Beauty | Health, Fitness And Diets

Are you ready to join the ranks of the sober-curious?

Going sober took Catherine Gray from waking up in a Brixton police cell to saving £23k in four yearsCREDIT: ANDREW CROWLEY Idid Dry January once, five years ago. I lasted four days, before finding myself deep-diving into a bottle-and-a-half of wine. So, if you’ve slumped off the wagon already, I get it. If you had no desire to hop on the godforsaken wagon in the first place, I understand that too. Having worked on magazines such as Glamour and Cosmopolitan in my twenties, during which I drank the opening-of-an-envelope dry if the booze was free, my intake had ticked up and up. I could have drunk anyone under the table; you wouldn’t have stood a chance. I was a seven-or-eight-bottles-of-wine -a-week kinda gal. I once fell asleep while talking to my boss at the Christmas party. There was the time my boyfriend found me unconscious on our doorstep at 1am, having lost my keys. Or the time... Read more »

Climbing and mountain biking are in, spas and sauvignon are out… the New Girls’ Weekend

Forget hotels, shopping and cocktails: enjoy the bonding that comes with shared adventure, writes Cathy Bussey CREDIT: HERO IMAGES/ GETTY IMAGES Iam standing on an inflatable paddleboard in the middle of a lake. The water is calm, the surface mirror-like and my paddle makes barely any sound as it propels me forwards. Clouds are rolling down from the surrounding hills, lit by the golden glow of the recent sunrise, and in the distance three ducks take flight, skimming across the surface of the water. It’s freezing cold at 7am on a Sunday, in the middle of a lake in Wales. But I’m not chilly. My wetsuit keeps me insulated from the morning breeze, and adrenalin warms me from the inside. This alone was worth the five-hour drive from London to the Pant-yr-Onnen campsite in Bala, Snowdonia. My friend Debbie Burton and I are on a girls’ weekend, but there isn’t a spa hotel or... Read more »

Healthy Edible Gifts

‘Tis the season of gift-giving, and one of the best ways to show you care is homemade gifts. A sweet jar of homemade jam, a supply of quick pickles or even some creamy, dreamy homemade nut butter all make great gifts. The following festive snacks are pretty delicious gifts, too. Coconut Popcorn Ingredients 1 cup unpopped corn kernels 5 tablespoons coconut oil, divided 8 ounces coconut butter Fine-grain sea salt, to taste Directions In a large pot with a lid, set over medium-high heat, combine 1 tablespoon of coconut oil with a few corn kernels. When the kernels start to pop, add the rest of the kernels, cover tightly with a pot lid, and shake the pan until the remaining kernels pop. Keep the popcorn moving to prevent burning. In a separate small saucepan, warm the coconut butter and remaining 4 tablespoons of coconut oil. Stir until smooth and viscous — you want the mixture to pour... Read more »

Why It’s Important to Stop Drinking Shots of ACV

There’s a lot to love about apple cider vinegar. Several studies support the claims that ACV helps the body lose weight and debloat. It also doesn’t hurt that it’s been shown to up energy levels either. And did we mention you can use it to wash your hair?! Before you start guzzling the bottle of ACV in your pantry, keep in mind that there’s a right and a wrong way to drink the elixir. First things first: while straight shots are a popular way to drink ACV — don’t. Because it’s highly acidic, over time ACV has the potential to do real damage to both the esophagus and tooth enamel. Instead, dilute ACV with water. In general, one to two tablespoons mixed into eight ounces of water is the sweet spot (like you’ll find in this delicious ACV honey drink). Now that you have the formula down, you need to know exactly when to drink it... Read more »

Raspberry-Raspberry Shortcakes

Serves 6 For the shortcakes: 1 1/2cups all-purpose flour 1/2old-fashioned oats 5tablespoons sugar, divided 1/2teaspoon salt 1tablespoon baking powder 8tablespoons unsalted butter, cold and cut into 1/2-inch cubes 1/2cup heavy cream, plus more for brushing. 1large egg 4 to 6ounces fresh raspberries Turbinado or raw sugar, for sprinkling Heat the oven to 375° F and line a baking sheet with Silpat or parchment paper. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, oats, 3 tablespoons of the sugar, salt, and baking powder. Add the butter cubes, toss to coat them in the flour, and then, working quickly, squash each one into a flat sheet, tossing with the flour as you go so as to keep all butter pieces protected from the heat of your hands. You’re looking for a mixture that resembles a very coarse cornmeal. Use a spoon to stir in the cream and egg until combined. Set your mixture in... Read more »

