How to avoid weight gain this winter

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When the temperature drops and the nights are dark, it is easy to spend your time curled up on the sofa eating sugary snacks and keeping warm, rather than eating salads, heading outside and getting active like we do in the summer.

Bearing this in mind, it’s therefore not uncommon to put on a little weight during the winter months, but this doesn’t have to be the case. By making small changes to your lifestyle now, you will not only help your waistline, but your mental health and overall wellbeing could benefit too.

Always have breakfast
As tempting as it is to have an extra ten minutes in bed, having breakfast in the morning is not only a great way to start the day but can also stop you from eating more later in the day. Pass on the sugary cereals and carb heavy white toast, and instead look at having a high protein meal that will keep hunger locked up for longer. Scrambled eggs and avocado are a great idea, poached eggs with smoked salmon will throw in some amino acids. Of course there is nothing quite like boiled eggs and soldiers, but swap the bloomer for dark rye bread and you will be laughing.

Take care of your gut
You might not know this but many experts believe that our gut bacteria plays a role in our body weight. Think about taking a live bacteria supplement and this could not only improve your delicate gut flora but also help you to keep a handle on your weight too.

Don’t take on too much
Yes, we know that life is busy and you are pulled in every which way but stress isn’t going to do you any good. As well as making you worry, cortisol, the stress hormone, can affect energy expenditure and increase our consumption of foods that are high in fat and sugar. This can cause weight gain around the tummy and, with this, comes an increase in health risks, so we would suggest trying to reduce your stress levels for the sake of both weight management and long-term health. To ease stress, find a new hobby, say no now and again if you have too much on, and if you can, turn your phone off and step away from screens, even for just an hour and this might make a big difference to your mood.

Eat real food
Rather than being focussed on counting calories and restricting what you eat, instead eat whole, nutritious, unprocessed foods that will nourish your body and mind. Try to eat two pieces of fruit and have five servings of vegetable a day. Stop putting those white carbs in your trolley and instead, switch to fibre rich whole grain rice, bread and pasta, and you will find these not only fill you up but keep you regular too! Eggs, nuts, seeds, fish, seafood, lentils, beans, chickpeas, organic meat, quinoa and tofu are all good quality protein that are delicious and good for you, so get creative in the kitchen and see the difference these foods can make. As well as this, drink lots of water, keep caffeine and alcohol under control and get plenty of sleep.

Exercise
Step away from the screens if you want to maintaining a healthy weight and good fitness levels. We aren’t talking about going to the gym everyday, but doing something you enjoy which takes you mind away from your worries, and the food cupboard, is a really good idea. Whether it is hot yoga, swimming, dancing, martial arts, a bootcamp class, cycling or running, do it three times a week and if you do it with a friend, you will have to go.

Team Pure Beauty

Don’t Let the Cold Weather Stop You From Exercising

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While we have been lucky with the autumn weather so far, now the clocks have gone back, we are pretty sure the temperatures are going to start to drop soon. Some people might be put off from exercising once November hits, but if you put your trainers away now, all your hard work over the summer months will be undone in no time at all.

Yes, you can take your exercise inside, but running, walking, cycling or rowing outdoors, can energise your soul, lift your spirits and keep you in tip-top condition. We hope our hints and tips will keep you motivated to brace the elements, even when your sofa and slippers are calling you to go back to them.

Have a Goal
If you haven’t got anything to aim for, then going out on a biting Friday morning may well not appeal, so set a goal. Maybe it’s getting into that size ten dress for your Christmas party, running a half marathon in the spring or doing the London to Brighton bike ride, decide what will keep you on track and you will immediately have something to get out from under the duvet for.

Drink Water
We naturally tend to drink less water in the winter, but you still need to keep H2O levels up, especially when you are exercising. You may not feel as if you are overheating or sweating like you do when you run in the sun, but your body still needs to refuel, and you can still become dehydrated even if you can see your icy breath as you run through the woods. Take a bottle of water with you when you are working out, and be sure you to drink more, and eat well, when you are out of the shower and warming up.

Layer Up
If you are working hard, you will get hot, so make sure you wear layers that can be easily taken off and put back on. A vest, t-shirt, and hoodie together with a pair of good quality leggings, sports socks and appropriate trainers are a given, and you can always add a hat and scarf at the start of your session for extra warmth and comfort, and take them off as you heat up.

Look After Your Hands
Painful, chilly hands can be a part of winter workouts, so don’t try to brave it out, instead do the sensible thing and wear gloves. There are some excellent cycling, rowing and running-specific designs on the market which are worth investing in. If it’s a really cold day, you might want to wear a pair of thin glove liners made of a wicking material, or you could pop a hand-warmer in your pocket for extra heat too.

Warm Up and Cool Down
When it is cold, you might want to get running as soon as you step out of the door, but this could do more damage than good. It might be windy and raining, but it is still important to do your pre and post workout stretches and exercises to ensure you don’t pull or muscle, or worse.

Stay Safe
If you’re exercising when the sun has gone down, use well-lit areas, wear bright, reflective clothing and either tell someone where you are going or, even better, go with a friend. We know that music can help keep you motivated, but when it’s dark, cold and icy, not being able to hear what’s going on around you can make you vulnerable, so leave the earphones at home.

We hope that these tips will help you exercise safely when temperatures drop, but if it gets too much out there, either workout inside, or have a day off because, while the weather might be better tomorrow, an injury could take you out for weeks.

