INSANITY INSPIRED TRAINING - EXACTLY AS IT HAPPENED SERIES
3 most effective exercises EVER to get you fit fast, save time and give you your dream body
Did you know there are moves you can perform that result with rapid toning, strengthening and tons of saved time to do other things? Check my list of six most effective exercises ever.
HIGH KNEES
If you have read some of my previous fitness articles you'd notice I include this exercise in every workout. This one powerful move alone targets your thighs, glutes, core muscles and arms. It helps you gain better cardiovascular fitness, it strenghtens your whole body and makes it more dynamic (you'll be faster in everything you do). It's effective and easy way to condition yourself for more challenging physical activities.
Interesting fact: High knees ENGAGE your lower abdominals to drive those legs up, use this exercise if you have a problem with unwanted fat in that area.
BURPEES
This complex exercise will work on your speed, strength, endurance and explosiveness. All aspects of athleticism are covered here, It's important to do burpees as they help to perform any other exercise with better form and power. That's why it is a regular training part of many sports professionals. They know best what works. If you give it a go, you'll enjoy fast results and better shape very VERY soon.
Here's how to do it by Scott Herman:
Interesting fact: You can enjoy full benefits of burpees right from day one of your exercise plan. Perform your burpees with no push up and no jump, you will be working your body just as hard but at your own level.
HANGING LEG LIFTS
I have never done more effective core and lower abs exercise than this one. Many people quit their fitness routines because they are no longer reaping any benefits any more, especially in that middle section area. No wonder, those endless crunches can only do so much and if you are serious about toning that core - do hanging leg lifts. This is going to shoot you up to another level of fitness, you'll notice this is worth the effort as you'll see stomach muscles showing, you'll be hanging on that pull up bar with a smile on your face.
Scott's method below:
Interesting fact: Fat that you collect on your stomach is more dangerous for your general health compared to the fat you carry anywhere else. It messes up with normal functions of your inner organs, like liver or heart. Strip it all off as soon as possible.
Summer natural beauty must haves to enjoy the sun and prevent ageing
This summer we are spoiled by lots of sunshine and high temperatures, let's have a look what beauty products can help us enjoy beautiful tan with minimal skin damage. Please bare in mind I am featuring products that I have tried and tested in hot weather, they are my personal preference and if you have a very dry skin prone to redness like myself, you should read this post.
1. Bentley Organics Bodywash with Olive, Tea Tree And Eucalyptus
This Organic Bio Shower Gel has become my favourite since hot temperatures settled in the area I live, it deep cleanses my skin without over drying it, it has mild antibacterial properties thanks to Tea Tree and Eucalyptus which doesn't smell like a medicament, in fact, it has a well balanced scent. With its texture of a thick gel, it lathers well, even though it doesn't contain any of the harsh ingredients that are usually responsible for a good amount of foam. I bought it for a humble £2.50 at discounted price in my local health store, which is an absolute bargain, plus you only need a thumb size blob to clean the whole body - consider trying it if you like refreshing, re-energising body washes that don't strip your natural moisture layers already compromised by excess sun exposure.
2. Lyonsleaf Beauty Balm and Lyonsleaf Body Butter
These two truly work wonders for my skin. They are award winning products (FreeFrom Award 2014) NO ARTIFICIAL FRAGRANCE, COLOUR, CHEMICAL PRESERVATIVES OR EMULSIFIERS. Behind Lyonsleaf brand there are passionate people who grow and hand harvest some of the ingredients, like Calendula Flowers. All of the actives are carefully selected and mixed together to create naturally nourishing, regenerating and balancing products for all skin types.
Lyonsleaf Beauty Balm has a texture of a soft butter, on contact with skin it melts immediately and glides all over my face with ease. I have used it regularly for three weeks now - every morning and the results are fantastic. My skin feels softer and smoother on my forehead and under my eyes (I use it on that delicate area too), all the wrinkles due to dryness have disappeared completely and the skin looks glowing and plump. I use it even under my makeup and it works beautifully. This cream gave me a healthier luminous and lasting look, I am less prone to skin redness in my chin area. Palmarosa, Clary Sage, Patchouli and Rosemary essential oils contribute to sensual, mind relaxing moments on application.
