Tips for growing out your hair!

Anyone trying to grow out their hair?

Irina has definitely made a lot of progress with her hair over the last 8 months.
Her hair is not only longer but also shiner and less dry.

Keep reading to find out what you need to do to grow out your hair as fast as possible!!

I have been trying to grow out my hair for a while now so I have come across many tips and tricks that I have tried and can vouch for that they WILL help.

Note: At the most, hair can grow up to 1/2-inch per month, so you need to be patient.  

TIP #1:

Trimming your hair is essential! The bottom line is...the healthier your hair is the less you will need to trim it and the faster it will grow. I used to trim my hair every 1.5 months because of how dry my ends were and since using the following tips I only have to cut it every 3months which is ideal. So cut your dead ends off and then start taking care of your hair like never before is what im saying :P.

TIP #2:

A healthy you means a healthy head of hair! Eat lots of protein & iron (veggies and nuts).

TIP #3:

Coconut oil is a miracle worker..just watch this video.

TIP #4:
Wash less!!! The body regulates the production of oil based on what it needs, so if you wash your hair daily, you are stripping away the natural oils before they have a chance to get to work. So if you wash your hair every day start with washing it every second day...there is this thing called 'dry shampoo' so yes you can do it.

TIP #5:
Get a satin pillow case to sleep on! It prevents breakage.

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Shanina Shaik Bonds Autumn/Winter 2012 +how she gets her body in shape

 'I've done 500 squats in a day'


SHANINA Shaik is the first to admit it takes hard work to get her body catwalk ready. The 20-year-old New York Fashion Week model shares her body secrets with Liz Graham.



The 20-year-old Australian model has already turned heads in the indust
ry. Her fans include Vogue Australia editor Kirstie Clements, who tweeted last month that Shaik is “one of the most beautiful girls I’ve ever seen”, and compared her to supermodels Angie Harmon, Christy Turlington and Naomi Campbell.

Born and raised in Melbourne, Shaik was runner-up on Australia’s TV modelling competition Make Me A Supermodel in 2008. Since then, she has moved to New York and has been modelling on the catwalk as well as for magazines and advertising.

Most recently, she became the youth ambassador for Australian underwear label Bonds and walked the
catwalk for Chanel in Paris.

Her biggest job to date, however, has been her appearance at the 2011 Victoria’s Secret show, the lingerie extravaganza which is televised to millions around the world and helped launch Miranda Kerr to international stardom.

!Workout secrets!

Shaik says to get the Victoria’s Secret gig, she had to become more muscular.

“I’m naturally thin, so I really worked hard to do something different with my body,” she says. “I did Zumba once a week and weights twice a week.”

Her favourite exercise for muscle toning is the squat. “Squats can change your body overnight. You’re toning your legs and bum, but also working your core,” Shaik says. “It’s about technique. You have to go slow.”

Shaik says doing 100 squats a session will produce a difference, but the most she has done in one sitting is 500.

“I did those using weights,” she says. “Every 20 squats, I’d alternate with 10 bicep curls. You could really see the muscle in my legs at the show.”

These days, Shaik still does squats and Zumba on a regular basis but isn’t so hell-bent on muscle tone. When she is not travelling for work, her favourite workout is running along the Hudson River in New York. “Running outside works your body a lot more than on a treadmill,” she says.

!Diet and beauty tips!

Shaik follows a high-protein, low-carb diet. “I eat a lot of fish, eggs, chicken, vegetables, salad and brown rice,” she says. Breakfast is normally yoghurt and muesli, or an eggwhite omelette with spinach.

“Sometimes it’s hard with travelling to fit in big meals, so I tend to snack throughout the day,” she says. “I also try not to have a late dinner.”

Shaik doesn’t drink soft drinks or coffee and sticks to water and fruit juices. She keeps pasta and ice-cream as “every-now-and-then” indulgences.

She is in an aeroplane at least once a week for work, so there is no avoiding airline food, but she says the secret is to eat the protein and veg in the middle of the plate and avoid the rest.

Her exotic features are due to her Lithuanian, Australian, Pakistani and Saudi Arabian roots, but she says baby oil and a high-quality face moisturiser help keep her skin in great condition.

“Using Johnson’s Baby Oil straight out of the shower is really good,” she says. “It stays in your skin for 24 hours. My boyfriend [US model Tyson Beckford] uses it too, and he looks great.

I also use Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Cream.”

Shaik keeps her make-up simple and says mascara and lip gloss are essential. “I use Maybelline New York Great Lash, and Laura Mercier’s Stick Gloss looks like a gloss and lipstick at the same time.”

