1. Pick a type of exercise you Enjoy!

Pick a sport/training programme you can fit into your lifestyle. Make sure you enjoy it and that way you will have something to look forward to.

Once you have found something that would benefit you – reach out and try a class, or bring a friend along!

2. Fit Training Around Your Lifestyle.

Firstly, exercising excessively is not a good idea – you need to recover and take a break.

If you have an hour to spare to exercise, make sure you get the most out of your programme or session.

A few tips would be if your cycling, perhaps try a HIIT session. If you’re in the gym, try adding supersets to get more done in less time.

Find a time to fit in your training – Morning, Afternoon or Evening. Allocate some time to exercise and do what you can, that’s what it’s all about!

At Nuyoo we also offer shortened workouts for the days where you don’t have as much free time.

3. Eat the Right Amount of Calories.

Food intake, the most important part of your nutrition!

Eating too many calories is unhealthy in itself – whether that be overeating cabbage or chocolate. It’s still extra stress on the body, and will lead to a lowering in energy and a build up of fat in the body.

You should be cautious of how many calories you’re consuming, especially if you are trying to lose weight! Aim to eat 200-500 less calories than you would normally do, the larger the calorie deficit the greater the weight loss. Instead of going without meals, try eating healthier food throughout the day. That being said, you should also consider that lowering your calories too much can have negative effects on the body such as very low energy, brain fog and many more problems.

If you are trying to gain weight, you should consider aiming for 200-500 calories over your normal intake. Remember that eating more calories than your body need is not healthy and therefore you should do this as little as possible, a small amount of extra calories should be the objective here! Growing muscle takes a long time so enjoy the process and take your time.

We recommend tracking your calories using MyFitnessPal – A great app, that will allow you to lose weight or gain the weight you need.

4. Your Human – Enjoy a Treat Every Once in a while!

When you are tracking your food intake – You are controlling the biggest factor that will determine your body weight. Typically most diets are focussed on the short term goals, but we are all about a lifestyle change!

Imagine being able to drop the weight you wanted – and keep it off effortlessly…

…With our programs we advice that users have treats once in a while to enjoy the process – then the fat loss or muscle gain you want becomes far easier to achieve, as you can follow it all year round.

5. Change your lifestyle, stop changing your diet!

Once you have controlled your calorie intake, you can do weekly weigh ins to see whether you are gaining or losing weight. You can then adjust your calorie intake accordingly.

When eating out don’t worry about eating the healthiest foods, just enjoy it! Then for the rest of the week have a bigger serving of nutrient dense foods like fruit and vegetables to benefit your health and well-being.

It’s all about keeping it balanced! If you restrict yourself from eating treats too much, you are more likely to binge!

Following a sustainable plan will flood your brain with happy hormones called endorphins.

The post Top 5 tips to Get in Good Shape this Year! appeared first on Nuyoo.

Researchers at The University of Ottawa’s School of Human Kinetics summarised that ‘if you drink a hot drink, it does result in a lower amount of heat stored inside your body, provided the additional sweat that’s produced when you drink the hot drink can evaporate’. And whilst, it seems completely illogical to drink something that makes you feel like you’re burning up, the science behind this old wives’ tale points to some truth.

What the researchers do allude to, is that for this theory to effectively work, the conditions need to be exact. You need high temperatures from dry heat, so muggy, humid weather won’t work as effectively. You also need to be wearing clothes that allow your sweat to evaporate, as if you wear something where sweat can’t escape to dry, your body temperature will not change. And lastly, you should always consider wearing very thin clothes, and items that are as light as possible – without bearing all of course.

So, you may be asking what science is behind this phenomenon? Peter McNaughton, a neuroscientist at The University of Cambridge concludes that your body sweats so much more when drinking something hot because of the receptors on the tongue and in the throat. Likewise, when you eat chilli peppers, and anything spicy/hot causes the same sweating sensation.

And in preparation for this continuing hot climate, here are some of the foods and drinks that keep you cool when it’s hot.

Poppy seeds

Who would have thought this opiate can help keep you cool – but they do. Poppy seeds are known to quench your thirst and therefore keep your insides feeling cool. So, it’s time to ditch the dressings, and opt for poppy seeds to top off your summer salad.

