She’s a woman who has already seemingly had it all in life; natural beauty, brains, a soaring modelling career and a gorgeous man by her side. But, after stepping off the catwalk for the final time in February, Megan Gale has her whole life ahead of her and some exciting new opportunities to boot!
Although jaw-droppingly beautiful, Megan’s looks are unthreatening. She has a refreshing down-to-earth quality — a rarity in the world of modelling that is over-flowing with demanding divas. Megan philosophy of hard work and not taking her opportunities for granted has certainly paid off to date and will undoubtedly stand her in good steed for her next career move into acting where she will star asWonder Womanin George Miller’sJustice League of America.
Before the days of superstardom in Italy, Megan (unbelievably) struggled as a model in Australia. But after huge success in Europe, her name became well-known on her home turf and Megan has been in great demand on a global scale ever since. She well surpassed the usual retirement age of models at around 25, going on to carve up catwalks all over the world until the ripe old age of 32!
Megan spoke to The Weekly’sMichael Sheather saying:
“I honestly thought that by the time I turned 30 things would be getting quieter,” says Megan. “There was a time when I was 25, when I thought that I could only have a couple more years and that the modelling and the work simply couldn’t last. I thought by 30 that I wouldn’t be riding such a wave any more… the doors of opportunity just keep opening and that’s something I am very grateful for.”
Sheather said after meeting Megan:
“That’s the thing about rules – they simply don’t apply to some people. And they are usually unique creatures such as Megan, people to whom nature has been unnaturally kind. To have so many positive attributes wrapped up in such a warm, friendly and undeniably beautiful package unmasks normal human biology as nothing more than a shallow parody.”
Your say: What do you think of models turned actors? Tell us below…
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Exclusive extract from Trip of a Lifetime by Liz Byrski.
Later, even when she’d had time to think about it, she still couldn’t remember anything unusual about that evening; no sense of foreboding, no warning signal, not even feeling of unease. The meeting ran late, it was dark and wet as they came out of the office and she was fiddling with her umbrella while she waited for Shaun to set the alarm and lock the door. But she turned to go down the steps to the street, she tripped and grabbed his arm and that was when it happened. Something hit her shoulder with tremendous force, propelling her forward as her neck was thrown back, the noise a sharp explosion as she hurtled down the steps. The next thing she remembered was the ambulance, the wail of the siren, a mask over her face, and Shaun urging her to hang on, before everything went black again. When she finally regained consciousness, it was in the harsh light of the emergency ward.
‘I can’t have been shot,’ she insisted, closing her eyes again.
‘Try to keep your eyes open, Miss Delaney,’ someone said. ‘Can you talk to me, please?’
She forced her eyelids open, aware now of pain, a lot of pain in her left shoulder and her head.
‘Can you see me?’ She nodded in the direction of a white coat. ‘How many fingers am I holding up?’
‘Three.’
‘Yes, good. Someone took a shot at you. They got you in the shoulder but you’re going to be fine.’
‘My head…’
‘You hit your head. It’s not serious but it’ll need a few stitches, and an X-ray will show us where the bullet is. I’m going to give you something for the pain. This’ll sting a bit.’
‘Shaun?’ she asked.
‘I’m here, Heather.’ His drawn face appeared above her. ‘I’m going to stay with you.’
‘Are you okay?’
‘Fine, and you’re going to be okay too, just hang in there. This is Detective Roussos.’
The room lurched drunkenly and a new face emerged.
‘Sorry, Miss Delaney, but time’s important. Do you have any idea who might have done this? Who might want to…want to kill you?’
‘Kill me?’
‘A grudge, perhaps? Something political, past or present?’ ‘Of course not…’
His face blurred and then clarified. ‘You’re sure? Not a constituent or some protest group?’
She tried to shake her head but it hurt too much.
‘Any threats? An old boyfriend, an ex-husband?’
‘Christ,’ she murmured, ‘it’s a wonder I’ve lived so long with all those people wanting to kill me,’ and she closed her eyes against the glare of the lights.
