Sexy, Sultry Secrets

Pilates 101 

What do Salma Hayek, Sofia Vergara and Monica Belluci have in common? Well, other than sexy, sultry curves and toned thighs? 

The answer is pilates. 

 This fitness sensation is breaking fitness boundaries and transforming the lives (and bodies) of people all over the world. 

So where did pilates originate? 

Click for your own personal pilates introduction

During World War 1, Joseph Pilates was interned as an 'enemy alien' with some other German nationals and during his internment, he refined and improved his fitness ideas to include resistance training and taught his other internees his ideas. At the camp he attached resistance bands and helped bedridden patients to exercise and keep active using resistance. Over the years, his students developed his teaching and opened their own fitness studios naming them after their mentor and teacher. Today, those same teachings and ideas of Joseph Pilates have been studied, improved and implemented  and gave become the  best way to tone your thighs and get a flat, lean stomach. 

Some of the additional benefits of pilates include:

• improved flexibility.
• increased muscle strength and tone, particularly of your abdominal muscles, lower back, hips and buttocks (the 'core muscles' of your body) 
• balanced muscular strength on both sides of your body and 
• enhanced muscular control of your back and limbs.

So if you want Sofia Vergara's sultry figure or Salma Hayek's sultry physique, start doing 3 hours of pilates every week and you'll have the body of the next bond girl. 

Click here for online pilates advice and tutorials

Spicy Summer Sensations

Steamy Morroccan Chicken packed with loads of flavor! 

This is a delicious, saucy, spicy meal with all the right ingredients you need to burn fat and stay healthy. Serve it as a heart warming casserole in the cold winter nights or as a spicy  side in the summer. However you decide to serve it is delicious and will have your guests singing your praises. 

You will need: 

4 Chicken breasts( preferably on the bone but deboned will also work)

3 tablespoons of olive oil

1-2 tablespoons of Moroccan spice paste

2 sweet potatoes (sliced into wedges)

Juice from 1 large orange 

2 aubergines also sliced into wedges 

6 baby leeks (sliced in half)

1 teaspoon of cumin

1 teaspoon of paprika 

1 teaspoon of coriander 

1 large cup of low fat, plain yogurt (or Greek yogurt) 

1 teaspoon of tahini 

1 teaspoon of honey 

1 tablespoon of pumpkin seeds

1 tablespoon of sunflower seeds 

1 tablespoon of sesame seeds

Instructions: 

1. Preheat your oven to 180 degrees. 

2. Rub the chicken breasts with a mixture of 1 tablespoon of olive oil, Moroccan paste and orange juice and set them aside, covered for later use. 

3. Combine the remaining oil and spices and cover the vegetables with the mixture to coat. 

4. Place the chicken, sweet potatoes and aubergines in a large baking tray and roast them for 35 minutes, adding the baby leeks in the last 10 minutes.

5. While the chicken is roasting, mix the yogurt, honey and tahini together and set the mixture aside. 

6. In a smaller, separate pan, dry roast the seeds until fragrant. 

7. Toss the vegetables with the spices and serve with the chicken, drizzled with the yogurt dressing. 

Enjoy! 

Weight-Loss Wonders of the Week

The Venus Factor and Flavia Del Monte's Full-body-licios

Every day thousands of women across the globe are faced with the daunting and challenging task of losing weight. Whether its to get fit for the summer, tone up after a pregnancy or simply to drop a few dress sizes, losing weight is one challenge that unites the women of the world. 

So this week, I will be putting two weight-loss and fitness programs under the scope and giving you the opportunity to go and discover them yourself. These two programmes have been selected because they are specifically made for women and they give results! 

The Venus Factor 

This unique program was started by world renowned fitness consultant and nutritionist John Barban. He has studied the female anatomy together with its psyche and biological components and he has managed to narrow the weight-loss struggle down to a single hormone. The entire program is designed to not only help you lose all the weight you want but it helps you keep it off as well. It is an easy to follow 12-week guide to a better, healthier and not to mention lighter you. 

For more information about this life changing program follow the link below and watch the motivational video. 

The Venus Factor more life changing information CLICK HERE  

Flavia Del Monte's Full-body-licios 

As a registered nurse, personal trainer and nutritionist, Flavia Del Monte combines all her skills to bring you one of the few female tailored exercise programs that guarantees excellent results. 

