hard the fat almost literally falls off them. The recent Australian version, which is the country's top rating programme while on air, saw contestants lose more than half their body weight. The winning contestant lost an amazing 89 Kilogrammes, or 54% of his body weight! The uproar concerns the safety and ethical considerations of losing so much weight in such a short time. The contestants are losing 5 to 12 kilogrammes a week! When you consider the recommended rate is half a kilo to a kilo a week, you can start to see the reason for the debate. There is also the question of whether it is right to send out this kind of message to the overweight population. It seems to be another one of society's quick fix solutions. Having indulged themselves for their whole life, they then decide to lose the weight in a couple of months, instead of taking the recommended route of slow weight loss. For those out there who are weight challenged, I can hear the thought in your head even now: Is it safe to lose that sort of weight so quickly, and could I do it? Let's answer the first question first; Is it safe? Well, no-one has died yet, but there have been quite a few injuries along the way. Remember these people are carrying around up to 180 or so kilogrammes. Anyone running around with that sort of weight is likely to damage their knees or backs. But let's face it, for many of them it is often a case of damaged knees, or dead! I think most of us would take the damaged knees. Also remember that there are medical professionals constantly present at the house, so any issues are dealt with immediately. The biggest problem that faces fitness trainers who watch this show is the intensity of the workouts that are being given to some of the country's most unfit inhabitants. But as I said before, in 3-4 years of these programmes, there have been no major health scares, just massive weight loss. So could you do it? Besides the fact you would need to take 3-5 months off work and employ a personal trainer who would live with you and work you harder than you dreamed possible, it is possible to lose weight quickly (if not as quickly as on these shows). A good personal trainer that you can see at least once per week is essential. Besides giving you an eating plan that would reduce your fat intake, your trainer would need to devise a high energy workout programme. None of this 'long slow distance' rubbish where you walk for 1.5 to 2 hours in your 'fat burning zone'! You will need shorter, harder workouts that push your heart rate higher. You will also need to increase your muscle mass, as muscles continue burning calories for up to 24 hours after you finish your workout. If you have been watching the current UK version of the biggest loser, you may have seen trainer Rich Callendar using a piece of kit called an XCO-Trainer. These aluminium tubes are filled with a silicon granulate that moves forward and back when you move your arms. These XCO-Trainers increase your calorie expenditure by 33%, and are equivalent to running at a pace that is 2 kilometres per hour faster than your normal pace! If you are looking to lose weight, tone up your upper body, and strengthen your deep core muscles, a set of XCO-Trainers is essential. Check out their website www.xco-trainer.co.uk for more information. You can walk with them, run with them and perform strength exercises with them. You will be burning far more calories as a result, and hopefully these intense workouts will have the body fat falling off you and a new you will be parading on the beach this summer!
Fit For Love  Let's talk about you! Specifically, let's talk about Valentine's Day. It is that time of year when a harsh spotlight is shone on to our love lives - or lack thereof! With Valentines little more than a month away, you may be thinking there is not much you can do to spruce up the old body in preparation for that hot date. But you would be wrong! There are a few little 'tricks' that you can employ to help you through the date and into the next morning……. regardless of whose bed you wake up in! With a month to go, it is not too late to burn a few extra calories and trim down that bulging belly. Aside from reducing the fat intake (come on, it's only for a month and you may just get lucky as a result), make sure you get in 2-3 fat burning sessions a week. A brisk walk or slow jog should do the trick (add a set of XCO-Trainers to speed up weight loss by up to 30% www.xco-trainer.co.uk ). Believe it or not you can make a noticeable difference in just a month. The other thing to do in the next month is to pick out a body part that is either a) your outstanding body part, or b) a body part you want to improve. So if for example, your arms are your standout body part, or you want them to be, spend the next month targeting them. That means bicep curls every other day, at least 3 sets of 12 curls with a decent weight. By decent weight, I mean that the last couple of Reps should be a real struggle. If you are cruising through comfortably, the weight is not enough. Vary your hand position from palm up, to palm in (hammer curls) so you hit all the muscles of the bicep. By the end of the month, your chosen body part should be looking pretty fine. Now for the final step…….showing off. This should be the easy part!! Make sure that whatever you do for Valentines, you get the opportunity to show of the new improved you. So if your arms have gone from pee shooters to big guns, get them out! A nice tight t-shirt should be just the trick. Even better of you can find a reason to get them out……bowling anyone?
