A New Outlook - Health and Nutrition

I would like to begin by saying that I do not claim to be an expert when it comes to nutrition and all that I have learnt has been through the internet, books and my own personal experience. However, as I love reading articles about differing opinions on various health issues I thought that perhaps some of you may find it interesting to read my thoughts!

So many people have told me that the point at which they started taking their health seriously was either when they had a health scare, or had children and realised that they needed to take better care of themselves to be around for longer. I reached this point about a year and a half ago, and to be completely honest it was probably more to do with vanity than anything else. As you all know I love my cosmetics and fashion and while I spent probably far too much time trying to perfect the outside I wasn’t being very healthy on the inside. I have never been clinically overweight or underweight and have always eaten fairly sensibly, but with an office job, a blog and many other sedentary commitments I wasn’t doing any exercise and indulging a little more than I should. I felt constantly tired and weak. In order to keep myself going I would be propping myself up with sugary coffees in the mornings and sugary snacks in the afternoons. My weight would creep up about a stone over the Winter and I would spend the spring dieting and dabbling in some physical activity to get it back to normal for Summer.  Since I am tall other than my clothes fitting better there wouldn’t be a lot of noticeable difference. Though my weight fluctuates I have remained roughly the same size since I left school.

(Photo taken this weekend)

Now this may not be a very dramatic transformation story as I haven’t lost 10 stone or become an Olympic athlete, but the past year has taught me so much. I haven’t lost more weight than I usually do for the Summer (7kg), but I have done it in a completely different way and have kept my Summer body for the last 9 months. I have really looked at how my body reacts to different foods and exercises and I can honestly say I feel so much more comfortable in my own skin and am looking forward to seeing where this new path will lead me. I still have a long way to go and am nowhere near my ideal, but I'm trying to see every day as a new opportunity to make good decisions. Of course preparing for my wedding has played a huge part in getting the mentality right for a lifestyle change, but this is something that I wish I had really taken seriously sooner!

In short, what works for me may not work for everyone, but I would really encourage you to take some time and re evaluate how you see yourself and your health. First up on my list was diet!

I loved food! I love to eat, I love desserts, I love to go out and try different restaurants… and I do drink. After seeing so many of my friends suffering with eating disorders at school I am very conscious of having a healthy relationship with food and would never deprive myself or restrict myself as I just don’t think it’s right. If I feel hungry then my body is telling me something and I try to give it what it needs. My problem was I was eating the wrong things out of boredom, or emotionally, and rarely because I was physically hungry.

I am not a fan of diets at all, but (and this is a big but) over the past few years I have taken several allergy tests that have all come back with the same results. I am intolerant to gluten, wheat (among a bunch of different grains), dairy and eggs. My digestion has not been very good for years, especially after lunch as I always felt really awful and bloated at my desk (sitting makes it worse), but I ignored it and almost thought it was normal. After trying to eat clean with minimal processed foods for the best part of a year I noticed that grains and dairy would make my digestion a lot worse. So I decided to seriously commit to a diet for the first time in my life!

Paleo, apparently the ‘hottest diet for 2013’, sounded crazy when I first heard about it (eat like a caveman?), but when I did my research I was almost disappointed to see that it made sense! (This is a great website that really helped me understand the basics: http://www.nerdfitness.com/blog/2010/10/04/the-beginners-guide-to-the-paleo-diet/). The paleo diet basically cut out all the things I was allergic or intolerant to (bye bye grains, dairy) so I could use Paleo recipes without having to make complicated amendments. I have only lost 1-2kg following paleo principles, but for me this isn't about losing weight. I can’t begin to tell you how much better I feel on a daily basis when eating paleo with no bloating and no cramps after meals. I still love bread, cupcakes, brownies, baked goods , cheese etc., but I have them in moderation and try to follow the 80/20 rule. Rather than sticking rigidly to paleo doctrines I have worked out which foods work for me (and most importantly which make me feel horrible) and have adapted the diet to suit my body and my lifestyle. For example, paleo does not include legumes, but I have no problem with peanuts so peanut butter is firmly on my list of treats!