What's more, I spend hours in the sun playing tennis and I can see significant protective effects of using Lyonsleaf face cream. (must be thanks to Babassu and Jojoba Oils, Organic Raw Shea Butter, Macadamia and Sweet Almond Butters) For me it is a Beauty Balm indeed.
Lyonsleaf Body Butter has a similar texture to Beauty Balm, it is formulated with my favourite natural ingredients like Coconut and Avocado Oils, plus a very exciting Black Pepper essential oil which I have never come across before. The results after just one single application are immense, my skin is deeply moisturised, soft and it is naturally scented with...what I'd classify as lightly sweet, milky herbal fragrance, absolutely not too overpowering, but strong enough to be smelled for a few hours after use.
Again, I feel this body butter gives me a lot of protection against the sun damage, be it before or after sunbathing. It soothes my skin, and it never fails to amaze me how little I need to be covered from top to toe. It is very rich and leaves a tiny layer of skin moisture sealing oils but within ten minutes form application I am ready to get dressed. I am so lucky I can include these wonderful, natural creams in my summer beauty regime.
3. Tropic Organic Hot Bamboo Face Smoothing Cleanser
Yet another Free From 2014 winner that has actually initiated my very first fascinations in organic and natural beauty department, (see my full review HERE ) and that became a staple in my face cleansing routine since. Not only does it purify, cleanse and exfoliate the face and neck in the most gentle way possible but it also delivers powerful relaxing moments on application. It is formulated with Avocado, Vitamin E, Golden Jojoba, Grapefruit, Camomile and Green Tea Extracts to combine nourishing and cleansing properties, and to just like it says on the bottle "...melt away all makeup and impurities to promote clear (...) complexion". It is perfect for hot summer months, luxurious spa treatment, exfoliator and makeup remover all in one.
Vintage Sandalwood Hair Comb REVIEW
Slightly unusual post today bringing your attention to a beautiful Sandalwood Comb I have discovered lately.
I am not a hairstyle tools expert at all but I do have fair long hair that get knotted very easily during my training or playing tennis. I also don't like using cheap plastic brushing tools that keep breaking and don't do the job properly. Have you ever had a comb stuck in your hair that bends as you try to run it through your hair? I have so as frustrating as it can get, I had to look for a tool that assists with keeping my hair tidy instead of pulling it, snapping it and making the whole process very painful.
Criteria were set - quality, made of natural material, substantial size, wide tooth comb that is a all round tool to run through both wet and dry hair strands detangling it with minimal damage made to it. All those criteria were fulfilled by the Vintage Sandalwood Hair Comb which I found on a - Male Grooming Website - remember my Bee Venom Face Cream review? - got it from there too. This tool is an absolute classic example of simplicity and luxury combined together to bring you a hair care experience you've always wanted but never thought possible. You will appreciate it if you have a passion for all things unique and seek practicality in aesthetically perfect items of every day use.
My combing routines are much easier now, thank you www.yournextremedy.co.uk for stocking fantastic tools that women can also use and enjoy.
Exactly as it Happened - High Intensity Training
Four reasons why summer is a perfect season to start exercising
As obvious as it may sound, some of us still seem to need a short reminder of why summer is the best time of the year to start a fitness routine.
1. You will naturally have more energy
My sport idol Rafa Nadal once said "Sun is energy" and he was so right - the moment some warmth of sunshine touches our skin, we tend to immediately crave some outdoors activities, and that's when we should understand the gift of our natural ability to feed off this powerful resource. No matter your fitness level or goal, you are going to achieve better results. If there are some of you thinking right now...I actually feel very sluggish on a hot day... it's not the sun, it's the situation you are unfortunate to find yourself in...snap out of it quickly by distraction, like an "all out" run, or chasing after seagulls...
2. Days are longer
I know this may not be the favourite for the spontaneous types but if you want to get anything done in life, it takes some planning. Guess what though.... summer means we have a day extended to some ridiculous measures, you have any time from 5am up until 10pm to squeeze your exercise- again, trust me it won't be a pain or chore...that rejuvenating run or cycle after work hours. Do it.
