Beauty talk with health and fitness blogger Amy Lee

We caught up with health and fitness blogger Amy Lee to get an insight into how she maintains her glowing skin on-the-go. 

 

ON MORNING BEAUTY ROUTINES

I drink one teaspoon of apple cider vinegar with warm water every morning (no matter where I am in the world) to detoxify my system and aid digestion.

ON TRAVEL BEAUTY ESSENTIALS

An eyebrow pencil: it makes all the difference to the structure of your face. I use Bare Minerals brow pencil. A hydrating face mist with lavender can also be a quick and soothing fix for dehydrated skin when travelling.

ON MY TOP TRAVEL TIP

I sleep with a silk eye mask (Jurlique is my pick). It doesn’t stretch or irritate the skin, which is especially good for those of us who lie on our sides to sleep.

ON MY TRAVEL MAKE-UP KIT

A tinted mineral moisturiser with SPF 30+ protection. It keeps my skin hydrated, while still allowing my skin to breathe – it’s especially good in the dry atmosphere of a plane.

ON TRAVEL HAIR

I prefer a fish braid – sometimes I get a headache from having a tight ponytail!

I use Moroccan oil on the ends of my hair but because I get oily roots, I love the Klorane dry shampoo as a quick fix.

ON SKIN CARE

I wear sunscreen with at least a SPF 30+ every day, even in winter. Whatever the season, we must always protect our skin from damaging UV rays!

Even when travelling, I cleanse morning and night using an organic moisturiser.

ON WINTER BEAUTY FORECASTS

I think natural looking and effortless hair will be making a comeback – good news for those who oversleep on weekends like me!

Check out her stunning Instagram @amyleeactive for more.

 

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Fat burning full body workout

 

Burn fat, build muscle and lean lean lean with this efficient 30-minute full body workout courtesy of trainer, Amber Bloom. 

 

This full body workout takes just 30 minutes to complete and requires minimal equipment – so it can really be done absolutely anywhere! This training session will target your upper body, lower body and abs, while still incorporating some cardio to keep the heart rate high.

Each set has three exercises to be performed one after the other, followed by one minute of cardio (one round). Repeat each set three times before moving on to the next set. Take a one-minute break in-between each set (or between each round for beginners). As with any exercise, warm-up and cool down is always recommended.  

P.S: No skipping rope? No problem! Just jump in place, mimicking the movement.

 

Model: Amber Blom
Photographer: James Patrick

 

Set One

This first set focuses on your upper-body. You may want to choose a lighter weight since you will performing a high number of reps, or you can always drop the weight down as your muscles fatigue.

Repeat this set three times. Rest for one minute before moving on to the next set.

Bicep curl x 15 reps 

Make sure to keep your elbows in by your side, your hips tucked under and your core tight. Start with the weights fully extended down, then curl them up, squeezing at the top. Release the weight down to the starting position (resist the momentum and control them all the way down). 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Military press x 15 reps 

Start with the dumbbells under your chin, then rotate them out and up to an overhead press. Bring them down below your chin and that’s one rep.  Make sure not to arch your back as you press them up – always keep your core tight.

 

 

Push-up x 15 reps

The beauty of push-ups is that they can be modified to accommodate your fitness level.  You can do tricep push-ups, wide push-ups or push-ups on your knees (I like to do a mix).

 

 

Cardio

Jump rope for 60 seconds.  You can do alternating single leg jumps, jumps using both feet or any other combination you like.  This cardio burst between each set keeps your heart rate up and the calories burning! 

 

 

 

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Set two

This second set of exercises focuses on your lower-body. You may want to use a heavier weight for this set.

Repeat this set three times. Rest for one minute before moving on to the last set.

Deadlifts x 15 reps. 

For this exercise, hinge at the hips with a slight bend in the knee. Stand up and squeeze the glutes. You should be able to feel the glutes and hamstrings on each rep. Keep your shoulders rolled back throughout the exercise.

 

 

 

 

Squat jumps x 15 reps

Start in a squat position. Jump up, extending the arms to your sides, before returning to a squat position. That’s one rep. Make sure form is not compromised on this exercise: your knees should not fall inward when you squat. 

