posted 21st May, 2010 under Nutrition and Health Cabinet.
Proposed as a weight loss technique rather than diet, carb cycling involves alternating between high, low and moderate carbohydrate days, restoring your fat-burning hormone levels of leptin. Leptin is a hormone that raises metabolism and prevents hunger – and it’s this chemical that drops too low when a purely low-carb diet is followed. Which explains the severe hunger cravings then, even when you’re stuffing your face with cheese, cream and bacon!
When leptin levels decrease, your metabolism slows, so by swapping high carb periods with low carb ones you prevent the drop in leptin levels, keeping hunger at bay and metabolism high. Sounds easy, right? Here’s a sample plan:
Begin with a low carb day, followed by a high one, then a moderate day of carbs. Protein and kilojoule intake should remain the same, only the amount of carbohydrate changes. Play around with the amount of time you cycle; for example, you may have three low carb days followed by a high one, and three moderate carb days over a week. Just make sure to plan the high carb days on a Saturday, and include brunch, lunch and dinner out, followed by dessert!
posted 17th May, 2010 under Hypoxi Success Stories,Inspirational Femmes.
Recently, we had the pleasure of getting to know Nyssa, an amazing a young woman who put her life on hold to help nurse her father through cancer. Like many women, Nyssa neglected herself through this difficult time – but with discipline and determination (and a little help from Hypoxi), she managed to gain back control. This is her story…
A few years ago my father was diagnosed with a very aggressive cancer and given about a year to live. I decided to move back home with my parents to support them through this hard time and as Dad’s health deteriorated we spent more and more time at home together – unfortunately we mainly sat around just watching TV and eating, putting in place bad habits I found hard to get rid of.
After Dad passed away I found myself in a pretty non-motivated place. I used to enjoy exercise but found myself doing it less and less. Mum was grieving in her own way, spending less time at home where all the memories were. So I found myself eating even more takeaways than previously – nobody wants to cook just for one person! My weight ballooned out to over 100 kilos and it was about this time that I stopped weighing myself, it was just too depressing. At the end of the year I got the opportunity to travel to Europe for a few months with my uncle and his family, and afterwards decided to move to Melbourne.
Continue reading Nyssa’s Confession: Shedding the Pain of my Past »
posted 10th May, 2010 under The Bottom Drawer,Trends & Travel Exposed.
A recent trend to take off in the U.S. is “vajazzling”, which pretty much means what it sounds like – covering your lady bits in sparkly crystals. Why? Well, why not, says Jennifer Love Hewitt who (perhaps in a bid to increase her sagging popularity) appeared on a late night chat show and talked about her penchant for a shimmering va-jay-jay. “After a break-up, a friend of mine Swarovski-crystalled my precious lady and it shined like a disco ball… I am currently vajazzled… It’s cute.” I’m all about bringing back the bobby-dazzler denim jacket but I’m still wondering about this one. Let’s wait and see if the craze comes “down under”….
Continue reading Bedazzle + Vagina = Vajazzle! »
posted 5th May, 2010 under Trends & Travel Exposed.
There are two types of holidays: those destined for adventure, and those meant for relaxation. I took the latter recently, travelling to the small North Queensland town of Port Douglas for my “babymoon.” I have been going to Port Douglas on holiday since I was a child, and despite growing from a sleepy little seaside village with a couple of hotels to a popular and often overrun tourist destination, the town still retains its unique charm.
We decide to stay at the Sheraton Mirage, the first resort to be built in Port Douglas, opening in 1988. It’s this hotel that is largely responsible for the boom in tourism to the town in the 90s – and staying there you can see why. Despite still looking exactly as it probably did in the 80s, complete with faded pink pylons, jazzy palm tree emblems and brass-buttoned staff uniforms, the Sheraton Mirage is a gorgeous hotel designed to make guests relax. Huge saltwater lagoons snake around the centre of the resort, with little sandy beaches, waterfalls and lush tropical scenery. There are two, three and four bedroom villas to stay in, located around the 18 hole golf course, but we opted for a lagoon-front hotel room (well there is still only two of us at the moment!). The rooms aren’t much, sparsely decorated and still fitting the early 90s vibe, but the bed is comfy, the minibar well stocked and our own private balcony literally perched on one of the many lagoons. With the temperature somewhere in the low 30s, we strip off and dive straight into the shimmering water.
If you’re after a more luxurious stay, my girlfriend swears by Coconut Grove http://www.coconutgroveportdouglas.com.au - where you can wade in your own plunge pool while admiring the coastline below. Alternatively, a Hypoxi client recommends Bale (recently acquired by Peppers Group) http://www.peppersbaleportdouglas.com.au if you are planning a trip for a party of 8 or more and want a 5 star experience but the convenience of kitchen facilities. With the pristine waters of the Barrier Reef at your doorstep – you can’t go wrong either way.
Continue reading Picture Perfect: Port Douglas »