She has used her own personal experiences with low self-confidence, obesity and a challenging life to come up with a new and exciting way of exercising that is specifically tailored to work womens bellies, arms, butt and thighs. You will shed fat, tone thighs and feel amazing after just 2 weeks of consistent exercise. '

More information on full-body-licios

Althought there hundreds of thousands of other weight loss programs out there, these are unique and specifically designed for women. They have sky high success rates and they have been tried and tested. Fast track your way to a healthier lifestyle today with these revolutionary weight loss wonders. 

Anti-Age the food you eat

Foods that will prevent disease and make old age that much easier. 

The contents of your trolley may have you on the fast track to wrinkles, diseases and pre-mature old age. By making smarter food choices, staying active and following a healthier life you can significantly decrease your risks of getting certain diseases and you can even look younger for longer.  

High GI index such as sweets and white starches like rice and potatoes can attack and destroy proteins proteins such as collagen that keep the skin plump and young looking amongst other things. Such foods will also increase the risks of high blood pressure and heart disease. 

Eating anti-oxidant rich foods, whole grains and vitamin packed fruit will keep your collagen levels in check and will keep you healthy and disease free for a long time. 

Here are the hottest picks of foods that have the highest age-defying properties and decrease the risks of age related diseases

Yogurt 

Although it may not have statistically proven "age-defying" properties, yogurt is packed full of calcium which helps reduce the risks of osteoporosis and it has a high concentration of 'good bacteria' that help your gut stay healthy and reduces the risks of age-related intestinal illnesses. 

Fish 

Many health care professionals advise consuming fish as much as 4 times a week! This way, like the Inuits of Alaska, you can look forward to old age practically heart disease free. Fish contains an abundance of omega-3 fats that prevent cholesterol build up in the arteries and protects your heart against abnormal beating rhythms. 

Whole grains

The grainier the better. Recent research has shown that whole grain foods protect against colon cancer, strokes, heart related diseases and high blood pressure. These include wholegrain oats, brown rice, whole grain bread and fibre rich cereals. Each meal of the day must have a whole grain component and be sure to try to include whole grain snacks into your diet as well. 

Chocolate - dark. 

Dark chocolate, although a weight loss diet no-no, contains cocoa flavanols that lower inflammation, lower blood pressure and activate your brain. But don't go eating whole slabs just to get your blood pressure under control, that will definitely cause other problems such as diabetes. 

The age old saying "you are what you eat" is a painful yet real truth. If you choose to poison your body with fatty, processed foods, your body will eventually succumb to diseases such as cholesterol and heart disease. But if you choose to nourish your body with healthy, anti-oxidant rich foods that will cleanse and help your body you will help your body fight off disease and stay healthy. 

Don't poison your body, after all you can't order another one. 

Beat the Holiday Binge!

Quick tips to help you stay healthy and fit during the festives. 

After a long and stressful year we all need to just let go and enjoy the indulgences of the holiday season, however, the holidays also come packed with sweet treats, lazy days and of course skipping your usual gym routine. In order to stay healthy, you need to eat in moderation and discipline yourself. 

1. Mind those germs! 

Believe it or not the festive season is also the time when most people get really sick. Most the sicknesses stem from viral infections that are spread through human interaction and by people touching germ infested armrests, trays, tables, belt buckles and latches. So, be safe. Carry some sanitizing wipes and wipe everything you're going to touch before getting comfortable in planes, taxis and buses.  

2. Stay Hydrated 

Drinking lots of water seems to be the cure for everything and that's because water works! 

If you're travelling, drink a half a litre of water for every hour you're in the air to counteract a dry throat and nose from the recycled air in the plane, Before you eat a hearty meal, drink at least two glasses of water so that you're partially full and don't end up downing the entire buffet! Drink lots of water before and after a heavy night of drinking to cleanse and detox your system.  