Berries

It is the season of British berries, and it is at this time of year when we become obsessed with berry-based smoothies, yoghurt bowels and desserts smothered in berries. But have you ever considered what the likes of raspberries, and blueberries do for your body? Berries are very alkaline, which means they generate cold energy in your system, in turn keeping your body feeling a little cooler. Not to mention, berries tend to contain a lot of water, ensuring your body remains hydrated at all times.

Water-heavy foods: Cucumbers, celery and watermelon

We all know cucumbers contain around 96% water, making them a perfect accompaniment for summer dishes. Other high-water foods include celery and radish, and studies have shown that eating cucumbers straight after exercising can hydrate your body as effectively, if not better than a sports drink. And if you fancy something refreshing whilst soaking up the sun, try watermelon as an afternoon snack. This fruit contains 92% water, so it’s time to soak up the water you need to keep cool, whilst enjoying the benefits!

Fish

An unexpected food group which can supposedly keep your body temperature low is fish and seafood. Unlike red meat that tends to give you that uncomfortable post-meal malaise, fish and seafood is high in protein, low in calories and high in water – 80% to be exact. So instead of loading up on steak, and overdosing on BBQ’s, try grilling a fillet of salmon or prawns for that juicy but more weather appropriate feeling.

Yoghurt

Yoghurt is popular in very hot countries, where temperatures can become somewhat unbearable and intense at the height of day. However, yoghurt can be the god-send you’re looking for because of its high-water content and cooling effect, as it helps promote friendly bacteria in your gut which fights against food poisoning. And why is this relevant? You tend to eat outside during the summer months a lot more, meaning your body is more prone to harmful bacteria.

Coconut water

Packed full of electrolytes, coconut water is the latest health trend hitting the market. Although it has an acquired taste, coconut water is rich in essential minerals like potassium and sodium; key components we lose whenever we sweat. So, when you hit the gym, or go for a morning jog, perhaps consider ditching the sports drink and drink coconut water to replenish your body and keep yourself hydrated.

Ice tea

If a hot drink just doesn’t sound like your cup of tea, then really you should be opting for an iced version instead. There are so many flavours available to suppress your thirst and to keep you feeling hydrated in no time, so flavours like lemon, mint, peach and raspberry are good options. Just add plenty of ice, and chill for a couple of hours and you’re ready to go. Just remember to avoid adding sugar, as you will soon dehydrate, not to mention, pile on the calories quicker than you can drink.

The post Food and drinks that keep you cool when it’s hot appeared first on Nuyoo.

So if you’re considering becoming a vegetarian, here are 5 simple ways to make the transition as easy as possible.

Variety is key!

New vegetarians tend to make the huge mistake of not consuming enough calories, so instead of feeling good, they become sick, tired, look paler and less energised. The key is to consume a variety of vegetables, fruits, nuts and seeds. When you are a veggie, you should consider the size of your portions as they should be a lot bigger than when you eat everything, as you need to compensate the calories by eating a lot more food.  You also need to make sure you are getting all your vitamins and nutrients such as calcium, Iron, vitamin D, Vitamin B iodine and omega-3 fats, so be sure to good your research.

Image credit: George Rudy/Shutterstock

Take it slow

While some people don’t like the taste of meat and becoming a vegetarian would be a piece of cake to them, for others it is not that easy. If you are a meat lover, you need to give yourself some time to adjust to the new diet, by slowly cutting out the amount of meat you are eating. As they say, Rome wasn’t built in a day! You will soon realise, by cutting out meat slowly, you will adjust to vegetarian life a lot more easily.

Eat your protein

As mentioned before, variety is key. You also need to make sure you are getting your recommended protein intake daily, and that means you need to consume 0.8 grams of protein per kilogram of your body weight. Before becoming a vegetarian, you used to get your protein from meat products, but there are plenty of vegetables and other vegetarian products that are packed with it, such as beans, eggs, nuts, lentils and tofu.

Image credit: homelesscuisine/Shutterstock

Explore different cuisines

The vegetarian diet, like any other diets, can become quite dull if you keep cooking the same dishes all the time. You can make it more exciting by trying out different cuisines from around the world. Spice things up with some Indian dishes or indulge in some Eastern European cuisines. The world is your oyster (just don’t eat it unless you’re a pescatarian)!

