Exercise for you!! plus flatter tummy:)

I''ve always been a bit of an an exercise freak and very competitive with myself.  So much so that last year in among all my other exercising I started running 20km straight once a week.  I started getting too thin, no matter how much I ate and I ate a lot, I like my food.  I was getting very tired and this year I just thought, why am I doing this so I really slowed down a bit.  I do a big run once every two weeks and sprints the week in between and speed walk.  I still do my body pump but I've even toned that down and I do a lot of toning and pilate moves.  I've realised I exercise because I enjoy it and I feel better when I feel fit and toned that's it.  And it also helps that I can run for the train and not be totally out of breath when I squeeze through the doors.  I'm happy with who I am when I feel fit that's why I exercise:)  Now I've been asked to give some tips on getter a flatter tummy and its real easy actually....

Firstly watch what you read, all of these fads DON'T WORK but the magazines I do highly recommend are the Zest and Womans Fitness.  (I'll come back to these just now.)

You can't decide I want to just loose weight on my bum or thighs.  They all work together. The best class I have ever done for this is legs bums and tums.  But if you aren't or can't go to a class then follow these tips. 

Grab the coke bottle and lower it to your side as in these photo's, it will really work your sides.  Aim to do at least 30 slow side drops on each side. 

Then do some crunches, don't over do and start small.   Aim to do at least 20 and do these every day and add ten every week.   When I had a bit of a tummy I started off doing 30 crunches a day and eventually started doing a 100 a day, that's how I got a flat tummy. 

There are so many exercises you can do to get a flatter tummy that tone not only your thighs but also your bum.  The trick is you really need to hold everything tight and if you are a beginner I would suggest trying pilates.  Pilate's teaches you how to breathe properly and how to hold your muscles taunt so the exercises are 100% effective.   The great thing about pilates class's is that you don't have to go to a gym there is normally a local one in your area.  So google pilates classes followed by your area and find a class.  This is also a good website to try. 

Now what I've done is keep all the exercises pages from the zest and fitness first and I've put them in a flip file and those are the exercises I do. 

I could go on and on with exercise pictures but unless you do them properly they won't work.  So do go to a few classes get the basic technique and then start doing the exercises in the mags, if you have the technique right they really will work. 

What I will do is every day try give an exercise tip and I hope you are still doing your lunges when you brush your teeth and if you are its time to change it up a bit.  Do a lunge and turn your body to the right and then to the left.  Then when you lunge with the opposite foot turn your body from the left to the right.  Make that your exercise for the week, add in take out don't give up and exercise for the reason you want to, it will make it so much easier:)

Don't forget to add yourself as a follower and post your comments below. 

Beautiful and perky

Ever wondered how you get younger looking skin??? Well the answer is simple ~

1. Get out of the sun right now and never leave the house without an SPF of at least 15 no matter whether you stay in Iceland or Africa, no matter whether the sun is out or not. 
2. Wash your face every morning and night and I can't tell you how important it is that you moisturise from the forehead down to the bust in an upward motion and use eye cream.
3. Apply a serum, I often use a serum instead of night cream otherwise my face gets too oily.
4. Once a week do your own mini facial using a face scrub, then add a mask and afterwards use a porestrip. 
5. If you don't need to wear foundation, DON'T! Try to cut back on it now! If its not applied correctly and over time it does do damage and you start to look older.  I use to be so embarrassed of my freckles I always wore base and in those days it wasn't as good as it is now. I never use to wear sleeveless tops either due to my embarrassment.  Only when Genevieve and her sister made me wear sleeveless tops did I realise my arms weren't too bad and I could go with out the foundation as well, my skin has looked so much younger and better since I stopped blocking it up every day with the foundation.  Thanks Gen:)

