Fad Diet Warning!

It seems people will do anything but eat healthily and exercise regularly to stay in shape! There are some ridiculous new fad diets out there. Some are just outright dangerous! Here are two of the worst that I'v heard about so far.

1. Breatharian Diet

The most outrageous celebrity fad diet has to be the Breatharian Diet. The followers of this diet swap food and water for AIR. I actually laughed when I heard about this! Weight loss is guaranteed with this diet - obviously...but at what cost. Michelle Pfeiffer revealed she was in a cult where this diet is followed. Madonna is another celeb name allegedly associated with the diet. 

2. Alcorexia / Drunkorexia Diet

This diet involves eating very few calories during the week so that you can binge-drink alcohol at the weekend! Consuming few calories alone is very dangerous without the added bad effects of too much alcohol. It is said that many models favour this diet.  

If you want to lose weight eat better and move more! Do not try these ridiculous diets that are just going to harm your health in the long run. 

Catherine xx

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Evolution of Smooth

Evolution of Smooth lip balms have been seen everywhere lately! The celebs love them counting the likes of Kim Kardashian and Miley Cyrus as fans. 

They are not available in the shops here in Ireland so the easiest way to get them is on amazon.co.uk or ebay :) I ordered mine from amazon. I got the Limited Edition Fresh Watermelon/Strawberry Sorbet Lip Balm.

The packaging is soooo cute! It's basically the shape of a little ball making them so easy to find in your handbag. 

The lip balm itself is great! It boasts all natural ingredients so this is a big plus. It is clear in colour so its not going to tint your lips. The flavours are amazing! They taste and smell gorgeous on your lips while still keeping them chap free :) Perfect for this time of year!

I would definitely recommend these lip balms. They look really cute and do what they claim to :) There is a great variety of flavours to choose from so you are sure to find one you'll love!

Catherine xx

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Supplement Shopping List

Since I'v become more interested in health and fitness I'v been introduced to the importance of different supplements. They are a great way to make up for vitamins and minerals that may be lacking in your diet. They are NOT meant as a substitute for real meals though! 

Going into a health food shop can be daunting as there are so many options and so many different products to choose from! It's definitely best to have a list of what you want to get before going in.

I have four different ones that a religiously take :) These include a good multi-vitamin, omega-3, vitamin C and Lactobacillus. I'v been taking the multi-vitamin and omega-3 for a long time and have recently been advised on the other two. I'm not one to argue with people who know more about these things than I do :P

The multi-vitamin that I take is from Centrum. I usually go for Centrum Advance and more recently have started using Centrum Women. These are packed with vitamins and minerals that may be lacking and the Centrum Women comes with extra Iron and Folic Acid which is so important for women! 

Omega-3 gives us some of the essential fatty acids that are not produced by the body. It also helps to reduce inflammation so this is a great way to help your joints especially if you workout and it helps to maintain a healthy heart. Omega-3 has a number of other health benefits and seen as most of us don't eat enough fish this is an easy way to get our daily dose of omega-3. I tend to go for omega-3 from Seven Seas. 

Vitamin C is a great vitamin to take, especially this time of the year! It's well known that it helps to combat colds. It is also packed with anti-oxidants and it has been proven to help wounds to heal faster. 

Lactobacillus is a "friendly" bacteria and acts as a digestive aid. It also has a number of other health benefits to treat skin disorders and high cholesterol. It can be found in many of the pro biotic yoghurt's or it can be taken in supplement form which is what I opt for. If you are looking for it on the shelf it will be labelled Acidophilus.

When you are supplement shopping the general rule is to buy the best that you can afford. Going for cheaper brands and thinking they will do the same job is often not the case. You pay for what you get so the purity of the supplement will be better the more expensive it is so go for the best you can afford :) 

You should be able to find these in you local supermarket, pharmacy of health food shop. Holland and Barrett is great for getting a better choice of brands and you can also order from them online ;) 

This is my supplement list :) If you have any others you take and love the effects of feel free to leave a comment.

Catherine xx

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Coffee - Pre-Workout Boost!

