On The Couch: What To Watch This Weekend...

If you're in the mood for something light... Going The Distance. 

It's a rom-com, yes – but it's not too girlie, Drew Barrymore and Justin Long are very cool, and it's actually quite a funny flick. You could even watch it with your man... providing there's no football on.

If you want to feel chills... Paranormal Activity 2.

It's not gruesome scary so if you want blood and guts Saw-style, move right along. But if you just want to feel really creeped out before you hit the sack, well, that's weird, but this should do the trick.

If your other half refused to let you hire Going The Distance... The Town.

Ben Affleck has had some shockers in his time (remember Gigli with Jenny From The Block?) but thankfully this isn't one of them. It's got a bit of crime, a bit of a love story and you get to see Gossip Girl's Blake Lively play a drug-addled stripper. Pretty much an all-round crowd pleaser, really.

Another Fantastic App.

Oh Jamie, it's not too late for us...

I am loving Jamie Oliver's 20 Minute Meals app right now. It's got heaps of easy recipes with clear shopping lists, fully-illustrated steps (that even include cues that tell you when to set the table) and even videos for the cookingly challenged – like me. And when Jamie says you can cook it in twenty, he means it. Like, by 19:59 you will be shovelling food in your trap.

My favourite recipe from the bunch is the rigatoni arrabiatta (a delicious concoction of tomato, capsicum, basil, fetta and oregano) – great if you're having vegetarian friends around, too. It'll cost you a few dimes but it's invaluable having all the recipes on and when you're browsing the aisles at Coles.

When Big Bags Bite Back.

Rachel Bilson

You've heard it all before: heavy handbags are bad for your body. What with your wallet, phone, Kindle, planner, water bottle and umbrella, the average woman's bag weighs a whopping 3kg. So what about your gym bag? I don't know about you, but when it comes to my gym haul, you can add training shoes, clothes, a make-up bag, a hair straightener, deodorant and a towel to the load. Honestly, it's a workout just lugging it to the health club.

I used to carry all that weight on one shoulder. Until sharp pains started shooting down my neck and shoulder. The culprit? My bag. But it turns out that's not the only area that feels the strain of a heavy satchel...

Neck: When you carry a bag, your neck naturally leans away from the load to help carry and balance the weight. This causes tension on the carrying side of the neck and compression on the opposite side.

Shoulders and back: The shoulder bearing the load is rotated backwards and raised all the time... This affects the muscles running down the upper back, the shoulder blades and those supporting the spine — they tire and spasm.

Arms: The arm carrying the bag remains very static while walking to keep the load still and balanced... "This is quite different to the natural swinging movement we make when walking," says [physiotherapist Russell Stocker]. "Without the normal arm swing used as a balance mechanism, this can make you slightly unsteady and actually mean you need greater effort to move forwards."

 Hips and legs: The greater the load of the bag, the more pressure on the leg joints. Over a long period, force on the knees can cause wear and tear and joint problems.

So if you're toting your gym gear around every day, maybe try a backpack. They might not be the epitome of style but I saw an article in a recent issue of Shop Til You Drop that said backpacks are making a comeback. It's true, I promise. I admit, I'm not sure they were talking about my free Fitness First backpack, but hey, if they're back on the runway, I say embrace it.

If It's Good For You, I'll Take Two.

Maybe just one... more.

Whoa! Steady on. Just because chocolate, nuts, wine and caffeine have some health benefits doesn't mean you should be going hell for leather, having chocolate-coated nuts with a glass of pinot for every meal. 

Don't scoff. It's easy to go overboard when you take the "healthy" option. Ever eaten a whole bag of Pretzels because they were baked? Or had eight handfuls of nuts because they're full of omega-3? Who hasn't. 

It's easy to do, but you kind of lose the whole "health benefits" thing when you're licking the salt off the Pretzel bag.

So remember, folks: Moderation is where it's at. Eat what you want. But a little bit. Just a little bit.

Words To Sweat By.

Words To Sweat By

I stumbled across these super-cute gym towels yesterday. And I just had to share. Sure beats the tattered rag I take to treadmill.

It's A Stretch.

Tee, $69, and Tights, $89, both Abi and Joseph.

In my dream life I do yoga three times a week. I do headstands and back bends and people tell me I have a body like Christy Turlington.

Of course, in my real life I struggle finding the time to get to yoga even once a month. And I can barely touch my toes.

But sometimes it's nice to dream. And in my dream life I like to imagine I'm wearing this when I head to the yoga studio. Simple. Chic. Very zen.

On The Couch: Pretty Little Liars

Pretty Little Liars

I am completely obsessed with this show right now (well, that and Private Practice – seriously, that show is getting really good). If you like other crappy-but-oddly-addictive TV – like, say, Hellcats or Vampire Diaries – you'll love this. If you're not already familiar with it, the plot's probably going to sound a little crazy, but basically it's about four girls who used to be best friends before their queen bee Alison was murdered. And now, a year later, they're all getting messages from one mysterious "A" who is threatening to expose all their secrets. Juicy, right?

Okay, so it's not like smart television, but once you watch a few episodes, you'll be hooked. It's become crazy popular in the States and already been comissioned for a second season. So if you don't want to be the last one catching on (that's never fun) or you've just got nothing better to do with your Tuesday nights (shame on you), check it out tonight on GO! at 8:30pm... And it doesn't even fight in the same time slot as The Biggest Loser so you can watch both. Um, awesome.