News of Heather’s shooting was almost four days old when Diane heard about it in an email from her daughter. She was getting bored with the poolside chat of her travel companions and had walked into Ubud to browse through the market and the jewellery shops. She bargained ruthlessly over some silver bangles and a ring set with a large turquoise, and waited with satisfaction while the vendor wrapped them. The bargains were some sort of compensation for her disappointment with the holiday. It had seemed like a good idea when the women from the tennis club had suggested going to Bali, but you never really knew people until you went on holiday with them and, away from familiar surroundings of the club, Diane felt hopelessly out of place. She slipped her new jewellery into her bag, headed for a nearby bar and decided to check her email while she waited for her banana and mango lassi.
It bugged her that Shaun hadn’t let her know personally and she considered sending him a curt message. After all the work she did for them in the electorate office it was the least she would have expected. It was awful, of course, and frightening. She closed the email and went onto a news site to read some of the reports. ‘It could have been me,’ she murmured. ‘It could so easily have been me.’ She was always at the electorate office, stuffing envelopes, photocopying, making coffee and running errands. ‘I often come out of there in the dark. They could have confused me with Heather.’
‘Sorry, ma’am?’ said the large American backpacker at the adjacent computer. ‘You say something?’
She shook her head. ‘Just talking to myself.’
‘First sign, they say…’
Diane gave him a forced smile, switched on her mobile and dialed her daughter’s number but Charlene’s phone was diverted to message bank, as was Shaun’s, and all four lines to the electorate office were busy. Tense with shock and resentment, she moved to a small table under a sunshade of palm fronds and slipped her lassi, the creamy sweetness soothing the bitterness of the insult. Had they given a thought to calling her? Bugger them, bugger the lot of them, she had better things to do than bother about selfish politicians and their ridiculously ambitious staff. But she didn’t like this feeling of being on the outer, just a volunteer, not sufficiently important to merit a call or an email.
Diane finished her drink and made her way back up the hill in the heat to the hotel. Her room was pleasantly cool and newly serviced. She loved the feeling of being looked after by staff; she was so sick of looking after herself. Peeling off her dress, she stared at herself in the mirror wondering if she could pass for less than her age. Fifty-three, perhaps; fifty, even? No, that was kidding herself. But she looked fit. Three times a week at the circuit gym, frequent games of tennis and watching her diet did pay off. She had a small frame and she’d never tended to put on weight, unlike Heather, who, as was obvious from early photos, had certainly stacked on the kilos.
Diane stepped closer to the mirror. Her hair was good – as thick as ever, and the grey had merged quite attractively with the natural blonde. But her face seemed to be disappearing, the features becoming smaller, less defined, her eyes less bright. It made her feel colourless and insignificant, and although she was onto the latest beauty products in a flash, they didn’t seem to make much difference. Sometimes she wondered if all these tiny but hugely expensive pots of special oils and serums and creams were just a con. She’d read somewhere that a five-dollar jar of sorbolene from the local pharmacy was just as effective. She looked like a women of a certain age, whatever that meant, and she wasn’t sure whether it was just age or being a divorcee of a certain age that made her feel so faded and nondescript.
With a sigh of resignation, Diane turned away from the mirror, pulled on her bathers and a sarong and wandered back down to the pool. There were hardly anyone around, and the lone of the banana lounges where she had left the other women was completely empty.
‘Excuse me!’ Diane called to a waiter who was on his way to the pool bar with a tray of empty glasses. ‘Do you know where the other ladies are? The ones I was with earlier?’
He paused for a moment. ‘Yes, ma’am,’ he said. ‘They go for massage. Special price before four o’clock. Too late now; you pay full price, I think.’
Diane shook her head and sat down. ‘I’ll stay here,’ she said quietly. ‘Just bring me a sparkling mineral water, would you? And some of those little dry salted nuts.’
With a slight bow he turned and hurried away, and Diane, feeling more and more on the outer than ever, stretched out in the sun and put on her Dior sunglasses and a hat with a big brim. If she were to be alone, at least she would look stylish.
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When you’re feeling stressed out it can be really hard to stick to your healthy eating goals. Suddenly you crave comfort foods like chocolate, chips or takeaways and lose all motivation for those gym visits.