Flexi-Bar  Welcome to the first installment of the Fitness Review with me, Steve, at the helm. This first review is dedicated to a product I know extremely well as I am the UK distributor for it! It's called a FLEXI-BAR. Now before you scream 'biased'…..which I am….. we will do this in two parts. I am going to provide the science behind how the product works, and then Rich is going to give a brief review of what he thinks…..as a person who doesn't do a huge amount of exercise and has his fair share of back issues. FLEXI-BAR is Europe's best selling hand held vibration training device. It is a long, very light flexible bar with small weights on the end and a grip in the middle that you shake in a variety of positions while performing any number of exercises. Created by a German physiotherapist, this type of training has been available as a rehab tool in Germany for about 20 years. It was the development of the FLEXI-BAR that has brought the benefits of this training device to the masses. So how does it work? It's all about the vibrations. The swinging action of the FLEXI-BAR sends a vibration into the body that activates both the body's large surface muscles, and more importantly, the deep 'core' muscles (all the muscles that attach to the spine). It is the activation of the core muscles that is the key to FLEXI-BAR'S effectiveness. They are very difficult to target…….most traditional exercises do not activate them very strongly, and a weakness in the core is often the cause of neck, back, shoulder and hip problems. The great advantage of training with a FLEXI-BAR is that it automatically addresses any muscular imbalances in the core. It is usually these imbalances that cause the problems. A balanced body is a pain free body. Likewise, the stronger your core, the more efficient your movements and the less likely you are to injure yourself in the first place! Having had a shoulder injury for two and half years before getting my first FLEXI-BAR (I could not do a pushup without getting a neck spasm) I was very skeptical when I first laid eyes on it. However, one month later, my shoulder was healed, and I have never had a problem since. FLEXI-BAR is not just a rehab tool however. It is a great fitness tool, great at targeting and strengthening pretty much any part of your body. It tones the upper body, flattens your abs, improves your balance and coordination and only requires 3 ten minute workouts per week (that's the part most people love). But what's it like to use? Over to you Marcus! Well Stevey! I must admit it was a little funny to use to begin with, and I often found myself shakin' my stick while no-one was at home! So as not to embarrass myself, Haha! But in all seriousness, it's a fantastic piece of kit and in terms of excercise and fitness, I will be the first to admit I felt it the next day, but it just pushed me to do more. I have found that for me, the FLEXI-BAR works best when I'm watching telly, this is because I am not necerssarily concentrating on the amount of exercise I am doing, and I can time myself in accordance to the advert breaks, perfect for interval training! I have also given it to my disabled Dad and he found it easy to use and fun too, as he doesn't feel like he's overworking his body, but knows it's benefitting him. It's a fantastic piece of kit for taking excercise at your own pace, but for a more intensive session, the included DVD helps to really feel the burn! Combining the use of the FLEXI-BAR and aerobics to get the most out of your training, Overall, I rate the FLEXI-BAR very highly, and if anything I've learnt more about resistance training and how it can benefit you, a lot more than pumping iron on the free weights at the gym (plus no one laughs when you pick up the 5kg Dumbell) FLEXI-BAR is available from www.flexi-bar.co.uk Priced £69.99
Youbreathe  A 'Vibrated Breath Trainer' or at least that's what it says on the box, and before you get all breathless thinking Top Gayer has got down and dirty with 'toys', I'm actually referring to this brilliant little mechanism called the 'youbreathe'. This device was designed to help strengthen airways and expand a person's lung capacity. So, because I have feeble waspy lungs, Steve and Rebecca put me to the test, and I haven't stopped yet! I suffer from a fairly harsh case of asthma, which gets me at the most of inconvenient of times and you may have read my Gamucci review and seen that I smoke too. So Steve and Becky decided I was the perfect guinea pig! Got home and put together the device, which looks like a breathalyser, and after being warned it may cause me to have an attack, I cautiously put it to my mouth and pushed the button. The youbreathe works by twisting the air you breath, so it forces the muscles in your throat to work harder when you breathe. Also included in the package is a rubber plug to make you work even harder. I have to admit, I was sceptic when Rich told me it would considerably improve my asthma, and other than the odd vibrating sensation in your belly, nothing feels uncomfortable. Only 5 minutes a day is the recommended usage, but even within the first week you feel the difference. I was really impressed with the youbreathe and would recommend it to anyone with breathing difficulties. For around £90 it's a price to pay, but for the ability to not worry about having an inhaler, should you ever be in a situation, it's priceless. Truly a marvel, the youbreathe is available from www.flexi-bar.co.uk priced £89.98
