We were lucky in Perth to feel the very first blissful kiss
of summer the other weekend. It prompted me to whip out the Palmer’s cocoa
butter, spray Dolce & Gabbana’s Light Blue everywhere, shop for some summer
clothes and hit the beach. That bitey sunshine that we only get in Aus, thanks
to our perfectly positioned hole in the o-zone layer, felt so good while lying
on one of our wonderful west coast beaches. Even though it seems to have been
just a teaser for what was to come, it was a huge wake up call – summer’s only just
around the corner! A winter that is a little long can cause the following:
-
Extra dry skin cells building up and making us
look a little washed out
-
Our bodies haven’t had adequate amounts of sun
and so we’re a little Vitamin D deficient
-
Leading on from this Vitamin D deficiency are
increased forms of the blues & a lowered immune system. At least 30 mins of
sun per day has a multitude of health benefits including fighting depression
and stress
-
Our bodies were kind in holding onto fat during
the colder months to keep us warm, but it’s not necessarily something we want
to be flaunting when we start hitting the beach!
It’s just nature for these winter symptoms to pass as the
new season hits, but there are definitely things we can do now to ensure that
by the time summer comes we are more than ready and absolutely GLOWING. Yay! I’ve
outlined these things below:
Revealing the baby
smooth skin you were born with
About now is a great time to start getting into the habit of
dry body brushing. Dry body brushing is not only used for removing dead skin
cells but also used for detoxification. Your skin is the largest organ of your
body and by keeping the dead skin moving you are encouraging “out with the old
and in with the new” cell production. You also stimulate your blood and lymphatic
system so it encourages nutrients and oxygen to the skin, which is completely
beneficial to you overall!
I have attached a really good article on how to dry body
brush at home (there is an art to doing it properly)
If you’re worried about “orange peel” (cellulite), dry body
brushing can help with this. Other remedies are ensuring your drinking loads of
water. If you’re into detoxing, there is a juice fast David Wolfe recommends
for getting rid of cellulite. For 3 days your juice is:
Grapefruit
Orange
Lemon
Feijoa
Apparently the results are amazing, though I am yet to try.
Good bye winter
layers
If you gained a couple of kilos over winter - it’s normal!
Now is a great time to start your bikini bod program. There are heaps of online
resources to achieve a beach body your proud of – you really just need to pick
a plan and then stick to it. Where in winter we may have just wanted to snuggle
up on the couch – start getting out there and work out at least 3-4 times per
week. Tell the winter hunger cravings “thank you but no need anymore now”. Start
having lighter meals. You may not have even noticed that your habits changed
over winter – now is the time to evaluate and start your bod planning. Keep your eye on the prize! You will
glow from the inside out if you only fill yourself with clean foods. If you
want any tips feel free to email me.
Hydration
If you really want fresh skin, start drinking at least 2
litres of water every day, plus another litre for every hour of exercise you do.
Drinking this much water is helping you to get rid of so many toxins on a daily
basis – I cannot recommend lots of water enough! Think of it as flushing
yourself out – including fat cells and waste! Water keeps the skin supple and
keeps all of your body functioning at its absolute optimum.
Can I also just chuck in here that Gatorade is not a good
post workout choice of hydration. Sugars, food colouring etc. You’re better off
having a Gastrolyte. The very very best choice post workout is 100% pure COCONUT
WATER. It has electrolytes and potassium, which is generally lost when you do a
heavy workout. Go water. Go Coconut water.
Get plenty of berry
goodness now
So if we’re lacking in vitamin D and all the happiness that
sunshine brings, we can easily get stressed. Stress contributes to vitamin C
deficiency – vitamin C is one of those precious vitamins that help with glowing
skin. Now is a good time to get all the vitamin C and glow back into your
system via a good dose of BERRIES. Most berries are high in vitamin C and
contain a ridiculous amount of antioxidents which fight free radicals and
combat the effects of aging. Leading up to summer I’m going to be having a few
of these:
Berry Easy Vanilla Shake
Blend together:
1/2 cup organic mixed berries (can buy from Manna Wholefoods
in freo)
1 Tbs Goji berries
1 Scoop of Tony Sfeirs Designer Physique WPI in Vanilla
(100% natural! No sugar, hardly any fat, hardly any carbs http://tonysfeir.com.au/products/naturel-healthy-proteins/whey-protein-isolate/whey-protein-isolate-vanilla-ice-cream/
)
Optional: Chia seeds, Maca Powder, Acai berry powder
Tastes like ice cream, is natural & only has about 650
kj!
Other ways to glow
(in a greenie kinda way):
Be SunSmart: Therese Kerr pointed out to us last year that a
majority of sunscreens contain a ridiculous amount of harsh chemicals that get
absorbed into the body. Her recommendation was to use Avocado oil as it is a
natural sunscreen that protects us from the sun. I’m not sure how the Cancer
Council feels about that but the point is – stay sun smart to avoid skin cancer
(big problem about having a hole in the o-zone layer).
Choose natural body care products: There are a few websites
dedicated to natural beauty products and their reviews. The one I check out the
most is Wellness WA: http://www.wellnesswa.com.au/
From greenie facials, tanners, body wraps, exfoliations,
skin care products – you name it and want to see a review on it – it’s there!
Eat healthy fats: Don’t be scared of fats, the right type of
fats will make your skin glow and encourage fat metabolism so it will actually help
you lose weight if that’s your goal. Good fats include: coconut oil, omega 3
fish oils, avocados, nuts (almonds, brazil nuts, cashews, macadamias). But
remember, all in moderation.
Green juice: You might want to consider a day of juice fasting
on fresh pressed juices made mostly from fresh greens. It reboots the digestive
system by giving it a well deserved break. You’d be surprised by how much the
proper functioning of our digestive system has on our body overall. It’s very
important to look after it. Digestion is all about effectively sorting waste
and nutrients. If this isn’t happening smoothly and happily, the rest of the
body suffers. Green juice delivers plenty of nutrients and is guaranteed to
make you glow.
Think about the environment: In Oz we are so very lucky to be
living in a country with boundless beauty. If you’ve lived here your whole life
you might take it for granted. The sunshine helps us to appreciate what we’ve
got and it’s in these moments we should really reflect on what we love about
where we live. It is good for the soul, and it will open your mind to how you
might like to give back.
Meditate: There is one practice out of ALL of the above that
will make you glow brighter than anything- and that is carrying with you at all
times your inner peace. I have just completed my studies as a meditation teacher.
I will be starting up a Facebook page soon after graduation so that I can relay
heaps of info and post guided meditations for you to try. The benefits of
regular meditation are far reaching, I am really looking forward to sharing it
all with you. Watch this space.
I hope this article has given you some ideas for prepping
for summer. I cannot wait til the beach weather hits for a long & blissful
summer! xo