So it’s no surprise that many people gain weight during particularly stressful patches in life. But is it just a result of poor eating and exercise habits? Or can stress itself, lead to weight gain. Let’s explore.
Cortisol concern
There are literally hundreds of hormones involved in body fat metabolism, body weight and related behaviours like hunger and cravings. But by far the most hyped hormone is cortisol. Cortisol is dubbed the ‘stress hormone” and some researchers believe that cortisol levels are closely related to weight gain. Some studies have shown that stress and elevated cortisol tend to cause fat deposition in the abdominal area rather than in the hips. This fat deposition has been referred to as “toxic fat” since abdominal fat or being apple shaped is strongly correlated with the development of cardiovascular disease. Other studies have indicated that people who secrete higher levels of cortisol in response to stress also tend to eat more food, and food that is higher in carbohydrates than people who secrete less cortisol.
Calming cortisol
Like adrenalin, excess cortisol is secreted during times of physical or psychological stress as in the fright and flight response. Your body also has a normal pattern of cortisol secretion which peaks in the morning and falls around midnight and can be altered. Plus cortisol secretions differ between individuals, just as we naturally observe different individual responses to the same stressful situation. The supplement industry has picked up on these findings and promote cortisol-lowering weight loss supplements. These supplements contain very scientific sounding ingredients like phosphatidylserine, mucuna Pruriens, 5 HTP and coleus forskohlii, all claimed to biologically improve your stress levels.
The bottom line
While there is limited evidence that cortisol is related to bodyweight more studies are required before clear recommendations can be given. As yet there is no evidence that cortisol suppressing supplements are beneficial for weight loss. Like most complex reactions within the body, it is unlikely to be one specific hormonal path, like that of cortisol, which will be the definitive solution to keeping in shape. That said, stress can definitely affect your daily life including a healthy lifestyle. We all have rough patches that we need to ride through with support of family and friends. But if stress at work or home is starting to creep into your daily life, get help early. Simple steps like a relaxation tape on the drive home, lunchtime yoga or meditation class or regular catch up with a mentor can really help. And see your GP to discuss ongoing concerns.
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Learn to love fibre, for your heart’s sake. That’s the message from a recent Medical University of South Carolina study.
Thirty-five healthy adults were randomly selected to consume either the DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) high-fibre diet (nearly 28 grams of fibre per day) or a psyllium fibre supplement (equivalent to 27 grams of fibre per day) in addition to their regular diet.
After just three weeks, both groups were found to have significantly lowered their levels of C-reactive protein – a protein linked to diabetes, heart disease and hypertension that circulates in the blood when there’s inflammation in the body – by up to 40 per cent.
Researchers were also surprised to find that the effect was more pronounced in the slimmer, fitter subjects than in the more obese, unfit ones.
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Did you know that our alcohol guidelines are currently under review? Yes, that’s right. But don’t get excited if you enjoy a regular tipple. You’re likely to be surprised to hear that the draft of the new guidelines takes a more conservative view than the current report published by the National Health and Medical Research Council in 2001.
Analysis of the latest scientific literature and extensive consultation has resulted in the following proposed new guidelines:
Guideline 1
For low risk of both immediate and long-term harm from drinking:
Men and women
1.1 Two standard drinks or less in any one day.
Guideline 2 For children and young people under 18 years of age
2.1 Parents and carers are advised that not drinking is the safest option for children and adolescents under 15 years of age.
2.2 Not drinking is the safest option for adolescents aged 15-17 years.
If drinking does occur, it should be under parental supervision and within the adult guideline for low-risk drinking (two standard drinks or less in any one day).
Guideline 3 For women who are pregnant, are planning a pregnancy or are breastfeeding
3.1 Not drinking is the safest option.
What else is different about the new draft guidelines?
In the previous guidelines, two levels of drinking above guideline levels were designated as ‘risky’ and ‘high risk’, respectively. These terms are not used in this draft because risk increases progressively with the amount of alcohol consumed. For this reason, the draft guidelines take the new approach of recommending a level of alcohol consumption to ensure low risk of harm. Any drinking above the guideline levels therefore carries a higher risk than not drinking, as shown by both the risk of injury and disease compared to not drinking, and the lifetime risks of specific patterns and levels of drinking.
