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Yearly Archives: 2018

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We’re all aware of how important being active is for our physical and mental health.

However, despite knowing just how vital it is, the menstrual cycle – one of the most natural parts of the female body – is the reason many women stop playing sport or exercising.

In fact, according to research by Orreco, over half of women have stopped taking part in sport activities because of their period. This rises to nearly 75 percent of 16 – 24-year-olds.

However, FitrWoman app plans on putting an end to this. And it's something that Dublin All-Ireland champion and 2017 Player of the Year Noelle Healy is totally on board with.

“It just gives a little bit of power, a little bit of control back so you can stay on top of it. You can actually use it to your benefit and to enhance your training, to get the most out of your training rather than just dealing with it when it comes,” the champion told SHEmazing when talking about the app.

FitrWoman provides personalised and evidence-based training and nutrition suggestions tailored to the changing hormones in a woman’s cycle.

Talking about the benefits of the app, Product Developer Grainne Conefrey said, “[The app] allows users to plan ahead; plan their nutrition, plan their training. We have a recipe section where you can explore different snacks and meals.”

Noelle, 27, has been playing Gaelic football for years, starting out in St. Brigid’s GAA in Castleknock, and knows how a woman’s cycle can impact on training.

“It would be impacting on their training and they wouldn’t feel very well so they wouldn’t be able to make the most out of their training. Some people might not even take much notice and it could arrive on the day of a match or a training session. And then it could impact that way because it is another thing they have to deal with.”

Thankfully, it looks like things are being done to help women, including the app development and changing the colour of the shorts to make players feel more secure while playing. 

“Most of the gear comes from the men’s team. A lot of girls would hate to have to wear white shorts and things like that. That was one of the big things that I noticed throughout the younger girls as well. In fairness, since the football has kind of grown, I know a good few clubs that have gone for the navy or blues shorts to just give you that extra bit of confidence. That’s one less thing that you don’t want to be worrying about.”

Grainne hopes the app will “increase the conversation; to get people working with their cycle and to get coaches talking to athletes”, and to put an end to this sense of awkwardness that many still feel when talking about their period.

“We’re trying to educate everyone as well and spread that science. Once you understand how your body works and how it’s reacting and what causing these different things, it opens the conversation. It makes it easier to talk to coaches.”

The app is designed to help women exercising at all levels of ability during their menstrual cycle, and uses personalised data to give actionable insights to make smarter training decisions. 

Periods are a part of the female body, and as Noelle says, “it shouldn’t stop you from doing your sport.”

You can download the FitrWoman App here: App Store, Google Play

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Last night, the world watched in horror as Love Island's biggest drama to date unfolded. 

Spoiler alert – if you haven't watched the most recent episode and don't want to know the gory details, I recommend you open a  new tab, watch the episode, and then return. 

Megan and Eyal seemed like a pretty cute couple, cosying up on wine tasting dates and enjoying a night of passion in the hideaway. 

However, last night, Megan expressed her desire to see other people, and move on from her fleeting dalliance wih the villa's self appointed spiritual guru. 

Her head was turned, as the islanders are fond of saying, by the dishy Wes, but as we all know, Wes is currently coupled up with Laura – Megan's friend, who definitely has feelings for the the nuclear and electrical systems design engineer.

Megan quickly embarked on her mission to let Wes know she was interested, requesting a kiss from him in a private chat where she revealed to him that she liked him, and later securing said kiss during a tense game of Snog Marry Avoid. 

Laura, understandably upset, dumped Wes and branded Megan a slew of slut shaming slurs (not her finest moment). Wes, as most male specimens do, went un-tarred and feathered by the promiscuity motivated put-downs. 

Interestingly, it was what Megan said about her history of female-female friendships that stuck out to me about last night's drama-filled episode. 

Megan told the cameras that she found it difficult to maintain gal pals because of instances like the one which just occurred. While it's completely fine if someone wants to place their pursuit of a romantic or sexual relationship over a friendship (frankly, the person being f*cked over by the friend and boyfriend in this situation deserves better) it's what Megan is implying by saying this that is concerning. 

