Jul
15
Top Five Reasons To Try Weight Training 
Over the last few weeks we have been looking at a range of activities and the benefits of them for anyone who is considering a new fitness pursuit. In this article we are going to explore the benefits of weight training. As with activities such as climbing it is crucial to consult a professional if you decide to take up weight lifting. Technique is important, not only to getting the most from your work out but also to remain safe from injury. Luckily most gyms will offer the opportunity to create a gym plan with the help of a qualified instructor who can help you to customise an individual work out according to your needs. Following instruction you may then go on to weight train on your own or with friends and you can even train at home and without the need for equipment! Here are our top five reasons to give weight training a try. Suitability. Weight training is suitable for adults of all ages and abilities. Your gym instructor will help you to achieve what it is that you are aiming for by determining which type of exercise, how much weight and how many repetitions will work best for you. Accessibility. Following some initial instruction you will be able to train wherever is most convenient to you. If you wish to invest in your own weights then you may use these as an alternative to the gym, if not then it is possible to train without weights, simply using your own body weight as a form of resistance. Weight loss. Many people are put off the idea of weight training as they are afraid that it may create too much ‘bulk’ on the body but using weights can really help with weight loss as well as fitness, particularly when practiced alongside other activities. Results. Weight training will give you fast results and it is very satisfying when you find that you can raise your weight or repetitions within just a few sessions. Fun. As with any exercise weight training will release all those feel good endorphins that make you feel great. It is also a fab activity to do with a friend. If you decide to try weight training always ask a professional to show you how to use equipment the properly before attempting to train on your own, incorrect use of gym equipment and weights can result in injury. Always consult your doctor before starting a new activity.…
It’s holiday season and many of us will soon be considering which items of clothing to include in our suitcase. With some help from our simple beach holiday packing we hope you will soon have the answers. Firstly, don’t be tempted to take several favourite outfits – a few key items will do. Another great tip is to choose a colour scheme for your holiday wardrobe and stick with it, this will enable you to mix and match items cleverly. Here are our top 10 beach holiday essentials: 1) Take a clean set of underwear for every day and a spare in your hand luggage in case of delays. 2) Pack a kaftan. They are versatile, flattering and available in endless colours and styles. 3) If you are comfortable in bikinis, they can provide lots of possibilities when worn with other items. For the less body-confident a tankini can also be a good option. 4) Linen trousers can look fabulous on holiday but they also crease very easily so they may not be ideal for you. Consider taking a lightweight pair of favourite jeans instead. 5) Vest tops go with anything. We would recommend taking two, in colours from your chosen holiday wardrobe palette. 6) You will probably be able to purchase items such as sarongs and hats while you are on holiday, but if you want to be sure then a sarong won’t take up much room in your suitcase and a headscarf makes a great alternative to a hat. 7) Shorts are a must. Denim cut off’s are very fashionable right now – and, again, can be matched with other items from your suitcase. 8) You can probably manage with just two pairs of shoes for your entire holiday: comfy trainers or flats for travelling and unexpected weather/terrain, and a pretty pair of flat sandals for the suitcase. Go for something metallic or embellished and your sandals will take you from day to night. 9) Don’t forget something warm for the evenings. Again, you can travel in this, just be sure not to forget it! 10) A cagoule can be a handy item on holiday and takes up barely any room at all. Pack one for any unexpected weather conditions.…
I have observed different wedding dress styles and trends from the previous year and I noticed a few trends that are still current this year. This is my prediction for the top wedding fashion trends for the year 2010: Touches of black: Black and White dresses are everywhere! Whether it’s the sash, the neckline or hemline of the dress, Black is a great detail and makes the wedding dress pop! Mermaid- style dresses: Golden Globes, the Oscars, and the Grammy’s. This look was very”in” last year and is still the current trend. The Roaring Twenties and Fabulous Fifties: “Flapper”- inspired dresses with its dropped hemline and silk / lace detailing is a very delicate and timeless look. The screen siren look of the fabulous fifties is a very elegant, yet sultry look that will never go out of style. This is a style of billowing skirts, ball gowns and stream-lined dresses. Flowers, feathers & bow details: I have seen these details on shoulder straps, hemlines and waistlines. Asymmetrical Dresses: I love the look of