BLOG

Menopausal? HRT?

Menopausal? HRT?

  So the debate and conversations around menopause has started - which is a really positive thing coming from the Channel 4 programme by Davina McCall on menopause. All my clients and female friends have said to me ‘did you see…’ and although they felt it was...

read more
Hear what Helen had to say…

Hear what Helen had to say…

Don't you just love it when a plan comes together 🙂 Thank you Helen for making the video. do you want to improve your health and maybe lose...

read more
Would you say that to your best friend?

Would you say that to your best friend?

Are you aware of your thoughts? Many 'experts' have attempted to work out how many thoughts we have a day and these estimates have come out anything between 50-80 thousand! . It's just as well many of these thoughts go on in the background of our subconscious mind or...

read more
…and breath :)

…and breath 🙂

A little bit of stress is not a bad thing.  The problem occurs when you are constantly in that stressful state and not allowing yourself to come down from it, relax and take time out. ...but let's face it, this past year has put so much stress on everyone! Even when...

read more
Stress and menopause

Stress and menopause

 When feeling stressed the adrenal glands release the hormone cortisol into the blood supply to prepare the body for flight or fight. Cortisol increases blood sugar levels so your brain, muscles and organs have enough fuel to get you through that stressful situation –...

read more
Mindful eating for weight loss

Mindful eating for weight loss

What was the last thing you ate? Can you remember? . How did it taste? . Were you aware of the textures? The flavours? . When did you stop eating? Did you notice when you were full or when the plate was empty? . When we eat this way, .. We enjoy our food more. Listen...

read more
Belly Bloat and weight gain in menopause

Belly Bloat and weight gain in menopause

Do you suffer with a bloated belly? One of the causes can be dehydration which impacts on our gut health When we don’t drink enough fluid it can impact on our digestive juices which inhibits our digestion. Not helpful especially as when in our peri-menopause years -...

read more
Liven up your water to support hormone imbalance

Liven up your water to support hormone imbalance

Are you suffering with hormone Imbalances and menopausal symptoms? When you’re dehydrated, it affects your body’s glandular function, which can lead to hormonal imbalance. (adrenals, pituitary, thyroid, ovaries etc are examples of endocrine glands) Drinking water...

read more
Support Your Immune Health & Hormones

Support Your Immune Health & Hormones

So we probably all need to give our immune system a boost - and it doesn't matter where you are in the vaccine process. Following the below guidance will also give your female hormones a boost as well. Why? Because the body works homeostatically and not as individual...

read more
A little gift of a hug in a box

A little gift of a hug in a box

The Amazon delivery guy just knocked on the door and ran...left a box on my doorstep. But I hadn't ordered anything! Must be for my neighbour, I thought. I checked the address and it WAS for me. My favourite chocolate. A gift from my daughter who I've not seen for...

read more
Are you Dancing in the Rain?

Are you Dancing in the Rain?

Are you waiting for the storm to pass? ...or are you making the best of the situation we're in? With social media and the regular news updates constantly in sight and sound it can be hard to focus on anything else. . This may be making you feel a little anxious and...

read more
Does yours smell?

Does yours smell?

Okay...this post is on the subject of smell. ...and more specifically it has to do with asparagus metabolites! - so even more precisely the smell of your pee after you eat asparagus!! Have you ever heard people say their urine smells after they've eaten asparagus?...

read more
No chocolate in the house! What’s a girl to do?

No chocolate in the house! What’s a girl to do?

It's Easter - we're in lockdown - everyone on social media seems to be talking about chocolate eggs and showing photographs! I have no chocolate in the house, no spiced buns either or Simnel cake... and feeling like i'm missing out! So this calls for… CHOCOLATE...

read more
Feeling disconnected? Try this…

Feeling disconnected? Try this…

How can you keep connected during Lock-down? Relationships are a really important part of our physical and mental health and wellbeing ...we need healthy supportive relationships.   ...and that doesn’t stop because we have to stay indoors. We all still need each...

read more
Essential Oils for Pain Relief

Essential Oils for Pain Relief

Do you suffer with headaches/migraines, hormonal period pains or general aches and pains? What we should be doing is finding the cause but in the meantime there is often the need to manage the symptom. So what do you do if you don't particularly want to rely of drugs...

read more
Natural Remedies for Sniffs and Sneezes

Natural Remedies for Sniffs and Sneezes

Keep those sniffs and sneezes from spreading AND help feel better by using natural remedies. My training colleague has gradually been feeling worse over the week. It started with  sore throat, the next day he had a headache, and the following day finding it difficult...

read more
Food Intolerance or Food Allergy?

Food Intolerance or Food Allergy?

