How Do You Measure Up?

 

You might jump on the scales every morning, fingers crossed behind your back for an acceptable number, but do you know how you measure up in terms of your waist circumfrence? Do you know how much your body burns every day just getting around (because, yes, breathing and walking to the fax machine all burns kilojules)? If you don't, check out these nifty calculators. 

 

They're very useful figures to know if you're serious about weight-loss. Your BMI might not always be the most accurate indicator of good health – it doesn't know how much of you is fat and how much is muscle – but, as Shakira would say, your hips don't lie.

Can A Nutritionist Help You?

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Here's the thing about personal trainers – they are awesome at creating exercise plans, but dishing out diets? Not so much. That's where it's better to consult to a trained dietician or nutritionist (there's a good rundown on the difference here). Food is their forte. And we all know that when it comes to weight-loss, what you eat constitutes about 80% and exercise does the rest.

I went to see a nutritionist when I first started going to the gym. I was working out, but not losing any weight. I needed someone with fresh eyes to look at my diet, so I booked in a session with Kathleen Alleaume from The Right Balance. Before my first appointment, I savoured a last Cadbury Freddo, sure that she was going to put me on some no-carb, starvation diet. But alas, she looked over my food diary, took my measurements, talked to me about my goals, discussed my food likes and dislikes and came up with a new eating plan that was healthy, balanced and (most importantly) full of things I actually want to eat.



That's the thing about dieticians, they're not into fad diets or cutting out entire food groups – they work with you to educate you and help you change the way you think about eating. And that's the strategy that works if you want long-lasting results that not only get you a little lighter but enrich your body with all the nutrition it needs. So if you've hit a road block on the way to weight-loss, it might be worth considering investing in a dietician who can help get you on the right route.

On The Couch: Trasformers – Dark Of The Moon.

What's the story? After a rocky start in the first two Transformers flicks, the Autobots have found a peaceful new home on planet Earth, and Sam (Shia LaBeouf) has found himself a smoking new girlfriend in Carly (Rosie Huntington-Whiteley). But when the Decepticons return for a secret weapon found on the moon in the '60s space race, all hell breaks loose.

Why it's worth paying $20.50 to see in 3D... I'm a sucker for any movie where pimped-up cars turn into robots (I don't think the novelty of watching that will ever wear off), but this is the first time I've seen it in 3D and, well, it's awesome squared. Sure, the script is a little clunky, but the action sequences are slick and cool as hell. Making her leap from the Victoria's Secret runway to the big screen, poor Rosie Huntington-Whiteley has copped some flack for her acting skills (one reviewer said her acting makes former Transformers star Megan Fox's acting look as good as Kate Winslet's), but let's face it – with that hair and those legs, who really cares. There were moments I caught myself ignoring the robot war and just thinking, "Are those lips for real?" She's got the looks and that's really all a Transformers leading lady requires. Josh Duhamel adds some extra eye candy.

On The Couch: Holy Macaroon! It's Ginny Weasley.

Daily Mail

 

There'll be a line of boys stretching down the street to buy her a butterbeer. Yes, this really is 20-year-old Bonnie Wright, who plays Ginny Weasley in the Harry Potter films on the cover of Haute Muse magazine. And I have to say, she looks positively spellbinding.

Something I Never Thought About Before Today: What You Wear Down There When You Exercise.

Women's Health

 Cotton briefs, a G-string, commando... Does it matter? I never thought so. Then I read this, and now I'm not so sure.

The combination of heat, sweat, and friction in your nether regions is not only uncomfortable, it can be unhealthy. Tight and nonbreathable clothing traps heat and moisture, which can encourage the growth of candida, and lead to an unbearable yeast infection. That's not the only thing you have to worry about. When bacteria travels from back to front, it increases your risk for contracting an uncomfortable urinary tract infection (UTI) as well. These can both be prevented if you pay special attention to what you wear below the waist.

Sheesh! So what's the winner? Well it seems moisture-wicking undies like these Berlei Sports Boy-legs come up trumps and breathable cotton is the next best thing.

On The Couch: Super 8.

What's the story? Thirteen-year-old Joe Lamb (Joel Courtney) and his group of mates are budding film-makers – Zombie movies are their genre of choice. And when they successfully rope in Alice (Elle Fanning) to be their leading lady, there's a little extra bounce in Joe's step as he skips out of the house after dark to film scenes at a local railway station. But Joe and Alice's chance at romance is interrupted when they witness a train crash outside the station. After that night, the event is shrouded in mystery. What was on the train? Why is the Air Force suddenly sweeping their sleepy town? And what's with all the missing people? 

Why it's worth paying $17.80 to see... Between the alien attacking, the Air Force's weaponry going rogue and the blossoming relationship between Joe and Alice, there isn't really a dull moment in this flick. The kids (brilliantly cast) lighten up the story line, and while it's not really scary, there are no shortage of jumpy moments to keep you on the edge of your seat. With director JJ Abrams (who also directed Lost, Alias and Cloverfield) and producer Steven Spielberg at the helm, you can be sure this film is 112 minutes of solid entertainment. 

Oh, and if you see the flick and instantly just fall in love with Elle Fanning (yep, she's Dakota's little sis) like I did, check out this stunning shoot she did for Marie Claire magazine.

Gyms Might Not Make You Skinny. But Exercising Will Make You Fitter. And Healthier.

 

 I read an article in the Sunday Life magazine on the weekend that made me just a little bit mad. No, make that a lot mad. It asked, "Is The Gym Making Us Fatter?" Yep, forget the growing prevalence of processed food and our increased sedentary lifestyles – Jacqueline Maley has found the real culprit behind Australia's obesity epidemic: gyms.

 

"I also happen to truly believe [gyms] are useless and stupid; overpriced temples to vanity. Their confusing machines, their hordes of dead-eyed trainers and their upbeat insistence on the mind-body connection have done nothing to stem the nation's obesity epidemic. As gym membership has grown, so has our collective waistline."

 

Gym's won't make you skinny, says Jacqueline. Well, lets all revoke our memberships. Because the only reason anyone would ever go to a gym is to look like Heidi Klum, right? Nobody goes to improve their health and wellbeing.

 

Weight loss is not a magic formula. It is basic math. What you put in your mouth minus what you burn. And it's true that exercise alone will only do so much – a lot of weight loss is nutrition. But that doesn't mean you shouldn't join a gym or go for a run around the local oval. Because the benefits of regular exercise don't stop at weight loss. It's important to strengthen your bones and muscles with resistance training and it's important to get your heart-rate up and move your body when you've been sitting down in an office all day. 

 

I don't think that "anyone who runs on a treadmill instead of outdoors needs their head examined" – I think that anyone who cares enough about their bodies to fit in exercise wherever and whenever they can is smart. They might not have the perfect body, but you'll probably find they've got better bone and muscular strength, lower blood pressure, better sleep patterns and anxiety levels, and all-round better sense of wellbeing than their couch-loving counterparts.

 

I've seen people literally change their lives since they joined gyms. I've seen my own life change since I became a regular gym-goer – my treadmill routine unaffected by bad weather or dark nights. But if that means I need my "head examined", go for it Jacqueline - because I'm in a better head space now than I ever was pre-gym.