Not sure what to buy, get some samples, England is great for samples.  I've used everything from Clinique to Lacura (Available at Aldi from a £1).  At the moment I'm using Pure Deep Cleanse face wipes from the Pound Shop, that are normally 2 for £1.00, to tone I'm using Clinique toner that my sister gave me and to moisturise I'm using Loreal Revitalift that is currently on sale for £9.99.  As the Revitalift is normally £15.00 I decided to treat myself to some while it was on special.  Now for the eyes I'm using Lacura which is exceptionally cheap and can be found on eBay or from your local Aldi in England.  According to reviews the Lacura actually topped the Boots No 7 range.  The eye cream cost  £1.50.  I've used their eye cream, moisturiser, serum, face wipes and body cream and in total I think I paid about £8.00, now that's a bargain and the best thing is it works!!  But I tend to not stick to one product as I normally buy what ever is good and on sale at the moment. Also these days every product actually does something for you and you'll never know if it does if you don't try it.  I am currently liking the Loreal Revitalift.  I try to buy from Amazon as I get Nectar points on my Sainsbury's card, Super Drug or Boots.  Now if you haven't got all 3 of those points cards yet, do yourself a favour and go get them now.  I either save the points or use them at the end of the month when pennies are a bit tight.  Samples are in abundance in England so I normally use the sample serum that I get from Boots.  At the moment during the day I sometimes use  Elizabeth Ardens Let There Be Light SPF15 Lotion which I received as a gift, it is really good and it does even our your face tone and make you look prettier.


The Mud Therapy mask was £2 from Super Drug and the
exfoliater and serum are samples so free...we like free goodies

 Of  late the Pound Shop has been stocking pore strips which normally cost £6.00 for a £1.00, so I've bought 3 boxes for half the price, should keep me going for a while. 

Now what if you buy cream and it makes your skin spotty or greasing?  This happened to me when I used the Optimum range from Super Drug.  Well I use it on my breasts and neck and save my moisturiser for my face so it will last longer.  Don't ever neglect your neck and breasts, these are tell tale age signs!!  Also we all know how there is no muscle in the bust but you can firm them up by doing push ups. Yes push ups.  There is  muscle under your arm to the side of your chest that is used in push ups and this stops the breast from sagging so much.  You're layering cream on your breasts now and doing push ups aren't you?  I've been asked a few times if I went for a boob job, now my breasts are not big and are average size but the push ups keep them up:)  Don't forget to always apply a moisturiser every morning and evening all over your body.  It really softens the skin and your skin is grateful for it trust me.  My skin is always soft and your moisturiser doesn't have to be expensive.  Personally I love the Soap & Glory range but it can be quiet pricey so the good news is that  Sainsbury's now do a similar range at half the price that smells just as great and does the job.  Its called Dirty Works. 

If you feel like a treat and want to go for a professional facial or body pamper always look on GroupOn first.  They have killer deals on haircuts, facial, massages, dinners and its real simple to use. 

Now I hope we are still doing our exercises while we get our teeth whiter and the arms while the nail polish dries.  Remember to sit up straight, walk around with your shoulders back it will make you look more welcoming and confident and help you feel great.  Every day dry busy your skin and massage the tops of your legs and bum, if your arms start to look bumpy do your arms too. 

See you can look and feel great without paying a fortune.  Every month set apart maybe £10 or so for beauty products, buy when there are 2 for 3 offers or free gifts, I rarely ever buy make up I get it all for free when they have an offer on.  Plus I don't wear that much.  I have a friend in South Africa who has the most beautiful face and she doesn't wear any make up and hasn't done for years, she looks at least 5-8 years younger than what she actually is with 3 children and every day she wears a moisturiser, that's it.  My mom has washed her face every day with soap her whole life and just used a moisturise;r none of these other fancy things and she also looks amazing.  So remember you are beautiful as you are with out all the makeup just look after your skin.

P. S fruit and water help too:)

(Thanks for all the comments on facebook ladies.  Could I ask you a favour to comment under the posts and become a follower on the blog like Liese and Gen.  The more people follow on line the more it gets listed...Thank you). 

Dress fab for less

I am always surprised at the amount of people that think I spend a fortune on beauty products and clothes.  I don’t.  The truth is if you look at the outfit I just put on my what to wear page, the all in black one, it cost me the whole of maybe £30.00 the trousers are from Matalan, I’ve had these for a few years but they are stretch so see me through the good days and the I shouldn’t of had that chocolate bar day.  The top I made myself and the shoes look really smart and expensive with this outfit but only cost £15.00 from New Look.  Remember it’s how you wear them that make them look cheap or expensive and classy.  Though I have recently learnt that it is well worth investing in a good pair of leather sensible high heel boots, a good pair of comfortable black high heels and a winter coat, because in the long run they last longer and if you don’t have to buy new every year, it will save you money.  You’ll also save money on cobbler charges.

