The Worst Thing Since Sliced . . . .

Bread was always a big part of my diet growing up. Toast for breakfast, sandwiches for school and more toast before bed. In between that any amount of slices of bread and butter. The food triangle was sitting on top a large sliced pan. Unfortunately good as it tastes, bread is possibly the worst foundation for a healthy diet, so after switching to brown bread a few years ago, I have now completely cut it out.

You often hear people talking about gluten/wheat intolerant. But our bodies will tolerate things that really aren't good for them, such as bread.

So. What's wrong with bread?

Is it because it is white?

Yes. Processed bread is full of chemicals, including some that are used in a “bleaching” process. Your body does not need or want these.

Is it because it is fat?

Yes. Bread is naturally flat but yeast makes it rise. Yeast causes most people to bloat. It may also be the blame for stomach cramps and indigestion.

Most people lose weight when cutting out bread. There is evidence to show that some of the additives in bread actually slow down your metabolism, making you gain weight easily. Could your sliced bread be the achilles heal in your diet? Then give it the boot.

I have replaced bread with many different healthier options and these are a few of my favorites.

Tesco Brand Chilli Rice Cakes

Ryvita Sweet Onion

Lidl Wholewheat Pitta Breads

5 Top Zero Points Tips for my Weighwatching friends.

1: No Point Jelly : My favorite is the Hartleys sachets of sugar free in raspberry flavour. I would advise any weight watcher to have a batch made at all times in the fridge to snack on alone or with fruit.

2: Butternut squash : This is a points free veg. My favorite thing to do is par boil these and cook at 200 degrees for approx 25 mins until nearly burnt. Usually I put them into a lunch box with some sprays of the 1 calorie oil and salt and black pepper first, shake them about until evenly coated. These are very sweet alone but if you can allow yourself a certain amount of points for your dinner this is a way to bulk it up for free. (If you have a Tefal Actifryer you can cook them in this alternatively.

3: Bananas : Are now zero points and are great for filling up. Use one spoon of nutella, 2 slices of Nimble Hovis bread for a delicious sweet snack at only 3 pp.

4: No added sugar Drinks : As a fizzy drinks junkie, I find a good way to get the H20 in is to add some Mi-Wadi no added sugar.

5: 1 Calorie Oil Spray : A bottle of this lasts me forever, they say up to 19 sprays does not have to be counted but it is rare you will need this amount, use it anywhere you would usually use cooking oil. I even make fried bread with this if i'm having a cooked breakfast.

Who the Hell is Clare Nasir? God knows but her fitness dvd is ok.

When I seen the amazing transformation of this lady from a size 16 to a size 6 on the front of her dvd at HMV, well I couldn't help but splash out with the euros.

Clare's Bootcamp video promises "lose up to 4lbs per week", and I imagine that is possible alright if you do the whole thing everyday which apparently burns 1000 calories. But hey I don't think any of us are training for the olympics. I reckon one or two of the four workouts 3-4 times a week will give noticeable effects for everyone.

There are 4 twenty minute workouts; punch, kick, tone, and crunch and cool. You will need to invest in a set of dumbells, I would advise up to about 1.5kg each for ladies unless you are going for the Arnie look around the biceps.

So the punch section is fun, with little sprint intervals. I enjoy raising my heart level this way, it gives you that exercise buzz. You can really feel the kick section in your arse and legs, my own particular problem area, so I imagine I will be using this one most. The tone section seems the toughest, but when you know something is only twenty minutes long then you can just get on with it. The crunch section obviously is great for the abs, but I would advise an ab-roller if you have a dodgy back like myself.

This is not my favorite fitness dvd by a long shot, it will take some woman to steal Davina McCalls place in my heart but it is nice for an occasional change. The three in it aren't half bad looking so that's a bonus, and also an incentive.

This dvd could be improved, because although it advises you to warm up there is no section for this like most of the ones I am used to. Also the cool down section is halfway through the crunch section so you cannot flick to it without manually forwarding your dvd, this is a major design flaw. Some people are blessed with flat stomachs so therefore won't be doing this section everytime.

I definitely felt a buzz after doing this dvd, but stick your ipod on soon as you know the moves, the music and accents can be cringeworthy at times. Pick a couple sections, and be happy in the knowledge that you are burning 250 calories every twenty mins. That's three galaxies an hour.

A BIRD WITH A WAX IS WORTH TWO WITH A BUSH

Summer is coming ladies, it will be goodbye to leggings and tights, and hello to bare legs again. So what are the options.