Get checked up

After becoming a vegetarian, it is important to consume the right variety of foods to make sure you are not depriving your body from all the nutrients it needs. It is important to make sure you are doing so in a healthy way, but if in doubt, pay your doctor a visit and make sure everything looks okay. By doing this you will know if you need to make any changes in your diet or not and if your body is able to cope with what you are eating day in and day out.

The post 5 simple ways to becoming a vegetarian appeared first on Nuyoo.

Inspired, Nuyoo.co delved into the danger of healthy food alternatives and what to look out for.

Skim Milk

Nutritionists suggest skim milk is helpful to people who consume a lot of milk, because it contains zero grams of fat and will reduce calorie consumption. But research shows there are more health benefits associated with drinking whole milk than skim milk.

A study published in the journal, Circulation found that people who ate or drank full-fat dairy products had a 46% lower risk of developing diabetes than those who consumed low-fat or skimmed milk. It is believed the saturated fats, vitamin D, and omega-3 fats found in dairy may defend consumers against insulin resistance and help to control body weight.

It is also known fat helps people to feel full for longer. When people cut out fat, they tend to replace it with sugar and carbohydrates to satisfy their hunger.

Image credit: 123object/Shutterstock

Gluten-Free

Gluten is responsible for the shape and texture of baked goods. When this protein is removed, it is substituted with sugar and chemicals to make up for the loss.

A growing number of people believe gluten-free products are healthier alternatives. But often, these products lack necessary nutrients. Amazingly, 72% of people who follow gluten-free diets have no health reasons to, such as celiac disease or sensitivity to protein.

In a study published by the Journal of Human Nutrition, it was found, apart from crackers, gluten-free foods contain more fat, salt and sugar than their gluten-containing equivalents and have lower fibre and protein content. Further, it has been noted people on gluten-free diets have an inadequate amount of nutrients, including folate, vitamin A, magnesium, calcium and iron.

Image credit: baibaz/Shutterstock

Fresh Produce

It’s true, by the time fresh produce is purchased at a supermarket, stored and finally eaten, it’s likely to hold far fewer nutrients than frozen fruits or vegetables. Freezing fruit and veg will preserve vitamins and minerals and prevent nutritional depletion.

Per a 2017 study, published in the Journal of Food Composition and Analysis, it was found ‘frozen produce outperformed “fresh-stored” more frequently than “fresh-stored” outperformed frozen when assessing nutrient and vitamin contents.’ In other words, frozen food may have just as much or greater nutritional value than its fresh counterparts.

Image credit: MediaGroup_BestForYou/Shutterstock

Agave Sweetener

To source agave, it is extracted from the cactus plant. Recently, it has been heralded as the Saint of sweeteners.

Many people believe agave sweetener and coconut sugar are healthier alternatives to refined sugar. It is true it is less likely to cause blood sugar spikes, due to it having a lower glycaemic index – a value that determines how slowly or how quickly those foods cause increases in blood glucose levels.

Despite this, agave sweetener and sugar contain virtually the same number of calories per teaspoon.

Image credit: Pat_Hastings/Shutterstock

Feature image credit: MediaGroup_BestForYou/Shutterstock

The post The Danger of Healthy Food Alternatives appeared first on Nuyoo.

As a result, researchers at Nuyoo conducted a survey asking 852 women aged 18 and over, about their attitude to wearing makeup as a teenager and what prompted them to do so.

Nuyoo can reveal the teenage makeup habits are:

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The respondents were asked at what age they started to wear makeup and 66% of the women surveyed said they started applying beauty products between the ages of 13 to 15. Shockingly, 11% admitted to using a range of cosmetic products at the tender age of 10 to 12. 23% of the respondents said they only started using beauty cosmetics between the ages of 16 to 18.

Moreover, the women were asked why they chose to wear makeup and the responses were as following:

I was feeling self-conscious about my looks (54%), My friends were wearing makeup (49%), I saw my mum doing it (20%), I was bullied for my looks (9%), I saw other people on social media doing so (9%), and 17% of the women chose to respond with ‘other’.

Nuyoo then asked the respondents if as teenagers they felt comfortable leaving the house without applying any makeup. 49% said ‘yes, I don’t mind’, 23% said ‘occasionally’, 17% said ‘never’ and 11% said ‘rarely’.