I think, that by saying that Megan has no interest in female friendships, she is tapping into an internalised misogyny that allows her to place other women on a lower tier than herself, a tier that she perhaps she feels she shares with the men in the villa. 

It's a classic example of an 'I'm not like all the other girls' attitude. But I must ask, what the hell is so wrong with being like other women? And liking and respecting other women for their differences and their similarities? 

What could be more humane than treating the feelings of all people you come into contact with with dignity and respect, regardless of gender. By saying the Megan cannot keep friendships with other women, it seems that she is blaming the 'silliness' of other women on this fact – a chilling throwback to the stereotypical notion of female hysteria of the 1950s. 

Megan holds herself above the other women in the house and sees herself as the ultimate 'cool girl' by highlighting that she relates more to the men in the villa – which is reflected in her adamancy that the exploration of female sexuality is nothing to be ashamed of, on par with male sexual desire. 

While she is absolutely right about that, saying: 'I’m a woman. I’m allowed to enjoy sex,' she seems to hold that standard only to herself, as we see reflected in her attempt to shame Laura for sleeping with more people than she has. 

While the dating rules and lighting-speed relationships in the Love Island world are strikingly different to actual, realistic relationships, there is no doubt that the basic rules of common courtesy should apply. 

 

A post shared by Laura Anderson  (@lauraanderson1x) on

Some call it the girl code, I just call it basic humanity. Laura definitely isn't my favourite character on the show (that would be the stunning Samira), but it is clear that she is an open and loving person who wants to be cared for in return, and Megan's mission of infiltration to destroy this on Laura for her own gain is plain mean. 

No one likes to be usurped by a romantic rival, and judging by Megan's infuriatingly excited expression, it is clear that she holds Laura's feelings far below her own chance at a blossoming relationship, be it potentially fleeting or otherwise. 

My suggestion to Megan would be that perhaps she has an inability to maintain female friendships because, rather than it being all the other women's faults, she's just not a very good friend. 

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Sleep! Don't sleep. Drink! Don't drink. Exercise! But not too much.

In the world we live in, it seems like every corner of the Internet is telling us something different. 

'Researchers' and 'scientists' who have been conducting studies for years on end will tell you the best way to live your life.

The best way to go to sleep at night.  The best way to eat your greens. The best way to have sex.

But, what do any of them know about you?

A recent article featured on Refinery29 brought up the issue of 'social jet lag'.

A research paper published in the science journal Sleep, said that sleeping in at the weekend or on days off is detrimental to your health.

"This routine is actually causing chronic fatigue and often triggers a terrible mood. Even worse, a new study reveals that this form of 'jet lag' can increase your risk of heart disease by 11 percent," explains R29.

I'm speaking for myself here when I say I couldn't be more delighted when I sleep in, and my mood is definitely boosted with an extra hour in bed.

The lead author of the study, Sierra B. Forbush, said: "These results indicate that sleep regularity, beyond sleep duration alone, plays a significant role in our health."

At first glance of this study, I would look away immediately. As I said above, I love nothing more than sleeping in at the weekend, and I bask in the glory of my bed when I have a day off.

And even though they are just my own views, a study published in New Scientist backs them up.

Just last month, the research paper found that brain cells ware out and can be destroyed if we're sleep deprived.

Experts suggested that lying in was a great way to combat this issue, which can lead to Alzheimer's disease and other neurological disorders.

So, who is right? Who should we believe? To sleep or not to sleep.

Alcohol is another tricky one. A study popped up this week claiming that "even moderate drinking can damage the brain."

It explains that even if you drink a mild amount of alcohol over the space of 30 years, the right side of your brain can shrink from its intake.

"The findings do contradict a common belief that a glass of red wine or champagne a day can protect against damage to the brain,” said one of the researchers.

However, another study published just last week said, "a glass of red wine every night may help people with their cholesterol and cardiac health."