 

 

 

Alternating walking lunge with glute squeeze x 15 reps per leg

To perform this exercise, extend one leg out in front in a lunge position. As you stand up, raise the back leg and squeeze the glutes. Lunge forward with the opposite leg and repeat on that side. You should complete 30 lunges in total (15 on each side).

 

 

 

 

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Set Three

This set is all about your abs and core.

Repeat this set three times.

Russian twist x 15 reps per side

This exercise hits the oblique muscles. Find a comfortable seated position with your feet elevated off the ground. You may have your legs bent for more stability or extended if you’re more advanced. Hold each end of the dumbbell in your hands and twist your body to one side then the opposite.  Complete 15 reps per side.

 

 

 

 

Glute bridge x 15 reps

Lay on your back with a dumbbell on your abdomen.  To perform this exercise, raise your hip bones up as high as they can, squeezing the glutes.  Lower your body back to the ground. This is one rep. Ensure your knees don’t fall in or out as you perform this exercise.  

 

 

One minute plank

This exercise helps cinch in the waist and stabilise the core. Rest your elbows and forearms on the ground, raising your hips to form a straight line from your neck to your ankles. The key to this exercise is to squeeze all your muscles! Think about your glutes, your core, your quads – they should all be activated. As you fatigue, it’s common to sag the lower back; resist this by squeezing all your muscles. And yes, it’s normal for your muscles to shake.

 

 

 

 

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Strengthen your immunity with these tops foods

Lifestyle factors such as exercising regularly, reducing stress and avoiding unhealthy habits such as smoking, all have a positive impact on your belly bacteria. However, food should be your top priority and is the best first-line treatment to boost the health of your microbiome and, in turn, strengthen your immunity.

 

 

Eat resistant starch: “This kind of fibre resists digestion and when it reaches the colon it is fermented by the bacteria there to produce by-products called short chain fatty acids,” says Dr Jane Muir, head of Translational Nutrition Science in the Department of Gastroenterology at Monash University. “In particular, it increases the production of a short chain fatty acid called butyrate, which is very important to keeping the lining of the gut healthy. Butyrate also has a range of other effects, which indicate that it may help to prevent inflammation and reduce the risk of colon cancer.” Foods high in resistant starch include oats, lentils, bananas, cashews and potato that has been cooked and cooled.

Plate up with plant foods: Bad bacteria can multiply super fast. In fact, after just two days of eating an animal-based diet of meat and dairy including bacon, ribs and cheese, people show a growth in potentially problematic bacteria in their gut, shows Harvard research. They also experience higher colonisation of fungi and viruses, and more microorganisms that can trigger inflammatory bowel disease within 24 hours of eating excessive meat and diary. By contrast, the levels of good belly bacteria rapidly improve when individuals are placed on a vegetable-only diet for several days. The take-home? Opt for the broccoli.

Enjoy natural prebiotics: Think foods such as asparagus, dandelion greens, Jerusalem artichoke, chicory, onions, leek and garlic. “Prebiotics are fibre compounds that pass undigested through the stomach and small intestine,” says Muir. “When prebiotics arrive in the large intestine, they promote the growth and activity of beneficial (probiotic) bacteria that live there. Having a healthy balance of gut bacteria benefits your digestion, absorption of minerals and immune system function. In short, it’s a win-win for your health.”

Serve a little sauerkraut: Fermented foods are high in probiotics – live bacteria that can help prevent harmful bacteria from attaching to your gut lining and growing there. They can also destroy toxins released by certain ‘bad’ bacteria that can make you sick. If that’s not enough,  probiotics send signals to your cells to nourish the mucus in your intestine, helping it act as a barrier against infection.

Fermented foods can also help to trigger proteins that protect the lining of your gut, shows research from Yale University. “But make sure you listen to your body – if you get symptoms of belly discomfort in relation to certain fermented foods, they may be upsetting your microbiome,” says naturopath and natural health consultant with Doctor Earth in Sydney, Sarah Luck. “Rotating your ferments can ensure a good balance. So during the week on different days, include sauerkraut, lacto-fermented cucumbers, miso (if you tolerate soy), kefir (a probiotic milk drink) and kimchi (a fermented Korean vegetable side dish) in your diet.”