Now my new trick before I buy any of these is to try them on and then look for them on eBay as new items or Amazon.  I was in Pares Footwear on the week-end and saw a pair of black high heels that were very comfy except the price.   On Amazon if you’re a small size they are cheaper but unfortunately this time round my shoe size isn’tL I wasn't so keen on the round toe but again its how you wear them and they suprsingly looked nice on. I think I might however prefer the M&S Insolia Range which for high heels are super comfy.  I hear eBay calling me.  M&S Retail Stores are great for winter items such as the coats and the underwear is really great value.  Unfortuanetly I haven't seen the Insolia Range in th retail stores.  Sometimes it pays to go early in the morning to TK Max and check out the wonderbra and CK underwear they sell from £1 to £4 a piece and sit really well on.  I like the no VP range.  Remember you don’t need more than 3 pairs of jeans, 3 pairs of trousers etc.  When I do clothes shopping I always shop in the sales!!!!  These Miss Sixty heels cost me £5.00 at the Miss Sixty sample saleJ  Sample sales are great, at the Miss Sixty and Rage one I paid £50.00 for £1000.00 worth of items. If you go at the end items are normally marked down every at the Miss Sixty one was £5.00

 

 Take care of your clothes and if you don’t need it or  have any doubts don’t buy it and you’ll save money. 

Always wash your bra’s by hand!!!! It will keep them whiter, in shape and they will last longer.  Remember if it doesn’t fit properly unless it’s a killer bargain and you can get it altered don’t bother you’re wasting your money.  Put the money in the money box rather and save, save, save. 

I must spend on average £200.00 only a year on clothes and shoes if that.  I shop at New Look, H&M, Matalan, TK Max and sales, not everything has to be designer and cost a fortune and if you do buy a few expensive items make sure they are good quality and they will last for years.  Team these with items that don’t cost a fortune and remember its how you wear the clothes that make them look classy.  I try to only buy one  item of clothing a month if I need it.  If not I make the clothes I have work.  Jewellery and accessories can make a big difference.  And if you’re bored or looking for something to do, make your own, jewellery and accessories, it’s really easy, fun and they make great gifts too, saving all around.  I’ll have do a page on jewellery making that I think.  So happy shopping in the sales ladies, window shop get home and internet shop, use the tools you have you’ll save a fortune. 

I can’t go without giving a health tip; when you clean this week end put your legs and tummy into it when vacuum cleaning, it will make a good work out.  Paint your toenails and do leg circles while they dry, grab some food tins, paint your nails and do some arm exercises, see no excuse to not exercise where time is involved.

Enjoy…….next body and facial products that work and don't cost a fortune, is see the money box getter fuller:)

Searching for the savings account

I started out this morning with my head held high, back straight,  shoulders back, boobs out, tummy in and bum taunt, to do my speed walk to the stationJ The bin men wished me a lovely day, that made me smile. 



Well I hope you’re still doing your toning exercises while getting the teeth whiter with the brushing.  Hopefully by now you are starting to ace the forward lunges and your legs are thanking you for it.  So no try a backward lunge, not sure these pictures/instructions should help.  Remember to bend the knee of the leg going backward to a 90 degrees angle and the front leg will drop to a 90 degree as well, start off slowly.  You’ll start to notice your legs toning up soon and don’t forget to dry brush before showering and after cream and massageJ



Do not laugh at my white legs but with your leg back like this your bum and thigh should pull really making the lunge work