A quick scan through EurekAlert, a science news website, shows similar views; 'Red wine compound linked to health!', 'Drinking with friends makes you happy!', 'Wine with dinner can improve the cardiovascular system!'

We're living in an age where people have the tools (hello, Internet) to voice their numerous opinions and 'findings', and while this can be a fantastic thing, it also lends itself to utter sh*te.

Something that is good for you may not be good for the person sitting beside you.

Sleeping in on Saturday morning is your saving grace, but could be Hell for your sister.

Drinking a glass of wine might calm you down, but make another person anxious.

I'm going to stop concentrating so much on what the Internet is telling me and concentrate more on what my body is telling me.

If I'm tired and want to sleep, I will sleep. If I'm sitting in on a rainy Tuesday night and fancy a glass of vino, I will drink it, happily.

While it can be great and beneficial to read these studies, believing every word will only send you into a spiral.

So, drink the wine, Sleep in. Eat chocolate. Listen to your body, and just do you.

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A 4 night stay for two in the Big Apple for free? Eh, hell to the yes. 

Fancy strolling down 5th Avenue for your big summer adventure? Will NoLIta of George's St are giving you a chance to fulfil your big city dreams this week. 

Inspired by the suaveness and sophistication of New York's Little Italy, NoLIta is throwing Dublin's biggest Fourth of July party.

It's so big, in fact, that they needed a week to spread out all the amazing celebrations they have planned. 

Starting on Monday July 2nd, each night is themed for a different aspect of NYC. We start off with a delicious evening in Little Italy, followed by the Best of Brooklyn, July the 4th party, a Sex and the City night, and Summer in NYC. As well as themed cocktails and menu, the celebration of the 4th will also include a massive Beer Pong Championship.

We are so there. 

To enter the draw for the big trip, all you have to do is sign a NoLIta receipt with your name and number and pop it in their giant Uncle Sam's Hat. 

The lucky winner will be announced on Saturday July 7th with confetti canons, DJs, drinks, dancing and a big fat plane ticket. 

 

A post shared by NoLIta Dublin (@nolitadublin) on

So go on, glam up your week with a little bit of America, right here in Dublin! 

To find out more about NoLIta's 4th of July event series, see the Facebook event page here.

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If we didn't love Amber Rose enough for her work to end slut-shaming, then her capsule collection for Simply Be would put us over the edge.

Amber's empowering women, and not just through the Amber Rose Foundation, which aims to promote women’s rights and equality.

The model curated 25 size inclusive pieces that will show off gorgeous bodies of all shapes and sizes, as they range up to size 36.

The collection is wide-ranging, with hoodies, maxi skirts, vinyl leggings, jumpsuits, and plenty more.

The outspoken feminist is helping us to flaunt our curves, and yes, we adore her for it.

Teaming up with Simply Be is a natural move for Amber, considering that they have been championing plus-size fashion for nearly two decades.

“All women should have access to clothes that make them feel sexy, stylish and confident, and working with Simply Be allowed me to bring fearless fashion to women from sizes 6 to 32,” says Rose.

“I hope that everyone who wears my clothes will feel empowered love their bodies, celebrate their curves, and be the best versions of their true selves.”

The collection is also inclusive price-wise, with the clothes costing €14 to €77.70.

These pieces are sure to keep your summer look exciting, and they'll also carry over well into other seasons.

We can't get over how the collection changes so easily from casually cool one moment to stunningly sexy the next.

Amber's selections come in a striking black as well as soft hues of pink and grey, so they'll fit seamlessly in with your wardrobe.

Ummm… when's payday again, by the way? We need to place some online orders, stat.

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It's not just us humans that are showing our support for LGBTQ Pride this month, oh no sir. These gorgeous dogs got in on the action and we can all agree that pooches decked out in rainbow attire are the cutest things ever. #PrideMonthPuppo

The Twitter trend was kick-started by WeRateDogs, and they've been showing snaps of the cutest four-legged creatures dressed up in all the colours of the rainbow. And we couldn't be happier. Supporting LGBTQ rights? Cute dogs in capes? Done.

