A Workout Should Leave You Looking Like This...

Daily Mail

 

Finally, a celeb who looks like I do post-workout! No make-up, exhausted expression... You can tell Reese Witherspoon is making the most of her gym membership.

Apparently she had just taken a Physique 57 class her local LA gym. It's the latest Hollywood exercise fad, which teams isometric exercises and orthopedic stretches to tone up your muscles and improve your posture. I want to try it!

Ooh, and if you want to buy Reese's quirky orange water bottle, I found it here.

Get Your Protein Fix (No Meat Required).

Not a lamb fan?

A couple in the Greek Islands were recently told they couldn't adopt because they were vegetarians. True story. Apparently, authorities were concerned that without meat or fish, the child wouldn't get a satisfactory diet.

As a born-and-bred meat lover, I've always wondered where vegetarians get their protein – I mean, without meat, how do you even feel full? Well, this article from the UK's Daily Mail outlines the top ten sources of protein for those who don't eat animal products...

1. Quinoa: Often labelled a "superfood", it's wholegrain that's rich in protein and fibre but gluten-free. You cook it in water, the same way you would with rice.

2. Avocado: It's two per cent protein and high in vitamins, monounsaturated fats and essential fatty acids.

3. Peas: Fresh or frozen, they're rich in fibre, vitamins and minerals and contain around five per cent protein.

4. Chick peas: They're low in fat and yet high in protein (around 23 per cent).

5. Miso soup: This Japanese soup is made from fermented soya beans, which offer more than 12 per cent protein.

6. Peanut butter: This sandwich spread is 28 per cent protein, and contains monounsaturated fats and antioxidants that can aid heart health.

7. Coconut: Whether you have it fresh or coconut milk, it's a complete protein that's also rich in fibre. But be warned: coconut flesh is high in saturated fat.

8. Brown rice: A wholegrain that's rich in minerals and high in fibre, it contains around 2.5 per cent protein.

9. Beetroot: As well as being rich in antioxidants, this veggie is a complete protein.

10. Oats: These are just under three per cent protein and can help keep you feeling full. 

I Think Everything Is Better With A Little Katy Perry.

And the new "All In" Adidas campaign is no exception. Katy joins David Beckham and NBA player Derrick Rose in the all-star line-up. I don't know about you, but I'm in.

Swap It, Don't Stop It.

Time to become a swapper...

That's the slogan for the government's new campaign. And I'm loving it. Dieting doesn't need to be hard. It should be about making small changes that you can keep up for the long term.

Swap big for small. Swap often for sometimes. Swap sitting for moving.

It really is that simple.

To learn more, check out the website here.

Try Saying No To This...

Sharon Montrose

Confession: I'm not really a dog person. But hold the hate mail or the how-could-you glares, I now live with two dogs (my mum's) and I'm coming around to the benefits of having a canine friend. Not only are they always so happy to see you they look like they could pee themselves, they also help keep you active.

Several recent studies have shown that dog walkers generally get more exercise than their non-canine-loving counterparts. And if you own a dog, you'll know why. It's a lot harder to say no to a pair of puppy dog eyes (and an annoying whimper) than it is a treadmill.

So as long as you don't mind waking up to a barking alarm you didn't set and constantly brushing hair off your clothes and you're handy with a pooper scooper, a dog could be one of the best things you buy for your health. The unconditional love is just a bonus.

Thought Of The Day...

Vintage Jet Patterns

I was training with my friend Mel the other week when she asked me, "Do you think we come to the gym every day because we're dedicated or because we just don't have anything better going on in our lives?" I wish I'd had this T-shirt to give her.

Help! I'm Exercising Too Much.

Going too hard?

Doubtful. A recent study in the UK done on older athletes (we're talking Olympic distance runners and rowers) has found that over exercising can result in heart muscle scarring, but what does this mean for all us regular joggers who lace-up our trainers for a sweat session several times a week? According to leading US cardiologist Dr Paul Thompson, not much.

“How many people are going to join the 100 Marathon club” or undertake a comparable amount of training? he asked. “Not many. Too much exercise has not been a big problem in America. Most people just run to stay in shape, and for them, the evidence is quite strong that endurance exercise is good” for the heart, he said.

So, exercise is good for heart health – unless maybe you're considering becoming an Olympic marathon runner that is...

Tuesday Tunes: Britney's Back.

One of the girls I work with (Jody, I'm looking at you) got me all excited this morning when she told me that the brand spankin' new Britney Spears album was out today. It's not. (Friday March 25 is the day it drops.)