Furthermore, Nuyoo wanted to find out what the women surveyed felt when they went out without wearing makeup. The results were as following:

Self-conscious (34%), I feel like something is missing (31%), Unattractive (31%), I don’t mind (20%), Unnoticeable/Invisible (14%), I feel more like myself (11%).

It was also evident that 32% of the women who wore makeup to school, were told off and asked to remove it. Whilst, 62% of the women surveyed claimed they were never told off by teachers for wearing makeup as a teenager to school.

Surprisingly, 65% of the women taking the survey admit to wearing makeup daily throughout their teenage years, and 57% believe people who wear makeup look more beautiful.

Image Credit: Subbotina Anna/Shutterstock 

Nuyoo’s lifestyle expert Sacha Harding has commented on the survey:

‘Wearing makeup can be fun and should be considered a form of art. However, young girls should not feel pressured into using cosmetics. Parents have the responsibility to teach young girls the power of natural beauty, and exploring options should they feel self-conscious.” 

He added: “Unfortunately, many teenage girls are constantly concerned about how they look and that can take a toll on their self-esteem and perspective on life. As a nation, we need to teach them that there is more to life than that, and aspiring to look like a celebrity, or to jump on the band wagon of the newest beauty product or procedure, is just unnecessary.’ 

The post Teenage Makeup Habits Revealed appeared first on Nuyoo.

“Every transplant is the result of a collaboration between donors and their families, a host of clinicians working in different parts of the NHS and finally the transplant recipient and their family. Ensuring that this collaboration works smoothly every time is a significant challenge.”

Nuyoo found in 2016-17, that the UK had proved its ability to improve the chain of collaboration in organ donation by increasing the number of deceased organ donors to 1,413, a 4% increase on the previous year. In addition, there were 1,043 living donors. Altogether culminating in 4,753 live-saving and life-transforming transplants. It was also revealed the NHS succeeded in reaching a milestone figure, with 50,000 people alive today thanks to a transplant.

HOWEVER, despite this encouraging progress, opportunities for donation continue to be missed and it is “family refusal” that has been coined the “biggest obstacle.”

In fact, more than 500 families in the UK have said no to organ donation since 2010, despite knowing or being informed their relative was on the NHS Organ Donor Register and wanted to donate. These refusals made by families have resulted in an estimated 1,200 people missing out on a potentially life-saving transplant.

Further figures indicate there were 6,388 patients waiting for a transplant at the end of March 2017, with 3,357 suspended from transplant lists. 457 patients died while waiting for their transplant on the active list, while 875 were removed from the list altogether. The removals were mostly due to deteriorating health and ineligibility for transplant. Unfortunately, many of these patients died shortly afterwards.

Image credit: SewCream/Shutterstock

In learning there has been a 4% increase in deceased donors (to 1,413) but a 3% fall in living donors (to 1,043), Nuyoo decided to focus on data that highlights the number of “deceased” organ donations* (2016-17) to determine the “most giving” region, in terms of donation, whilst highlighting the issue and raising awareness.

*NHS figures include the number of donations after brainstem death (DBD) and the number of donations after circulatory death (DCD) across the UK by region, in the year 2016-17.

Nuyoo found that the North West gave the highest number of organs, at 162, followed by the East of England (150) and London (146.) With fewer organ donation totals found in the East Midlands (74), North East (75) and South-Central England (89.)

The North West was also found to donate the most kidneys and cardiothoracic organs. While pancreas donation numbers are highest in the West Midlands, the East of England is highest for liver donations.

If we take the figure of organ donation per million population* regionally, the outcome changes ever-slightly to afford the North East the higher outcome, with a rate of 28.6% per million of the region’s population who donate. The North East was followed by the South-East Coast (27.2%) and East of England (24.7%).

*Organ donor rates per million population (PMP) for 2016-17 are given by country and former Strategic Health Authority according to where the donor lived.

About Donation – advice from organdonation.nhs.uk

Organ donation is where a person elects to give their organs and tissues for transplant to someone else. By signing up to become a donor, you can help the NHS to save thousands of lives in the UK every year.

Anyone can register to donate their organs and tissue when they die, regardless of their age or medical condition and when you register for the first time, you will receive an organ donor card. If you are already an organ donor, but you have lost your card or need a new one call 0300 123 23 23.

Most organs are donated by those who are deceased and used to help someone who needs a transplant. Some organs, like the kidney and liver, can be donated by living donors. Incredible advances in medical science mean that more and more people each year can benefit from donated tissue, including corneas and bone.