The Fitbit Blaze Is On Sale For Its Lowest Price Ever

Looking to buy a Fitbit Blaze? If so, you need to head to AT&Timmediately and purchase one for just $100. This is by far the lowest price the Blaze has ever been. For comparison, the Amazon Prime Day price was $140, and that was considered a great deal. At $100, this is a steal. The Fitbit Blaze packs the best features from both a fitness tracker and a smartwatch into a sleek package. It tracks your heart rate, automatically kicks into activity mode to track your workouts, and boasts internal GPS so runners can easily keep tabs on their mileage. It also provides on-screen workouts to do at home or in the gym, helps you set workout goals, showing your progress on-screen with each exercise, and calculates your cardio fitness level. Outside of workout tracking, it also reminds you to move throughout the day, tracks your sleep, and now comes with... Read more »

Kittencal’s Buttery Cut-Out Sugar Cookies W/ Icing That Hardens

Ingredients SERVINGS 35-40 UNITS US COOKIES 1cup butter, softened (no substitutes) 1cup sugar 2eggs 1⁄2teaspoon vanilla 1⁄2teaspoon almond extract 3 1⁄4cups all-purpose flour 1⁄2teaspoon baking soda 1⁄2teaspoon baking powder 1⁄2teaspoon salt FROSTING 2cups sifted confectioners’ sugar(the sugar must be sifted) 1tablespoon milk (adding in more if needed for proper spreading consistency) 1tablespoon light corn syrup 1⁄4teaspoon almond extract (can use 1/2 teaspoon vanilla in place of the almond) food coloring (use your choice of colours) Directions For cookies; in a large bowl combine butter with sugar, eggs, vanilla and almond extract; beat using an electric mixer on high speed until light and fluffy. In another bowl combine the flour with baking powder, baking soda and salt; gradually stir into the butter mixture until well blended. Cover bowl with plastic wrap and chill for 2 hours. Set oven to 400°F. Line cookie sheets with parchment paper (do not grease cookie sheets use... Read more »

Exactly How to Get a Better Butt Using Just a Foam Roller

Who doesn’t want a toned backside? These moves, which incorporate a foam roller, are sure to make your muscles burn. Aim to perform each exercise 15 to 20 times on each side, three times through. Perform theexercises in the order below to keep your heart rate up as you move up and down off the floor. (Get a flat belly in just 10 minutes a day with our reader-tested exercise plan!) Skater Stand with one foot planted on your roller and the other firmly on the floor. Bend your knees into a squat-like position and pitch your torso forward holding your core in to protect your back. Gradually push your leg on the roller out straight to the side, keeping your other leg stable and still. Pull the leg on the roller back into starting position using your inner thighs and butt while maintaining knee over ankle on your stationary leg. For an added challenge, hold the... Read more »

This Bralette Is Super Comfy and Helps Empower Young Women

In case you need a reminder, females are absolutely amazing. And to help keep that indisputable fact front of mind, the lingerie company Lively has joined forces with the nonprofit I Am That Girl to launch this limited-edition bralette. The partnership grew from a shared mission to empower women to embrace exactly who they are. It was a natural fit: Lively promotes body positivity through its brand of athleisure-inspired bras and underwear. And I Am That Girl provides a safe space—through local chapters and online—for young women, ages 14 to 22, to connect, express themselves, learn leadership skills, and more. The collaborative project began with members of the I Am That Girl community submitting mood boards and design inspiration for a bra that would represent both the strength and vulnerability of girls today. The result is the unique (and appropriately named) Wild Hearts print on Lively’s popular, comfy mesh trim bralette. A helpful little self-love mantra is hidden on the... Read more »

The Lung Cancer Symptoms You Need to Know, Even If You’ve Never Smoked

Ashley Rivas was 26 when she noticed she was getting tired earlier than usual on her runs. Over the next few years, the X-ray technician from Albuquerque, New Mexico, developed a persistent cough and wheezing, which her doctors attributed to exercise-induced asthma. She had other symptoms, too: weight loss, fever, and several bouts of pneumonia. Still, when Rivas finally decided to perform a chest X-ray on herself, cancer was the last thing on her mind. The image revealed a mass on her right lung that turned out to be a malignant tumor. Rivas was 32 and had never smoked a cigarette in her life. “I want people to know lung cancer can happen to anyone,” she says. Rivas has joined the American Lung Association’s Lung Force campaign, to spread the word that her disease isn’t just a smoker’s affliction. “It’s true that the majority of people with lung cancer have some history of tobacco use,” says ALA spokesperson Andrea McKee, MD, the chair of radiation... Read more »