the ’80?s and I have seen its’ heavy return in 2009. For 2010, the trend continues with one- shoulder straps, low cut necklines with slits up to “there” and deconstructed hemlines. Pop star Rhianna comes to mind when I think of an artist who wears asymmetrical dresses. Goth-inspired dresses: As the popularity of Goth rises, I have seen more and more Goth wedding dresses. The late Alexander McQueen had a magnificent line of Goth-styled dresses as well as John Galliano. Looking at movies such as the newly released “Alice in Wonderland”and “Sweeney Todd”, director Tim Burton has managed to capture the haunting look of Goth by making it mysterious and sexy. Plunging lines: Highlighting the delicate lines of the neck & collarbone & the small of the back. Lace Dresses: Timeless and romantic, Lace dresses never goes out of style! Tiered-skirts: I like to call this look the “Cupcake” or fairy look. This look is designed after the tiers of a cake and is a very popular trend featured in recent celebrity events. These tiered – skirt dresses are made with various fabrics such as taffeta, rutching, and netting. Stream-lined silhouettes: This was a popular look in the 1930?s-40 and gives a glamorous, stream – lined look. Metallic detailing: Gold, Bronze, and Silver details is a fresh look this year and very edgy. For Metallic detailing, think of Gold beading on the bodice of a dress or a silver- lace hemline. Higher hemlines: Who said that you have to get married in a long flowing gown? The trend for 2010 is to show off shapely legs with knee-length or cocktail dresses! Ethereal dresses: From empire to A-line dresses, the Ethereal/ Fairy look is still very much in style. Gauzy fabrics of lace and silks bring a very romantic, yet simple style to the wedding dress. Style inspirations? Think Nicole Ritchie. Splashes of Color: Splashes of color are everywhere in 2010! Whether it’s in the detail of the wedding dress or just adding a pair of brightly colored shoes, this look is very fresh and Spring – inspired. Other popular colors? Gray, Silver or Champagne- colored wedding dresses; you don’t have to be married in pure White any longer! These are wonderful wedding dress trends for 2010!…
Everyone loves festival season but some of us may over indulge in alcohol and snack food while we’re soaking up the atmosphere. We have come up with some post indulgence detox tips for those who want to bring their bodies back to tip top condition following festival fun. Try introducing these methods gradually for a week and see how you feel, if you can manage it, go for 2 weeks! You may decide to use this detox plan as a regular thing when you begin to feel the benefits and you can use the principles again, adapting the intensity depending on the extent of detox you are looking to achieve. Cleansing and rejuvenating Start each day with a cup or glass of boiled and cooled or bottled water, with the juice of a fresh lemon added. If you drink this before anything else in the day it will really help to cleanse your body. Later have at least one cup of green tea, the antioxidants will give your system a real boost. If you need to sweeten either of these drinks do so with honey (preferably ‘manuka’ honey) you may also wish to add some fresh peppermint leaves. Cut other drinks (such as tea and coffee) to a minimum, stick to water, pure juice or smoothies throughout the day. Smoothies are a great way to detox and are a healthy addition to any diet. They are better then juices alone as they contain the whole fruit. Variety It’s great for your body to have a break from heavy foods. Wheat, dairy, red meats and processed foods should be eliminated from your diet for the best results but you can build up to this over week 1 and see how you feel about a stricter week 2 later. See this as a chance to really try something new, such as introducing more fruit, veg, fish, pulses etc. into your diet, rather than a period where you are ‘going without’. Replace sugary breakfast cereals with porridge, bananas or yoghurts and snack on seeds, nuts, fruit and oatcakes. Include fresh garlic, onion and herbs in at least one meal a day and limit eating after 8pm to an absolute minimum. Other factors For those who smoke, obviously ideally you would give up – but this detox shouldn’t be stressful, so if you can’t manage that then cut down to at least half of what you smoked previously. This is easier than quitting altogether and is also attainable for most smokers. A good tip is to limit any smoking at all until after your evening meal. Alcohol should be cut out altogether also. If you must drink alcohol it should be kept to an absolute maximum of one small glass of wine a day with your evening meal. It is important that you get lots of rest over this period. Treat yourself to 7 nights of at least 8hrs sleep. If this means going to bed earlier, do it – you’ll feel great for it. Try body brushing in the mornings, it gets your circulation moving and energizes you. Try adding essential oils to your bath. Patchouli, lemon, Juniper, grapefruit or geranium oils are all great for detox. Add 6-8 drops to your bath water or 2-4 drops to a carrier oil for detox massage. Patch test any oils that you have not previously used 48 hours before including in your detox – to check for any sensitivity. Exercise is a valuable addition to any detox plan. Ideally try yoga. As little as ten minutes in the morning and ten in the evening will help you to remain focused, relaxed and to deal with cravings better.…