3. You will be more creative with your workouts
With sunshine, and more fresh air in our lungs we become more active mentally as well as physically. Make the most of this fantastic opportunity of higher brain alertness to create sets of exercises that you enjoy doing, discover new routes for your endurance training or... find courage to try a completely new activity. Military training challenge anyone?
4. You are more likely to develop good habits you will stick with throughout winter
This is by far the most important reason out of the lot because it creates positive changes to your whole life for the future. Just imagine yourself getting excited about a sports' packed weekend instead of a sofa slouching in front of TV with soul draining soaps on. Don't do this to yourself, you are born to do much more. There are many of you that are still not motivated enough, thinking, "when summer sunshine is gone, what is going to give me my energy?" My answer is...YOUR RESULTS AND EFFECTS OF YOUR SUMMER TRAINING...and believe me..you will notice them in your body and mind, just put some heart to it.
Would you like to speed up your training results? Change these things and enjoy better physique in no time
Straight to the point...
1. Change the reason you want to train for.
Let's face it, majority of people don't like exercise and only do it to look good or to loose weight. These two are the reasons that can motivate you short term but in the long run, you are likely to be pushed to a standby mode. You therefore need to sit down and think why you wish to take up some training or sport. The reasons should reflect values you believe in, they should be a part of your own personality, they should also be supported by passion. There are no set patterns for to use as a template but I can give you my reasons so that you have the idea what I am writing about here:
1. Moving means LIFE to me
2. It brings me tons of enjoyment and satisfaction
3. It strengthens my character by sticking with my decisions
4. It teaches me discipline and focus (for other aspects of life)
5. It makes my body more agile, stronger, faster and more resilient (therefore life is that much easier)
2. Pick up heavier weights in your circuit training.
Once you have established what you are moving yourself for, do it properly, and use every minute of your training time to your advantage. Yo can do this by training with heavier weights compared to what you have used in your previous sessions. Also, aim at doing your repetitions more dynamically, increase the number of repetitions or just race with your set time. You will rapidly improve your metabolism, your muscles will gain definition and you will see the results quicker than you think, simply because you will have trained your body cells to stay fit, even when you are at rest. This advise is to all those who do exercise fairly regularly but don't notice any results any more. If you are a complete beginner, you should stick to the safe route by assessing your general health first.
REMEMBER though that I am not talking of heavy weight lifting the way you tend to see around in the gyms. Leave it for body builders who train for their specific body shape. My advise is for those looking to bring back spring in their step again, wanting to be full of general stamina and strength.
3. Think sweaty, dirty, shameless, aggressive, angry and all out
You may be raising your eyebrows with disgust at the moment but with the attitude of well behaved prince or princess you are not going to achieve your results - fast, if at all. Fitness training is a great way to relieve all the frustrations of life and channel any anger onto some positive actions, like proper training sessions. The results will show if you allow yourself to get sweaty, muddy and let go of any fears (fear of being tired, smelly, ugly etc.) that stop you from going all out. It does take some work on your mind to begin with and after that it's only pure ecstatic breath of fresh energy, every time. Be proud of your effort and no respect for those brand new flashy trainers any more.
You can pin a photo of your muddy shoes proudly presenting them on this board - PINTEREST
Six Lasting Fashion Trends
Would you agree? Aren't these trends shaping our streets right now but have started quite a while ago? I have an idea which style is the most popular. Do you?
My Natural Beauty Latest Discoveries
I am thrilled to introduce to you what I have recently picked as my personal natural beauty favourites. Please see below
1. HerbalHarmony Rose Otto Hand Cream - This fantastic Cream would be a must have if you like a little bit of luxury on your hands, Bulgarian Rose Essential Oil, Rose Water and Rose Petal all combined together to provide you with maximum protection and exquisite renewing properties. Hands on Rose in a jar - well picked.
2.B Leaf Replenish Hydrating Eye and Lip Cream - Let's face it - this is no secret that when it comes to anti-ageing benefits from skincare, it's the consistent hydration and nourishment that does the job best, long term. Therefore it is important to pick the right eye cream, suitable for your skin type and your skin's needs. I have the feeling that B Leaf Eye Cream - light and gentle formula will tick all the boxes for many of us, plus you can use it to moisturise your lips, a multi use product that is worth trying.