If you are interested in being a donor, make sure to tell your friends and family your wishes – it is very important that they understand and support your decision because your family’s support is needed for donation to go ahead. Dealing with the death of a loved one is a difficult time to make an important decision quickly.

5 Reasons to Donate:

• Organ donation saves lives but there is a shortage of donors. You can make an extraordinary difference.
• One organ donor can save or transform up to nine lives.
• Patients are dying while organs are going to waste.
• Even if your organs can’t be used, you could still help others by donating sight.
• Leave your family feeling proud that you saved lives.

Feature image credit: 9dream studio/Shutterstock

The post Organ Donation 2018: The UK’s “Most-Giving” Region appeared first on Nuyoo.

Expected to be this year’s perfect present pick, it was found unisex fragrances had the highest rise in sales, an increase of 18.8%, with fine female fragrances up by just 2.7% and fine male fragrances up by as little as 1%.  In contrast to years gone by, we will be creating a natural look for events, socials and parties, sans a bold lip colour pop, in favour of striking eyes and nail art as a statement – as lips colours crash by -2.5% but nail sales rise by 8%.

As a replacement for luxury lipsticks, make-up gurus will be opting for natural lip salves and balms, for a subtle shine and minimal effort, as sales rise by 9.9% – the biggest rise in skincare. Further, it has been found prestige products (all things indulgent) have fallen by -5.2% and non-essential body creams and lotions have also dipped by -3.7%.

Interestingly, haircare products have seen the biggest drop, suggesting consumers will be proudly sporting wild, natural tresses – free from dye, wax, taming creams and setting spray! Hallelujah!

A full breakdown of the sale numbers analysed by Nuyoo, inspired by a report written by The Cosmetic, Toiletry and Perfumery Association (CTPA), can be found here:

Photo credit: Africa Studio/Shutterstock 

Fragrance:

• Fine female fragrance, up by 2.7%
• Fine male fragrance, up by 1%
• Fine unisex fragrance, up by 18.8%

Colour Cosmetics:

• Face, up by 4.2%
• Eyes, up by 5.4%
• Nails, up by 8%
• Lips, down by -2.5%

Skincare:

• Prestige skincare (including gift packs), down by -5.2%
• Body creams and lotions, down by -3.7%
• Male face care, up by 2.7%
• Lip salves and balm, up by 9.9%

Haircare:

• Hair colourants, down by -0.7%
• Hair creams, waxes and gels, down by -2.2%
• Luxury hair lotions and mousses, down by -3.8%
• Hair texturizing and setting sprays, down by -5.2%

Photo credit: verona studio/Shutterstock 

Beauty Trends 2018

Bearing this in mind, Nuyoo also took time to consider key beauty trends in 2018, by utilising Mintel’s release: Beauty and Personal Care.

1. Au Naturel

The concept of natural beauty is expanding in 2018 and brands will give Mother Nature a helping hand by encompassing local approaches and developments in biotechnology. Indeed, 50% of UK consumers who invest in beauty will look for products made with natural ingredients.

2. The Individual

Brands will stop targeting consumers based on age, gender or body type, as consumers search for personalised beauty defined in their own terms. The Chinese sum this up perfectly, as 31% of Chinese consumers aged 20-49 say that the word ‘individuality’ defines luxury.

3. Campaign Capital

Simply selling a great beauty product will no longer be enough. In 2018, brands will need to have a personality and purpose that aligns with consumers’ own beliefs to win them over. In support of this, 56% of US consumers have stopped buying products from a brand if they believe they are unethical and 37% of UK consumers consider whether a product has been animal-tested before they buy.

4. Private Eye

Digital technology will influence how we buy in 2018 and will navigate our journey through the complexities of the beauty aisle – both in-store and online. With 67% of US iGeneration beauty buyers aged 18-22 preferring to search for product information in store on their mobile device than ask a sales associate.

Feature image credit: 279photo Studio/Shutterstock

The post Cosmetic and Beauty Trends 2018 REVEALED appeared first on Nuyoo.