Now today I said I was going to talk about savings accounts.  Firstly I know savings account and bank accounts work more in our favour in England for which we must be very grateful because in South Africa you get charged bank charges for everything.  Right the first thing you want to look for is the interest rate on savings account.  Use our good friend Google and search savings accounts.  There are some very good tools, I really like this website because you can search according to your needs be it fixed or flexi http://www.knowyourmoney.co.uk/savings-accounts/?gclid=CNvtxa7L-6oCFQR5fAodG03o3Q   If you are in England the best thing to have for a long term savings account, money you don’t touch unless you have to is a Cash ISA.  Now for those of you that don’t know this, ISA’s are tax free savings account, of which you are allowed to invest up to £5340.00 per tax year.  Once you have invested the £5340.00 into the account you can not add anymore money.  For example if you invest £2340.00 and then take out £1000.00 of that money you can still only add £3000.00 to the account.  Now this is what I’ve realised a lot of people don’t know, the next tax year you can add up to another £5340.00 to the same ISA or a different one at a new bank and you will still not be charged tax on the £5340.00 from the last tax year.  Ideally you should actually look for a new ISA every tax year because the interest rate’s change and the interest you were earning last year is not necessarily the interest you will earn this year.  Barclays for example bring out a different ISA every year and the interest rate of the old one always drops and the new one offers a better deal.  At least this has been my experience.  As we don’t suffer yet from bank charges in England I decided to use this to my advantage.  I have my current account and 2 savings accounts in the same internet portfolio.  If I use my credit card, I transfer the money immediately out of my current account in to the savings account and like I said yesterday when the cr. Card bill is due I have the money ready to pay it.  The other savings account I put money into at the beginning of the month that I plan to save as extra money but don’t put it into the ISA just in case.  Because I don’t see this money in the current account I don’t spent it and at the end of the month I transfer it to the ISA and so I start again. 

Now if you are in South Africa the thing you need to look out for on your current account and savings account is bank charges!!! We don’t like bank charges.  For my last account in South Africa, I wrote down all my debit orders, how much I used the debit card etc.  I went and saw different banks and went with the bank account that would charge me the least bank charges and when I realised that I was getting charged for my debit card I switched to using the credit card but kept a stern eye on the spending.   I actually got a credit card from Clicks were I earned points on my spend.  If you are going to have a credit card, get one that rewards you be it with store points or airmails.

So now there is no excuse to not save some pennies. 

Save those pennies we're going on a budget:)

Hello ladies,

Tonight I'm going to give you some tips on how to save some moola otherwise known as pennies.
As the majority of us will have payday this week..yey I can't wait, there is no time like the present to start getting the finances in order.  Lets make our aim an extra present for us this Christmas and presents sorted without over spending.
1. Open a blank excel document and change a column to accounting with 2 decimal places and your currency. 
2.  On the leftest side column write down your salary. £2000.00 and next to it salary.
3. Then underneath start by putting down all your musts with a minus sign in front of them and change the colour to red.  I.e rent, mortgage, car payments, cr card payments etc.
4.  Do a sum adding up everything from cell A1 to the last cell.  This is how much you have left after your expenses. 
5.  Now save as much of that as you can!  Yes save it this month and every month try to see if you can save a bit more.

6.  Decide how much you should be spending in a month.  Then divide this by the weeks.  Say you are left with £200.00 after saving and there are 4 weeks in the month, this will be equal to £50.00.  So £50.00 per week.  Draw the money all at once so if you get charged bank charges these are kept to a minimum.  Take out the £50.00 and hide the rest then 7 days later go a claim another £50.00.  If you happen to have money left over put it in a money box which you keep filling up with the change.  You will be surprised how easy it actually is. 

7.  If you have any credit other than your house or car get rid of it!!!!!  The only time you should use a credit card is if you are responsible or like me I use the Salisbury's credit card which racks up Nectar points and every second month or so I actually get a free grocery shop.  But the trick is when ever I use the card, I transfer the amount into a separate savings account so I don't get a shock when the bill is due and I try to only use it for the groceries.  (I learnt the hard way and spent too much one month...never never again!!!)
So hopefully that's the budget sorted and remember ladies, think really hard before you buy anything do you really need it??? Because yes we are in a recession and tomorrow I'm going to give you as much advice as I can about looking for the right savings account's.

Now I've learnt a new trick tonight while drying my hair upside down.  Stretching my legs and working my abs at the same time.  I'm not very flexible so I have to stretch a lot or at least practice.  Anyway the trick is while drying your hair upside down (which I find gives it bounce...score) pull your abs in with shoulders back and bend over as if your back was a table, keep the shoulders pulled back and try touch the floor or as far as you can and blow dry that hair.  Legs, ab and hair all done:) 

Beautiful! Swizz ball is fun! Soft Feet!

