How to stay fit over Christmas

It is very easy to let your health and fitness slip to the bottom of your list of priorities over the Christmas period. Your number of commitments shoots through the roof and you have presents to buy, cards to write and parties to attend! Where are you going to find a spare hour to go to the gym? Christmas is so often a time of excess eating and overindulging, frequently resulting in that post-Christmas guilt in January and New Years resolutions to eat less and exercise more!

Avoid the regret and piling on the extra pounds by following these easy steps:

·      Try to find time to fit in a small amount of exercise each day- even 10 minutes of high-intensity cardio like skipping with a rope or running up and down the stairs before your morning shower will help to maintain your fitness without having too much of an impact on your daily schedule.

·      It is always a challenge to keep your calories at a normal level at Christmas. Rich puddings and cakes are full of sugar and fat that any other time of the year would be off the menu to those of us who like to watch our waistlines. Adding cream or brandy butter sends the calorie content of these treats through the roof! Try swapping these for yogurt and crème freiche.

·      We often eat far more than is necessary at Christmas- enjoy your festive feasts but STOP when you feel full! When dishing up fill half of your plate with vegetables before you tuck into the meat, potatoes and all the trimmings. This will make you feel like you have still got a plentiful platter without making you feel bloated, overly full and boosting your calorie intake to way above what it should be!

·      Adjust your daily activities to increase the amount of exercise that you do; Park in the carpark at the far end of town when you go to do your Chroistmas shopping; Take the stairs instead of the escalator or lift; walk to your kids carol concert; take your dog for a walk where you know you will have to walk uphill. You will be astonished by how it all accumulates! To keep track of all of the positive changes you make, why not invest in a Fitbit. The Fitbit Ultra monitors your activity all day to provide you with real-time feedback on steps, distance, calories burned, and stairs climbed to encourage you to walk more and be more active. It wirelessly uploads your data to Fitbit.com so you can gain deeper insight into your daily or monthly fitness and sleep levels with free online graphs and charts. On Fitbit.com, you can earn fitness badges, connect with friends to share and compete on fitness goals, or join the Fitbit community for advice and encouragement. So you can get fit- one step at a time!

Secret Santa gifts for every budget

If you are feeling that 'Pre-Christmas panic' that effects all of us at this time of year, the thought of getting that Secret Santa present for your colleague might just be the last straw! But don't panic! Here are some great presents to suit every budget...

£10 and under

These Kitsound Mini Buddy portable speakers are fun and functional. The philosophy is simple- small creature - big noise! Plug your Mini Buddy into any chosen device, such as a mobile, tablet, PC or music device using the 3.5mm headphone jack. Flick the on switch and go wild! Their built-in Li-on batteries can be charged using the supplied USB cable. The perfect gift for any music lover on the move!

£20 and under

Be an office hit and get your Secret Santa something that they really want. Fenice premium phone cases are of the highest quality and come in a huge range of colours to suit everyone’s tastes and personal style. If you are not sure which colours they would prefer, it is best to stick to neutral tones, like this Prada Brown Fenice cover.

£30 and under

Introduce some excitement to your Christmas party by buying your Secret Santa the Appquiz. 

The Appquiz is the most advanced interactive quiz game ever created and turns your iPhone, iPod touch or iPad into a fully interactive quiz machine, with mini games and 1000s of different questions! Just download the free quiz game and meet your charismatic quiz show host – Chuck Boldhart!

Go head to head with 2-4 players; Keep the game fresh and download new game content and quiz packs for hours of fun for everyone!

Boxing day activities for the high-tech family

One of the best things about Christmas is spending quality time with your family. After the overindulgence of Christmas day and the chaos and stress of getting the potatoes roasted and the Turkey cooked through and on the table at the same time (and preferably still hot!) Boxing day is the day when we truly get to enjoy each other’s company. Traditionally the time for playing with new toys and playing board games, Boxing Day is when memories are made that will last a lifetime. But if the idea of getting your kids to sit down and concentrate long enough to play a three-hour game of Monopoly makes your blood run cold, you may want to re-think the entertainment on offer.

If your family loves gadgets and you have trouble getting everyone to put down their phones and tablets and be sociable then you could use that to your advantage!