And this year, LoveFit is set to be bigger and better, with 2000 visitors to be welcomed through the doors (or I should say fields), for this 2 day extravaganza. Included in the weekend will be new adventure programmes, consisting of paddle boarding, aerial acrobatics, woodland obstacle trail, slip and slide and slacklining. Also included in the ticket price are some temperature warmer activities for those who love getting hot and sweaty – hot yoga, wild swimming in the lake, spinning classes in the trees, battle ropes and circuit training. The weekend is designed to expose you to new and exhilarating fitness trends that are taking over the sporting world. With all the strenuous and mentally pumped exercises on offer, in between the sweat, you can camp under the stars, and take long walks through the green estate.

In addition to the plethora of classes, exercise regimes and activities to indulge in, there is a fantastic line-up of wellbeing and fitness stars, featuring Chelsea and Everton FC physio Lily Sabri, GQ Star trainer of the year Esmee Gummer, Charlotte Holmes and Pro Fitness Model world champion Shaun Stafford. And returning from last year’s line-up of stars will be Carly Rowena, Kim Hartwell and Callum Melly. LoveFit will also be hosting the likes of 1Rebel, Reach Fitness, Take the HIIT and Gracefulbow Yoga for HIIT classes, yoga sessions and workouts. So if you’re known for document gruelling workout sessions on social media or to your friends, LoveFit sounds like the festival for you.

It goes without saying that there were will music everyday. After all, what festival doesn’t have music! There will be a welcome party which will explore the very best of the 80’s, so dig out your spandex and fluorescent coloured socks and bandanas. On Saturday there will be a mix of electric feel good anthems and house music, with Sunday a chance to fully recover from the busyness of the weekend.

And to wash it all down, there is an incredible variety of foods to tickle your taste buds. Fresh vegetable and fruit juice cocktails, served with or without alcohol will be on offer from Vits & Kicks. Not to mention, meat eaters, vegans and vegetarians will all be catered for with Fit Burgers and Fit Veggie Burgers from Body Burger and The Devil’s Pantry. Also at the festival will be FroByJoy, the brains behind frozen coconut yoghurt that is free from gluten, dairy-free, soya-free and entirely guilt free.

If attending LoveFit sounds like the only way to spend your weekend in July, visit lovefitfestival.com to purchase tickets, which start from £89.

All images credited to LoveFit Festival. 

The post Take Your Fitness to a New Level With LoveFit Festival appeared first on Nuyoo.

Some choose beer or G&T decorated with fruits, whilst others strictly choose champagne or wine served in a chilled glass. There are classic mulled wine enthusiasts, adventurous egg nog and cocktail mixers, or the families that have all the above or none at all.

Teeth whitening brand, White Glo recently brought us the news that some drinks are bad news for our teeth (here’s looking at you dark rum and sugar-laden coke.) While others are better, such as low acidity G&T or Spanish sparkling wine, Cava, which has a PH level between three and four and is therefore low in acidity too. Oh, and if you’re looking for a kiss under the mistletoe – it’s advised you miss-out the vodka. Vodka will dry out the mouth and make your breath smell. Nice.

With all this information revealed, online personal trainers Nuyoo.co wanted to investigate British boozy Christmas habits by conducting a survey concerning 2,012 respondents of various ages.

Leading results:

• Champagne (32%) voted the UK’s favourite Christmas tipple, with liquors coming second (18%) and whiskey and wine coming in joint third (14%.)
• 41% of Brits will start drinking ‘mid-morning’, 23% at lunch and 14% before 9am!
• Mum and Dad named “family member most likely to get drunk” at Christmas, amassing 46% of the vote, followed next by Uncle (14%), Auntie (5%) and Nan (5%.)
• 32% claim liquors make them feel the guiltiest, followed by whiskey (18%) and cocktails and punch (14%.)
• 77% say they aren’t influenced by fitness fads at Christmas time, but 23% are.
• 82% of Brits use the excuse: “I’ll just have one more, it is Christmas after all.”

To help those affected by tipple-guilt this festive season, Nuyoo has devised the list ‘12 sips of Christmas’ a complimentary list of 12 holiday cocktails that are just that little bit healthier, lighter and easier on the waistline!

Image credit: TalyaAL/Shutterstock

Healthy Spiced Egg Nog

Yes, you can indulge in a Christmas classic entirely guilt-free! Combine high-quality vodka, with ground cinnamon and three ounces of low-fat egg nog, for all the flavour and creaminess in under 200 calories!