Pocket PT  Pocket PT is a new and innovative way to have a personal trainer with you wherever you go. Pocket PT is a website devised for users to interact with a personal trainer who designs a workout specific to your requirements. You feel able work out in confidence knowing that the exercise routines have been developed by REPs(Register of Exercise Professionals) Level 3 qualified trainers. Workouts and nutritional advice can be downloaded to a 'Pocket Video Device' (a Mobile phone or iPod to you and me) meaning that you have the ability to train when and where you want, which includes around the office if you're a member of our team! It's suitable for all ages (the only requirement is that you are over 16 - which is common with most personal trainers) and all abilities. Each exercise is demonstrated fully and explained through text on the internet, and verbally in the form of the videos. You can use the training programme in the privacy of your own home, the park or at the gym, as different exercises are available to suit each location. Pocket PT is on hand when you are and at your convenience (providing you've downloaded it to your 'Pocket Video Device' correctly) so is easy to take away on business trips or holidays and fit in with the lifestyle you lead. After you have completed your workout you sign in online and the website has the ability to track and record your progress, which is motivational and informative, but you have to remember it can also tell you haven't been working out - so be prepared for an email! You are also able to 'swap' exercises if you find that they are not suitable or that you don't have the correct equipment to hand. After 4-6 weeks new exercises become available for you to have a go at while challenging your body meaning that you continue to gain results. The videos are easy to follow, exercises are explained in great detail and you have the ability to work out positively and effectively as you are able to read through the exercises on the website if you are not entirely sure you're your technique is correct. To use Pocket PT its best that you have lots of self-motivation as there is no-one present getting you to 'push out another rep' or congratulating you when you reach the end of your programme. When signing up to Pocket PT it's best you sit down when you won't get disturbed and take your time to explore the website fully, meaning that you get the best use possible. Results were seen after just one week and after a months use an improvement in strength, muscle tone and weight loss was obvious.
FOOD
Unusual Superfoods  There is no formal definition for the term superfoods, but they are generally described as being especially nutritious, with bio-active compounds and special health benefits not available from other foods. Some common super foods that you may be aware of include broccoli, spirulina, blueberries, cereal grasses, oily fish and more. There are many articles, books and journals discussing the virtues of the common superfoods and whilst I can't vouch for the fountain of youth claim, I have experienced the extra vitality that comes from eating these nutrient-dense foods. Adding some of these foods into your diet is an extra way to support your body's natural health and beauty. If you often read articles about nutrition, there's no doubt that you're aware of the holy grail of food - THE SUPER FOOD GROUP. So I won't bore you with the virtues of broccoli: instead, let's look at some of the more 'unusual' superfoods available and why you should do anything to get your hands on them! The Billy Goat Plum - 'Plums of Youth' No, it's not a joke - Kakadu Plum, commonly known as the Billy Goat Plum is native to Australia and has been a staple food of Aboriginal diets for centuries. If you're feeling a bit old, a bit wrinkly around the edges you might want to take a flight to Oz, go walkabout and get stuck into the 'plums of youth'. This potent fruit is known to have the highest source of vitamin C in the world, 5 times more than blueberries. Recent research on this amazing fruit also proves that it contains a huge amount of antioxidants, which can help slow the ageing process and stop muscular degeneration. And if you're anything like me, slowing the ageing process is so high on your priority list that you may actually take that flight to Oz in search of these wonder plums. Which brings us to the biggest hurdle of all -how do you actually get your hands on them? The smallest hurdle is actually spending your life savings to buy a flight and spending a lifetime to actually get to Australia. Then it gets complicated! The Billy Goat Plum fruits