You might also want to take probiotic supplements. “The improvements for digestive complaints usually start to become evident after a week or two of taking probiotics,” Luck explains. “Benefits to skin, mood and general health take a bit longer but usually kick in after a few weeks.”

Eat less carbs: Carbs are the preferred source of fuel for unhealthy bacteria, so loading up on sugars or refined carbs such as white bread and sweet biscuits can compromise your gut health. Instead, opt for wholegrains, and when you eat bread go for a rye sourdough, which is high in fibre and also contains beneficial bacteria from its starter culture.

Cut the chardonnays and coffees: Alcohol can increase the levels of gram-negative bacteria in your belly, which are notorious for causing immune system reactions. This family of bacteria causes an increase in endotoxins, which can be absorbed via the intestine into your bloodstream, then taxied via the portal vein to your liver. Once there, endotoxins can overload the Kupffer cells that help your liver do its filtering work. This can lead the Kupffer cells to activate inflammation in the liver too. Just one episode of binge drinking can cause enough damage to trigger leaky gut, shows research from the Massachusetts Medical School.

On the other hand, your morning espresso can increase acid production in your gut (even if it’s decaffeinated) and also irritate the lining of your stomach, getting in the way of leaky gut repair. The good news is that once you cut the coffee, the mucosal lining of your gut can start to repair and regenerate in as little as 48 hours, shows research from Charles University.

 

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5 exercises for at-home reformer Pilates

 

Want to bring your Pilates sessions home with you? Here are five ways to bring some reformer moves into your home workouts.

 

If reformer Pilates sounds like your kind of deal, you better be prepared to part with a pretty penny. An hour-long private lesson can set you back hundreds of dollars, while group classes are still quite pricey. But for those without the watertight income, exercise physiologist Jennifer Smallridge and physiotherapist at Sportsmed biologic, Rebecca Huppert put together five spins on classic reformer moves to have you reaping all the benefits in the comfort of your own home:

 

1. Reformer lunges

This move is traditionally performed with one foot on the carriage, one foot on the stable platform, and the lunge pushes the carriage back (creating instability). This can be reproduced with XR Slides on a carpeted area (xrslide.com) by placing one foot on the ground and the back foot on the slide, lunging and then swapping sides. You could also use a book to gain the sliding motion.

2. Hands in straps – pullovers

Without a reformer, a resistance band can be wrapped around a steady object (table leg, tied tightly around a door handle). Lie with your body facing away from the band, ensure there is tension in the band, extend both arms up to the ceiling and pull the band down towards your sides while keeping your pelvis neutral. Challenges to this move include putting the legs up in tabletop, and/or adding an abdominal curl.

3. Leg press

This is one of the foundation moves in reformer Pilates. Without the footbar to put the feet on, you can lie on a mat and place your legs in tabletop, then try to keep the pelvis level as you tap one foot down on the mat at a time. You must engage your core muscles for this to be effective and safe. Add difficulty by straightening the leg each time it lowers, or lifting up the head and chest.

4. Reformer row

Again, wrapping a resistance band around a fixed object will allow a row type movement to be performed. The reformer works well by challenging the core, so to get the same benefits, stand on an unstable surface (BOSU, cushion, one leg stand) or complete a squat at the same time, with your core muscles active.

5. Scooter

This exercise involves one leg firmly on the floor and the other on the carriage, pushing it back against resistance and challenging the gluteal muscles on both sides. Without a reformer, arabesques are a nice way to work these muscles. Stand on one leg, hands on hips and lower your chest/lift your back leg at the same time, so that you feel it working all of the stabilisers of your stance leg. Rise up and repeat.

NEXT: Looking for more home workouts? Try this 20-minute workout today.

 

 

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Ultimate protein pancake recipe

Squash sweet cravings and give your workout a boost with these decadent (yet healthy) recipes, courtesy of Goddess Nutrition.