But luckily her second single Till The World Ends is out now and it's all kinds of awesome. A worthy addition to your workout playlist, it's uber-catchy, with a beat that's quick enough to keep you running on pace.

Some people are complaining that there's too much "audio production" on the new album, but I reckon when it comes to Britney, it just might be better that way.

Let's Talk About Appropriate Running Attire...

Daily Mail

I love buying exercise gear. I could easily spend hours (and hundreds of dollars) in Lorna Jane. But I'm well aware that other people find shopping for tights and crop tops and socks something of a chore – which might explain why so many people show up to spin in tights that are so worn around the rear they're almost see-through and would be entirely inappropriate were it not for the three-sizes-too-big charity walkathon t-shirt they're inevitably wearing on top.

I get it, the gym is not a fashion parade (and you most certainly should never be wearing make-up) but there are limits. My sister and I once saw someone wearing jeggings with a tank and trainers. Not cool. And unfortunately, not the only time I've seen someone bring out the jeggings to jog in. I've also seen long, loose vests (seriously, what point do they serve?) and last week, I saw someone running on the treadmill wearing a feather and faux flower headpiece. No jokes. 

You don't have to be dressed to impress in the latest compression tights or the hottest trainers, but you do have to be wearing something you can... oh, I don't know... sweat in. Otherwise, what's the point?

What's This? The Blood Type Diet.

Daily Mail

Not sure if you've heard but supermodel Miranda Kerr had a baby nine weeks ago and last week she was back on the catwalk... modelling. That shiz is crazy. So when she last week credited her body to the blood-type diet, I was curious to know more...

"I am a blood type A and more often than not I eat specifically for my blood type," Miranda explains. "I also eat low GI, high alkaline foods, drink filtered water and eat mostly fresh produce and very little meat." 

So what's the dealio with this blood-type diet? Well basically ten years ago, a naturopathic pysician called Peter D'Adamo wrote a little book (which became a New York Times bestseller) called Eat Right 4 Your Type claiming that your blood type is actually an important factor in determining a healthy diet. For example, Type O peeps can benefit from a higher-priotein, lower-carb diet, while Type A can get more out of a lower-fat, plant-based diet, and Types B and AB can feel better following a more omnivorous diet. Apparently celebrities like Cheryl Cole and Liz Hurley have been fans for eons.

Want to know more? Check out Peter's website here.

Time For Tea.

Honey And Jam Photos

Oh, the dreaded 3pm slump. That time of the day when you suddenly feel tired, with the attention span of a toddler and the vending machine beckons...

But before you scrounge around for enough change to get a Kit Kat, consider a tea break instead. According to a new study, having a cuppa can give the brain a boost and reduce tiredness. Add that to the benefits already associated with drinking black tea – lowered risk of heart disease, cancer and Parkinson's and improved bone density – and I say bring on that second cup!

Just hold the biscuits.

Get Real With Gwen.

Elle

Now I hate comparing bodies to celebrities (working in mags, I know how unattainable it is to try and look like someone you see on the pages of a glossy), but if I had to trade figures with one famous face, it would be Gwen Stefani – girl is fit, strong and looks good in just about anything. 

And unlike most celebs who insist they eat whatever they want or maintain that their drastically slimmer bod is all thanks to a pilates class (puh-lease!), Gwen has always been super honest about what it takes to get her body looking that banging. She's careful with what she eats and she hits the gym hard – almost every day. In an interview with this months UK Elle, Gwen admits...

"I work out five days a week, I can’t imagine not doing it... I’d like to have no rules and eat what I want, but I’ve learned over the years that I’m so disappointed when I can’t wear the clothes I want to wear." 

Yep, just like every other 41-year-old mum-of-two, keeping trim and toned is "a daily struggle" for Gwen. So I won't feel bad if I don't look quite as good after a few Tim Tams.

Where Do You Buy Your Trainers?

How do you decide?

I seem to go through running shoes like a baby goes through onesies and right now I'm up for a new pair... again. But instead of going to Athlete's Foot where I initially went to be fitted for my Brooks Adrenalines, this time I knew what I wanted so I decided to shop around. And I found them at Paul's Warehouse – buy one, get one free. Just show me where to sign the credit slip.

My dad hasn't bought his shoes in Australia for years. He buys them from the US and waxes lyrical about how much cheaper they are, even with the shipping factored in. My friend Jess gets her Nikes from a UK website that offers free shipping and sells them for under a hundred big ones.

I like to support local stores and the personalised expertise that they offer, but if it's a matter of getting your treads for half the cost, is it worth going over the Pacific to get them. Where do you stand?