The quickest and cheapest option is shaving. It is a good investment for any lady to invest in a men's Mach3 razor. You will get a smoother finish with this than any woman's razor on the market, in my opinion. This is my personal choice for both legs and underarms, these are not areas I am willing to grow to waxing length. Shaving is instant, easy, cheap and painless. But it doesn't last.

Depilatory Creams are still big sellers. Veet being the most popular one on the market. If you can grow the hair a little you will get a longer lasting result than shaving. However, though they've improved these products, I still don't like the smell. I find the regrowth itchy and can come back as stubbly as shaving.

Waxing is one of the oldest and most successful forms of hair removal. Ancient Egyptians were doing this on their lunch breaks from building the pyramids. (Now they have bigger fish to fry than unwanted hair)

Waxing at a salon will always be more thorough than what you can do yourself. Though it may not be in your budget. Having tried many salons, I have found Lily Lee beauty salon in Dun Laoghaire the best, particularly for bikini line waxing. Her prices are competitive, and I have never left her salon with irritation. She has a technique I find quick and relatively painless.

What if you can't handle the pain?

It is not a bad idea to take two paracetamol before a waxing to take the edge off. People have been known also to apply bonjela to sensitive areas to numb the skin slightly. (This is not the purpose of such a cream and instructions should be followed) There is a product called Emla cream, which is a local anaesthetic cream. I have used this product for both waxing and piercings, however it is becoming increasingly difficult to get from pharmacies without prescription. You can chance your arm.

So what do you ask for? A regular bikini wax does what it says on the tin, everything that can be seen around the perimeter of a bikini. A Brazilian leaves a small strip, and for those willing to got the extra mile a Hollywood will leave you bald. Most salons will do combinations of waxing packages for legs and bikini which will work out cheaper. I find these great value before holidays. Plan to hold off with the razor for a few weeks before a trip to the sun.

Getting your eyebrows waxed, plucked or threaded at a salon is one of the cheapest ways to dramatically improve your profile. To get this done a few times a year is an investment that you can maintain between treatments yourself at home. I recently got a new tweezers with a light like these, and it has made my job much easier.

I'm not a fan of moustaches on men. Ladies a ronnie is just not acceptable. Some women like to use a bleach, but I've seen girls with illuminious white hairs around their mouth and it will only clash with the trowelled on tan and foundation. Using these once a month will keep the whiskers at bay.

If you are going to wax at home:



-Use Veet microwavable wax, it is fool proof
-The more you wax the better you will become start with small areas
-Do a patch test first
-Apply the wax the direction the hair is growing
-Apply the strip the direction the hair is growing
-Rub until you think it is stuck (don't wait more than a few seconds)
-Pull quickly and firmly back the opposite direction
-Quickly apply your other hand to the area, this is a way of avoiding the sting
-Use a tweezers to pluck any hairs that are too short to wax
-In the box you will only get a small amount of strips, however there is wax to last a long time, buy yourself a pack of 100 paper wax strips from a salon supply shop for when you run out. It should cost around €6.


Laser hair removal is the most expensive option, and still a relatively new treatment on the market. I have a feeling that like teeth whitening this price is going to drop dramatically in the next few years. My advice is to wait if you are thinking of this as an option.

Make everyday a Good Hair Day - How to give yourself a blowdry

Many people find it difficult to get the right finish on their hair. It can be the scourge of every girl's Saturday night routine. This is the best way to tackle your mane.

Always shampoo your hair twice. Squeaky clean hair is easier to style. Use some conditioner to de-tangle, but avoid the roots if you have oily hair.

Most people should wash their hair every second day, very oily hair might need to be done everyday. Some people can get away with twice a week, for the health of your scalp I would recommend no less than this.

If you want volume apply a non-sticky mousse. I find the Wella one great for a lighter feel, and it smells fantastic. If you have really curly hair a straightening product such as Redken Align will help you out.

You will need to invest in a good professional hair-dryer such as Parlux or Turbo-Stratos, even a qualified hairdresser would find it hard to style their hair without one of these. Use the nozzle this will give you better control.

If you have a fringe dry this first.

Always blast all the heavy wet off roughly, you are fighting a losing battle if you start using your brushes too early.

When your hair feels at the dryer end of damp, start sectioning the hair with some hair grips. Nobody can dry their hair properly in one go. You will miss sections underneath.

Think of your hair in 3 sections, back and sides. Start at the back and divide this area into 3-6 sections depending on the thickness of your hair. Work from nape to crown, then repeat the process at the sides.