3. Resist, Resist, Resist! 

With all the shopping that comes with the festive season, its hard not to walk into a sweet shop and come out with bags full of sweet treats. Its also easy to walk into a fast food joint and grab burgers, fries and wings as a quick snack before continuing your shopping.
DON'T DO IT! Resist the urge to eat too many processed sugars (sweets, chocolates) and white starches (cakes, doughnuts, sugary desserts). Rather, put a limit to the amount of ' bad foods' you're allowed to have per day and stick to that limit. Just don't make the limit something like 3 cakes, 4 doughnuts, and 2 servings of dessert per day - that's not helping anyone. A realistic limit like 1 small serving of dessert and a half a slice of cake is moderate and allows you to still eat your holiday favorites. 

4. Do not stop working out. 

 The festive season = lazy days, family and friends coming over, new holiday destination blah, blah, blah... Whatever you do, don't stop exercising. Running up and down the stairs for 20 minutes is enough cardio for the day, top it off with some ab work and that's it. You really don't have to go to the gym to stay fit and healthy, use what you have around you. If you're in a different area, take a jog around the block and discover what lies around you. Discipline yourself and stay motivated.  

5. Pace yourself - its not a race.  

This time of the year is packed full of big holiday dinners, extravagant lunches and bug breakfasts but remember that you can enjoy the food you like without eating too much of it. So slow down on piling on too much food onto your plate and steer clear of the buffet table once you'r plate is full. Eat small portions of the food you love and fill your plate with whole grains, vegetables and chicken ( not fried!). Choose 1 item that's not so healthy and then fill your plate with healthier choices. For desserts, choose fruit salads if possible or if not take a really small portion of that dessert. 

Remember that it is totally possible to enjoy all your favorite foods in moderation and not all at once. If you just watch your portion sizes and discipline yourself, you really won't gain that much weight during the festive season. Whatever you do don't stop exercising and don't beat yourself up if you have a 1 binge day, just get bacck to eating healthy wholegrains and fibre packed vegetables. 

But most importantly, enjoy yourself. This is the one time of the year when everything stops and everyone comes together to enjoy the last stretch of the passed year, so enjoy being surrounded by loved ones and not having to wake up early for a change. After this year, we all deserve a break. 

Sleep: Natures Gift

Sleepy much??  ZZZZzzzzzzzzz 

'Sleep is a waste of time, I'll sleep when I'm dead.'

Sound familiar? This was Lady Gaga' response to critics who suggested that she was pushing herself too hard and would eventually have a nervous breakdown. 

It may seem OKAY to forfeit a few snoozes if you're chasing a deadline, working extra jobs or studying for exams but skipping sleep for too long will result in fatigue, misery and ill-health. 

Many sleep experts advise against skipping a night of sleep altogether because sleep, much like time, can never be caught up. Sleep restores your body, builds your immune system and helps you to recuperate and grow. You can forget about being alert and burning those extra calories if you've skipped a few good nights because burning calories requires much energy - energy that your body probably won't have if you have not had a good nights sleep.

Sleep is not a myth or something to do when you're dead. Lets face it, living on earth is tiring and your body needs to calm down after a long day. Your body needs sleep in order to heal, repair and de-stress. So don't rob yourself of one of natures best (and free) gifts. Give your body and mind what they deserve.

Power Packed Foods 1

The Wonders of Ginger 

Less is more. This saying could not be more true for ginger. Everyone agrees that ginger is one of the most anti-social herbs around but its health benefits and fantastic flavour sure make up for the pungent smell and taste. 

 Ginger is one spice that is sure to light up your fire and electrify your cooking. The strong, intense burn from ginger is slow and allows you to take your cooking to the next level. Ginger helps fight colds and flu's and stimulates the digestive system making it not only an anti-viral agent but an excellent weight loss miracle worker as well. 

It adds a special flavor to stir fries and Chinese dishes and will make you the Mastechef of your own kitchen.Just rub some ginger on some a steak before cooking it and watch its flavor packed tenderizing effect go to work! Add a spoon of ginger to your casseroles and stews and taste the exotic,spicy, difference.

Ginger appears to have originated in Asia and later spread to Europe where it became a popular cure for the Plague. The Japanese however, prefer it pickled and serve it with sushi for an extra fresh, zesty flavor. Ginger combined with garlic and chilli  works wonderfully in marinades and relishes and imparts a refreshing kick to vegie juices. 

In order to adopt a healthier lifestyle you must be willing to take 'food risks'. Swapping out basic spices and processed salt for herbs like ginger will give your dishes a fresh, flavorful fire that will not only be healthier but certainly tastier too.  

