The Zumba Craze

Zumba is the new exercise craze for 2012 and why not!? It's one of the most addictive and fun ways of keeping fit, losing weight and partying without the need to drink anything other than water!

When I first saw the Zumba adverts on the shopping channels, I brushed it off with a 'yeah right, like it's actually going to be that fun!' I wasn't going to give in to any of the marketing rubbish. 'Party yourself into shape' it says...well I spent most of my uni life doing just that and round wasn't exactly the shape I was after.

But more people began to preach about Zumba and I'd noticed one of my closest friends had lost quite a bit of weight. She gave all the credit to her Zumba DVD and went on about how amazing it all is and how she has to do it all the time and it's so fun and...oh shut up! Again I brushed it off thinking she's probably starving herself or something. But the craze grew with more people I actually knew banging on about it. So going against everything I stood for, I gave into peer pressure at the age of 27 and went to my first Zumba class.

It was a cold and dark winter’s evening on Monday 12 November 2012 – no it wasn’t, I don’t actually remember but let’s just pretend it was. I’d rushed home from work to get changed and ready for this Zumba class. 5 minutes late and the venue was packed, thankfully there was still space for two more. It was quite small compared to the number of people who were there but it wasn't much of an issue providing everyone moved at time and kept to their own spaces...but they didn't, and neither did I so I can't complain. Along with many of the others, I spent the first 2 minutes of each song trying to grasp the moves from the instructor and by the time I finally got the steps the next song was starting along with the next set of dance moves. The moves involved the arms, the wasit, the legs...it worked the whole body and it was something I would enjoy had I known the moves. After an hour we were all sweating and I’d worked up an appetite for more. It was great fun although it didn't feel like a hardcore workout it was definitely something I'd do again.

That was my first and last Zumba class.

But I bought into it and invested in Zumba for the Wii so I could do it at home in my own time and space. The music, the moves, everything about it, I love it. Everyday is a party with Zumba...we’ll not every day.

Workers "ashamed" to tell employers about mental health conditions

Nearly half of workers in Wales suffering from mental health have admitted to being too ashamed to tell their employers, it has been found.

A study by Nacro, found that 47 per cent of workers were ashamed to make their employers aware of their conditions, while 44 per cent of workers stated that they were too embarrassed to disclose matters concerning bankruptcy.

The survey also found that 61 per cent felt humiliated if they were to tell their managers that they had a criminal record, including minor offences such as driving violations and shoplifting cautions.

Director of policy with the organisation Jackie Lowthian said: "If we don't provide the right help to these people and the right advice to employers, we are throwing good people with valuable skills on the scrapheap."

Vegetables fight diabetes and obesity

Green, leafy vegetables can reduce the chances of getting type 2 diabetes, it has been discovered.

According to new research by UK Scientists, an extra serving of spinach, broccoli or cabbage each day can reduce a persons likelihood of suffering from type 2 diabetes by 14 per cent.

The study, published in the British Medical Journal, involving 200,000 participants found that those who ate more greens had an overall higher level of fitness and health.

It found that antioxidants and magnesium, which are found in vegetables, have been linked to lower the levels of the condition.

"Results from our meta-analysis support recommendations to promote the consumption of green leafy vegetables in the diet for reducing the risk of type 2 diabetes. The results support the growing body of evidence that lifestyle modification is an important factor in the prevention of type 2 diabetes," stated the study.

Scientists also suggest that vegetables such as asparagus and Jerusalem artichokes, along with garlic and chicory can also fight both diabetes and obesity. Researchers stated that these fermentable carbohydrates may help release gut hormones which reduce appetite and betters glucose control.

Within the past two decades, there has been a significant increase in the number of people diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, with 2.35 million sufferers in Britain.

An estimation of half a million people are said to be unaware that they have the condition.

Motivation is the key

Loosing weight isn’t as easy as it seems. The excessive work-outs, healthy eating, saying no to chocolate cakes and scrumptious cookies make it oh so difficult to do. But it doesn’t always have to be this way. To become successful in your weight loss plan, like anything else in life, all you need is one thing; Motivation.

Motivation is the key to near enough everything. If you want something that much, grab it with both hands, if it’s out of reach, you just need the strength and motivation to push yourself towards it.

SELF CONTROL

My driving instructor once said to me “You drive the car, the car doesn’t drive you.”

The same advice works with your body. You tell your body how to behave, don’t let your body rule you.

If a car needs energy, you need to fill it with the correct petrol. Feeding a vehicle which takes petrol, with diesel, will affect the vehicle and how it runs. The same works with the body. By eating things your body doesn’t agree with, you are more likely to slow down and face more health problems in the future. And in order to drive your body, you need self control.

One of the first lessons to any diet should be self control. If you can take control over your actions, you are more likely to succeed. Theres no point in having a diet plan if you have no self-control.

Without motivation and self control, your diet plan will end up with the many other plans, on the wall of shame.

HOW DO I KEEP MOTIVATED?

New Years is the time when most people decide to go on a diet. People usually don’t struggle with their new diet plans of exercising on a daily basis or going to the gym three times a week. We feel fine eating salads, fruits and fat free products. But after a few months, we tend to get bored of eating boiled vegetables and the cravings for greasy chips and creamy cakes begin. So how exactly can you stick to your diet?