Image credit: GreenArt/Shutterstock

Apple Cider Sangria

White wine, apple cider and vodka shimmer over seasonal fruits in this cocktail littered with cinnamon sticks, segments of orange, apple slices, pomegranate and a dash of honey. All the fresh fruit and none of the artificial syrup!

The Ginger Snap

This vodka-based fruit and ginger fusion is made from natural ingredients, such as ginger, sage and fresh lemon juice, all of which will cleanse your palette and leave you feeling light and refreshed.

Pomegranate Mojito

A combination of deep red hues perfect for the festive season, this champagne and fresh pomegranate cocktail is a real treat! For a healthy twist, replace sugar with Stevia and stir well.

Photo credit: iuliia_n/Shutterstock 

Winter Sea Breeze

The sea breeze gets a cold weather makeover, in a mix of vodka, soda water, grapefruit juice and a splash of tonic syrup. Scatter with pomegranate seeds and mint leaves to take it up a notch.

Rosemary Gin Fizz

A delicate blend of fresh and light ingredients, this cocktail is simple yet tasty! Mix together gin, soda, honey and a splash of lemon juice, before decorating with sprigs of festive rosemary.

Gingered Cider Hot Toddy

Warm cider infused with tea (go decaf if it’s close to bedtime) and a shot of rum or bourbon.  Ginger and honey can help you to recover from a cold, and alcohol can aid a restless sleep, so try it out if you’re suffering from winter’s chill.

Image credit: Dream79/Shutterstock

Red Wine Hot Chocolate

The humble hot chocolate is made-over for the festive season, in this decadent treat with a healthy twist. Make with skim milk, one cup of red wine and a few dark chocolate chunks. Yes, chocolate should be consumed in moderation but the higher the cocoa content the better for your health!

Pear and Sage Sparklers

Fancy a cocktail that tastes like your Christmas wreath smells? This diced pear and fresh sage treat can be enjoyed as a mock-tail, but for a boozy lift simply add a splash of bourbon. It’s as easy as that!

St. Germain and Champagne

Perhaps the easiest cocktail to make, combine half St. Germain with half brut Champagne, dry sparkling wine, or brut Rose and serve in a chilled fluted glass for added style. To garnish, add antioxidant-filled pomegranate seeds and a juicy strawberry or two.

Cranberry Chilcano

Want to feel like you’re getting away from the chaos of Christmas? Why not try this exotic tipple, which combines Pisco, a famous liquor in Peru, with cranberries! The fresh cranberries not only give an added health boost but together with segments of rich green lime, this will look like the ultimate yuletide treat!

Mulled Wine

Keep your calorie count down by making your cocktail recipe simple – a short ingredient list is the trick. For a seasonally spiced beverage sure to keep you cosy, mix together red wine, a little brandy and honey, sliced orange, cloves and a cinnamon stick or two! Perfect for the family to enjoy over Christmas lunch.

Image credit: Dream79/Chamille White

On a serious note, for all those who feel they will struggle to stay healthy over Christmas, Nuyoo.co spoke exclusively to Nutritionist, Jenna Hope who gave advice on how to stay balanced over the festive season in concern to drink, food and exercise.

1. Know when to stop. Enjoy your mince pie or your glass of mulled wine, but don’t binge as this can leave you with large insulin spikes and contribute to festive weight gain.
2. Factor in your workouts. There’s nothing to say you can’t maintain your workouts, just because it’s Christmas. Whether it’s a quick home hiit session before a party, a yoga class after work or even a morning walk around the block, make sure you stay active over the festive period.
3. Pick your times. Of course, if you’re going to a Christmas party or you have a special festive dinner, enjoy yourself – but set your limits first. The problem arises when you tuck into festive coffees and mince pies to fix your 4pm slump on a work day.
4. Choose wisely. Over Christmas we all enjoy a drink or two; (to stay healthy) opt for cocktails without sugar syrups and go for clear spirits with soda and lime instead. You’re still joining in, but you’re less likely to crave sugar the next day. Plus, the latter are much lower in calories.
5. Eat regularly. It’s tempting to skip meals when you know you’ve got a big do later, but skipping meals can cause havoc to your blood glucose, which consequently leaves you over-eating and opting for the wrong foods later.
6. Pile up the veggies. I recommend filling half your plate with veggies as they’re lower in energy and rich in fibre, which contributes to gut health, helps to maintain blood glucose stability and keeps you fuller for longer.