Any health benefits need to be balanced against the risks of other chronic diseases at low levels of drinking alcohol. The guidelines do not encourage people who do not already drink alcohol to take up drinking just to get some health benefits.
So it’s a good time to keep a check on your current drinking patterns and stay tuned for the final guidelines soon after the public consultation phase. For further information: www.nhmrc.gov.au.
Based on these new guidelines, is your alcohol intake under control? Tell us below…
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If lack of time is challenging your New Year fitness goals, try breaking up your exercise into multiple small bouts. Three 10-minute sessions can be just as effective as one 30-minute session.
If lack of time is challenging your New Year fitness goals, try breaking up your exercise into multiple small bouts. Three 10-minute sessions can be just as effective as one 30-minute session.
The following tips are designed to help you be more active in your daily routine throughout the day. This will have enormous positive effects by improving your fitness, decreasing weight and helping you feel good.
Active parking: Instead of circling the car park looking for that perfect park, park further away from the shops and walk that little extra distance. You will generally save time and frustration as well as being more active.
Aisle assaults: In the supermarket walk up and down all the aisles. Even if you don’t need to buy foods in that aisle, you may even find some new, healthy foods to add to your shopping list!
Escalator escapes: Generally where there are escalators there are usually a set of stairs close by. Escape from the norm and take the stairs. If there aren’t any stairs near by, walk up the escalator.
Find a new lunch café: Try walking that little bit further from work and find a different place to eat lunch or take your own healthy lunch to work and walk to the local park. This is also a great way to meet new people.
Take comfortable walking shoes to work: This will allow you the freedom on nice days to have a gentle stroll during your lunch break, or to walk an extra tram/bus stop or two.
Take a 2 minute stress reliever: If the work and stress builds up, taking two minutes to get up and walk around can help to clear the mind, re-focus and feel better.
Move while watching: Try walking on the spot, ride an exercise bike or use a treadmill while watching TV. Remember it all adds up to help increase your energy expenditure.
Active ads: Instead of sitting there watching the same old boring ads why not get up and move around during the ad break. Try some stomach contractions or pelvic floor exercises.
Wriggly watcher: Don’t just find a comfortable position and stay in it, wiggle your legs, circle your feet or move your arms or hands. Remember every little bit helps
Move and groove: Turn on the radio and tap your hands or bop along to the music when driving.
Window shop: Window-shopping is not only enjoyable but it also helps to fit in some gentle activity throughout the day.
Walk while you talk: If a friend comes over for a social visit and it’s a nice day, why not visit a park or garden and go for a gentle stroll while you are catching up with the latest gossip.
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Visiting Paris? Then read our Paris hot list from the little black books of those in the know and insure you’re armed with the best addresses when in the French capital, writes Mike Dolan.
“Place des Vosges is our very favourite place in Paris. It’s full of French charm, especially on the weekend – a wonderful mix of old ladies and their dogs, tourists on walking tours and an array of buskers.”
Pavillon de la Reine
Stay: Pavillon de la Reine (left, www.slh.com) is a four-star hotel in the historic Marais district in the middle of the colonnaded Places des Vosges. It’s like staying at a 17th century palace.
Address: Pavillon de la Reine, 28 Place des Vosges, 75003 Paris.
Didier Ludot
Shop: Didier Ludot (right) is one of the most famous vintage (pre-loved) shops in the world that stocks fabulous pieces – from Hermès handbags to classic Chanel suits. Don’t expect op-shop prices as these are collector’s items.
Eat: Gaspard de la Nuit is a classic little Parisian bistro, tiny and intimate with great and well-priced food run by a very eccentric family. And it’s open every night!
Address: Gaspard de la Nuit, 6 Rue des Tournelles, 75004 Paris.
“My favourite places are all in the 1st arrondissement, simply because it’s where most of the fashion shows happen.”
Sleep: Sofitel de Faubourg (left). I love this area and the street. It’s a beautiful, small hotel in the heart of Paris.