I like to use various sizes of round brushes. The centre will heat and help you in styling. Dry the hair from root to tip, paying special attention to the root area. If you want extra volume, simply pull the brush directly up from the head as you dry. For straighter styles pull down.

ALWAYS MAKE SURE THE ROOTS ARE DRY BEFORE MOVING TO THE NEXT SECTION, ANY MOISTURE LEFT ON THE ROOTS WILL LATER TRAVEL DOWN THE HAIR AND CAUSE THE COMMON PROBLEM OF FRIZZING.

Usually when I finish drying my hair, I leave it while I do other tasks such as tan and make-up. Returning to your hair and quickly blow-drying through the dry hair again should give a sleeker finish.

If you must use straightening irons on your hair, GHD is your only man. The ceramic plates will not damage your hair in the way a traditional straightener would. And it really is the best straighter on the market. If your hair is curly or frizzy, although expensive this is a worthwhile investment.

A cold blast of air from your dryer will set your style.

I love L'Oreal Elnett hairspray and the big bottles are great value.

There are many great serums on the market to keep your hair frizz free.
What not to do:

Do not ignore the back and over-dry the front

Do not use the straightener until your hair is COMPLETELY dry

Do not wind very small brushes into long hair unless experienced, you may end up in a huge mess



AND FINALLY :

Do not stress if you can't do your hair like your stylist, remember he/she has done 4 years training to be able. If you have something important to go to or you want to treat yourself, let the professionals do it for you.

I love doing blow-drys at work in Rhona's hair Salon

Is Pro-points really Pro-choice?

Weight-Watchers have just launched their new diet Pro-points. Without hesitation they've taken their list of rules and points, screwed it up and f*cked it into the hypothetical dust-bin of the diet world. WW fanatics worldwide, are thrown into a frenzy of confusion and uncertainty.

Not to worry, my fat-busting friends, they've put a celeb face in front of the campaign, so we can all breathe a sigh of relief. Jennifer Hudson appears on the mag looking svelte less than a year after giving birth coupled with the (oh so American) affirmation, “It’s a lifestyle change, not a diet.” - well you would want to be stone (no pun intended) mad to stick with the old way.

Out with the old, in with the new. This new diet really is fantastic. Eat as much fruit as you like. Yum yum. Eat as much veg as you like, no change there. You get more points, but hey nearly everything is more points anyway. It's like getting a raise, and your rent goes up.

And hang on a minute, there's a new calculator. But no way of directly converting the old points to the new ones, and with a head for maths, believe me I've tried. There's a formula that could leave Pythagoras and Einstein scratching their heads about. Excuse me for getting angry when the teacher gives me an exam in Chinese, when I've just become fluent in Japanese.

From first glance what I can see, if you like your protein, fruit and veg, once you figure this new plan out you are going to be happy as a pig in sh*te.

If you are more a fan of junk food, booze and carbs like myself, or you have just bought an abundance of “old points” scales, recipe books, etc then you will probably feel more like the pig has done a sh*te on you.

If you can pinch it, you can pierce it

So you want to get a piercing?
Where do you start, what do you choose, and how are you meant to look after it?

Technically there is any number of piercings a person can get, the Guniness Book of World records certifies that Elaine Davidson, of Edinburgh, Scotland, has the most with 720.

However this is not recommended for you ordinary Joe or Joanne soap, many cases of septacaemia
are reported caused by unhygenic care of new or old piercings.

So you have your ears pierced, because your Mammy got them “gunned” for you before your communion, and you want something else. Nose, eyebrow and bellybutton piercings are now the norm, though still many schools and workplaces frown upon them.

More interesting choices include bridge, septum and lip/tongue piercings. Nape piercings also, though are known for their high level of rejection.

Hand web piercings can be both dangerous and difficult to heal. I wouldn't recommend this from personal experience.

More recently we see the introduction of microdermal implants. This is a one sided piercing and they are thought more extreme/permanent than a regular piercing. They have become more mainstream due to their delicate look. You may have seen them. Just like a diamanté stuck onto the skin?

Only highly skilled Piercers can perform this kind of piercing, as is the case with a lot of surface and genital piercings. Microdermals are usually inserted using a needle, or by the quicker method of a punch. This removes a small amount of skin and flesh to make room for the jewellery. It is completely up to the piercers preference, and I have found both give the same results.

22 piercings later without major disaster, what is my advice?