3.Eden Be Natural Coconut Vanilla and Palmarosa Body Butter - Formulated to protect, nourish and stimulate cellular regeneration I am excited about having this product on my skin as soon as possible. Attraction is increased by seductive Vanilla and Palmarosa Essential Oils used in this Body Butter, all natural from Eden Be Natural.
4.Pure Thoughts Facial Carrot and Wheatgerm Soap and Pure Thoughts Facial Green Clay and Tea Tree Facial Soap - Pure Thoughts is a brand that does some miracles whenever they decide to manufacture some new products. It's no different in this instance, with their Facial Soaps range - effective and natural bars that cleanse and care for delicate face skin - the traditional way. Pick your soap today, if you prefer hassle free, one step cleansing routine at affordable price.
5. Shaloah Skincare Jasmine and Sea Buckthorn Renewing Moisturiser - I selected this Jasmine and Sea Buckthorn Face Cream by Shaloah to praise its carefully thought of formula that is to bring specific benefits, renewing, anti-ageing and moisturising in this case... but believe me I want to own all of the face creams that Shaloah offers, Green Tea and Avocado Night Cream or Francincense and Myrrh Rejuvenating - they all make my skin hungry of their touch. Love it.
Ishga Organic Seaweed Skincare - The Treasures of Hebrides - REVIEW PART 2
The testing of Ishga skincare
products is finalised, here are a few thoughts on how they performed.
Ishga is a Scottish brand that
created their natural line using 100%
Organic Hebridean Seaweed extracts and water from remotely located spring on
the Isle of Lewis. These two ingredients are the base of every product. They
are designed to be suitable for every skin type from sensitive and dry through
to normal, combination or oily, delivering anti-ageing results.
Ishga is an example of
minimalistic branding approach, keeping the range colour coded, purple for the
face products and sky blue for the body products. The bottles and tubs are
labelled with some basic but sufficient information on the products. The
application instructions are easy to understand and follow. The full ingredient
list you can find on the boxes that each bottle comes in.
I really liked the aesthetic look
of each bottle and jar, the packaging is elegantly designed, I am not sure
about the durability of the pumps used in the containers however, as I noticed
the top bits tend to fall off when used which caused me splashing the product
all over my bathroom. This wasn’t a major problem as I could quickly fix the
fault but this is definitely something to change to a more sturdy type in the
future.
The face line did a great job so
far, with Cleansing Lotion, Toner and
Face Cream balancing my skin to have the perfect amount of hydration and
protection. (More info on these products see my previous Ishga Review PART 1) When I added Face Serum
and Face Mask to my regime, I noticed an instant firming effect that felt a bit
odd to start with, to which I am used to now after two weeks of using. The FaceMask brought the feeling of total
nourishment together with reenergising effect through the slight tingling. It
smoothed out my skin thanks to its exfoliating properties. The only detail I
wasn’t so keen about was the smell of this mask, which I’d classify as sharp
herby with notes of watery mud from the sea and underwater plants. It’s not
unpleasant though, very distinctive rather. The fact that I had Hebridean
Seaweed extract at its purest being absorbed by my skin somehow made me forget
the strong smell.
My ultimate favourites out of the
whole range are Ishga Body Scrub, Body Lotion and Body Oil. The scrub is a
divine blend of sea salt and natural essential oils with my personal favourites
– Jasmine Oil and Geranium Oil included. I used it under the shower and felt
pampered from the moment of the first contact with my skin. I’d say this is the
perfect formula in a salt scrubs category. It left a layer of softening and
protective oils, which scented my body naturally and delicately.
The Invigorating Body Lotion and Oil
is all about my continuous excitement when it comes to Ishga body line of
products with Jasmine, Geranium,
Almond Oils as the reigning heroes plus the refreshing and awakening Lemon
grass Oil – skin felt and smelt as if it had undergone some top notch salon
treatments – an absolute must try. If this wasn't enough, the formula of this oil is entirely free from preservatives and parabens. Highly recommned for those with the strictest standards for their skincare choices.
Hope you found this review useful, for in depth description of each product and for a review from a male point of view, please visit this blog - YourNextRemedy.
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