Author: Joanna O'Sullivan | Page 6

Tick, tock….are you getting sleepy, very sleepy? It’s an hour or so past your lunchtime and your eyes are becoming droopy, your attention is wandering and you just want to curl up under your desk for a quick kip. You may fight the urge to snooze and win, but still, your ability to concentrate has been undermined, affecting your productivity and performance.

Feeling a little sluggish in the afternoon is actually pretty normal. Luckily there are some things you can do to boost your afternoon energy levels and prevent (or at least minimise) the slump.

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Did you start today with the best intentions to obtain your recommended 30 minutes per day of exercise? And then a work crisis derailed your plans? Don’t worry, we’ve got some strategies to help restore your aims and save you from guilt.

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Uh oh, have you been swapping barbells for bars recently and indulging in a few too many schooners?  This certainly isn’t going to help your health kick, but is there a way to mitigate the damage?

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Before you can answer that question, let us explain what a reducetarian is.  Firstly, if you’re thinking to yourself not another diet to get my head around, then think again.  This is not a diet, more a philosophy about food, sustainability and positive change.

The term reducetarian was coined several years ago and describes a growing movement of individuals who actively reduce the amount of meat and animal products in their diets.  The concept appeals to many people, as it’s inclusive and attainable.  It’s not just for vegans and vegetarians.  It’s also for those who may not want to completely eliminate meat and animal products but still want to make a change.

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Do you love combining fitness and the great outdoors?  Perhaps you enjoy running around your local neighbourhood streets, a coastal track with water views, or outdoor boot camp?  These are all great ways to feel alive and get the blood pumping.  But does the first sign of rain send you cowering indoors, and achieving more in snacks than in steps?  Well, not anymore.  Here are some great at home workouts that will save you from slothing when the weather turns bad.

But before we get to that…if it’s just a little rain then LIVE A LITTLE and go running in the rain!

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Did you look in the mirror this morning and a dad bod looked back? Perhaps you’re wondering how this crept up on you… perhaps you’re not even a dad!

As for how it happened, it may have involved;

• Friday night beers with mates turned into Monday through Sunday beers;
• A few too many burgers with chips, kebabs or pizza;
• Breaking off a Kit Kat (or three) for afternoon tea;
• Skipping the gym again in favour of working late or sleeping off that hangover from above-mentioned beers;

Or simply too busy, can’t be bothered to shop or cook, or can't cook!

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These yummy cookies will satisfy your Anzac cravings and leave you feeling gratified and better yet, guilt-free!

Anzac biscuits have long been associated with the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) which was established in World War I.  The biscuits were initially known as ‘soldier biscuits’ and were sold at fetes and public events to raise money to support the war effort. Later they were included in parcels that loved ones and charities sent to the troops, as the biscuits tended to last well.

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For most keto dieters, eggs are the go-to breakfast staple – scrambled, fried, poached, boiled or as an omelette – anyhow you like them is fine.  You can also freely eat your fill of bacon, avocado, cold cuts, olives, nuts, smoked salmon and cheese as well as adding any healthy fats such as olive oil, coconut oil, butter, mayonnaise and coconut cream.  Keto friendly vegetables include leafy greens, zucchini, cauliflower, broccoli, asparagus and eggplant to name a few.

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Understanding the Keto Diet

The ketogenic diet is a high fat, moderate protein, low carbohydrate diet that forces the body to burn fats rather than carbohydrates.

Because of the low carb intake, your body goes into a metabolic state called ketosis. This is where the body produces small fuel molecules called ‘ketones’ from burning fat for energy (instead of glucose which is derived from carbohydrates). When the body is in ketosis, the fat for energy is drawn from either the dietary intake or fat stores in the body, which is one of the reasons this diet is linked to weight loss.

A typical Western diet contains approximately 250g of carbs per day, whereas ketogenic diets limit carbohydrate to just a fraction of this amount. Suffice to say, adopting a keto regime can be quite a radical change from many people’s normal eating habits!

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Learning the art of healthy food swaps is so important if you want to establish a healthy body weight and maintain it for life. Here we show you how.

Firstly, what exactly do we mean by food swaps? Well, it’s simply choosing a more nutritious or lower calorie meal or snack option rather than going for the most tempting, heavily laden with fat and sugar, nutrition-less version.

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