There are some days where you just feel tired or you've had a long week and you need a little extra boost to push you through your workout. Most people don't want to spend money on added supplements. The solution to this problem is really simple and most people will have it in there kitchen anyway - one cup of coffee prior to your workout will give you the boost you need and has other added benefits! :)

We have all heard the stories about how too much coffee is bad for you etc etc :P That applies to the people who drink coffee in excess of their need for it. If you limit yourself to one cup, pre-workout you will see how it can actually benefit you!

Reasons to drink coffee pre-workout:

1. It increases performance. You will obviously get a boost of caffeine from the coffee and this in turn will give you more energy to really give your workout your all.

2. It accelerates fat loss. Coffee can cause fat to be used as an energy source during exercise. The caffeine will also raise your metabolism and in turn burn more calories.

3. It will improve your focus which will lead to a more effective workout.

4. It decreases muscle pain. Studies have shown this to be true and this will benefit both weight training and cardio sessions as you will be able to do more reps or run for longer periods.

5. It protects against disease. Coffee contains antioxidants which help to protect the body. 

If you want to give this a go limit yourself to one cup of coffee, pre workout! 
Don't turn into those people who drink so much coffee they get the shakes when they are coming down from their caffeine buzz haha :P 

Catherine xx


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Concealer Confusion - Corrective Concealer Colours

Corrective concealer palettes are a great product. They usually come in a palette with a range of different shades that can be used to hide a number of imperfections. The problem is knowing which colours to use for what! 

You have to look to the colour wheel to find which colour neutralizes which. Which ever colour is opposite the colour of the discolouration that is the one that counteracts it. If you look at the colour wheel below you will see that green neutralizes red, blue neutralizes orange, yellow neutralizes purple etc. You get the idea :P 

In general the concealer colours you find are beige, yellow, orange, mint green, light blue, lavender, mauve and pink.

Beige: Used to conceal slight shadows and brighten the complexion.

Yellow: Used to cover any purple tones on the skin which usually appear with bruising or under the eye area. 

Orange: Used to cover any blue tones that may appear under the eyes or in the form of blur veins. 

Mint Green: Used to neutralize redness.

Light Blue: Used to neutralize orange discolouration i.e. freckles or age spots.

Lavender: Used to neutralize any yellow discolouration due to bruising or illness.

Mauve: Used to cover dark spots or veins on the face.

Pink: Used to cover grey shadows under the eyes or around the nose.

To apply concealer there are two options:

1. You can use your fingers to apply the concealer to the area. Some people like to do this as concealer can have a thick formula and the heat from your hands helps to melt it into the skin. 

2. You can use a concealer brush. These brushes are usually flat with a rounded head and small so that you can use them to easily apply the product to the particular area.

Using the right concealer on your problem areas can give a flawless finish to your overall look :) 

Concealer Confusion over I hope :) 

Catherine xx

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Spinach - Health Benefits

Put down the bag of lettuce and pick up some spinach instead! Here's why ;) 

1. Spinach is an amazing source of so many vitamins and minerals. It's packed full of goodness. It contains Vitamin K, Vitamin A, Manganese, Folate, Magnesium, Iron, Vitamin C, Vitamin B2, Calcium, Potassium, Vitamin B6, Tryptophan, Vitamin E, Fiber, Copper, Vitamin B1, Protein, Phosphorus, Zinc, Choline, Omega-3 fatty acids, Vitamin B3 and Selenium!

2. It's loaded with flavanoids which act as antioxidants which help to protect against disease.

3. It has a number a nutrients that can benefit the heart as it helps with cholesterol and blood pressure levels while maintaining a healthy cardiovascular system.

4. It helps to keep the colon healthy and helps to maintain gastrointestinal health.

5. It contains anti-inflammatory properties.

6. It can help to slow the age-related decline of brain functions

7. It helps to protect against eye diseases such as cataracts and macular degeneration.

8.It is a great source of iron.