The account, which was founded by Matt Nelson in 2015, was set up to rate other people's pooches. However, he asked his 6.8million followers to send in pictures of their Pride-supporting hounds for WeRateDogs to rate and repost.

Anything that brings positive attention and support for a cause like LGBTQ rights is a winner in our book. Plus it doesn't hurt that these doggos are absolutely gorgeous to look at. 

Twitter users quickly responded with images of their dogs rocking rainbow caps, wings, ties, bandanas and capes. One tweeted, ''Again? Seriously? We only rate dogs. Please don’t send in any downright magnificent butterflies,'' while another posted their dog Bacon draped in rainbow wings and tassels. 

Pride has been honoured throughout the month of June in commemoration of the Stonewall Riots of 1969 and this week, Dublin Pride has kicked off. 

If you want to join in the Pride festivities and have a furry friend on hand, festoon them in rainbow accessories with the hashtag #PrideMonthPuppo, and tweet it out. People have been really getting on board with the hashtag –  just look at this tutu!

Dublin Pride's main event – the Pride Parade –  takes place this Saturday, June 30th. In the meantime, join us by having a scroll through the hashtag – like c'mon, how adorable are they?! 

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In the lead up to the World Cup in Russia, fears of off-pitch problems dominated the discussion. While there have yet to be any major incidents reported from the tournament, instances of homophobia and misogyny have been widely spread. 

However, calls for the football stands to be made a more equal space for female supporters compounded today, thanks to a rather unusual source. Photograph-sharing platform Getty has come under fire for publishing an article featuring a collection of "sexy" female football-watchers. 

The article, now deleted, was screen grabbed by indy100 and included the by-line: "Soccer is known asa beautiful game, and that includes its fans. Check out photos of some of the sexiest of them here." 

According to Indy 100, the gallery contained approximately 30 images of traditionally attractive women and not a single man. Oh, and there was another catch-line that read "Talk about a knock-out round…"

How charming and original. Not. 

Needless to say, Twitter was not pleased. 

This comes at a time when more and more women are calling for greater inclusion in the sporting world. Just last week, the ban on Iranian women attending matches was lifted and pages such as This Fan Girl have been working tirelessly to promote real women (as opposed to sex symbols) in the stands. 

A spokesperson for This Fan Girl, Emma Townley, told indy100 that the publication of the piece was "disappointing". 

"They need to do better, because of their size and influence they have a huge responsibility to not perpetuate the toxic male primacy that exists in football. I was going to tiptoe around this but we're so bored of this narrative.

"We set up This Fan Girl to fight exactly this, clearly, the problem is still fairly deep rooted and we desperately need balance."

In response to the backlash, Getty deleted the article and apologised saying that it "did not meet our editorial standards." 

Speaking to Channel 4 Getty's chief executive, Dawn Airey said that the piece as not reflective of company beliefs. 

"[The gallery] was not appropriate or in any way consistent with our company values or beliefs.

"We hold a deep belief in the power of visuals to incite change and shift attitudes and we have done and will continue to do, much work to promote and create a more evolved and positive depiction of women." 

We hope that this outdated approach to female football fans will die off soon. 

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Even for people who are not fond of vegetables, peppers are usually an easy vegetable to include in their diet.

The yellow and red kind are slightly sweet and they taste great raw or cooked.

A great source of vitamin C, B6, A, folate and antioxidant, peppers are a nutritional powerhouse so feel free to put them regularly on the menu!

To give you some inspiration on how to cook with these colourful vegetables, we have gathered some super tasty and easy recipes.

1. Honey and mustard chicken

2. Cheese and veggie omelette

3. Chicken fajita pasta

4. Mixed bean chilli

5. One pan roast chicken traybake

6. Spicy black bean fajitas with avocado salsa

7. Roasted pepper soup

8. Chicken one-pot with sweet peppers and onions

9. Mexican eggs

10. Spicy chorizo and prawn fried rice

11. Vegetarian noodle stir-fry

12. Stuffed peppers with halloumi and couscous

 

 

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Are you getting bored with your favourite things? It's easy for it to happen; we get so used to our fave foods and experiences that they lose their old lustre.