Having established what works for me I can choose when I want to indulge (and then make time for the consequences), rather than hoping for the best or being caught out squirming in pain at a client lunch (this has unfortunately happened before). The realisation really hit me when I was stuck in the deliberation room on jury duty and the only food available to us was a cheese sandwich, an egg mayo sandwich and a (very mayonnaise heavy) BLT. I was so ravenous I had the BLT and less than half an hour later was struck down with crippling stomach pains, bloating and the whole works! I hadn’t felt like that for weeks and I was shocked to realise I had let myself struggle with this on a daily basis for years purely due to ignorance and laziness!

The other thing I have learned is not to be afraid of fat! Fats have been made the enemy in the media for far too long, but fat alone will not make you fat. (This article is really interesting: http://discovermagazine.com/2004/oct/inuit-paradox).  The real enemy that has been hiding in our food (and mine very much so since I looove my desserts and sweeties) is added sugar and unpronounceable additives with zero nutritional value! What do they do when they take out all that fat? They replace it with sugar, salt and additive cocktails. Artificial compounds that your body has absolutely no need for! I always think that the preservatives pumped into food to make it last longer are probably also ensuring that the cellulite in my thighs stays there for longer too, though this is purely my conjecture…

Did you know that many cancer patients are recommended to go on a no sugar (ketogenic) diet and that some actually get better just by doing this? I used to be so obsessive with cutting down my fat intake, but all I was doing was replacing fat that gives you nutrients and satiety by simple carbs and sugars that give you a short energy boost and then leave you feeling tired and hungry. (Of course there are natural sources of sugar, such as fructose in fruit, which I eat a lot of, but I have really tried to decrease my intake of added sugars). This article even made the BBC recently and is worth a look (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-26375004). I use low fat yoghurt as an example: after eating one I would follow with another (and sometimes a third) because I never felt full or satisfied. Since cutting out dairy and limiting processed foods I eat COYO instead – it has a much higher (healthy) fat content and I sometimes struggle to finish one small tub. I could never imagine eating three!

Ultimately the paleo theory works because when you are eating whole foods full of nutrients that ensure you are getting all the building blocks your body needs you don’t end up over eating, or having cravings for all the junk food that would give you a short energy boost, but ultimately leave your body with a bunch of toxins to try to flush out. This is not to say I wouldn’t eat the odd chocolate cake as a treat, but there is a difference between eating to nourish your body and eating to reward yourself for a tough week. The 80/20 rule helps me do both!

I would love to hear what your thoughts are on my ramble and whether you would be interested in more health, diet and exercise posts? It’s something that I am learning so much about and I would love to share my journey with you! xxx

Eqvvs - Fit Not Thin!

Those of you who have followed my blog for a while already know that this year I have set myself some fitness goals that I am very determined to achieve. Of course a wedding dress is an unparalleled motivator, but I wanted to overhaul my body not for merely one day, but for the foreseeable future. Even though I have never been overweight I have found myself creeping upwards slowly over the last few years and sitting at my desk for 10 hours a day my fitness levels were truly despicable. After one speedy climb up the escalators at Piccadilly Circus left me feeling like my heart was going to fly out of my chest I knew the time had come to start investing in my health.

Having joined David Lloyd and tried all (yes all) of their classes and weekly sessions with one of their trainers I can definitely say that I have toned up and gained muscle, though not necessarily in the right places. My body fat has dropped by about 8% and I have lost 7kg, but have remained the same dress size. Being tall I can fluctuate a lot without really changing shape. I am undecided if this is a good thing (when I pile on the padding in the winter), or a bad thing (when I spend months burning it off and see little visible result). Even though clothes do feel better I have found inches have come off the areas where I didn’t mind them so much (I’m sure you can guess!). Going to the gym 3/4 times a week and keeping to a healthy eating plan has become somewhat a routine, but even though I am still trying out lots of different types of exercise my weight/ fitness has stalled for the last few months.

I was therefore very excited when Glossybox informed me that I had won their recent Twitter competition for 3 personal training sessions at the exclusive eqvvs studios in Knightsbridge. Having been a regular gym bunny since February I am still very much at the beginning of my fitness journey and am looking to learn as much as I can about different exercises and what I can push my body to do.