A food Intolerance is different to a food Allergy. A food allergy causes an immune system reaction that affects numerous organs in the body. It can cause a range of symptoms and can be life threatening. A food intolerance has symptoms which are less serious and often...

read more
Choose one habit = success

Choose one habit = success

I've never been a runner, I've done a few 5k events and when living in Cambridge I had an 8k circuit I enjoyed along an old rail track and through some woodland. But since living in Bucks running has not been a regular thing for me. I miss being outdoors...and the one...

read more
Pilates – have you tried it?

Pilates – have you tried it?

Do you think of Pilates classes being 'boring'? Or maybe you think they are too hard? Using balls and bands can benefit your Pilates practice in at least 3 ways by modifying exercises They can help give you extra stability and support whilst your body improves core...

read more
Health hazard: Sitting is the new smoking

Health hazard: Sitting is the new smoking

Do you sit down at work all day? Some days I have to sit at my laptop and if I don't move around my back tells me...as well as my shoulders and my numb butt!!! ...and even thought I consider myself active (a variety of different daily exercise and activities) research...

read more
Why You Shouldn’t Count Calories

Why You Shouldn’t Count Calories

Do you count calories? Do you know instinctively that your apple is about 60 calories? Or half that pizza is about 500 calories? Let me tell you a story (as an old celebrity once said...can't remember who though!) My first qualification in the health industry was as a...

read more
Why Protein for Breakfast?

Why Protein for Breakfast?

One of my favourite breakfasts today...Avocado with poached egg over saute greens. ? You may think this is a weird thing to have for breakfast. Especially if you are a cereal breakfast eater. But...(and don't you hate buts??) if you feel hungry a couple of hours...

read more
Visualise your Weight Loss

Visualise your Weight Loss

It would be great if we had a magic wand to wave away that excess weight. But that's not going to happen It took time to put the weight on...it didn't happen overnight. ...and bad habits need to be broken, that's often the hard part. Visualisation is a powerful tool....

read more
We’re washing our face with WHAT?!?!

We’re washing our face with WHAT?!?!

I love using natural and organic body care products and as I am about to put my order in for the face cream I always use (20% off today!!) I thought I would do a quick post to you about how some chemicals manufacturers put into shampoos, face and body creams etc...

read more
Medicine acts quickly…but at what cost?

Medicine acts quickly…but at what cost?

It's easy to be impatient when we don't feel we're getting anywhere with our health. We have a choice of taking prescription medication, many with side effects which are are given another prescription for...which have yet more side effects...and the cycle continues....

read more
Desert for Breakfast?

Desert for Breakfast?

Most breakfast cereals contain as much sugar as cookies or biscuits. Muffins are usually just cupcakes without the icing! Flavoured yogurts can have more sugar than most ice cream does! These breakfast options may be easy, but the problem with them is this: Starting...

read more
Tempted?

Tempted?

What do you do when you're faced with temptation?   Most of the time you know it's ahead...for example;   you're visiting your mother and she will have cake or biscuits ready to tempt you with you know Monday morning that people at work will bring in...

read more
World Sleep Day? Yes please ?

World Sleep Day? Yes please ?

Today is 'World Sleep Day'   Shouldn't that be 'World Sleep Night'? ?   Do you celebration when you manage to get a good night's sleep?   Reflecting on sleep...or lack of...and the connection between - Sleep and women’s Health How interesting is this…so...

read more
Pancakes Shrek would enjoy (you will too!)

Pancakes Shrek would enjoy (you will too!)

When we think of pancakes we often think of over indulging, guilty treats... or PANCAKE DAY! When we forget about calories and choose to overindulge!! But wait! Pancakes can be healthy and they can also be a better option than sugary breakfast cereals often opted for...

read more
Sparkle? or Health, Hormones & Weight-Loss?

Sparkle? or Health, Hormones & Weight-Loss?

I loved the name of my support group for women on Facebook...Get Your Sparkle Back. But decided I needed to change the name to something which would automatically tell women what the group was about. So the new name is....drum role please... Health, Hormones &...

read more
Hopefully only an annual event?

Hopefully only an annual event?

You think you've got away with and then BAM!! The dreaded lurgy!! Deep dry cough, maybe a head cold? For me I lost my voice - not great when your teaching 4 evening classes and 4 daytime events! Sign language and demonstration is the best substitute!! So what can you...

read more
Noodles Nutrients & Stir Fries

Noodles Nutrients & Stir Fries

I went shopping last week and on offer were loads of different types of noodles!   Oh of course…Chinese New Year!!   One of my favourite very quick meals… which also serves me loads of rainbow antioxidant veg and contributes to my 5-10 a day is… a stir fry....

read more
Do This Before Your Muscles Tell You To

Do This Before Your Muscles Tell You To

Pilates, I feel, is more functional and can help with daily movement mechanics;   When done regularly, Pilates can help to correct imbalances.   So don't wait until your body gets stiff or your back starts complaining due to excess sitting and a sedentary...

read more
Can Pilates Strengthen Your Pelvic Floor?

