Nicola asked: I was wondering if its possible to eat too much fruit? I love raspberries and strawberries and eat loads of them with breakfast and as snacks through the day. It doesn’t put weight on me or have any adverse effect so I wanted to know if I could be doing my body any harm by eating so much.
Answer…
While it is possible to overdo anything – including water – from what you’ve told me it doesn’t sound like you’re overdoing it. Continue Reading »
Tags: healthy eating, nutrition
Guest Blog Post: Dr. Enid from The Taymount Clinic explains why we should juice and not just eat the stuff!!…
Loads of good reasons, here are just a few to chew on…
1. Juicing is a way of mechanically chewing up your food before you eat it. Your body is like a juice extractor, you chew the foods up so that your body can extract the nutrient-rich juice and then reject the fibre. Juicing saves your body time and energy – it is like nature’s fast food, healthy fast food. Most of us are too busy to chew properly and this has bad effects like bloating, wind, reflux etc. Juicing gets nourishment into your body in a form it can absorb quickly and easily. Continue Reading »
Tags: detox, nutrition, wellbeing
Claire asked: I go to the gym first thing in the morning, at about 8.30. I usually eat breakfast first, a bowl of cereal or some toast. Do you think I should eat breakfast before I do my workout or after? Will eating breakfast before my workout stop me from burning fat?? I find I’m always hungry after my workout anyway, even when I’ve had breakfast before….
Answer…
First thing in the morning your glycogen stores (energy stores in your muscles) are at their lowest. If we assume you eat a normal amount of calories for your size/activity levels and have your last meal of the day between 6 or 7pm, then by your 8.30am workout your body would have been burning off glycogen for over 12 hours.
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Guest Blog Post:Nicky from surfholidays.com explains why surfing is the perfect sport for people into fitness…
Have you ever wondered whether you now have what it takes to try surfing? We are surrounded by images of happy beach-goers, carrying their surfboards to the sparkling ocean waves and then paddling out into beautiful barrels. Often we dismiss surfing as something that we could never do, but with great options for surfing holidays on our doorstep in Europe, not giving surfing a go, really is a thing of the past.
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Christine asked: I am vegetarian and don’t eat either fish or meat. Recently I have had a lot of muscle strains around my joints. I take Omega 3 oils as a supplement, and I take Glucosamine and Chondroitin. Can you suggest any other vegetarian sources of omega 3 oils?
Answer…
I would recommend that you vary the source of all essential fatty acids to ensure you’re getting a good range – from seeds, nuts and avocados, as well as good quality oils such as hemp and flax, rather than relying on a single source supplement.
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Tags: health, healthy eating, nutrition, supplements
Carole asked: I am very aware that I need to improve my fitness level, I currently manage to fit in 1 pilates class a week but because my work patterns are very erratic i find it hard to commit to being in the same place at the same time each week. I was doing two nights a week of Salsa dancing but current work is taking so many evenings I simply can’t fit it in. So remembering some strap on weights at the back of a cupboard I’ve decided to wear them on my ankles while I work so my legs at least are working a little harder but is this really a good idea? Anything I should bear in mind? Obviously this is only the first step in getting me back towards regular exercise.
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Tags: exercise, toning, walking
Lucy asked: I was wondering if you could give me some advice on my running techniques. When I run on a treadmill I often get a tight chest and extremely tired quite quickly- I think this has something to do with my breathing as I tend to breathe in and out harshly at the same pace I run. Do I need to try to control my breathing a bit more and try to inhale and exhale more slowly and controlled? I have tried this but find it quite difficult. Or perhaps it could be another problem and not to do with the breathing? Hope you can help as I hav started avoiding running altogether now!
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Tags: exercise, running
Guest Blog Post: Vanessa Alexander from Fat Attack explains the benefits of fitness boot camps…
Fitness boot camps and weight loss weekends are a fantastic way to kick-start your new healthy lifestyle, perfect for when you want that burst of feel-good exercise. Interactive, intense and individually-based, boot camps leave you feeling – and looking – so much better thanks to the fat-burning activities and nutritious meals.
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Tags: exercise, fitness, weight loss
Christine asked: As a 50+ yr old Mrs Average I don’t want to run a marathon or do loads of interval training down the gym. I want to know that as I get older I am doing what I can to keep my body supple and strong, and disease free. I want to be able to run around a bit with my nephews and nieces, walk up a few flights of stairs without getting out of breath, keep my weight under control but still enjoy eating out without feeling guilty, and do a bit of gardening without aches and pains afterwards! So have you got an exercise plan for these goals please? I do feel that a lot of the information out there is geared towards losing weight, building muscles, and being really fit.
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Tags: exercise, fitness over 50, workout
Helen asked: I’m 6 months pregnant and feeling in the worst shape of my life! I was very active before falling pregnant.. going to gym and power walking, but I’m worried about exercising for obvious reasons. Can anyone recommend some light exercises I can do that will keep me in shape? Baby is due in Summer and I like the idea of being a yummy mummy!
Answer…
For most women it is absolutely fine to continue exercising during pregnancy, however please ensure you consult your medical professional if you have any concerns, pain, bleeding, previous miscarriages, high blood pressure etc.
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Tags: exercise, pilates, pregnancy, womens health
