KEY POINTS:
My New Year's resolution was to get rid of my spare tyre. I'm a 45- year-old woman who doesn't exercise much, where do I start? And is it better to do weights or cardio - or something else such as yoga?
A big misconception is that you need to do ab exercises and crunches to get rid of a spare tyre. But don't do isolated work on the area that's fat; it will only push your stomach out and make you look and feel fatter. Mostly we store fat around the stomach because we have a postural problem and are not using our abdominals or lower back properly. So a good idea to start off is to stand up tall, suck in your belly button and tilt your bum in underneath while you walk around. You might feel it's a bit more difficult to breathe and now that you're using these muscles, you may feel some tightness in your back or bum - you're working these muscles too, which is a bonus for most women.
To achieve your goals you want to do big exercises that use your whole body while holding and really feeling this position. Walking while holding this posture, lunges, squats, step-ups, and sitting up and down will all burn fat and work your core abs at the same time.
- Lee-Anne Wann, personal trainer, Body of Yours
I love to go camping at the beach but find that it plays havoc with my allergies - I get eczema, skin irritations and bad hayfever, but I hate taking antihistamines as they make me drowsy. Are there other options?
Try taking a good high dose vitamin C with bioflavonoids a good week before you know you're going away. This stabilises your mast cells, which contain the histamine that cause the all-too-familiar symptoms of allergies watery and itchy eyes, post-nasal drip and sneezing.
- Leisa Harford, naturopath, The Health Lounge
I've been on a food and alcohol bender for the past month. I feel like I need to detox but what difference will it make and how should I go about it?
A one or two-week detox kit helps your body eliminate binge toxins and will give your liver a kick start so you'll feel like you have more energy. Those that include antioxidants will also help minimise the detox's toll on your body. You'll get the best results if you also change your diet - obviously! Long term, low doses of milk thistle and dandelion are another way to help support your liver.
- Leisa Harford, naturopath, The Health Lounge
To feel less sluggish start planning some healthy meals to nourish your body. Eat natural wholesome foods, or a caveman diet; that means fruits, vegetables, whole grains, fish, meat and poultry. Make sure you drink a good eight cups of fluid (preferably water) each day and even more if it's hot.
A nourishing breakfast would be muesli with fruit, healthy lunches include salad with baked potato or whole grain sandwiches with lean meat and balanced dinners could be a half plate of vegetables or salad, a quarter plate of lean meat, fish or eggs and a quarter plate of wholesome carbohydrate, such as potato, kumara or rice. Enjoy healthy snacks, such as fresh fruit, yoghurt or unsalted nuts and choose water as your main drink.
- Sharon Carey, dietician, North Shore Nutrition
What is the best way to ease the pain of sunburn?
For skin that's not broken, Vitamin E oil or aloe vera gel can be put straight on to the skin for welcome relief. The aloe vera gel should feel cool on the skin, not warm. Or try putting a few drops of essential oil of lavender along with water in a spritzer bottle. Organic ointments, such as Tui Bee Balm and Lucas Pawpaw, contain good quality ingredients, or if you're looking for an oral supplement to offer you extra protection from the sun's rays try Lifestream's antioxidant Astazan.
- Leisa Harford, naturopath, The Health Lounge
Try cooling down in a 20-minute (at least) cool shower to help prevent further burning and provide some relief. Sometimes a simple analgesia is required as well, so a product such as Solacaine, containing anaesthetic, could help.
- Margaret Colligan, emergency nurse practitioner, Auckland City Hospital
What's the best way to ease the mozzie itch once bitten?
Anti-allergy herbs may help if you've got a bad lot of bites.
- Leisa Harford, naturopath, The Health Lounge
Applications such as calamine lotion will ease itching. In more severe cases antihistamines can help.
- Margaret Colligan, emergency nurse practitioner, Auckland City Hospital
What is the best way to treat jellyfish stings?
Most jellyfish stings are mild but they can still be extremely painful for a short time. Firstly, remove the tentacles promptly, since the strands keep firing toxins into the skin. Avoid rubbing the area. Then apply vinegar, as this can help stop the pain. Some studies also recommend hot water immersion.
- Margaret Colligan, emergency nurse practitioner, Auckland City Hospital
I've put on about 5kg in the past month and over the next few weeks there are lots of parties and barbecues. What can I take - and eat - that's going to help me lose weight without having to stay home?
Aim to fill half your plate with salad or fruit because these are low in kilojoules. Then, for the next quarter, choose leaner cuts of meat, such as skinless chicken, or make the most of fresh fish and seafood this summer.
The final quarter of your plate needs a source of wholesome carbohydrate to keep you energetic during your partying, such as whole grain bread, baked potato, pasta or rice. Avoid creamy or rich sauces and choose vinegars, lemon juice or low-fat dressings instead and you'll end up with a balanced, delicious meal and not overeating.
Try adding a dash of Dijon mustard to low-fat natural yoghurt for a healthy alternative to mayonnaise, or grate cucumber into the yoghurt with a pinch of cumin for a low-fat raita.
- Sharon Carey, dietician, North Shore Nutrition
- DETOURS, HoS