How to do the perfect squat?
b+s trainer Damien Kelly says: “Stand with feet shoulder-width apart and raise your arms to shoulder height. Engage your core and bend your knees as though you are about to sit down in a chair, keeping the weight in your heels. Aim to lower your butt to below knee level.”
adelaidenow.com.au

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Watch Adriana Lima work out ;)

PROOF that getting a body like hers takes a lot of work and determination !
She's insanely good at jump rope..im so impressed.

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Working out with Alessandra Ambrosio

Forgot this one!

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Miranda Kerr’s Top 10 beauty tips

Tip #1: A woman who smiles often and is confident and comfortable in her own skin always look beautiful and leaves a lasting impression.

Tip #2: Wear what you feel comfortable in and if you have to question it...well then it’s probably not for you.

Tip #3: If there’s a choice between wearing something that is too small or too big always go with a little bigger.



Tip #4: Use quality organic skincare on your skin as everything you put on your skin sinks in. Try: Kora Organics skincare


Tip #5: Drink warm water and lemon every morning and Tahitian Noni Juice daily.

Tip #6: Dry body brush everyday before taking a shower to keep your skin smooth all over, and to activate your lymph system.

Tip #7: Every woman should have Organic rosehip oil in her handbag. It’s a product that’s rejuvenating and packed full of natural goodness. Rosehip oil is also a natural way to remove eye makeup. Try: Kora Organics Luxurious Rosehip Oil

Tip #8: Use an organic spray mist when needed to keep skin hydrated and do not underestimate the importance of an organic eye gel/cream. Try: Kora Organics Balancing Rose Mist

Tip #9: Discover what supplements are right for your body and then take them as directed. Almost everyone needs a supplement to balance his or her busy lifestyle.

Tip #10: Don’t take yourself or life too seriously, frowning is one of the most damaging things we can do to our skin!

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Does lifting weights help you loose weight and get a toned body?

Answer: HELL YEAH!

I've been researching about whether lifting weights is something that is essential for us women to incorporate in our weekly work-outs to get or keep the bodies we desire without looking less like the Incredible Hulk and more like the supermodels in these pics ;). And this is what I found out...

I had a personal trainer for about two months with whom i trained once a week while still working out on my own 3times a week. His sessions were about 45mins long and 80% of that time was all about the weights (and push ups!!! ladiesss I started with being able to do about 3 and now I can do as many as 20.. and yess I am talking the proper push ups! its not just good for the triceps but also strengthens your core!)

I feel that my body is in the best shape it has ever been and people constantly compliment me that I look like I have lost weight and that my stomach looks so much more toned (which is super exciting for me since most of my fat is in my stomach..yes I am one of those unfortunate people who got teased about looking pregnant as my legs were so skinny in comparison to my belly).

From MY experience and the research I have done lifting weights has all these benefits:

1. You'll lose 40% more fat

2. You'll burn more calories 

3. Your clothes will fit better

4. You'll keep your body young

5. You'll be overall healthier/happier and reduce risks of cancer

This is not a joke ladies :P! Lift weights once a week, do cardio and throw in a class twice a week and I guarantee that is the best way to get a lean toned body! + with the help of an appropriate healthy diet of course.

Now lifting weights has to be done properly therefore I recommend getting a couple of personal trainer session so that you can learn how to position your body and how many to do and lalilalida.

SO dedicate time to cardio, weights, some classes/sport and BAM a supermodel is born! ;) xxo Jess

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Victoria's Secret Fashion Show 2011/12 HAIR TUTORIAL

The Luxy sisters have an awesome youtube chanel (which I visit all the time!) so I recommend you check it out if you want to learn some new hair tricks and tips ;)

For the tutorial video keep reading!

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Adriana's 10 tips on how to stay fit

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How Lindsay Gets a Runway Body

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How Candice Gets A Runway Body?

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Get the Look: Erin Heatherton for VS Dream Angels

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Get Fit With Victoria's Secret Angel Doutzen Kroes

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Miranda Kerr: Get her bod in 30 days

 for the article click this link (GRACIA magazine)

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How to stop late-night snacking?

First of all, make sure you’re eating enough at dinner time, and try to make it a more protein-based meal as it will be lower in GI and therefore fill you up for longer. Secondly you should be eating every three hours or so – but not really two or three hours before you got to bed. So calculate what time you expect to be sleeping and work out your snack times from that. For instance, if I know I’ll be up till midnight, I’ll have dinner 6.30, a snack at nine and then nothing after. 

