The gentle art of weight loss

The gentle art of weight loss
Whenever people want to lose weight, they immediately think about doing some very intense exercise such as running, cycling or aerobics. However, just thinking about leaping around the room or pounding the pavement mile upon mile is enough to make you tired! And while these are very efficient ways of burning fat and something fitness ...

How to burn fat effectively with a gym bike

How to burn fat effectively with a gym bike
As explained in my previous article, “A simple, effective fat-burning exercise routine for beginners” (http://eserv.co.uk/irl2/simple-fat-burning-exercise-routine-for-beginners/), High Intensity Interval Training is the most effective and efficient way of burning fat. In the following video, I will demonstrate how you can use exercise machines (in this case an exercise bicycle) to perform HIIT and make the most ...

How to do plyometric pull ups

How to do plyometric pull ups
What are plyometric pull ups? Plyometric exercises are ones which involve a burst of movement such as jumping. So, plyometric pull ups are ones which are carried out quickly. People often demonstrate the plyometric nature by performing a clap because they are able to gain enough height from the momentum of performing the pull up! ...

Do I have to join a gym?

If you’ve decided that you want to lose weight and get fit and healthy, one thing that is bound to have crossed your mind is whether you need to join a gym or attend classes. Whilst you can benefit from the range of facilities that the typical gym has to offer – for instance, different ...

Aromatherapy: what is it?

Aromatherapy: what is it?
Aromatherapy is known as a type of holistic therapy that uses plant extracts and essential oils in massage for physiological and physical well-being. The Chinese are one of the first cultures to use aromatherapy and plants by burning incense for their healing properties which aids wellbeing. Many consider aromatherapy and its uses as not being ...

Binge Eating 101 – what it is and how to avoid it

Binge Eating 101 - what it is and how to avoid it
Binge eating,  or ‘comfort eating’ is commonly used to cope with stress and depression, making the binge eater feel satisfied in the short term but worse for wear in the long term. Binge eating is a vicious circle of over-eating, but it is resolvable. It may feel like there is no coming back from a ...

Why you should exercise

Why you should exercise
When you think about going on a diet, your primary reason is typically to lose weight. And so you count the calories meticulously and avoid eating unhealthy food. The problem with this thinking is that what you visualise as being your “ideal” weight does not usually result in you achieving the actual body shape you ...

Warm up and stretching for Tai Chi

My warm up and stretching routine for tai chi. I also use it before strength training, rock climbing and general fitness and exercise. Do this for 10 minutes every day and enjoy better flexibility, improved balance and better mobility. Part 1 focuses on warming up the joints – neck, shoulders, spine, hips, knees, ankles, elbows, ...

How to do a pull up

Introduction I’m a big fan of exercises that involve the whole body. It’s something to do with the body having to flow and move as a complete unit (a concept from Tai Chi). One exercise that really challenges the whole body (utilising the biceps, triceps, lats, abs and back) and is an impressive feat for ...

How to stop being lactose intolerant

How to stop being lactose intolerant
What is lactose intolerance? According to Wikipedia, “Lactose intolerance, also called lactase deficiency and hypolactasia, is the inability to digest lactose, a sugar found in milk and to a lesser extent milk-derived dairy products.” This can manifest itself in stomach cramps, bloating, wind, diarrhoea and other health problems whenever dairy products from milk to ice cream are ...