Swim Like An Olympic Hero!

Recently we lokeed at the benefits that regular swimming could have on our general health and fitness, with a few basic pointers to get you started on the right footing. We thought we would now have a look at ways to take your swimming up a notch or two and, at the same time, ensure you get the maximum benefit from incorpoarting swimming into your fitness routine.

So, how do you go about graduating from a messy doggy paddle to swimming like Ian Thorpe or Michael Phelps?

First, you need to pay attention to your posture or body shape in the water. You are aiming to achieve a torpedoe shape with your arms and legs outstreched for maximum traction. Your hips should be high in the water for maximum performance. If not, you are basically dragging them through the water, causing much more strain on the rest of your muscle groups. As you move through the water your body will rotate, allowing you the opportunity to breathe efficiently and correctly.

And the last thing you need to concentrate on is, indeed, the quality of your breathing. You should inhale as often as required, but  aim to get your breathing into a routine whereby you exhale every second or third stroke.Get rid of all the air in your lungs while your head is in the water, before you rotate your head to breathe in again.Getting your beathing right can be tricky but once you have mastered it you will soon see the  benefits.

Rosehip Oil – Better Than Botox?

Do you like the sound of a product that doesn’t cost the earth  but can help improve the appearance of scars and wrinkles, as well as giving your skin a healthy glow? Thought you might, so why not get your hands on some organic rosehip oil? Rosehip oil is rich in essential fatty acids that your body cannot produce by itself and which help soften the skin and also smooth out marks and scars, including stretch marks, wrinkles and even old acne scars. Try out Trilogy Certified Organic Rosehip Oil at £16.50 for a natural wholesome alternative to injecting toxins into your skin!

Our Guide To Renewed Health And Fitness

Many pills and programs are not only misleading, but can be dangerous. Make sure you pay attention to facts on getting fit, rather than trusting to the latest fad. Following these tips will let you get in shape without having to buy any expensive products or get involved wirh uproven methods.

One important but often overlooked step on a embarking on a new fitness regime is to keep a record of your progress. Keep an accurate daily log. If this seems a bit tedious – emember it will bew worth further down the line. Your daily record includes items like food, drinks, exercise, and anything else you consider relevant. You should even jot down the weather that day. Now I appreciate that this may seem a little odd but bear with me.It will help you notice trends associated with highs or lows in your fitness plan. If you find that you’re unable to exercise – or you don’t work as hard -  when the weather is bad, adjust your schedule so you make up for lost time later.

To give yourself a trim figure you need to pay attention to your stomach. Work out your abdominals regularly.For guys you can strive for that elusive six pack but for the girls ir uis still a good idea to tone up your midriff. Get into the habit of working on this area a couple of days a week, not too much because like any other muscle, it does need its rest.

Simple rule for working out to build your body: Fewer reps with heavier weight will build more muscle mass. Begin by selecting a muscle group, such as the chest. Begin with a warm-up set using lighter weights. It is a good idea to do approximately 15-20 reps with the lighter weight. The next set should be weights that are heavy enough that you can only complete 6 to 8 reps. Add 5 more pounds, and then repeat the reps for your third set.

Stretching is a vital part of working out that doesn’t always get enough attention. Stretching will increase your muscle size after any workout activity, particularly weight lifting and cardio training. Besides that, it’s plain uncomfy to have tight muscles. Be sure to adequately stretch for no less than 10 minutes following every workout for optimum results.

Push-ups are great and simple way to add a nice tone to your triceps. However, rather than doing normal push-ups, your triceps can be targeted by turning in the hands until the fingertips face each other, which is around 45 degrees. This particular pushup tones and strengthens your triceps more effectively than other types of exercises.

An excellent tip for improving your health is eliminating refined sugar from your diet. If you are sugar-addicted, it is likely you drink a lot of soda. If you stop consuming refined sugar, you will find that your goals are easier to achieve.