The Healthier, Happier you. 

Henry David Thoreau once said that happiness is like a butterfly, the more you chase it, the more it eludes you. However, to most, happines is not a destination but a choice. The choice to be positive and optimistic, to choose the good over the bad and the choice to search for the greater good in everyone - no matter how hard it may be. 

To begin your happiness journey you need to be fully fuelled with positivism and completely thwart out all negative emotions and actions such as resentment, anger and unforgiveness.   

1. Don't sweat the small stuff - no really don't! 

Being happy means not worrying about things beyond control and things that make you anxious. So choose not to wreck your brain about things that harbor negativity into your life. You'll be happier and less tense. 

2. Be grateful. 

Find something to be grateful for everyday. 

3. Engage in a meaningful activity. 

When your mind is fully absorbed in an activity, all your 'problems' seem to disappear right before your eyes and before you know it you're smiling again. Anything from running to pilates and even cooking is enough to turn your frown up-side-down. 

Yoga is a great way to get active and to help de-stress all at the same time. 

Click here for yoga information 

More information about relaxation and breathing exercises

As with most things in life, happiness is a choice and not a sudden occurence. Some people are lucky enough to have genes that almost foster happiness but most people aren't immune to the tosses and turns of life and end up frustrated and upset at some point during the day. Just remember that to live a happier life in amongst the turmoil of the world means eliminating negativity, appreciating all you have and keeping your body on the move. 

5 Biggest Health myths done to shame.

Beating the bulge without the correct ammunition means losing the battle  to fried fatty foods and sugary desserts with processed sugars and loads of carbs! Thankfully, we have sought the advice of two highly qualified health professionals from the Produce for Better Health Foundation to do away with common weight loss preconceptions so that you have all the weapons you need to win your weight loss war. 

1. Snacking between meals is always a bad idea. 

You really do not need to starve yourself to lose weight. Picture this: you've just started a new "lose weight fast" diet and you have not eaten since that grapefruit you had in the morning and now your stomach is rumbling like tractor on harvesting day 6 hours later. 

Snacking between meals helps keep you going through out the day and it significantly reduces hunger pangs. But remember to snack on low G.I foods. 

2. All carbs are bad. 
This is arguably one of the biggest health myths. All carbs are not the same and therefore not equally bad. The carbs to avoid are processed carbs that are high in sugar and white flour. Instead, in order to lose weight and keep it off, enjoy beans, whole gains, brown rice, fruits and vegetables baring in mind that in order to burn more fat your body needs carbs to use as fuel in order to burn the most fat. 

3. Slimming pills are effective for long term weight loss. 
Absolutely not. Slimming pills may be effective in the short term but keeping weight off in the long term involves more than just popping pills. 

4.Foods labelled 'low fat' or 'fat reduced' are the healthiest choice.
A reduced fat snack should legally contain less fat than the full fat version but that does not mean the reduced fat version has a healthy amount of fat or that the fat it contains is healthy.  

5. Drinking water helps you lose weight. 
Water alone does not help you lose weight but it keeps you hydrated and reduces the amount of food you eat. Although water is essential for good health and wellbeing, it does not increase your body's ability to burn more fat. 

 

Delta Your Lifestyle 

As the world changes, technology becomes more advanced, pollution increases at a stifling rate and your body is overwhelmed by the all the 'adapting' it must do in order to keep up. There are new, better and sometimes strange ways of keeping fit, staying in shape and losing weight - some a bit more unorthodox than the rest. Every single day doctors, scientists and researchers make it their mission to unpack the age old such as 

does caffeine contribute to heart disease? and do you really need 8 glasses of water every day? 

As someone who just wants to lose weight or someone who simply wants to change their lifestyle in or order to be healthier, you are confronted with thousands of different opinions, research articles and statistics that often contradict each other. In the end you end up confused, overwhelmed and probably hungry! 

But don't rush for a plate of fatty fries just yet...help is indeed on the way. 

This is a platform for you to learn, compare and change your life through healthy eating, exercise and relaxation. We will compare the latest in weight loss and fitness, post delicious healthy recipes for you to try at home and we will even showcase the latest in fitness wear from your favourite brands. 

Changing your lifestyle has never been easier!