But that’s the easy part. The hard part is the habit you have of snacking whilst watching TV or just snacking from boredom. Here I have a two-pronged approach. First, if you’re going to snack, then have a healthy option. The best way to do that is with a safe house – no junk means you can’t crumble unless you have to go out for it. Chances are you won’t. There’s some great healthy options you can have that won’t make you feel like you’re going without. Diet jelly with strawberries or blueberries is delicious. Occasionally for a treat, have some low fat Gelato or some Nestle low fat chocolate mousse with strawberries. Yummo. But I love really simple things like frozen mangoes and fresh fruit salad. Just watch the serving sizes. Don’t forget to drink lots of water too – often dehydration gets mistaken for hunger.

Secondly, do the distraction program. I use this often and find if I’m genuinely not hungry then I need to keep my hands and mouth busy. Oh that sounds dirty but it isn’t, I promise. First the mouth – chewing gum or sugar free lollies such as Jols. Brush your teeth as soon after dinner as possible as it spoils your taste for sweet things. Then keep your hands busy with the love-yourself list. Write up a list of things you can do that pamper you and distract you from eating food you don’t need. Like:

* Do your nails

* Have a foot spa

* Moisturise your body

* Brush your hair and put in a treatment

* Pluck your eyebrows

* Wax your legs

* Give yourself a facial mask

* Whiten your teeth (keeps your mouth busy as well)

* Apply some fake tan

* Moisturise your feet with Body Shop foot cream….ooh er

If that’s not your thing then get busy scrap booking photos and momentos, send cards to your friends for no reason, blog your heart out, get knitting, hey, what about doing sit-ups? I used to sit on a ball and do sit-ups during the commercials. I must have done 500 sit-ups a night – it was brilliant. The reality is, if you’ve eaten enough you won’t be hungry. If you’re eating for other reasons then just get busy. Think of it this way: one moment of food pleasure versus the endless pleasure of wearing those hot jeans all year long without worrying about the zip doing up. Your only worry will be keeping them up because you’ll be so fit and healthy you’ll need to go down a dress size. Now there’s some food for thought.

by Cleo :)

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Eat healty for more than two days!

Sick of promising to give up chips/Diet Coke/burgers, only to crash and burn within 48 hours?

Put your hands in the air and back away from the fridge.

And are they cake crumbs around the edge of your mouth? Tsk Tsk.

Wasn’t it only three days ago you declared yet again that, by the time you were celebrating NYE, you’d be parading around that bikini bod you’ve spent the whole year trying to get.

Day one you are totally inspired and faultless. You have the right amount of food and there’s even some salad in there too. You do the biggest workout of your life and can totally visualize that hot body you’re going to flaunt on the beach this summer.

You even feel thinner that night as you lie in bed and run your hands over the body you know is finally going to be the way you want it. Your goal is clear and you believe in it 100 percent. You are on fire!

Day two. You wake up feeling thinner and skip out of the bedroom lighter. Breakfast is a breeze but it hits lunch time and all the girls from the office are having champagne and chocolate cake. You are on soda water and salad but manage to follow it with some self-righteous (silent) high fives on your incredible strength and willpower, telling yourself that they will end up at Weight Watchers while you will be inundated with men offering to rub sun cream on your brand new J Lo back even when you are not at the beach. You are a legend. Again.

By dinner – and having said no to your boyfriend’s invitation to take part in beer and buffalo back ribs with the lads – you get hungry and bored and all you can think of is the food you WISH you were having. You get grumpy and slightly miserable and can’t stop thinking about all the food you’re “not allowed” to eat. 

You still really want to get to goal (hey, it’s only day two) so talk yourself out of ordering home delivered double crust cheesy pizza and just get on with eating your grilled fish, salad and water and manage to convince yourself you actually enjoyed it. You go to bed feeling pretty damn clever and imagine the love handles your man will be wearing while you spend up big at Tigerlilly.

Day three you are bored stupid, cranky, depressed and suddenly realize just how much distraction, entertainment and “fulfillment” comes in eating. Except that it isn’t real fulfillment. How can it be when it leaves you so unhappy and your healthy body goals completely unfulfilled? Do you really think true happiness only belongs to those who can eat whatever they want, whenever they want?

You also finally understand the commitment you have made and it seems quite daunting. The instant “goal” of whatever comfort food you desire seems so much closer and easier to get than your real long-term goal of a healthier body. Problem is, the longer you fool yourself that the food will make you happy, the longer it will take to get what you really want.

Do you constantly battle the brain with those internal dialogues (do it/don’t do it!) about why you should break free? Yes, on the bad days it does feel hard and boring and endless. But the good days come and, if you persevere, then those habits will be broken and your life will be fulfilling on so many other levels – not just through food and eating. But something will only break under pressure. You have to go through this or you won’t win the battle. You think kings conquered nations without ever slaying a few dragons? Yes, it’s tough, but only because it’s a new way of thinking, not because it is impossible.