 

Ingredients

• 100g blended oats
• 2 egg whites
• 200ml almond milk
• 1 scoop Goddess Nutrition™ Complete Recovery Lean Protein in Vanilla Milkshake flavour (or a flavour of your choice)
• Plain yoghurt
• Sliced fresh fruit
• Honey

Method

1. Add blended oats and egg whites to 200ml of almond milk then whisk until smooth.

2. Stir in Goddess Nutrition™ Lean Protein until smooth.

3. Fry your pancakes in a shallow pan until golden.

4. Place your cooked pancakes onto a plate and spread a layer of plain yoghurt on top then fill with fresh fruit.

5. Roll up your pancake and drizzle honey over the top.

Top with more fruit and enjoy!

 

Nutrition

Calories 182kcal // Protein 12g // Carbs 25g // Fat 4g (per pancake)

NEXT: Looking for more healthy, protein-packed recipes? Try these raspberry and coconut protein truffles for a treat.

 

 

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How to avoid ingrown hairs

 

Ever wondered why you can't seem to avoid pesky ingrown hairs? We turned to the team at Brazilian Butterfly to help! Here are five things you might be doing that promote ingrown hair.

 

 

1. You aren’t exfoliating:

The most common cause of ingrown hairs is a lack of exfoliation. Whilst we have all heard the advice of exfoliating after a wax, many of us ignore this advice and don’t bother. It is critical to exfoliate after a wax to not only minimize those pesky ingrown hairs but to maintain that smooth post wax feeling. Exfoliating removes dead skin cells, which clears the way for the newer skin underneath to appear. By removing the dead skin cells you minimize the chance of hairs being caught underneath and thus becoming ingrown.

The Brazilian Butterfly team recommends using the BB Body Scrub with a BB exfoliating mitt, glove or puff in the shower several times a week. To rehydrate after exfoliation try either the BB Tea Tree body lotion or for those with delicate skin the BB Delicate body lotion.

 

2. You aren’t using aftercare products:

While we have all felt pressured into buying recommended products when it comes to post wax care, the after products are crucial for maintaining your skin and ensuring ingrown hairs don’t appear.

On top of the items mentioned above they highly recommend all waxing clients to regularly use the BB Soothe post treatment, which has been specially formulated to relieve and prevent the discomfort of ingrown hairs. For males this product is great at treating male shaving rash as well! The BB Soothe is recommended as an application for any lumps and bumps that may occur in the open hair follicles and the best part is, it isn’t alcohol-based meaning it works for even the most delicate of skin. It contains an active ingredient, which helps to exfoliate the skin, bringing ingrown hairs to the surface for easy removal and also contains aloe vera and chamomile, which in conjunction work to reduce the swell and discomfort of ingrown hairs. 

3. You are waxing too frequently

It can be tempting to remove hair as soon as it starts to grow, but scheduling a wax too early will hurt you in the long run. If you wax your hair when it is shorter than 1/4 of an inch, the wax doesn’t have enough hair to grip onto which means your hairs will break instead of being pulled out at the roots. Having your hair break will result in ingrown hairs and irritation so it’s best to practice patience and leave your hair to regrow before waxing. 

4. Staying in active wear for too long after a workout

Activewear is fast becoming an everyday outfit for most of us. But staying in tight clothing and synthetic fabrics such as nylon leggings, skinny jeans and polyester underwear will only exacerbate ingrown hairs. These fabrics rub against the skin and don’t allow the skin to breathe, meaning more ingrown hairs for you. Combine this with perspiration during a workout, and it’s the perfect breeding ground for bacteria. After a wax try to stick with light, breathable fabrics.

5. Overactive sebaceous glands

Sebaceous glands, which are located at the base of the hair follicles, sometimes become overactive and release too much oil. This, combined with dead skin cells, tends to clog pores, which provides a wonderful environment for bacteria to form. It also means the hair regrowth becomes trapped under the skin forming an ingrown hair. Make sure you are exfoliating regularly; if symptoms persist it is best you contact your doctor or dermatologist.

As specialists in waxing, the team at Brazilian Butterfly make sure you are in good hands and can provide you with further advice on minimising ingrown hairs tailored to your skin and hair type. To book head over to their official website.

NEXT: Due for a waxing appointment? Here's how to How to Make your Brazilian wax less painful make your experience less painful. 

 

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