Address: Sofitel de Faubourg, 15, rue de Boissy d’Anglas, 75008 Paris.
Shop: Lanvin is where you’ll find clothes from the designer Alber Elbaz, who has transformed this famous French label – it’s on fire. Elbaz does the best dresses in the world.
Address: Lanvin, 22 rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré, 75001 Paris.
Eat: Hotel des Costes has the biggest buzz during Paris Fashion Week – everyone is there and the food is fast, easy and delicious.
Address: Hotel des Costes, 239 Rue Faubourg St Honoré, 75001 Paris.
“Earlier this year, a friend introduced me to rue Oberkampf in Paris in the 4th arrondissement, and it’s become a favourite of mine. It’s full of great little bars and cafes, where you can have a glass of wine or a bite to eat.”
Sleep: Hôtel de Crillon is where Collette Dinnigan stays when she spends two or three months a year in Paris at the shows. This revered palais hotel, overlooking the Place de la Concorde, is one of city’s oldest.
Address: Hôtel de Crillon, 10 Place de la Concorde, 75008 Paris.
Shop: Le Bon Marché – the historic Paris department store – because everything is there, from cosmetics and shoes. It’s perfect for a one-stop shop.
Address: Le Bon Marché, 22 rue Sevres, 75007 Paris.
Eat: Chez Omar serves simple affordable dishes from the Mediterranean – it’s most famous for its traditional couscous plate and other Moroccan and North African dishes.
Address: Chez Omar, 47 rue de Bretagne, 75004 Paris.
“Now I’m living in Paris, I’ve fallen in love with my own quartier in the 3rd arrondissement, part of the charming historic Le Marais area.”
Sleep: Hotel du Petit Moulin gives you a whimsical fashionista experience. It’s an eccentric boutique hotel designed by French couturier Christian Lacroix. Housed in an old bakery, the old signage still says “Boulangerie” above the door. Every room has a different décor. It’s often booked out during Paris fashion shows, so visit when it’s quieter.
Address: Hotel du Petit Moulin, 29-31 rue de Poitou, 75003 Paris.
Shop and stop: All around rue de Poitou, rue Vielle de Temple and rue Charlot, you’ll find super hip boutiques for clothes, shoes, bags and jewellery. Take a break, hang out at Café Charlot, and watch the fashion crowd wander by.
Address: Café Charlot 38 rue de Bretagne, 75003 Paris.
Eat: Le Marché des Enfant Rouges is my favourite place to eat in all Paris. It’s a small covered food market open all week, except Monday. You can also eat at one of several stands: French, Moroccan, Italian and even Japanese, or buy a crepe made on the spot from organic ingredients.
Address: Marché des Enfant Rouges, 39 rue de Bretagne, 75003 Paris.
“Paris is the world’s greatest window-shopping city. Home to the most desirable luxuries, the most opulent stationery and the most fabulous shoes, this is the city of temptations.”
Stay: Pavillon de la Reine on Place des Vosges (left, www.slh.com) is an historic, understated and luxurious haven that’s in the prettiest square and perfect for shopping at the Marais.
Address: Pavillon de la Reine, 28 Place des Vosges, 75003 Paris.
Shop: Cassegrain is for every stylish woman who would have her own embossed letterhead. The company has been printing letterheads in copperplate since 1919. See if the helpful staff will blink when you spell out your address in Woolloomooloo or Indooroopilly. If you’re feeling modest, just buy some deluxe greetings cards. Also visit the Roger Vivier shoes store (right) at 29 rue du Faubourg, St-Honoré.
Address: Cassegrain, 422 rue de Faubourg Saint-Honoré, 75001 Paris.
Eat: Le Grand Colbert is a classic brasserie with a magnificent Belle Epoque dining room with globe lamps and ceiling mouldings. What’s never changed is the elderly ladies dining out with their dogs, right there at the table.
Address: Le Grand Colbert, rue Vivienne, 75002 Paris.
“In my dreams, I would stay at the Ritz; it’s one of the world’s most iconic hotels.”
Sleep: The Ritz is where Coco Chanel used to live and it’s still going strong. The bar is very popular and visited by a mixture of fashionistas, celebrities and an intriguing mix of French and international high society.