Just accept the battle, do not give up, watch as you win and work towards your goals. But one thing that can help? Maybe not going so hard. Pull back a little. Be more realistic. Have a wine, enjoy lunch out or even the odd dinner (where you don’t have to go without, but you can make better choices). Don’t be a food nazi and try to live off lettuce leaves – even rabbits get bored of that and chew their way out of their cages looking for something better. Find a balance but also find what truly makes you happy. Seek it out and chase that with all your energy. Then the goal of a healthier body will be easier to achieve because happiness is found in other areas of your life. If you seek fulfillment in food, you are lying to yourself. Now there’s some food for thought.

by Cleo

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THE AUSSIE TRAINER TIPS

Lee Camphell

- "if you are after flat abs, i suggest doing situps on a medicine ball and maintaining good posture. And you willget a good bum from running up stairs or doing step ups."

- "the ideal exercise regimen is to do five hours each week, otherwise try to do somethin every day. like walking. The trick is to not think about workouts as a chore but something that helps you live your life to the best."

- "The worst thing people can do is to try to do too much too early because then they end up giving up."

- "Foods that are rich in antiozidants, such as fish, beans, nuts, apples and blueberries help to jumpstart the body."

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4Ways to burn fat faster!

4WAYS TO BURN FAT FASTER

#HAVE A COOL DRINK: Being dehydrated slows all your body functions. including metabolism. Keep it steady with at least 8glasses of water each day and make them icy, drinking cold water may increase your ability to burn kilojoules, as your body needs extra energy to heat it.
 
#FIRE UP: chilli pepper and mustard seed-two spices often founs in Thai, Mexican and Chinese cuisines-can help your body burn extra kjs. This is thanks to a compound called capsaicin.

#GRAB A CUPPA: research suggests that EGCG,an antioxidant in some teas, can kick start your body's engine. So go green tea!!! ( personally i started drinking green tea 3months ago and i am definitely seeing results)

#Eat your B's: B vitamins are the oil that greases the wheels of your metabolic engine. Can be found in whole-grains, dairy products, eggs and green vegetables.

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Health tips for life!

these are the basic things that need to be followed so you can be your sexiest self ;)

 HEALTH TIPS 4LIFE

-drink plenty of water
-make chocolates a luxury, not a routine
-eat breakfast
-choose white meat rather than red
-go easy on salt
-avoid crash diets
-exercise outdoors
-while calling, try walking :)
-turn on music, dance like wild instead of watching tv
-tuck your tummy in while walking
-any workouts should start with 5-10mins warm up
-sleep is important too, try get above 8hrs
-exercise at least 3times a week
-the usual 5 vegetables/fruits a day
-stay away from fast food

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Carbs that burn fat!

I found this article very interesting and had a lot of new information I had no clue about!!
No typo here. There is actually a carb that slims you down.
We all know the carbs to enjoy in moderation; yes, we’re looking at you, (tasty, tasty) chocolate brownie. BUT





But did you know there are certain types of carbohydrates that actually help our bodies combat fat and maintain a healthy weight when eaten regularly? We kid you not. All hail resistant starch!
The sneaky fat-fighter

Found naturally in bananas, oats, lentils, cooled-down cooked potatoes, and a range of other foods, resistant starch is a sneaky sort of fellow.

Compared to other types of carbohydrates, which are digested quickly (white pasta, baked treats) or slowly (beans, long-grain brown rice), resistant starch actually passes through the small intestine without being digested.

It changes the order in which the body uses food as energy, and puts fat at the top of its list to burn (baby, burn, take that, fat!).

In research published by the Journal Of Nutrition And Metabolism, Australian scientist Dr Janine Higgins explained, “This effect over time could cause an increase in lean body mass and a decrease in fat stores.

"This increase in lean body mass could help reduce the risk of certain chronic diseases, such as diabetes and heart disease, and could have a positive effect on your body shape.”
More goodness

Resistant starch is such a little champ that it’s often likened to fibre (you get from fresh fruit and vegies), which, as we know, is a key component to a healthy diet. Carbs (the good ones) will also fill you up and satiate your appetite, speed up your metabolism, give you the energy to exercise longer, and, as the brain’s favourite source of food, will actually help to lift your spirits.
What to eat

Ideally, we should be consuming around 20 grams of resistant starch each day (most women are only having 3-7 grams), so try to add at least a few of these sources to your diet on a daily basis:

• Slightly unripened bananas
• Lentils
• Oatmeal
• Barley
• Wholegrain bread
• Hi-Maize corn starch
• Cooking and cooling food can raise resistant starch levels, so try cold pasta, potatoes and rice (sushi!) 
by Cleo

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