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Nuyoo.co wanted to find out how people over the age of 35 years old feel about their personal appearance. Nuyoo.co surveyed male and females between the ages of 35 and 50 and asked a number of questions, including what their biggest worries are regarding their appearance and aging, and whether feelings towards appearance have differed as they age.

Of all participants, a staggering 52% of participants admitted to worrying about their appearance once or twice a day and 34% said their appearance worried them multiple times throughout the day whenever they looked in the mirror, compared to 14% of participants who say their appearance never crosses their mind.

The survey conducted found that an overwhelming 78% of participants cited they worried about the way they looked more so after the age of 35.

Moreover, Nuyoo identified that weight was the number one worry for men and women as 61% of women said they felt self-conscious about their body shape and appearance when they get undressed and try on new clothes. In comparison, 49% of men said they felt insecure about their weight, with the main worry being losing muscle and definition.

Nuyoo further investigated this issue of being ‘body conscious’, asking respondents if they were on a diet. 64% of men and women confessed they were trying to lose weight or were on a diet – e.g. whether it be calorie controlling, high protein or cutting back on snacking.

Fitness experts at Nuyoo asked men and women why they were dieting, to which respondents revealed it was one of three things:

• To feel healthier and more comfortable in their own skin
• Feeling self-conscious when getting undressed and dressed
• Wanting to change their body shape and body fat percentage to ensure it is at what it should be

Nuyoo concluded that respondents who were active were more satisfied with their body weight and image than those who did not exercise often, or at all.

Results from the survey show the following concerns regarding personal appearance after weight:

Wrinkles: men – 22% | women – 19%

Hair – men: 24% | women: 17%

Teeth – men: 5% | women: 3%

Earlier this year, a Harley Street cosmetic surgeon said that the average age of women going under the knife is 39 years old – down from 42 three years ago. Dr Julian De Silva says he often performs procedures on women who haven’t even hit middle age.

As a result, Nuyoo asked men and women if they would consider having a cosmetic surgery procedure to make themselves feel more ‘youthful’, an astounding 49% said yes.

Participants from the survey talking about how they feel about their personal appearance:

Robert Jones, 51 from Surrey

“As I’ve got older, there has been a distinct change in how I feel about my body and appearance. When I was a teenager, I didn’t really care too much about my appearance – I always believe that you are who you are. I was happy in my own skin, ate well and worked out. But it all went downhill once I hit the big 50. I began feeling increasingly self-conscious about my appearance, and my confidence without a doubt, took a hit. I was losing the muscle I was once proud to show off, and losing weight. Although, it’s true what they say, nobody is perfect.”

Pauline Carruthers, 40, from North London

“As the years go by, I am sadly all too aware of how my body has changed. The scores of wrinkles – or as I like to call them laughter lines – are what I see when I look in the mirror. Although I’m not overweight, more wobbles are visible and my skin is visibly more ‘saggy’ and stretch mark prone, making me more self-conscious getting undressed. I’m more careful about the bits I don’t want to show now, and make a conscious effort to go to Zumba classes and diet to ensure my body is how I want it to be – for my own sake, as well as my husband’s.”

Survey Results:

How much do you worry about appearance, per day?

• Once or twice a day – 50%
• Multiple times a day – 34%
• Never – 16%

Have your feelings towards your personal appearance got worse?

• Yes – 78%
• No – 6%
•  No change – 16%

What’s the main reason you worry about your appearance as you get older? (WOMEN)

• Hair (e.g. thinning hair, grey hair) – 16%
• Skin/Wrinkles – 22%
• Teeth – 4%
• Weight/Shape – 50%

What’s the main reason you worry about your appearance as you get older? (MEN)

• Hair (e.g. thinning hair, grey hair) – 12%
• Skin/Wrinkles – 20%
• Teeth – 6%
• Weight/Shape – 36%

How often do you diet? If so, for what reason?

• I don’t diet – 36%
• Calorie controlled diet to reduce fat consumption – 44%
• High protein diet to increase muscle mass – 20%

Would you consider getting cosmetic surgery to make yourself feel better and more youthful?

• Yes –  43%
• No – 57%

Feature image credit: transurfer/Shutterstock 

The post 50% of Brits worry about their personal appearance twice a day when ageing appeared first on Nuyoo.