SETTING REALISTIC TARGETS

Setting yourself realistic targets can only bring you a step closer to loosing weight. You need to start off slow, and work your way up rather than jumping on the cross-trainer one day and expecting to be on it at a certain speed for a minimum of 30 minutes. Depending on your health and abilities, you must set realistic goals. Starting off with 5-10 minutes a day for a week, and increasing your time day by day.

In terms of food, cutting yourself off from all the foods you love and that your body is used to having on a daily basis is a big step which can result in you eating more than you actually need to. You must reduce your daily intake of certain foods gradually rather than building a barrier separating yourself from your favourite foods altogether. The chances are that this barrier will be very weak and will be broken down in no time.

WEIGHT-LOSS DOESN’T OCCUR OVERNIGHT

You’ve been exercising and keeping up with your healthy diet for a few days now. You step onto the scales just to find you haven’t budged. Don’t give up. You need to understand that weight-loss, and even weight-gain, does not take place overnight. You must be patience. During your workout and healthy eating, you will feel the difference, but you will only see the difference over time.

IT’S OKAY TO GIVE IN TO TEMPTATION

Sometimes you just can’t resist the urge to eat that chocolate cake. And it’s really okay. As soon as you try stopping yourself from eating something you really want, you’re more likely to finally give in and take a larger piece than you usually would have, because by then, you would be sending hunger sensations to your brain. Many people say water is good for dieting. Try drinking a glass of water before eating foods you know you shouldn’t really be eating, that way you won’t be eating too much of it, but you’ll still be satisfied.

Click here to find out other advantages of water.

Effects of being over-weight

Like being underweight, being overweight can be life threatening and can leave you suffering from problems ranging from diabetes to heart problems. Here are just some of the illnesses and diseases caused as a result of being overweight.

HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE - Suffering from high blood pressure is very dangerous for the heart as it causes your heart to work harder. High blood pressure is caused when the body retains sodium as a result of excess body fat. This volume of blood rises therefore, increasing the blood pressure, opening the doors to a number of other heart problems.

DIABETES -The common cause which leads to Type 2 Diabetes is obesity. This is because the excess fat in the body becomes resistant to insulin, which means the cells in your body are not able to get the energy they need.

STROKE - Because being overweight increases the chances of heart diseases, diabetes and high blood pressure, the chances of a person developing a stroke is extremely high.

OSTEOARTHRITIS - Osteoarthritis can leave a person suffering from pain and discomfort in the bones. This can be caused as a result of excess weight adding pressure to the joints which in turn wears away the cartilage that protects these joints.

CANCER - Both men and women are likely to develop cancer of different kinds as a result of being overweight.

Read "Weight-loss made easier"

The affects of being underweight

An increasing number of Brits are becoming more and more aware of the dangers of being over-weight can have towards a persons health. With the media focusing on weight loss now more than ever, more people are seeking new ways to lose weight quickly without realising that being underweight too, can cause harm.

Being underweight can lead to just as many health problems as being overweight. There are many health risks caused as a result of being underweight that must be taken into account before deciding upon how much weight you would like to lose.

FERTILITY - For most women, being underweight can result in life changing problems one of which may reduce the chances of a woman becoming pregnant.

Being underweight effects fertility as it is associated with dysfunctional ovulation. The chances of pregnancy can be improved following a weight gain diet.

TYPE 1DIABETES - Those who experience sudden weight loss are more likely to suffer from Type 1 Diabetes as the body is not able to produce enough insulin to process sugars. This disease is for a life-time and can be life changing.

OSTEOPOROSIS - This is a disease where the bones in your body become weak and fragile and are more likely to break. Those who are underweight often suffer from osteoporosis.

The disease is caused by the body not ingesting enough calcium, vitamin D or exercise.

ANEMIA - This is if you have a lower number of red blood cells than normal usually caused by nutritional deficits in those who do not eat a balanced diet.

Those suffering from anemia usually suffer from pain in the chest, a shortness of breath and fatigue.

Water: Beauty's Obligation

We all know water is good for the body, but how much do you actually drink?

Here are some of the many reasons why water should be the number one option for you:

Skin: Water is a must if you want healthy looking skin. It can help keep the skin moistened, keeping it free from dry skin. Ensuring you drink enough water a day keeps your skin looking brighter and more radient.

Weight-loss: Water is highly recommended for those who are dieting as you eat a lot less - most people believe they are hungry when they are actually thirsty. People should drink 4-6 ounces of water before eating a meal- this helps with digestion.

Hair: In the same way as it keeps the skin moist, water also ensures that hair is kept moist and healthy.

Health: Many organs in the body are made up of water. Drinking water aids in kidney function, digestion and helps hydration.

A lack of water may lead to the following:

• Dry and dull skin
• Dry eyes
• Fatigue and dizziness
• Lack of sweating
• Dry mucus membranes

It is highly important to ensure you keep hydrated. The feeling of thirst is a way of your body trying to tell you that you are dehydrated and are past the point of dehydration.