Eqvvs is situated in a little cul de sac near Harrods that gives it privacy and ambiguity, so it is no wonder it is such a favourite among celebs. The studio is equipped with all the latest equipment and despite being fairly small there are never more than 2 trainers/ clients working at the same time so there is plenty of space to work up a sweat. They have a number of private changing rooms with your own shower and sink, complete with fresh towels and Aromatherapy Associates toiletries (yes I am still a beauty blogger at heart so I notice these things). The sessions themselves are an hour long and completely dedicated to helping you achieve your goals at a pace and intensity that challenges, but does not make you dread your next visit. The trainers are so friendly, patient and knowledgeable that they spend every moment encouraging you, while checking your form and making sure you are doing the exercises correctly to get the full benefits. While my fitness level has improved there are still some areas that I really struggle with (core!) and the trainers were great at modifying exercises so that I could complete them and still feel a sense of achievement. I’m sure you guys know the feeling of when you try something new and completely bomb, the last thing you want is to be told to forget it and move on, because that will never help you learn. At eqvvs the treatment is so bespoke that you never feel like you have failed at anything. Even though some of the exercises we tried (eg. hanging knee hugs on the TRX) were far too advanced for my little muscles I felt like I was really progressing even being able to do a few in a slightly different position. A modified stance or hand grip could make all the difference so it is always worth finding out from a pro!

Both of the trainers I worked with (George and Miad) really made the sessions fun, but I knew that I was getting a really good workout all the way through, and even if I wasn’t sure my heart monitor reassured me I was ‘in the zone’.  They mixed up cardio with weights (machines, free weights and my own hefty body weight) to make sure each session gave a whole body workout and targeted major muscle groups to get those calories burning too. My favourite part of each hour was the last five minutes of stretching. I felt like it really helped both my recovery time and prevent soreness the next day as after they had stretched me out I was bouncing out of the studio full of energy. Sometimes you just need that little extra bit of help, especially when it came to realigning my back and shoulders!

Whether you are looking to shape up for a special occasion, have decided to overhaul your fitness or just fancy a change to your regular routine I would highly recommend looking into personal training at eqvvs. Their amazing service doesn’t come cheap, but you definitely get what you pay for and I have no doubt that you will notice the difference. Eqvvs also have a number of special packages available, such as a pre-wedding package (eqvvsONE), or a total body overhaul (eqvvsthree60) that will transform you in 6 weeks, as well as a nutritionist, physio and partnerships with many amazing suppliers.

Even after 3 sessions I can feel a difference and have started incorporating some of the exercises I have learned to target new muscles into my routines. I will definitely be going back to eqvvs in the final stretch before my wedding to make sure all those wobbly bits are banished, but I also hope that I will be able to use what I have learned to maintain a healthier way of life in the future!

Win While You're Spinning!

On my quest to shape up for Summer I have decided it's time to take this exercise malarkey seriously. I have joined my local gym (David Lloyd) and have signed up to a spinning club near my office so that I no longer have any excuses, even if I'm working late!

Having never attempted spinning before I was quite apprehensive before my first class. As the fiance can tell you (being a mountain biking expert with thighs of steel) I am far from comfortable on a bike. So much so that he has actually banned me from riding in central London as my lack of skill, balance and spacial awareness makes me a danger on the road! Lucky for me spinning requires none of these, especially as the bikes are so well secured you have no chance of toppling off.  I have to say that after 3 classes I can see why people find it so addictive!

The club I have joined is Cyclebeat. It's a great location minutes away from Bank and Monument stations and having just opened last week everything is lovely, clean and new. All the cycling is done in one studio with some loud, heavy music, and mood lighting complete with a disco ball. All the instructors are really encouraging and pick the tunes to go with each workout so you get lost in the music and forget about the pain. I'm not going to lie, it is hard work and the stairs will be a challenge the next morning, but unlucky for us ladies we can't burn 600 calories in 45 minutes by lying on the sofa watching Geordie Shore and eating cake :(.

 

Cyclebeat have a great introductory offer where you can enjoy unlimited classes for 30 days for just £30! Given that exercise classes in London tend to hover around £15 per hour this is a fantastic deal that I highly recommend and plan to take full advantage of.

Are you a fan of spinning? Do you have any fun exercise classes in London that you can recommend?

Healthy Beauty: Matcha

I have always been a big fan of green tea, but over the last few weeks I have become absolutely addicted to matcha! What is matcha you ask? Well it is 100% natural, organic green tea leaves which have been carefully ground down to form a fine powder. When you drink regular green tea, you throw away the leaves afterwards which is a bit like boiling spinach, throwing away the spinach and just drinking the water – you’ll get some of the nutrients, but you’re throwing away the best bit. Matcha is drunk as a fine powder diffused in liquid so you actually ingest the whole leaf, consuming every last bit of goodness!