Go to a reputable piercer with a clean hygenic premises, I have had many of my piercings here.
Use sea salt crystals and cool boiled water to clean your piercing, (do not overdo this you can burn your skin)
Choose something easy to begin with such as tongue, (piercings can be hard work)
Check with your school/college/job for their piercing policy
Don't touch your piercing to much, or change the jewellery to often or too early. (I would recommend waiting at least 12 weeks)
If you are thinking about stretching any hole, research thoroughly and remember, the slower this is done the better. Rushing the process can have nasty results.
Piercing guns are unhygenic and a dated form of piercing. They are not recommended by any professionals, and those who use them are not usually trained as a piercer.


Seriously though, bellybutton is a killer and I almost passed out getting my medusa, (top lip) pierced. Tongue, tongue web and bottom lip easy peasy, hand web and tragus downright pain in the arse.

Get your knickers off girls

LADIES: YOUR SMEAR MADE CLEAR

It is not embarrassing, it is not painful and it may well save your life.

As Irish women, we are listed as some of the worst in the world for looking after our sexual health. Cervical Cancer causes many needless deaths in this country and worldwide every year. Timing is crucial in the prevention, detection and treatment of this particular type of illness.

A cervical smear test checks for any minor or major changes in the cells at the neck of your womb. THERE IS NO OTHER WAY to find out about the health of your cervix.

The National Cervical Screening Programme provides free smear tests to women aged 25 to 60. You can call them for free on, 1800 45 45 55 or register online to take part in the scheme. Technically you can develop cervical cancer as soon as you become sexually active. We all remember the tragic death of Jade Goody at a very young age, so if there is a history of female cancers in your
family you could talk to your doctor about possible testing at an earlier age.

In some countries, such as Australia young girls are given a free vaccine to protect them against cervical cancer and the virus that causes it. Named Gardasil, it is a course of three injections and although not widely popular yet in Ireland some people may opt to invest in it at a private practice.

When you go for a smear the doctor/nurse is sure to put you at ease. Any preconceptions I ever had about the subject were put to bed, and I hope to reassure other women that it is not something to worry about.

Your doctor or nurse will carefully take a swab from your cervix and this will be sent to a laboratory for examination. The results will likely come back normal, however most abnormalities are nothing to worry about and can be easily treated. A small abnormality may not require treatment, just retesting in a few months. For some people laser treatment may be needed, this is what can save you from developing cancer. Treatments are becoming better and more advanced every day.

REGULAR SMEAR TESTING REDUCES YOUR RISK OF DEATH THROUGH CERVICAL CANCER SIGNIFICANTLY.

I found this clinic fantastic, and a great place for your first time. I cannot recommend the staff here enough even with the most nervous of patients.

To Tan or not to Tan - That is the question

Are you pale and interesting? Then the answer is no. This only applies to a small number of you. The porcelain beauties with an ivory complexion that suits their hair eyes and style.

For the rest of us mere mortals a touch of summer glow makes the difference between photo's showing healthy good looks as opposed to us imitating Tim Burton's corpse bride.

So what's my advice?

If you're gonna do it do it right, RIGHT DO IT TO ME.

Thats right, if you can afford it then go to a salon and let the proffesionals do it for you. Recommended brands include Sudo and St Tropez.

Less is more with fake tan, you don't want to end up looking like one of Wonka's employees.

If you're gonna do it at home my favorites are Lancome Flash Bronzer if you have a few quid to spare, L'oreal Sublime bronze if you aren't to flash. If you're broke and more so if you are scared cheap instants such as Rimmel and Sally Hanson are fool proof.

Always:

Exfoliate beforehand

Be careful of elbows, ankles, and hands. (A little moisturiser can help)

Use a hairdryer to dry off the tan if possible, I find this both enhances the colour and avoids staining clothes, towels and bed linen.


In the salon I work at all the best tans are available for the bargain price of €25

Bounce your way to Beautiful

Boogie Bounce is the set to be the newest and best way to get fit in 2011. Experienced fitness instructer Emma Weafer is going help you drop the Christmas layer with her fun toning workout in Donnybrook's Old Wesley starting February 21st. If you are sick of boring workouts at the gym, not to mention hefty fee's, then this €10 lesson will be money well spent. 6 lessons are also available for €50.

So what do they claim:
- Fantastic for the Lymphatic System:
- Suitable for all ages, shapes, sizes and fitness levels
- Extremely effective for natural weight loss/inch loss
- 2-3 times more efficient than normal aerobics
- Fabulous for cellulite reduction
- Less stress impact on joints than other fitness routines
- Powerful muscle toning results
- Greatly improved balance/co-ordination
- Energy, circulation and immune system enhanced
- Superb for combating stress
- Boogie Bounce gives you a real sense of enjoyment and achievement


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