for 6 weeks every year, around March, and only grows in the top end of the country ( where almost nobody lives). Plus, you need a permit to search for the fruit!! Unfortunately, it's not readily available on supermarket shelves just yet, but because of its amazing properties, plans are being made to turn this wonder fruit into a complete industry. For now, you'll have to stick to eating blueberries, but when your wrinkles turn into cavernous valleys on your face, remember the name and look out for this little aussie wonder. Chia Seed - The Weight Loss Wonder Originating in the Valley of Mexico, Chia seeds have gained in popularity due to their dense nutritious value. They are small dark oval shaped seeds that have been hailed for their significant health benefits for hundreds of years. They are very high in protein, dietary fibre and Omega 3 fatty acids. In fact, the Chia Seed contains the highest percentage of Omega 3 fatty acids available on the consumer market place! Forget drinking gut wrenching cod liver oil every day - the Chia Seed has arrived, and it tastes delicious too. This fantastic little superfood also contains boron, a nutrient that assists the body in assimilating calcium. But that's not all - if you're prone to eating too many sweeties then consider the Chia seed. It has a huge fibre content and has been used to help with weight loss due to the fact that it suppresses the appetite. If your diet is high in fat and sugar, there's a good chance you'll develop hypoglyceamia or diabetes at some stage in your life. Chia Seeds have shown promise in the management and prevention of diabetes too. The gel properties of the seed help to regulate blood sugar levels and to slow digestion, as well as helping to transport debri out of the body's intestinal walls. Think of them as a vacuum cleaner for your intenstinal tract. Cardiovascular health is also high on the list of benefits of this magical seed. With more antioxidants than blueberries ( but less than the Billy Goat Plum) this wonder kid will not only keep you functioning well on the inside, but it will make your skin look great too! Now for the big question. How do they tatse? Actually, you'll be pleased to know that Chia seeds have very little taste, which makes them acceptable to even the most discriminating palate. Around for centuries, the Chia seed in only now starting to gain recognition as the super food that many health gurus have always known it to be. Available in most good health food stores, or online, this superfood is definitely one to get your hands on. Cupuacu - The Pharmacy in a Fruit Indigenous tribes, as well as local communities along the Amazon River, have cultivated Cupuacu as a primary food source for generations. Pronounced - coo-Pwah-soo, this amazing fruit is not only good for you, it tastes delicious too. And whilst I would be hard pressed to admit it, (I'm still not going to admit it) finding foods that are truly good for you AND taste like heaven are very few and far between. So if you're one of the people who need to 'puree' your veges so you don't have to eat them, or simply don't eat them at all - then this is the superfood for you. The Cupuacu fruit is known for its creamy exotic tasting pulp, which has been used for centuries by indigenous tribes. These days it's used throughout Brazil and Peru to make fresh juice, ice cream, jam and tarts. Aside from its wonderful taste, Cupuacu has some amazing health properties. It contains 10 different types of antioxidants, including the superior theograndin antioxidants which have not been found in any other antioxidant rich foods. The marvelous discovery about the antioxidants in Cupuaçu is that they are totally unique, and have never been seen before. They provide superior cardiovascular protective and immune supportive benefits, protect cells from oxidative damage and help the body fight cancer and disease. Capuacu is also very high in Vitamins A, C and many B vitamins, making it your 'one stop shop' for antioxidant replenishment. This powerhouse also provides a host of benefits for those who live in our stressful, fast paced world. It stimulates the immune system naturally, while increasing both energy and stamina without the nervousness or "jitters" that can be caused by other, synthetic caffeine sources. So you can easily give up your 10 cups of coffee day, suffer no withdrawal symptoms and feel great too! And if that's not enough to convince you to visit your local health food store, it has also been proven to increase your libido. Slip some pulp into your next fruit drink mix, or better still, slip it into your partners drink, and viola, your new and improved sex life will be the envy of all your friends. What can't this wonder fruit do? It can't do anything unless you get your hands on some and eat it liberally. Whilst you may not have heard of any of these foods, trust me, these are 3 of the biggest foods of the future. There's a lot of buzz surrounding these little wonders and if you can't find a stockist now, chances are you'll be able to very soon.
