Author Archives: Leanne Rose

March 2, 2015

EXERCISE OF THE MONTH: MARCH.

Triceps

OVERHEAD TRICEP EXTENSIONS

Benefits:
Sculpt your triceps (the muscle in the back of your arm) by using weights and say goodbye to those bingo wings!.

How to do it:

  • Sit on a stability ball or chair.
  • Hold a weight (bottles of water or cans of beans will also suffice) in each hand and extend your arms above your head.
  • Bend your elbows and lower the weights behind your head until they touch your shoulder blades.
  • Slowly lift up to the starting position.
  • Don’t lock your elbows at the top, always keep a slight bend.
  • Repeat for 10 repetitions, increasing the weight as you get stronger.
February 23, 2015

SAY YES TO FAT.

Oil-Pulling

While low-carb diets will remain popular this year, it’s predicted that consumers will be welcoming back fat with open arms.

Unlike the Atkins diet, which encouraged followers to increase foods such as cheese and butter, this is all about choosing the right sort of fat.

So you are looking at plenty of oils, avocados, eggs, and so-called fatty fish such as salmon and mackerel. And carbs are also encouraged.

Make sure you stock up on seeds and nuts too, as most registered dieticians named these as the superfood that will reign supreme in 2015.

February 13, 2015

FOOD FACT: CHICORY.

Chicory

  • Chicory contains inulin, which helps diabetics regulate their blood sugar levels.
  • Chicory is closely related to lettuce and dandelion but is a member of the sunflower family.
  • It may be cleansing to the liver and gallbladder.
  • Chicory is beneficial for digestion, the circulatory system and the blood.
  • Chicory leaves are a good source of calcium, vitamin A and potassium.
February 2, 2015

EXERCISE OF THE MONTH: FEBRUARY.

Plank

ELBOW PLANK

Benefits:
Having strong abdominals is key to a flat and toned stomach. Working your core will also help to support your back, helping to give you perfect posture.

How to do it:

  • Position yourself on all fours, resting on your knees and elbows, keeping your back straight.
  • Extend one leg behind you and press your toes into the floor, then do the same with the other foot.
  • You are now supported on your elbows and toes.
  • Tighten your abdominal muscles to keep your body as straight as a plank, without sagging or lifting your bottom up.
  • Hold this position for 15 seconds (increase hold to 1 minute as you get stronger).
January 23, 2015

EAT UP, SLIM DOWN.

Scales

The secret behind fat-loss success lies in fuelling your body with nutrient-dense meals. Start by going back to basics.

Number one on the list is fibre, both soluble and insoluble. Fibre helps slow digestion and recharges your body with a steady stream of energy, but worryingly, a whopping 90% of British women don’t eat enough roughage.

Eat meals high in protein, which helps preserve lean muscle mass, and omega-3 fatty acids. These turn on fat-burning enzymes in your cells and regulate the hormone leptin, which keeps you satiated.

Finally, spice up your meals for a metabolism kick. Chilli and paprika both contain capsaicin, which helps speed weight loss, while cinnamon helps regulate blood sugar and reduce cravings.

January 15, 2015

FOOD FACT: BANANAS.

Go_Bananas

  • You don’t need to eat bananas for the potassium. Although it is present in bananas, potassium is the predominant nutrient among most all fruits and vegetables.
  • Bananas are high in sugar, so they should not be eaten if you have blood sugar problems.
  • Don’t eat bananas on an empty stomach; combining them with a bit of protein will help to normalize the insulin response caused by the sugar in the banana.
  • Green-tipped bananas are better for your health than over-ripe bananas.
January 2, 2015

EXERCISE OF THE MONTH: JANUARY.

January

SQUAT JACKS

Benefits:
By adding a bend of the knees to a standard jumping jack, this all time favourite move becomes a tough leg and bum booster. It makes great cardio exercise too, which is great for burning off any Christmas indulgence!

How to do it:

  • Stand with your feet close together, hands touching the sides of your head, and lower down into a narrow squat so that your weight shifts back to your heels.
  • Staying low, push off your heels and jump your feet wide, landing in a wide squat position. Lift and jump back to the start position. Continue jumping your feet out and in with a squat as fast as you can.
  • Try doing 3 intervals of 20 seconds, with a 10 second rest period in between. As you progress, you can increase the number of sets and/or time interval.
December 29, 2014

WEIGHT LOSS TIPS TO KICKSTART YOUR NEW YEAR.