If you are ready to shed those extra pounds, go for it! If getting fit is what you want, then do it! The main thing to remember, whatever your goal, is to make the goal because YOU want it, not to please friends or family. Relying on exterior motivation never works.

As you have learned from this article, there is a lot you can do to get into shape. Then you will be able to add to your knowledge base and continue building fitness. Regular use of these tips is needed to become healthier, so use them whenever you can.

The Secret To Great Looking Legs!

No matter what the weather is up to, with our pick of the best buys around you can be looking great this summer without paying a fortune. After months of cold weather there is nothing quite like giving your legs a little attention. Legs, epecially the shin area, have a tendency to build up dry skin which can mean a less-than-stunning scaly look. Eradicate this with a good quality scrub. Use a sweeping circular action with a scrub such as Superdrug’s Arora Sweet Vanilla Body Scrub to get your legs looking and feeling smooth once more. It costs just £3.99 from stores nationwide.

After exfolialating, the next step to a new you is moisturising. Pretty basic, perhaps, but to get the best results you need to apply it as soon as possible after your shower or bath so as to retain more moisture. Why not try out Dry Leg Fix Instant Leg Smoother from Nip+Fab?

The last step is optional, but if your legs – no matter how smooth they now are – still look a bit peely-wally as my Granny used to say, then it’s time to give them a golden glow with Boots Soltan Beautiful Bronze Wash Off Instant Bronzing Lotion. Apply as you would any fake tan or bronzer, taking particular care around the knees.

And there you have it – three simple steps to get your pins ready to face the world this summer!

Detoxing Will Help You Clean Up Your Act

Lots of us are just back from our summer holidays feeling relaxed and fit and feeling great about our glowing tans. However, the one downside from a relaxing break away is that understandable tendency to eat and drink a little too much. After all, it’s only once a year.

Well, if you have perhaps overindulged just a little, then maybe now would be a good time for a summer detox. We often hear of people embarking on a detox after the excesses of Christmas but it can be difficult to do when the weather is cold and there is a natural tendency to stay at home, watch the tv in front of the fire at night and eat comfort food.

Detoxing is a way of eliminating the toxins from your body that have built up from the extra drinks and naughty-buy-nice meals you have enjoyed while you were away. In addition to cleansing your system, detoxing also aids reduction in body fat, which means that you should expect to lose a few excess inches around your tummy and waist if you stick to the programme religiously.

You don’t need any fancy complicated diet plans or similar products. Detoxing properly involves a simple two step process.

As far as diet and hydration are concerned, it’s time to enjoy your meals witth plenty of fresh, healthy vegetables such as broccoli, red peppers and onions. Make sure you include lots of wholegrains as well, from your morning bowl of cereal to wholegrain rice with your dinner. Try to stay away from red meat completely during your detox. Raw oils such as olive oil or perhaps some home-produced rapeseed oil are great and will make a delicious salad dressing.

Caffeine is a no-no – try to replace your daily cup of coffee or tea with herbal tea or plain, unadulterated water.

The second thing you need to include when detoxing is exercise. Exercise is also essential to detoxing properly. It helps raise your heart rate, speed up circulation and get the blood surging through your kidneys and liver to help effectively remove waste from the body.

So there you have it – two simple steps to help you bounce back from holiday into the daily grind with a fresh new outlook.

Golden Rules To A Healthier You

Here in the UK we are all still basking in the reflected glory of our athletes Olympic endeavours. But, we wonder, are there any lessons we can learn from top sports stars when it comes to dealing with the slings and arrows of daily life?

One thing many of the top performers at the games seem to be able to do at the moment of greatest pressure is to stay calm. This does not simply happen by accident. Take Michael Phelps for instance. He uses a technique called emotional conditioning to help him compete. It involves visualising the perfect race and Phelps has been quoted as saying that he does this with his eyes closed to help him stay focussed on his ultimate goal.This way outside influences and pressures do no penerate the “bubble” you build up around yourself. These kind of visualisation techniques have been popular for some time but is there any prooof that they work if you are not a super-human athlete like Phelps? Well, yes, it appears so. Research in the publication Psychological Science  demonstrated that folk who were given a “lucky” golf ball before they started putting actually performed better than those who were not, suggesting that, on the assumption putting abilities were roughly equivalent, the psycholigical effect of knowing you were using a “lucky” ball made a difference.