Women fashion has reached to an absolutely new level altogether. New fabrics and innovative patterns are ruling the roost, out of which leather is one such material that will never go out of vogue. Gone are the days when leather was only restricted to jackets. Now it is available in a variety of forms that helps the contemporary woman dress for various occasions. A few leather styles for today highly up-to-date women, Jackets Jackets are timelessly voguish. Everyone yearns to incorporate a stylish leather jacket in their wardrobe these days. Available in myriad colors, styles, patterns and fabrics, they should be purchased keeping the purpose in mind. A woman biker must buy a jacket that is rugged and strong whereas party-hoppers main criteria should be the style quotient the jacket exudes. Goatskin, cowhide and lamb leather are the types of leather that are widely used in making jackets and help you determine your purpose. The youth lately is experimenting with a lot of colors because of which the availability and sale of red, blue, green jackets etc are on an all time high. Blazers A working woman needs to overhaul and spruce up her wardrobe every now and then. What could be a better option than a leather blazer that would impart a formal and chic look to your appearance. Team it up with a sheath or an A-line skirt or basic formal pants and you will be all set to sashay into your office with style. Pants Pants should be chosen on the basis of body type. Straight fits, skinny fit, nickel studded patterns etc, myriad styles are available these days. They can be worn both on formal and casual occasions, provided it is combined prudently with the right accessories and clothes. Dresses It is a myth that leather dresses are only for biker chicks, rock fans or girls who want to achieve a Gothic look. If you want to don a classy appearance without looking over the top, you can try a thin strapped knee length sheath leather dress with a sweetheart neckline and maybe team it up with a bright bolero jacket. Halters A party or a casual soiree, a halter style is the best thing to flaunt and when it is a leather halter, it is an icing on the cake. It accentuates your shoulders and looks highly smart when teamed with skinny jeans or a skirt. Skirts Skirts have been here for years now, and they never really seem to go out of style. They accentuate your silhouette and make you look feminine. A-line, mermaid, sheath cuts etc. there are many options to choose from. Leather has a fantastic sheen, when teamed with a smart tee or a chic shirt; it makes you look nothing less than fabulous.…
The new Nike Zoom Hyperfuse 2011 has already dropped in a wide variety of colorways. Despite the fact that this shoe has only been on the sneaker stage for a couple months, there have been many different colorways dropped. The first releases of the shoe brought us Rajon Rondo and Russell Westbrooke PE’s. Those were followed up by special releases. Then, of course, multiple general releases in various colorways were released. It looks like the Hyperfuse 2011 will continue to drop, and drop often. If the new general release colorway is any indication of what colorways we can expect in the future, then the more drops the better. The newest Hyperfuse 2011 release has dropped in a slick looking Metallic Silver/Violet colorway. The shoe’s upper is covered by Metallic Silver while Violet takes care of the tongue, inner lining, and the Swoosh which is placed at the center of the midsole. The midsole and laces use Black. This colorway is another in the long line of Hyperfuse releases that breaks the mold of what has been considered to be the standard colorway. Nike seems very intent on creating some never before seen color combinations on this shoe. Their determination to create the sickest colorways has not wavered and seems to be growing. The new Hyperfuse 2011 uses the technology Nike designers developed on a trip to the Far East. The basketball that is played in China is primarily played outdoors on the blacktop. A harsh surface that can get very hot at times. In response to these conditions, the Nike design team wanted to create a shoe that was durable enough for the tough surface and at the same time would allow for breathability to combat the heat that was created during play. As a result of their efforts, the Nike Hyperfuse technology was created. A technology that has been used on multiple different athletic shoes. The Nike Hyperfuse is made up of three different materials that are fused together through an intense heat process to create the strongest most durable upper that can be used on a shoe. Synthetic base, mesh, and a TPU film are the materials that Nike used in this process. As a result, the Hyperfuse 2011 is the most durable, supportive, and stable basketball shoe on the market. In addition, the shoe offers the maximum in breathability due to the mesh panels on its upper that allows for heat ventilation during play. Nike Hyperfuse has become so popular that you would be hard pressed to find a pair of Nike shoes for basketball that does not have some form of this technology incorporated into it in one way or another. This innovative, high performance technology is here to stay for a while.…