Team Beauty

It’s never too late to book a holiday

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adventure, airports, August, autumn, baggage, beach, budget, camping, cooking, cycling, Europe, extra, families, family, flights, food, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, foreign currency, friends, holiday, hotel, lakes, last minute break, meals, passports, prices, reserving, seats, Spa, staycation, town, two-week holiday, two-week summer holiday, UK, villa, yoga

 

It’s seems that the holiday season has already started.

Passports are being renewed.

Dog-sitters are being booked.

Bikinis are being chosen.

People are sharing their sunny snaps on social media.

However, if you are still undecided, do not worry, it’s never too late to book a summer break.

Whilst many people book up months, even years, ahead leaving things a later isn’t a disaster, you might just need to do a little more leg-work.

First things first, set dates. If you don’t want to get caught out by the biggest price hikes and busiest times, try to avoid going away during Whitsun half term week in May and the second half of August.

If you love it to be hot, going away in June might not give you the tan you want and if you have toddlers you might want to avoid the blazing sun in Greece in the middle of the summer.

Decide what kind of holiday you want to go on. Is it adventure, beach, spa, cycling, cooking, yoga or just sitting by the pool with a good book? Whatever it is, this is your time away so be sure you do what will make you happy.

Be aware of the world around you, this pretty key at the moment. If you are considering a country where there is political instability and terrorist threats, there may well be great deals but they might not be the best choice. Check details with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and take their advice.

Ask for recommendations. We can all look at glossy brochures and daydream over images on the Internet, but getting recommendations and feedback from family and friends about a hotel, town or villa could be more valuable than any online review.

Don’t forget Spain. If you’re looking for guaranteed sunshine, perfect sandy beaches and amazing food – Spain is a great choice. This country has destinations for everyone, and every budget. There are many flight options and the range of accommodation is as overwhelming as the welcome families receive.

Don’t be caught out by the promise of massive savings. Prices are changing all the time in response to demand making the original price of a holiday pretty meaningless.

What you do need to look at is what is actually included in the price you are quoted. To compare prices you need to factor in flights, meals, transfers and all the other elements of a holiday. You need to ensure you are comparing like with like. If there is a massive difference in prices, try to find out why – for example flights are included but baggage and reserving seats is extra.

Consider going for the all-inclusive option. These are perfect for families who want to know what they will be spending and are looking for excellent facilities, good food, sports as well as value for money.

If you like nature, how about camping? Camp sites across the UK and Europe offer a range of facilities and prices and this can be a fantastic way to take a last minute break that everyone will enjoy.

No one says you have to take the traditional two-week summer holiday. How about splitting up your time off? You could have a week by the Italian lakes early in the season before it gets too hot and busy, followed by a weekend at a holiday park and then a city break in the early autumn.

If all else fails, try a ‘staycation’. Without the stress of airports, passports, foreign currency and sun burn, you can still have a great, relaxing time at home with you and yours.

Whatever you do this summer, have fun.

Sporting Skincare

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cycling, football, hair care, skincare, sport, swimming, tennis

Playing a sport can be good for us in so many ways; as well as helping to keep us fit and healthy, playing a sport can encourage mental wellness and a feeling of accomplishment. However, there can be a slight downside to certain sports, in that they’re tough on your body in other ways. We thought we’d look at some of the most popular sports, their effects on your beauty regime and what you can do to help.

Cycling

Ever since Bradley Wiggins brought the yellow jersey home from the Tour de France and Team GB did so well at the cycling events at the London 2012 Olympics, the UK seems to have caught cycling fever! Cycling is an excellent way to get a full body workout and if you’re brave enough can still be done in both rain and shine. It can, however, be tough on your hands and encourage callouses and rough skin to develop. We’d recommend Decleor Nourishing and Smoothing Hand Cream which will nourish the hands and protect them from the elements, as well as Dermalogica Multivitamin Hand and Nail Treatment as an overnight treatment to repair the cuticles and give deep moisturisation.

Tennis

Tennis is a great sport for both exercise and socialisation, and joining a tennis club can do wonders for both your health and your social life. During the summer months, you’ll likely be playing outside which means that a good sun lotion will be in order. Protect your face whilst keeping a flawless complexion with Decleor Multi-Protection BB Cream SPF15 in light, medium or dark and protect your body with Dermalogica Protection 50 Sport SPF50, a product specifically designed to be used during sport and therefore won’t be affected by perspiration.

Football

Women’s football is becoming more popular than ever, with Liverpool Ladies and England Captain Gemma Bonner providing a hugely positive role-model for girls around the country. There’s no doubt that football is a physically demanding sport, and 90 minutes of running (and that’s not counting added time…) is enough to give even the fittest sportsperson tired legs. We recommend that you put some life back into your aching pins with Decleor Circulagel Refreshing Leg Gel.

Swimming

Swimming offers perhaps the best full body workout of any sport, with breaststroke estimated to work at least 30 of the major muscles. There’s no doubt though, that the chemicals used to clean a pool can be hard on your hair if you swim regularly and even salt can be harmful if you’re lucky enough to live somewhere warm enough to swim in the sea. You’ll need to use haircare products which are powerful enough to cleanse away the chemicals without stripping your hair of you use them every day so products such as Dermalogica Shine Therapy Shampoo and Dermalogica Silk Finish Conditioner are an important addition to your bathroom.