One dose of matcha contains 137 times the antioxidants of regular green tea!  Antioxidant capacity can be measured by the ORAC (Oxygen Radical Absorbancy Capacity) and this shows us the ability of certain foods to protect us from free radicals, which cause ageing and general damage to our cells. Matcha scores very highly on the ORAC table, towering above many of our well-known super-foods such as spinach, blueberries and goji berries!

Apart from the regular benefits of green tea matcha also increases your energy levels in a natural way and can help boost your metabolism promoting weight loss, support the immune system, improve concentration and give you healthy skin!

I have only tried Teapigs matcha as I have been ordering tea from Teapigs for years and know they have great quality products. Their matcha is high grade and 100% organic so it is a little pricey at £25 for 30mg, which works out at £0.83 per cup, but I think it is well worth it. I have been gradually replacing my coffee with matcha and have definitely felt the benefits! It's a great energy boost in the morning and somehow I do feel that it supports weight loss/ maintenance, though this is of course harder to pinpoint!

If this is your first time trying matcha I would recommend purchasing the starter kit (£32.50 here), which comes with a little whisk, making it super easy to dissolve matcha in your choice of liquid. You can add matcha to any hot or cold drink, and even use it in food. The Teapigs website has lots of cool recipes from tiramisu to matcha martini!! I usually make my shot first thing in the morning by mixing one scoop with a little water, then adding vanilla flavour soya milk. Yum!

Have you ever tried matcha? Are you a fan of green tea? I am so excited to have discovered this and after ordering two more boxes can't rave about it enough. xxx

Weight Loss - Iyashi Infrared Dome

Happy New Year my lovelies!! I hope you all had a lovely festive period and are enjoying the beginning of 2012.

With the holidays now over many of us are realising that we may have indulged in more than our fair share (mince pies will be the death of me). I therefore thought it may be useful to test out some healthy weight loss, diet and fitness schemes to see in the new year. Let me know your tips and I would love to have some recommendations!

First up is the Infrared Dome, which is a really simple hollistic method designed to rejuvenate and rid the body of toxins. All you have to do is lie back and prepare to get very sweaty! The technology of the unique black carbon dome gradually heats up the body by emitting vibrations of far-infrared rays that are in line with the infrared naturally produced within the body.

 

The feeling is very similar to that of a 'dry sauna', but the heat builds up slowly and is not overwhelming. I particularly liked the fact that the head remains uncovered during the process, which is much more comfortable. During the 30 minute session the body remains cocooned in the dome and you can really feel the heat penetrating deep into your tissues, especially after turning over half way through. Personally I didn't find it uncomfortable. In fact I was so relaxed that I even had a little snooze! I practice bikram yoga and am generally quite tolerant to heat, but I wanted to be sensible so I asked for it to be maintained at a lower temperature that the maximum, though of course you can build up towards this over multiple sessions.

The Iyashi Dome ensures a loss of up to 600 kilocalories for every half hour session and as the heat penetrates up to 40 mm under the skin it also purifies, cleanses, helps to reduce cellulite and even helps anti aging!

I really enjoyed my session and it did make me feel rejuvenated afterwards. The only thing that was not quite as pleasant is the fact that after the treatment you are encouraged not to shower (so that your body cools down more slowly and retains more of the benefits). As I was traveling on public transport that day I did feel a little uncomfortable on the tube looking very sweaty and red, so I would recommend bring some gym (absorbent) clothes with you and wrapping up warm to protect you against the harsh winter air!

If you are interested in the Iyashi Dome and would like more information please check out mydetoxdiet.co.uk here. Plus, with an exclusive offer for my readers you can purchase 2 sessions for the price of 1. The usual price for two sessions is £110, so you will be able to get two sessions for £55!! All you need to do is quote 'filthygorgeousmakeup' when making your appointment.

Have you ever experienced the infrared dome? Did you see any health benefits? Are you tempted to give it a go? Let me know what you think and if you would like me to post more of my personal weight loss/ detox/ fitness reviews and recommendations! xxx