Right, in conversation last week the topic of handsome men came up (by the way if you hadn't noticed I'm single) and where have they all gone.  In looking around at a quick glance I saw two handsome men but my friend couldn't see any and that was when I remember what I find handsome and attractive she doesn't and vice versa.  And the same must go for us woman too.  What we need to remember is that we are all beautiful to someone every day and firstly we have to be beautiful to ourselves and we all are, we're all God creatures.  So when you look in the mirror next time tell yourself you are beautiful because you are. Now I know that I'm always saying how to loose weight tone up and fight the cellulite but this is all in the aim of getting you fitter and healthier which in my opinion makes us feel better too:)  Personally I think the singer Adele is one of the most beautiful singers around.  I'm a healthy size 12 and think curves are way sexier than been stick thin and a size zero.  So look in that mirror and tell yourself you are beautiful.

Now you are going to love my next tip its what I call the lazy exerciser to make you feel like a child again, rock a baby to sleep if like all of my friends you've just had one and is a a lot of fun.  The swiss exercise gym ball.  Roll around on it for fun, balance on it while watching TV, have competitions to see who can balance for the longest, the laughter will work even more.  And like I said if you've just had a baby and want to tighten up a bit and get the little one to sleep bounce up down on the ball with the little one in your arms, the baby will go to sleep you've worked your abs and arms...bonus:)

Now tip for the night if your feet need a bit of a perk up and are a bit dry and tired, every night after you've bathed use a foot file or at least ever second night.  Then dose them in moisturiser and put on some cotton socks.  Once a week however put on vaseline or a heavy moisturiser and place them in plastic bags and then pop some socks over.  Leave them in the bags for about an hour and then take them off and just put the socks back on again.  Your feet will be so soft and smooth, just like after a pedi.  Now go spoil those feet.

So much to say where to start; diet, exercise, budget and glam!

Oh my I have so much to say today I don't know where to start.
Well this morning I did my run, which was short burst of sprints but I must admit I have been slacking on the eating right department of late and to my horror my dreaded cellulite has returned.  The solution is defiantly a combination of exercise, minimal junk dry brushing and the massaging of cream that works...naughty me.  So I was really good today and tonight was steak night.  But instead of the beloved Mrs Balls Chutney (which you can no get at Amazon with all your other lovely South African must haves) I put on some herbs and cottage cheese.  I had the steak combined with brown rice, some carrot & celery and I found a tin of mushrooms in the cupboard, so for a total of about £3.50 I have a lovely meal and planned overs yes planned over for another day. Remember when you do your shop and are looking through the meat counter to go the fridge that has the "close to sell by date" items in, they're marked down.  And there is nothing wrong with it.  Shops can't sell items passed the sell by date and personally I go by the smell, if milk smells funny its off, the sell by date doesn't tell you if it is or isn't.  So that's a healthy meal with some pennies saved...yey. 
Now back to the exercising.  I don't expect everyone to go sprinting off for a few km, but start small and remember there is no such word as I can't.  Get your walking nailed first then add a few sprints into it and then a few longer runs and before you know it you'll be a lot fitter and able to go further.  That's how I started and I can now do 20km no problem but I couldn't when I first started to get fit. 
I also needed to feel a bit glam today as I was feeling blah... So I sat down and painted my nails with my lovely new nail varnish that I received with the Elle magazine, truth be told I only bought the mag because of the nail polish but considering the price for the nail polish it was a bargain.  The trick by the way to get the nails to stop peeling off is to use Barry M transparent varnish on the top.  I've found Barry M doesn't peel off like most nail varnishes seem to do and I've tried them all from the cheapest at Superdrug to Chanel. Barry M does the trick. While my nails were drying I did some arm circles to bust the bingo wings before they start.  Arms = great, nails = great, my favourite jeans, trainers, with a t-shirt and a black lace camisole sticking out the top=glamoramae :) 
And ladies don't forget to look younger no matter what state we are in before we go to bed never ever ever sleep with the make up on.  If you want to look youthful and 50 that's one of the first steps to start taking now. 
Until tomorrow, night night.