You’ll often hear people say that they had a really “intense” workout, which really means that they pushed themselves really hard during the session and felt great afterwards. It’s these intense sessions that produce the great results you’re really looking for. But you can’t...
Participation in sport has many benefits and so it was refreshing to read a study from the Netherlands that had analysed a large volume of data to establish what relationship exists between levels of physical activity and sick leave. Moderate levels of physical activity...
There are a number of factors that contribute to muscle cramps and spasms, the main ones being: Poor flexibility and tight muscles Muscle fatigue and overuse Dehydration Electrolyte and mineral depletion A number of other factors include working or exercising in high heat and...
An American Council on Exercise (ACE) Survey of more than 3,000 of its personal trainers found that the 10 most common workout mistakes are: Not stretching enough Lifting more weight than you can handle. Not warming up before aerobic activity. Not cooling down after...
Why is pilates so popular these days? Pilates incredible popularity can be traced to the fact that it provides benefits that you simply can’t get through traditional aerobics / strength training format. Here are six benefits of introducing pilates into your workouts. 1. Makes...
Winter officially started this month, are you ready…ready to turn up the heat? It is hard enough to keep fit in the summer months, so with the days getting shorter, the evenings colder & the nights wetter, how are you supposed to get up...
If you’re following a healthy nutrition plan, do you really need to use supplements? A healthy nutrition plan is fundamental to your good health and fitness, but I strongly believe that a sensible supplement program can greatly assist in optimising your health and improving...
When it comes to strength training, most of us stick to the usual free weights and machines or, if we’re feeling adventurous, we may venture over to the cable or free motion machines at the gym. What you don’t see a lot of is...
What’s the secret to building muscle and getting that toned body you desire? This is a question that I am asked by clients when they first come to see me. So this month I’m outlining the key principles that I use to get my...
This is one of my favourite smoothies and is great for a morning or afternoon snack (9.30am and 3.30pm for me). Ingredients 1 cup of skim milk 1 cup of frozen mango 1 tbspn of flaxseed oil 2 scoops of Next Generation Hydro Iso Vanilla Protein Powder Method Add all...
Are you considering juicing or making healthy smoothies part of your diet? If so, this article is for you, because today I’m going to examine what makes more sense: using your blender to create green smoothies or using a juicer to create juice? The...
5 Foods That Could Be Sabotaging Your Sleep Spicy and acidic foods. Foods like chili, pizza, tomato sauce and peppers can give you digestive disturbances that won’t let you catch your “zzz’s.” These kinds of foods are also linked to heartburn and acid reflux...
Don’t feel guilty about eating that chocolate. In moderation, it can be very good for you! Stay slim. Yes. Eating a small amount of chocolate on a DAILY basis can be good for your waistline. A study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine...
Feeling tired all the time can really take a toll on your relationships, work and health. Here are five great ways to put that “pep” back into your step! Drink Tea. A University of London study shows that drinking just 4 – 6 cups...
Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness (DOMS) is a condition that occurs after strenuous, unfamiliar exercise and affects the muscle fibres, resulting in localised pain and discomfort. DOMS is commonly associated with extended endurance exercise and explosive types of exercise requiring forceful, muscular contractions, eg jumping, squats,...
Fat is stored in the body in the form of triglycerides in fat cells and the skeletal muscle. Free fatty acids, the broken-down form of triglycerides, provide energy for exercise. Fat is an important source of stored energy. This is because it produces more...
No one but you can make you believe in yourself, others can help, but you are the only one that can bring this about. Belief in one’s self is the very basis of successful self-motivation. Here’s some tips to help you gain belief in...
This drink truly is a complete meal that will keep you satisfied and give you all the nutrients you need in a balanced meal. Ingredients 2 cups of water 2 cups of raw spinach 1 apple 1 cup of frozen mango 1 tablespoon flaxmeal 1 scoop Next Generation Vanilla Protein powder Method Blend these...
Some people argue that you can get all your protein needs from vegetables, but others say that you need meat to get your protein requirements. A US study has found that a meat-containing diet was superior to a lacto-ovo-vegetarian diet with regard to gaining...
Fruits smoothies are cool and refreshing. Plus because they contain fruit, they just seem healthy. But are they? Well consider this. CHOICE Analytical analysed 95 fruit-based drinks from popular fast food chains, including Boost Juice, Donut King, Gloria Jean’s, New Zealand Natural and Wendys....
Total Time: 10m Ingredients 250 grams (1 ¼ cups) long-grain rice Canola oil spray 4 (about 150g each) white fish fillets 2 tablespoons sushi seasoning 2 tablespoons salt-reduced soy sauce 5 cm piece fresh ginger, peeled, cut into matchsticks 1 long red chilli, seeded, thinly sliced 200 grams snow peas, halved diagonally lengthways 1 bunch choy sum,...
1. Cut Caffeine. The effects of caffeine can take as long as eight hours to wear off. So if you drink a cup of coffee or soft drink in the afternoon and are still tossing at night, caffeine might be the reason. Cutting out caffeine...
You’ve been working hard to get in your exercise sessions and eat a healthy balanced diet, but are you still feeling a bit sluggish? Don’t have the energy to greet the day with enthusiasm? Hit a plateau on dropping those last few pounds? What...
When the summer heat reduces and there is more energy about, most people focus on cleaning their homes out; this Autumn, make sure you clean out your diet too! Your body will thank you for it… Ditch the soft drinks & juices. Both...
Daylight savings has now disappeared, it won’t be back for six months, it’s getting cold, dark, wet and your motivation to improve your health and fitness is waning! Sound familiar? I see waves of people year after year go into complete hibernation, starting now,...