With the lovely weather we’ve been having recently, it’s not surprising that the barbeques have been working overtime – in fact, some evenings, the smell of lighter fuel has almost been overwhelming (!)… 

 

And, like us, we’re sure you’ve experienced your fair share of “raw on the inside, burnt on the outside” offerings... All going well, you’ve survived them without any problems, although they account for a surprisingly large number of food poisonings every year. 

 

So, it seemed like a good time for a gentle reminder – or two – about how to survive the barbeque season without any ill effects. 

Well, the holiday season is well and truly underway, accompanied by one of the most pervasive summertime health myths. It’s repeated countless times every summer and goes like this: 

 

Sitting in the sun is dangerous; if you don’t use sunscreen your Skin will burn and you’ll get Skin Cancer. 

 

Now if you stop and think about it for a minute, this message doesn’t make any sense at all. 

Hardly has the summer started than the usual dire warnings about the dangers of spending too much time in the sun have begun. And, each year, they seem to become louder and more insistent. It’s one of those annual traditions – if that’s the right word – we could well do without. And, dare we say it, be better replaced with a little common sense… 

 

As with so many things in life, it isn’t the sun that’s inherently dangerous BUT our approach to it which can be fraught with danger. This is particularly the case for those who spend the majority of their year indoors, except for their annual fortnight in the sun, when they bake themselves to a crisp in search of that elusive golden tan. 

Regular exercise is one of the cornerstones of good health and has a myriad of health benefits, both mental and physical. Despite this, it’s almost a dirty word for many people. There are many different reasons for this and we looked at those we hear most often from Clients a couple of weeks ago, you can find it here.  

 

Top of the list comes those dreaded games lessons at school, which put many people off exercise for life. And, as someone who was always last to be picked for any teams – not to mention a fully paid up member of the “two left feet” club (!) – Elaine knows all about this first hand… 

 

What’s so sad, is there are many different forms of exercise – particularly these days – which are light years away from those inflicted at school. And, even better, many of them don’t really feel like exercise at all. 

A couple of weeks ago we talked about the benefits of spending time outside in the natural world every day, if you missed it, you can find it here. 

 

With another bank holiday rapidly approaching – hurrah (!) – not to mention warmer temperatures and the lighter evenings, it’s not surprising that this time of year kick starts many people’s health regimes. Particularly those related to stripping off some of the extra winter layers – which hide a multitude of sins (!) – or their traditional fortnight in the sun… 

 

Put another way, this time of year is all about slimming and trimming. Slimming down and sending those few – or more (!) – extra pounds on their way. Trimming and toning those areas that could do with a bit more definition, to put it politely... 

With the first bank holiday of the year almost upon us, giving a glorious four day weekend – hurrah (!) – this seemed like a good time to talk about the importance of spending time outside every day. Not only does it feel good to have time outside and away from the hurly burly of modern life, but natural daylight plays an important part in helping set our natural body rhythms. Often referred to as the Circadian Rhythms, they control many different body functions including the sleep-wake cycle, release of hormones, body temperature, eating habits and digestion. 

A few weeks ago we looked at how rubbish in, rubbish out doesn’t just apply to computers. If you missed it, you can find it here. Put another way, if we don’t put the correct “fuel” in our tanks, how on earth can we expect our bodies to function at their best, or, in the way we would like?!? 

 

We then gave a few slightly tongue in cheek suggestions of things to look for that indicate whatever “food” you’re looking at may not be the best thing for you – or your body. You can find it here. 

A couple of weeks’ ago we looked at how rubbish in, rubbish out doesn’t just apply to computers. If you missed it, you can find it here.  

Put another way, if we don’t put the correct “fuel” in our tanks, how on earth can we expect our bodies to function at their best – or in the way we would like?!? 

 

Despite understanding this in theory, many people seem to struggle putting this into practice. Find deciding what to eat completely confusing and overwhelming. Let alone what may – or may not be (!) – a good choice. 

Diet is one of those topics we talk about regularly, whether here on the Blog and with Clients. What never ceases to amaze us is how little thought – or planning – seems to go into what many people are eating each day. Whether on their plates or, increasingly, on the go. And, while most people are ready to accept the maxim of “rubbish in, rubbish out” as far as their computer is concerned; for some reason this logic often doesn’t seem to stretch as far as their bodies. 

 

Why is this? 

 

Well, we’d love to say there was one very simple answer but, unfortunately, this isn’t the case. From our perspective there are many different factors at play accompanied by a large dose of irony. And, if that sounds like a strange thing to say, we’ll explain why. 

Yes, we know it’s rather a cliché, but it doesn’t stop it from being true… 

 

We’ve all met – or know (!) – people at both ends of the age spectrum. Those who seem to be old before their time. Or, perhaps, have always been old in terms of their outlook on life. David refers to them as “Junior Pensioners” which may be slightly uncharitable but a good way of describing them (!). 

 

Sadly, their glass always seems to be half empty… “It can only get worse.” “It’s all downhill from here.” “What can you expect at my age?” And we heard these all – and more – from someone in their 30’s recently…