One study says, though, that we can find joy in old things by experiencing them in new ways, such as eating popcorn with chopsticks.

The research team found that consuming everyday items like popcorn, videos, and even water in unconventional ways helped people find new enjoyment in them.

"When you eat popcorn with chopsticks, you pay more attention and you are more immersed in the experience," Robert Smith, co-author of the study and assistant professor of marketing at The Ohio State University's Fisher College of Business, told Science Daily, "It's like eating popcorn for the first time."

Smith, his co-author Ed O'Brien of the University of Chicago's Booth School of Business, and their colleagues conducted four experiments in order to see if unconventional consumption methods impact our enjoyment of things we're used to.

68 people came to a laboratory in one study, supposedly for an experiment exploring how to 'help people eat more slowly'.

Half of the group were told to eat 10 kernels of popcorn with their hands one at a time, while the others were told to eat the kernels one at a time with chopsticks.

Afterwards, those who ate the kernels with chopsticks reported enjoying the popcorn more. They also reported feeling more immersed in the experience. The participants said that eating the kernels this way intensified the taste and helped them focus on the food.

The 68 participants were then asked to repeat the experiment, and in this second trial everyone enjoyed the popcorn equally and felt equally immersed, no matter how they ate it.

In their second experiment, 300 people were asked to come up with novel ways to drink water, such as sipping it out of a martini glass or lapping it up like a cat. Those who drank water in new ways reported enjoying it more than those who drank it normally.

In the final two experiments, people were asked to watch a video three times, with the third instance being unconventional for some.

The video shown was filmed with a GoPro camera and showed a motorcycle ride.

On the third time viewing, a third of participants still watched the video the same way, while another third watched the video flipped so it was upside-down. 

The last third were told to watch using 'hand-goggles' – touching their thumbs and index fingers to create goggles with their hands and then tracking the journey by bobbing their head along with the cyclist.

Those who watched the conventional way reported less enjoyment watching the third time around, and those who watched the video upside-down didn't enjoy it very much.

Even though their viewing was unconventional, it is thought that because it was disruptive they didn't enjoy its novelty.

The group who watched with 'hand-goggles' reported the most enjoyment. When researchers told participants they could download the video, three times the amount of people in the hand-goggle group chose to download compared to the others.

"They actually thought the video was better because the hand-goggles got them to pay more attention to what they were watching than they would have otherwise. They were more immersed in the video," Smith noted.

So if you're feeling like everything is 'same old, same old' these days, maybe mix it up with some unconventional consumption methods!

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Veganism has become pretty popular these days, with the number of vegans in the UK rising by 360 per cent in the last 10 years, according to a recent study by The Vegan Society.

With this in mind, we're sure there are plenty of Irish people willing to try the vegan lifestyle, which strictly prohibits the consumption of any animal by-products. 

Veganism has been cited to improve the health, aid weight loss and be better for the environment than a carnivorous diet according to its followers. 

Here are a few tips to get started if you want to give it a try: 

8. Watch a few documentaries.

There are plenty of documentaries out there about the reasons for going vegan, and plenty of videos about how to do it efficiently.

Films like Earthlings, Cowspiricy and Vegucated have been credited for turning many people on to the vegan lifestyle. 

A warning though, these flicks expose the grim realities of the meat and animal by-product business and may be a bit much for squeamish folk. 

7. Order PETA's free vegan guide

Animal rights organisation PETA is a huge promoter of the vegan lifestyle.

They have a free Vegan Starter Kit for those interested, all you have to do is head to the website and give your address, and the kit will be sent out to you anywhere in the world, completely free. 

6. Make small swaps

Making small steps like swapping cow's milk for soy or oat milk and switching crisp flavours can take your diet from carnivorous to vegan. 

There are tonnes of options to try when it comes to milk and cheese alternatives. 

5. Try new things

Speaking of these alternatives, don't be afraid to branch out of your comfort zone and try some new taste experiences.