The Appquiz is the most advanced interactive quiz game ever created and turns your iPhone, iPod touch or iPad into a fully interactive quiz machine, with mini games and 1000s of different questions! Just download the free quiz game and meet your charismatic quiz show host – Chuck Boldhart!

Go head to head with 2-4 players; Keep the game fresh and download new game content and quiz packs for hours of fun for all ages! 

The Appsing is perfect for the family who loves to perform. If you think you could have the next Nolans or VonTrapps on your hands, get them singing with this fantastic karaoke app-cessory! The Appsing transforms your phone or media device into the most amazing karaoke machine. Simply slot your smartphone or media device into the Appsing’s universal cage and load your favourite karaoke app, follow the lyrics on screen and sing into the built-in microphone. A separate speaker unit will blast out your singing in stereo sound for everyone to hear!

An extra hour in bed could lower your blood pressure

 The Daily mail reported today that a recent study has shown that going to bed an hour earlier than usual could help to ward off high blood pressure.

The study, carried out at Harvard Medical School showed that men and women who regularly slept for only seven hours or less a night and were beginning to have borderline high blood pressure readings. They also found that just an extra hour of sleep every night brought the readings back down to a normal level in only six weeks.

According to the Mail, high blood pressure, or hypertension, affects one in five adults in the UK and is thought to be responsible for half of all heart attacks and strokes.

Despite an array of different drugs available on the NHS, it’s estimated more than half of all patients have ‘poorly controlled’ blood pressure, which means they still have readings in the danger zone above 140mmHg/90mmHg, a measure of the amount of force inside arteries when the heart is forcing blood through them and the force when it relaxes.

Lack of sleep and a stressful lifestyle have long been associated with an increased risk of the condition.

But the latest study is one of the first to prove that blood pressure can be brought under control by simply increasing sleep duration.

A large number of people suffering with hypertension are not even aware that they have a problem until it leads to more serious health complications, often when they are hospitalised- and for many it is too late.

It is so important to stay in control of your blood pressure and to stay aware of changes in your own body. Some doctor’s surgeries offer clinics or blood pressure testing in waiting rooms. There are also some excellent home monitors that allow you to record and track your blood pressure daily.  

This Bloodpressure monitor is compatible with your iphone, ipod or ipad. Based on the iOS operating system and Bluetooth technology, you can test, track and share your blood pressure results wirelessly. The monitor is integrated on the arm cuff and works with the Free App. It can even work out averages to see if the changes that you have made to your lifestyle or any medication that you are on is having a positive effect. This information can then be sent to family members or caregivers at the touch of a button. Completely portable and easy to use, it has never been easier to manage your own health- both for immediate results and to protect yourself for a healthy future.

How to win XFactor.

With less than a week until we find out who has won that elusive XFactor record deal, things are really hotting up! The stakes are high and as the final three start practicing their last songs to win over the voting public, you are left thinking that maybe if you had auditioned earlier this year, you too could be attending film premieres and playing gigs at Disneyland... Maybe, Just maybe…

Well if you have set your heart on winning next year there is a simple formula that you should follow to secure your place in the 2013 final…

Firstly you need to build an unshakable hometown following. If you live somewhere small it is best that you move to a bigger town- preferably one with a strong identity and sense of community. You need friends in every hairdressers and café who will put up posters urging everyone to vote for you. A big family helps too- every distant cousin and friend of your grandmother needs to have your voting number on speed dial!

Next you need to find your own style. No matter how great your voice is, if you don’t have a definable style, people just won’t vote. Choose carefully- people want a style they can envy and emulate, but nobody likes a diva- the trick is to look effortlessly cool.

Next- and this is an important point- you need to find a sob story. Got no friends? Still live with your mum and work in a dead-end job? Great! The public will love you! Turn your misfortune into your biggest asset- hey, if life gives you lemons…!