Can Pilates Strengthen Your Pelvic Floor?

Pilates classes focus on control and precision with the main emphasis is on core strength. Where or what is your core? Our core is far more than just our belly muscles. The core includes all the structures that make up the lumbo-pelvic-hip complex. But muscles in our...

read more
The Biggest Cause of Menopause Symptoms

The Biggest Cause of Menopause Symptoms

One of the biggest drivers of menopausal symptoms is stress and fluctuating cortisol levels. When the ovaries stop producing estrodiol, the adrenal glands have to step up and produce estrone. A combination of many things - past and future - can impact on our...

read more
Pilates Breathing Can Help Your Sleep

Pilates Breathing Can Help Your Sleep

Both yoga and Pilates concentrate on stretching, strengthening, flexibility, muscle toning... ...and both concentrate on the breath. Yoga breathing is inhale through the nose and exhale through the nose. There are various different breathing practices you may have...

read more
Estrogen and Bone Health

Estrogen and Bone Health

How Do You Prepare Your Body for Menopause? This is a big subject! ...and something we should consider long before we think we should. When we hit menopause (and I'm sure many women have felt like 'hitting' menopause!!), estrogen levels drop and this depletion has...

read more
Skin and Heart Health in Menopause

Skin and Heart Health in Menopause

What has your skin and cardiovascular health have in common? They are both affected by menopause. Skin health and CVD risk - both can be due to estrogen depletion. So what can we do to to help ourselves? • Eat a healthy diet and if needed lose weight to decrease our...

read more
Pilates or Yoga?

Pilates or Yoga?

So what's the difference between Pilates and Yoga? Even though there are some similarities (they are both mind-body-fitness modalities) they are different practices. …and what does 'mind-body-fitness mean? It's about being body aware while we move so we are conscious...

read more
Ask The Practitioner

Ask The Practitioner

When women find out what I do they often follow up with a question... Questions I've been asked this week... #Garlic - is it good for cold relief? #SugarCravings - how do I stop my sugar cravings? #Perimenopause - what can I do to prepare for the menopause? #Pilates -...

read more
It’s all in the colour…oh and a few other things!

It’s all in the colour…oh and a few other things!

Forgive me for getting so excited at my quick stop on the way back from teaching in Bedford…Lidl was enroute and I needed some veg…fresh beetroot bunched into 3-5 beets depending on size was half price at less than 60p! I filled my basket 🙂 I know I may be a little...

read more
Garlic for Cold Relief?

Garlic for Cold Relief?

Can eating garlic be a natural remedy for cold relief? Yes - Garlic contains compounds that help the immune system fight germs. Brilliant I hear you cry, where’s the garlic bread! I love garlic bread… or what I really love is loads of salty butter and garlic melted...

read more
Toxins and Your Body Care Products

Toxins and Your Body Care Products

Have you ever looked at the ingredients listed on the label of your face cream or shampoo and wondered what they are? It’s difficult to even pronounce some of them let alone know what they are! This is one of the reasons I like to use organic natural products and...

read more
Natural Remedies? Or Pop a Pill?

Natural Remedies? Or Pop a Pill?

Reading in the news that the NHS is removing many of it's prescription drugs to free up budgets. https://www.england.nhs.uk/2017/11/prescription-curbs-to-free-up-hundreds-of-millions-of-pounds-for-frontline-care/ "NHS England has today agreed plans to save hundreds of...

read more
How much does your health mean to you?

How much does your health mean to you?

How much would you pay for your health? A couple of years ago, based in a GP practice and medical centre; I was advising, coaching and educating patients on nutrition, health and wellbeing. The patients made lifestyle choices and in doing so improved their health and...

read more
Time to listen to my own advice!

Time to listen to my own advice!

In the last few months my personal exercise (compared to my normal quantity and intensity has dwindled. For a few reasons… My studies have jumped up another level (it's been 3 years since I started studying Naturopathy and I can finally see the end in sight!) - so...

read more
Golden Latte Recipe

Golden Latte Recipe

At this time of year there are a lot of bugs thriving in the cold weather...and testing our immune system. This wonderful warming drink is a turmeric milk drink with added spices to boost your immune system even further. For a copy to print off or save to your recipe...

read more
Sleep

Sleep

When was the last time you woke up completely refreshed? Can you even remember when that was? I hosted a health & wellbeing day a few ago and remember thinking, ‘WOW…there’s an awful lot of women having sleep problems’! I often 'look' like I'm asleep, but ask me...

read more
Add A Spoonful To Your Fruit Smoothie

Add A Spoonful To Your Fruit Smoothie

WHAT'S IN LEAN GREENS? Lean Greens is a superfood powder which dilutes in water in order to create a neutral flavoured greens drink cocktail absolutely brimming with the following uber-nutritious ingredients: Wheat Grass, Barley Grass, Alfalfa, Spirulina and...

read more