While almond butter and hemp seeds may not sound the most appetising, trying vegan alternatives is so important in order to maintain a balanced plant-based diet. It's not just about eating salad!

 

A post shared by HappyRealFood (@happyrealfood) on

4. Consider why you're doing it.

There are people who move to veganism for ethical reasons, those who do it for health reasons and those who do it to lose weight.

Having a clear motive for your transition will make sticking to it so much easier. 

3. Ditch dairy. 

People cite the amazing benefits of minimising their dairy intake. 

Ditching dairy is a prerequisite for the vegan diet, but it can also help clear the skin and put an end to bloating. 

 

A post shared by Bonnie (@the_wholesome_vegan) on

2. Consider your non-food choices.

A lot of people who choose veganism for ethical reasons look further than their diet when it comes to incorporating the message into their everyday lives. 

Some avoid leather or products made at the expense of any animal, and actively avoid beauty products that test on animals or include animal by-products. 

1. Keep an eye on the carbs.

When going vegan or even vegetarian, it can be easy to rely on pure carbs to keep yourself going if you haven't taken the time to look into new food choices. 

This can leave your plates looking pretty beige, so make sure you're getting plenty of variety into your diet. 

Feature image: Instagram/ Vegan Food Spot/ Lumadeline

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We aren't the only ones melting in the warmer weather. 

Jellyfish are being attracted closer to shore in places around the country in order to stay cool.

Warnings have been issued to the public, in light of a number of Galway swimmers being hospitalised with dangerous stings from Lions Maine jellyfish.

Photo credit: Tim Gage

The jellyfish in question are the largest of their species in the world, reaching up to seven feet in diameter.

They also carry a venomous and extremely painful sting.

Experts have observed the jellyfish have grown larger than usual this year. 

Dr Tom Doyle, a marine biologist and lecturer in zoology at University College Cork told The Irish Times :

"It is not correct to say this is the first time they have been spotted on the west coast, as we had reports for the last two years, but they are particularly large and mature.

"They normally prefer the Irish Sea as it is cooler, and the hotspots are the Forty Foot in south Dublin, and popular swimming places like Bettystown, Co Meath and Clogherhead, Co Louth, and right around to Donegal," he said.

Galway Water Safety reported the hospitalisation of three people, one of which was a staff member.

All three landed themselves in A&E over the week and were treated for bad stings from a Lions Maine jellyfish. 

Taking to Facebook, they explained the swimming situation and what to expect for the next couple of weeks.

"There are large numbers of Common & Compass jellyfish in the bay and smaller numbers of the Lions Maine. More so than usual for this early in the summer, so it is likely to be a bathing season where our lifeguards will be dealing with infestations of jellyfish on our Designated Bathing Areas (DBA’s)."

"These potentially dangerous jellyfish are likely to appear on more of our beaches in the coming weeks. The sting from these jellyfish can cause anaphylactic shock and we have had a number of people hospitalised as a result of a sting from these venomous Jellyfish over the years. Three were hospitalised last week."

The public have also been cautioned about an increased risk during spring tides.

Swimmers should wear wetsuits when possible and apply vaseline to their hands and feet to protect them from the jellyfish stings.

If you're brave enough to venture into the water after seeing those images: remember to always take precautions and heed the warnings. 

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Chunky runners are the trendiest footwear look of the season, inspired by high end designers like Vetements and Balenciaga. 

Penneys is hot on the heels of the runway designers, nailing the chunky, sporty platform with ease. 

A new arrival at their stores and part of their A/W collection, these white and cream sneakers will be glued to our feet all summer.

At only €18.00, they're a far cry from the eight hundred quid you would pay for the designer version. 

We can see ourselves donning a denim skirt and white t-shirt with these bad boys for brunching with the gals, or dressing down a floral, floaty dress with their sporty aesthetic. 

Go full on 90's and opt for some skinny tracksuit bottoms and a crop top for a unique night-out look, or team with a little black button down dress for LA-girl cool. 

A pair of these is our absolute must buy this season.  

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