Address: The Ritz, 15 Place Vendôme, 75001 Paris.
Shop: Chanel in the Rue Cambon is my perennial favourite and is probably one of the biggest Chanel shops in the world. It will satisfy any hard-core Chanel shopper.
Address: Chanel, 31 rue Cambon, 75001 Paris.
Eat: Café Ruc is a pivotal meeting point for all the fashion community during fashion week. It has the best French fries in Paris and I can still smoke there.
This boutique hotel is located next to the Place des Vosges and is full of character. Housed in a 17th century building and around the corner from an old royal palace, it’s in the heart of the Marais. The rooms are cosy, but furnished with antiques and have old wooden beams and lead windows. The perfect abode to put your head down at night and explore the city by day.
Located under the white dome of Sacré Coeur, Le Relais is located in a quiet street in the bustling “village” of Montmartre. In winter, guests gather around a roaring log fire in the sitting room; in summer they drink iced tea or cocktails in the courtyard. There are just 26 rooms, some on the small side, but all decorated with charm.
On the Left Bank in the heart of the Saint-Germain-des-Prés, this hotel is housed in an historic 18th century building several minutes’ stroll from Notre Dame cathedral. Its rooms are larger than most, but the floral décor is dated. However, if you want to stroll to world-famous Brasserie Lipp, with its plain wooden floors and exquisite Art Nouveau interiors, and enjoy the area’s animated street culture, it’s a very convenient place to stay.
This Sofitel Demeure hotel (right) has been awarded many design accolades for its extraordinary interiors. A corner property close to Eiffel Tower, every room from its foyer to its sitting room recreates a different ambience. The entrance and foyer are styled as a parterre garden and conservatory; its lobby a 19th century gentleman’s club. Moving into the lounge, you’ll find an elegant Regency drawing room, while the Champagne bar is decorated like a Louis XIV salon. In typical Paris style, the bedrooms are small, but beautifully furnished. In fact, what creates such a magical atmosphere in this jewel of a hotel is all the exquisite detail.
This family-run hotel is friendly without being familiar. A few minutes stroll away from the Place Vendôme and the gilded dome of the Palais Garnier (the 13th century home of the Paris Opera), it’s a beacon of simplicity and comfort in the heart of Paris.
Named after one of its former guests, King Edward VII, it has 70 rooms and suites decorated and furnished with impeccable taste. Many visitors find the service in Paris aloof. Not so at Edouard VII, where the welcome is always warm. Run by the Corbel family since 1951, the hotel marries informality and impeccable service. Its Edwardian charm comes with all the expected modern comforts of a five-star hotel. Each of the air-conditioned, sound-proofed rooms has a distinct style and, most importantly, its sheets and pillows are among the finest money can buy. Don’t miss dining in the quirky restaurant that serves an innovative East meets West cuisine.
Rooms from €345 ($520).
Hôtel de Vendôme
1 Place Vendôme, 75001 Paris
www.hoteldevendome.com
Any hotel with such a prestigious address would face ridicule unless it met the highest standards. Hô:tel de Vendô:me doesn’t disappoint. It may be a boutique establishment with 19 rooms and 10 suites, but this member of the Small Luxury Hotels of World club (www.slh.com) offers the comfort and service comparable with its more famous palais hotel rivals. Equally important, all of its rooms are spacious and exquisitely fitted out. The beautiful Louis XIV marble in the lobby is also found in the bathrooms; the drapes and soft furnishings in the rooms are as luxurious as any in Paris. Around the corner are the Tuillerie Gardens and the rue de Rivoli. The hotel bar has live jazz and blues evenings and the restaurant serves fine French and Middle-Eastern cuisine. The breakfasts are also unforgettable (right).
Rooms from €620 ($1000).
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If lack of time is challenging your New Year fitness goals, try breaking up your exercise into multiple small bouts. Three 10-minute sessions can be just as effective as one 30-minute session.
The following tips are designed to help you be more active in your daily routine throughout the day. This will have enormous positive effects by improving your fitness, decreasing weight and helping you feel good.