Another important element in performing to your maximum appears to be avoiding negativity. When things are tough it can often be very easy to succumb to pressure or the feeling that you are just not going to be able to manage a task or tasks. Remember what Usain Bolt said after his victorious 100 metres race. He has a notoriously slow start and this had begun to create some self-doubt. Instead his coach told him not to worry about his start, but rather to concentrate on what he does best – the mid part and end of the race. The result? Three more gold medals, proof that concentrating on the positives is much more effective than dwelling on the negatives.

No matter how posiive and driven you may be, there are inevitably times when you will not succeed in your chosen endeavour and therein lies another key to continued improvement. It is essential that you do not dwell on failures – simply accept them as part of life and move on to the next challenge. Psychologists claim that it is key to put failures or disappointments into perspective, failing which there is a real risk that they can be allowed to drag you down.  Think of golfers as a prime example. No matter how telented they are, it is a fact of life that they will lose much more often than they will win. This applies even to the greatest like Jack Nicklaus or Tiger Woods. What they are able to do is to  acknowledge this as a fact and move on towards that next triumph.

Got The Needle?

Have you ever fancied trying acupncture but are a bit squeamish, put off by the thought of those needles being stuck into you? If so, then the answer may be at hand in the form of Japanese acupuncture. This version of the therapy uses smaller, finer needles which are not inserted as deeply into the skin. In some ways it is a little more akin to a good massage than the traditional Chinese version of the practice, with the overall experience tending to be much more relaxing. The other main differnce is that practitioners tend to diagnose by means of touching the abdomen rather than other areas such as the tongue.

Take The Plunge

Everyone knows that swimming can provide you with a great all-over exercise workout. It has been a firm favourite of exercisers for many years with more and more folk getting up at the crack of dawn to fit in a quick swim before they head off for a day at work.

The main advantage that swimmming offers over other types of exercise such as jogging or cycling is that it provides a workout for so many different muscle groups at the one time. It is also low-impact, unlike jogging, so if you have suffered from aches and sprains in your ankles, knees or hips, then it may be more suitable for you than running.

The other thing that swimming offers is that sense of exhiliration and refreshment that comes from spending time in the water.

So what are the best ways to get the most from your regular swimming session?

Make sure you have the right equipment for starters. Comfortable swimwear is important as are a good pair of goggles to keep the water out of your eyes. Some folk also swear by ear plugs, too. If you find you are prone to getting water trapped in your ears, then this may be worthy of consideration. The overall idea is to make sure you are as comfortable as possible. That way, you are likely to enjoy your swim all the more, and thus are likely to come back for more.

It is also important to get the basics of your technique right. Get the basic strokes in place, then make sure you practice and repeat them to fine tune. If you are not a confident swimmer, a few lessons might also be a good idea just to ensure you have a firm grasp of the fundamentals.

Don’t forget the role your legs play when swimming. To practice and improve your legwork, you can use a float. Try out various leg movements until you are quite comfortable.

And there you have it – a few simple easy-to-implement tips to get you started off on the right foot wirth swimming. Once you have mastered the basics you will be ready to go and enjoy yourself. One last thing about swimming. It’s one of those sports that you can enjoy no matter your age, so even if you are a little long in the tooth you can always get into your local pool and enjoy a swim at your own pace.

Make Getting Into Shape Fun

Doing a specific exercise inappropriately may not give you the best benefits, but it is not the reason most people are out of shape. Doing those squat thrusts in the wrong way may not derive the benefit you had hoped for, but it is still exercise of sorts as long as you do not hurt yourself. No,  flagging motivation and insufficient information are the factors that get in the way for most individuals. One way to overcome these perennial challenges is to make your workout an enjoyable experience.