Oh for the Love of Chocolate!  Now if you're feeling guilty about piling on the pounds over Christmas, your jeans are still a bit tight, is the enviable muffin top peeking out over your waist band. (although for some of us 'peeking' is more like 'exploding'). Then you might feel a little apprehensive about another celebration, so close to the diet anarchy that was Christmas. You've already stipulated to your loved one "Don't you dare buy me any chocolates or sweeties" because 1. You don't want to feel disappointed when they forget ( or is that just me?) and 2. You know you won't be able to resist another gluttonous episode. Needless to say, when the time comes, you'll convince yourself you need a reward for being 'good' for the past 6 weeks, and even though you haven't lost much weight, you've been trying to, so you deserve it, right ? And unfortunately, if your loved one REALLY loves you, the box of choccies is going to be huge isn't it ? With all this in mind, let's focus, very positively, on a slim excuse for eating a product that is high in saturated fat & sugar! That is, of course, because it's good for you! (don't worry, apart from giving you sound nutrition and diet advice, the hedonist inside me will always find a way to remove the guilt of celebration). So why is chocolate good for you ? First of all, I should probably point out that it's not 'milk' or 'white' chocolate that I am talking about, which is what the majority of us prefer……..it's the dark, sensuous variety that has all of the goodness (and the most fat!). Chocolate does indeed appear to have 'heart' protective effects. New reviews suggest that cocao lowers blood pressure, reduces inflammation, increases HDL's (good fat) & decreases LDL'oxidation (bad fat). Extra dark chocolate has the most potent antioxidant qualities of all chocolate types, so eating it in moderation should actually help the integrity of you heart! BUT - if you're anything like me, finding it impossible to sit in front of the TV, with an entire box of choc's in hand, unable to stop until you've gobbled up every last one! Nevertheless, if you can practice some self control & choose (or request) only the dark variety this Valentine's Day you could quite possibly come out on the other side with a healthier heart - and that's something worth celebrating!
GROOMING
Eyre Biobotanics Range
Triple Action Facial Scrub - 150ml bottle = £25.00
Active Enzyme Facial Cleanser - 150ml bottle = £23.0 This gentle non-foaming daily facial cleanser is formulated to remove the build-up of dirt, oil and environmental pollution leaving the skin thoroughly cleansed and refreshed. Active enzymes gently remove dead skin and dissolve excess sebum allowing skin to breathe freely. It’s Sulphate Free so its non-drying to the skin it also leaves your face leaves feeling purified and refreshed
Absolute Shaving System - 150ml bottle = £24.00 A breakthrough two-part application for sensitive skin, formulated to provide the world's best
HUGO BOSS Pure
Paco Rabanne Ultraviolet
Anthony Sport
Sally Hansen Liz Earle
Cleanse and Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser - This concentrated cream is applied to dry skin in a circular motion. You are relaxed by the scents of rosemary, camomile and eucalyptus while daily grime and make up is removed (even hard to remove waterproof mascara). You then rinse the muslin cloth through warm water and gently polish the cream away before splashing your face with cool water. After this process your skin is left feeling softer and looks radiant and fresh. This is a great product to use in the morning to awaken and prepare you for the day ahead, or in the evening to relax and unwind before bed. Smoothing Line Serum - This serum is applied in small amounts around the eye area but can also be used on the face and neck. Skin feels nourished and relaxed instantly with the help of Grapeseed extract and Echinacea and in the morning fine lines and wrinkles around the eyes appear reduced. Superskin Moisturiser - A fragrance free moisturiser that helps to improve the firmness of the skin as well as preventing moisture loss. The antioxidants included in this wonder cream help to protect the skin from environmental damage while rejuvenating the skin. It can be used all over the face morning and night and leaves skin velvety smooth. This light moisturiser glides on the face and is easily absorbed making it the perfect base for make up. Superskin Concentrate - Made form 100% pure plant oils this concentrate acts as an intensive night-time nourisher, softening and rebalancing the skin. The aromas of lavender, rosehip and chamomile help to relax you while clearing away toxins and boosting circulation.
Collection 2000 Clinique Anatomics Lip Gloss What a Complete and Utter Glosser, Fruity Lip Gloss Tubes would make great presents, stocking fillers or pick me ups as they are sure to bring a smile to anyone's face. They taste delicious, look great and revive lips... What more could you want?
RELAXATION
Aqua Sana - Centre Parcs
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