Active parking: Instead of circling the car park looking for that perfect park, park further away from the shops and walk that little extra distance. You will generally save time and frustration as well as being more active.
Aisle assaults: In the supermarket walk up and down all the aisles. Even if you don’t need to buy foods in that aisle, you may even find some new, healthy foods to add to your shopping list!
Escalator escapes: Generally where there are escalators there are usually a set of stairs close by. Escape from the norm and take the stairs. If there aren’t any stairs near by, walk up the escalator.
Find a new lunch café: Try walking that little bit further from work and find a different place to eat lunch or take your own healthy lunch to work and walk to the local park. This is also a great way to meet new people.
Take comfortable walking shoes to work: This will allow you the freedom on nice days to have a gentle stroll during your lunch break, or to walk an extra tram/bus stop or two.
Take a 2 minute stress reliever: If the work and stress builds up, taking two minutes to get up and walk around can help to clear the mind, re-focus and feel better.
Move while watching: Try walking on the spot, ride an exercise bike or use a treadmill while watching TV. Remember it all adds up to help increase your energy expenditure.
Active ads: Instead of sitting there watching the same old boring ads why not get up and move around during the ad break. Try some stomach contractions or pelvic floor exercises.
Wriggly watcher: Don’t just find a comfortable position and stay in it, wiggle your legs, circle your feet or move your arms or hands. Remember every little bit helps
Move and groove: Turn on the radio and tap your hands or bop along to the music when driving.
Window shop: Window-shopping is not only enjoyable but it also helps to fit in some gentle activity throughout the day.
Walk while you talk: If a friend comes over for a social visit and it’s a nice day, why not visit a park or garden and go for a gentle stroll while you are catching up with the latest gossip.
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The heartbreak of infertility is a pain shared by thousands of Australian couples every year.
The good news is that once a medical diagnosis is made by a specialist, a wide range of treatments — either surgical or hormonal — is available.
And there are also lots of things we can do to help Mother Nature along … naturally, of course.
“You can improve fertility through lifestyle changes,” explains Dr Vicki Kotsirilos, a Melbourne-based practicing GP who integrates the best of orthodox and natural medicine and is the founder of the Australasian Integrative Medicine Association.
“There is now solid evidence that shows all the factors listed here do have an influence on fertility.”
Note: Dr Kotsirilos advises that if you have been trying to become pregnant for around 12 months, with no success, it’s time see your doctor. Women over 35 should see their doctor after about six months. “Your GP will do a thorough check-up and possibly refer you to a fertility specialist,” she says.
Here Dr Kotsirilos talks about some of the ways you can boost your fertility
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**”I was always led to believe that coconut and coconut milk was a bad food to eat on a diet because it was high in calories — more recently I hear it’s one of the best oils to use and can help with weight loss. What’s true?”
— Rebecca**
Indeed coconut oil used in place of vegetable oils, butter and other animal fats may help weight loss only if it’s used in conjunction with an energy restricted diet combined with exercise.
Despite being a saturated fat, nutritional scientists have discovered that virgin coconut oil is used to make energy rather than being converted into fat. It’s quick to absorb, places less strain on the pancreas, liver and digestive system and helps to speed up the metabolism assisting those with thyroid dysfunction. It breaks the rule that all solid fats are bad for us.
The reason coconut oil behaves differently to other fats is due to its chemical structure. Made up of shorter chains of fatty acids referred to as medium chain fatty acids, coconut oil can be broken down more easily than long chain fatty acids, has a better solubility in water, a low melting point, and is metabolised immediately by the liver providing instant energy and numerous other health benefits. Another benefit to using coconut oil in cooking is the stability; unlike vegetable oils, coconut oil has a high smoke point and is more resistant to rancidity. Other health benefits include lowering cholesterol, reducing inflammation in the digestive tract to ease symptoms of IBS and Crohn’s disease and possessing anti viral and anti bacterial properties.
At the end of the day, if it’s weight loss you desire, the bottom line is that the energy intake in food must be less that the output. As part of a balanced healthy diet, with exercise, coconut oil may assist those with a slow metabolism but it’s unlikely to be of any benefit if overall eating habits do not change.
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