Music can magically get your body moving. No one can resist dancing to an infectious beat or and addictive song blasting on the radio. Making music the center of your work-out routine is essential. Crank up some music and shake your body! Music can help you feel more alive and energized while working out, which enables you to perform at higher levels for an extended period of time. If you are in an environment where this is not possible, wear a set of headphones attached to your iPod, so that you can still enjoy music with your workout, albeit a bit more discreetly.

Having fun is a great way to ensure you get the most from your exercise regime so try not to overlook it – it really shouln’t be a chore. Want to have fun while you are working out? Buy a video game that is designed to make exercise fun. These games will interest your entire family. By having fun and doing something you enjoy, your mind will not be focused on the fact that you are exercising. The workout video game draws you in and you won’t even notice that you are exercising.

Sometime yoy may find working out on your own a bit demoralising. If so, ask one or a few friends to workout with you. When you get together with your friends to exercise, you will have more fun, and it will go by quickly. It’s tough to focus on your own discomfort when you’re having fun with your friends. If you have a friend who is quite competitve, this may also spur you on to achieve the goals you have set yourself.

Treat yourself to a brand new workout outfit. Make sure you buy clothes that are flattering and that you enjoy wearing. When you are deciding on your exercise clothing, feel free to be creative! Clothing for exercise is available in many stylish colors and takes many forms. You can even use exercising clothes to express yourself at the gym. Your outfit can put you in a good state of mind. Still on the subject of clothing, here is a more controversial idea, perhaps. If you feel you sometimes lack motivation when exercising or dieting why not look out for a fabulous outfit and make that your reward for reaching your weight goal? But make it a bit more challenging. Go out and buy the outfit, but buy it in a size smaller than you currently are. Hopefully, that should be all the incentive you need.

It is easy to get into a boring rut when you don’t vary your exercise routine. Exercise routines that are not fun and enjoyable are hard to do you regularly. Many people end up falling off the wagon because they simply do not want to do the exercises. Make your workout routines exciting and dynamic, being sure to mix up the routines as much as possible. You’ll find that not only do you enjoy your workouts more, but also that you are able to stay motivated and continue working towards your fitness goals.

Each time you reach one of your fitness goals treat yourself to a small, but satisfying reward. You deserve to be rewarded for your successes! You worked hard and met your goal! Spend some family time together or reward yourself with a small portion of a beloved dessert. Maybe you want to buy yourself some smaller jeans. Having frequent, easily obtainable, goals ensures that you are always within grasp of the next reward.

Working out shouldn’t be a chore. You should think of ways to make exercising fun so that you will want to do it. Follow these steps to make your exercise routine exciting.

Get Fitter and Healthier – In Bite-Sized Chunks

Are you carry a few extra pounds you’d love to get rid of? If the answer is yes, don’t despair because you are in the same boat as a large proportion of the population. The problem often is that you will start a new dietary regime full of good intentions, then lapse as the going gets tough. The biggest problem most people have is seeing through a diet after a promising start. So what can be done to overcome this all-too-common problem?

Well, whatever changes you are planning to make, try to break them down into small steps at a time. For instance if you decide you will have a piece of fruit at every mealtime, just break this down and first of all try to include fruit with your main meal. Then, gradually introduce it to other meals. If you decide to give up the hidden calories in sugar with your favourite cup of tea or coffee, you don’t need to go “cold turkey”. First, try your drink with a sweetener, then gradually wean yourself off them as well. If your favourite tipple is a gin and tonic, you don’t need to give it up completely. Just change to slimline tonic – you’ll soon notice little difference in the taste. The same goes with other mixers, like coke or ginger ale.

In essence instead of regarding a diet as a massive change in your daily habits, take a balanced, objective view of the way you live from the time you get up till you go to bed and build in a few small changes to your routine each day. Whether that means a change to your eating or drinking habits, or incorporating a little gentle exercise into your daily routine, it will all add up in the end.