The most important aspect in winning the XFactor is, of course, having a great voice. You need to be versatile enough to consistently bang out hits every single week no matter what the theme is. The best way to make sure you are ready for whatever inappropriate song Louis Walsh throws at you is to practice, practice, practice! Sing everyday and sing everything. Find out what suits you and add your own personal touch to every song. AppSing is the perfect accessory for any wannabe singer as it allows you to flex your vocal cords wherever you are. It transforms your phone or media device into the most amazing karaoke machine. You simply slot your smartphone or media device into the Appsing’s universal cage and load your favourite karaoke app, follow the lyrics on screen and sing into the built-in microphone. A separate speaker unit will blast out your singing in stereo sound for everyone to hear.

 

So if you think you have got what it takes, you better start practicing now!

How to buy the perfect present for the fashion-conscious lady in your life

If you bought your girlfriend a car valeting kit last Christmas and it didn’t go down too well, or you got your Mum the thoughtful present of an electric carving knife (you know- to save her hands getting tired) and she didn’t seem to appreciate it, you could be dreading Christmas this year. Shopping probably isn’t your favourite thing to do at the weekend anyway and the pressure is immense to show your loved ones that you do really know what they like! Luckily for you, in this day and age you can get all of your shopping done online… if you know what you are looking for of course.

The key to buying a great present is to do a certain amount of detective work. Check out their wardrobe- is there a predominance of one colour? Do they like plain clothes or frills and bows. Do they like a particular fabric? NOTE: Silk is not the same as Lycra and PVC is not the same as leather!

You are heading into a minefield if you attempt to buy clothing. Unless you have received specific instructions as to the sizing and style, I would suggest you steer clear. Good quality jewelry is always going to be a hit, but if your budget doesn’t stretch that far, there is another way to please the modern woman…

Get her a premium phone case. All you need to know is what kind of phone she has (and this is always going to be easier to acquire than her current dress size!) and what colours she prefers. A good quality case will complement any outfit and serve a practical purpose too.

Here are some cases that you might want to consider:

If she wears a lot of dark neutral colours like black and grey and likes clean, plain lines this Fenice Black Diamante iphone5 case could be a winner.

If her style is light and summery and she is not afraid to wear bright colours this Fenice Juicy Orange iphone4 case will bring a smile to her face.

    

If she is girly and feminine and wears a lot of pink, this Fenice Poppy pink iphone4 case is sure to please her.

 

If she is a party girl who loves to stand out in a crowd with fluorescent, vibrant colours, this Fenice Galaxy S3 Mojito case will put you firmly in her good books.

 

 If she is wild and fun and loves animal print, this Fenice iphone4 Leopard print cover would make a great Christmas prezzie!

If she likes natural tones like browns and creams and is her style is country chic she will love this classy brown Fenice PRADA  iphone4 case.

Good luck and happy shopping!

Three impressive gifts for the man who has everything.

Everyone has that one man who they absolutely dread buying presents for at Christmas. They seem to have the best of everything and want for nothing. Their taste is specific- they only like certain brands and like to get all of their clothes tailored for the perfect fit; they have hobbies but know infinitely more about whatever it is than you do so you wouldn’t know where to start in adding to their collections or encouraging their interests… so what on earth can you get them for Christmas?

Well you need look no further because here are three fabulously fun gadgets that will be certain to impress even the pickiest of recipients…

The Bubblescope is a remarkable little video and still camera that attaches to your iphone or ipad and captures 360 degrees of your surroundings at the touch of a button. You can then upload your videos and pictured onto Bubblepix.com and choose the angle at which you view it from. You can watch it back endlessly, changing your viewing angle each time so you never have to miss a second of any event!

Remote control toys are not just for kids, and this is not just a remote control toy… The appCopter from AppToyz is a gyro-stabilized smartphone controlled copter! The appCopter uses your smartphone together with a free downloadable app to become the most intuitive remote control Copter ever! Turn on tilt control for an extreme flight! With an 8 metre flying range, the skies are yours to conquer!

Inspired by the iconic "mau5head", this Deadmau5 portable speaker features LED eyes that light up when connected to your music player. The portable speaker not only looks amazing, but it sounds awesome, too. You will be blown away by the high quality and clarity of the sound.  The Deadmau5 speaker is ultra-portable and can be charged via the supplied USB cable and the built-in Li-ion batteries ensure that you will have plenty of sound no matter where you are. Don't be fooled by the compact size- this speaker really packs a punch!