Scales

Feeling stuffed after that Christmas feast?

If you seriously need to work on that belly bulge and want to get back into a healthy eating plan, then here are some simple slimming strategies to get you back on track.

1. You’ll need to eliminate all processed, packaged foods over the next four weeks to help kick-start your liver, the main channel of detoxification.

2. Make sure to eat at regular intervals. You should eat three meals plus two snacks, one mid-morning and one mid-afternoon to avoid blood sugar dips.

3. Avoid caffeinated and fizzy drinks. Swap tea and coffee for decaffeinated versions and sip on herbal teas including green tea, fennel tea and nettle. Increase your intake of water to a minimum of two litres a day. Liven up water by adding slices of cucumber or a squeeze of liver-boosting lemon.

4. Avoid eating meals in front of the computer or TV and try to concentrate on what you’re eating, taking a break in between bites.

5. Allow yourself one treat each week. Choose from a small glass of red wine, a small bar of dark or raw chocolate, lemon sorbet or a small pot of frozen yoghurt.

December 12, 2014

WHY PILATES?

Pilates

Above all, the practice of Pilates is widely known to carve a rock-solid core. But its benefits don’t stop there. Pilates will also help heal, strengthen and relax your body.

Here’s what the holistic practice has to offer:

1. Mental function
Pilates builds mental stamina and focus by requiring concentration on each repetition, exercise, and sequence.

2. Body awareness
Better body control and awareness enhances how you carry yourself and move every day.

3. Internal organs
Pilates promotes optimal performance by your interior organs and helps lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels.

4. Inner Harmony
Releasing endorphins naturally causes your mind and body to feel more positive.

5. Physical Fitness
Every area of physical fitness develops from flexibility to endurance.

6. Cross Training
Pilates is used by a variety of athletes to achieve their athletic pursuits.

7. Breathing
Improved breathing nourishes the body and increases oxygen levels in the blood. It also helps the body rid any existing toxins and promotes a healthier skin tone.

8. Relaxation
Tension release and relaxation is encouraged by a sense of calm and well-being experienced during Pilates.

9. Body shape
Muscle definition sculpts your waist and shoulders while toning your abs, arms, thighs, and bum.

10. Body alignment
Proper alignment decreases your injury risk and helps joints stay healthy as you age.

11. Pregnancy
Pilates offers soon to be mums a safe yet effective form of exercise.

Contact me for more information on how you could benefit from Pilates.

December 5, 2014

THE OUTSTANDING NUTRITIONAL BENEFITS OF KALE.

Final Artwork

If you’re not already a fully paid-up member of the kale fan club, its low-calorie, high-fibre and zero-fat profile should tempt you to get on board.

As well as being a great addition to any weight-loss plan, kale is ideal for digestion and will help keep your system moving as it contains around 5g fibre per 100g.

Kale is an excellent source of iron – and, in fact, it contains more iron than beef per serve! That’s important for anyone with anaemia or heavy periods, or just looking for more energy, as it helps to form haemoglobin, the molecules that carry iron within our red blood cells.

Kale is also high in calcium, giving milk a run for its money with fewer calories. If you’re dairy intolerant or vegan, this veg will give you a good dose of bone-strengthening calcium.

Vitamin K, which helps to protect against certain cancers, is also found in high quantities in kale, along with heaps of antioxidants. This all-important, but lesser known vitamin is needed for a whole host of bodily functions, including the health of your bones, preventing blood clotting and keeping cholesterol in check.

Kale can help fight inflammation as it contains omega-3 fatty acids, so make sure you’re eating kale regularly if you have an injury, arthritis or asthma, as it will help to reduce the effects and speed recovery.

Vitamins A and C are two more vitamins found in kale. Vitamin A is important for vision and vitamin C for your immune system, but both of them are brilliant skin vitamins so dose up to help keep wrinkles at bay.

And if all of this wasn’t enough, kale is also a great way to cleanse your body, containing both fibre and sulphur, which are involved in the detoxification process.