It can be eaten raw or cooked. I like to use in salads or cooked in omelettes :) 

It's a little change that can make a big difference! Try it :)

Catherine xx

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Gosh Cosmetics Wonder Lips Set

Gosh Cosmetics Wonder Lips set comes with one Long Lasting Lip Marker in 002 Pink and two Light N' Shine Lip Glazes in 01 and 08. You can purchase everything from the set separately but buying the three together is amazing value!! 

The Long Lasting Lip Marker acts as a lip stain. This goes on first before applying the Light N' Shine Lip Glaze. I found the lip marker a little bit scratchy but the colour from it is really nice. It gives a flush of pink to the lips that looks pretty natural and is not as shockingly pink as you might expect. 

Over the lip stain you can then apply one of the Light N' Shine Lip Glazes. Shade 01 is packed with glitter!! Its great for a night time look. Shade 08 has less glitter but more colour. It is a hot pink shade with loads of shine. 

The novel thing about these glosses is that there is a light on the lid :D It is sooooo bright!!! When you're applying the gloss it really makes the glitter look amazing and it has it's practical uses as well if you are out at night and re-applying your lip gloss in not so well light places. Might start some conversations in the girls bathroom of the nightclub haha :P 

It's a cute novel product that would make a great stocking filler for Christmas or you may just feel like treating yourself ;)

You can purchase the set for just €12.60 at: 

http://www.perfume-click.ie/GOSH-Wonder-Lips-Gift-Set-2.5ml-Long-Lasting-Lip-Marker-_-002-Pink-2-x-6-ml-Light%2527n-Shine-Lip-Glaze-_-01-%2526-08-s14502/

or

If you type the name of the product into google you may be able to find a better offer near you :)

Catherine xx

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The Tartan Effect - Trend Alert!

Tartan is big for autumn/winter 2013! It can be a scary pattern to work into your wardrobe (no one wants to look like an extra from Braveheart :P) but there are a number of options to choose from :)

1.Scarf
I think the easiest way to wear the pattern is to get a tartan scarf. They look great plus they help keep you nice and warm :) Who says fashion can't be functional!! 

2. Bag

Using a handbag is a fun way to work in the tartan pattern. If you are not used to wearing patterns getting a nice bag is probably the best way to get a taste of the trend.

3. Shoes

Another not so scary way to work in the trend is with your shoes. It works with both heels and flats.

4. Shirt/Jacket

Tartan shirts look great paired with a nice logo t-shirt or some statement jewellery for a dressed down look.

5. Skirt

There are two options with the skirt. You can go for a cute/preppy look n go for a skater or pleated style or you can choose the more sophisticated look and opt for a pencil skirt.

6. Trousers

The best way to wear a tartan trousers is to team it with a plain colour on top. Black or white work the best :)

7. Tights

If your a fan of pattern tights why not give tartan tights a go :)

8. Suit/Dress

If your brave enough to wear it top to toe a tartan suit or dress might be the one for you. Go full Vivienne Westwood on it :P

9. Mixing Patterns

This is another one for the brave. If your confident in what your wearing you will definitely be able to pull this one off :) One that I keep seeing is tartan and leopard print together.

10. Nails

If you don't like wearing that much pattern but still want to embrace the trend then nail art is the way to go! It's cute but not so in your face :) 

Some fashion inspiration ;)

Embrace the trends :)

Catherine xx

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Dandelion Tea Benefits

I'm a tea addict :) Love trying new teas that can benefit my health and aid in weight loss. I'v recently been advised to drink one cup of Dandelion Tea a day. It has a number of health benefits:

1. It acts as a digestive aid and balances the natural and beneficial bacteria in the intestines.

2. It helps the kidneys clear out waste and any excess water.

3. It is rich in antioxidants!

4. It acts against cancer to slow its growth and prevent its spread. 

 5. It helps to regulate blood sugar and insulin levels which is particularly beneficial for those with diabetes. 

6. The fiber and potassium in the plant helps to regulate blood pressure.

7. It contains essential fatty acids and phytonutrients that reduce inflammation throughout the body which can relieve pain and swelling. 

8. It helps to boost immune function. 

There's 8 reasons why you should try a cup of dandelion tea! :) Remember just one cup a day...everything in moderation ;) 

Catherine xx 

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