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Summer has arrived and for many of us, it means different things.

Longer, brighter evenings, beer gardens, a chance to get on a plane and lie by a pool…

We're halfway through the year and our New Years good intentions are more than likely waning fast – we've given up on the gym tbh. 

Thankfully, we have TV presenter and journalist Elaine Crowley is in the same boat as us and she knew she needed help in certain areas of her health – which is why she is the ambassador for Lloyd's Pharmacy Change Your Health Direction program.

The program aims to improve your health during the next eight weeks – from quitting smoking to helping you get on top of your exercise and nutrition. 

Sign us UP. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Elaine Crowley (@elainecrowleytv) on

Elaine can't praise the program enough, as she has been suffering from ''shocking insomnia'' and Llyod's have helped her find a cure – magnesium supplements.

She said, ''It's making a huge difference. I've tried sleeping tablets for years but this is helping – and zinc as well. I'm 41 now and I think your health priorities change a bit – it's not about what you look like, it's about the whole body creaking a little. I don't think we're getting everything out of the foods we're eating unfortunately so I'd take a few supplements every day.''

When it comes to other health niggles that she wants to nip in the bud, getting enough kip is the strong foundation she wants to build upon.

She said, ''It's well documented that I have depression, so if I don't get enough sleep everything psychically and mentally collapses. Tiny things like getting out for half an hour at lunch can make a huge difference.''

Image result for ELAINE CROWLEY ELAINE SHOW

Ok, so what about us who have fallen off the bandwagon? 

Elaine's advice is, ''Baby steps. Do something achievable. Like having one meal that isn't processed three times a week or only having meat once a day – tiny, tiny things.''

Sounds doable to us. 

While taking care of your health on a physical level is important, we mustn't neglect taking care our minds as well as Elaine understands.

She is managing her depression but says that the fact Lloyds' door is open for a chat is a great starter if you don't quite know how to tackle your mental health.

Something that doesn't help our mental health is the pressured environment of today's world and the ''having it all'' mentality.

Elaine is having NONE of it when we mention it and makes some great points. 

She revealed, ''You'll exhaust yourself if you keep chasing something that is unattainable. At one point last year all my hair was falling out from stress – you can't have it all.''

She continued, ''Be kind to yourself. Don't be looking at Instagram and television thinking, ''Oh my God their life is perfect'' – nobodies life is perfect.''

Her parting words of wisdom were, ''Having it all doesn't mean having the perfect job, house, and husband. Having it all means whatever makes you happy. Being happy in yourself is as much as anyone should expect you to have and be.''

And to that, we say hear hear. 

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If you’re looking for ideas for lunchtime … look no further. We’ve teamed up with Dubliner Lighter to bring you our favourite cheese recipes that are perfect for lunch.

Dubliner Lighter Courgette Fritters

These are so gorgeous and they’re ridiculously easy to make.

Makes 9 – 12 fritters, depending on size, and has 102kcal/100g

Ingredients

2 Courgettes, grated

85g flour

3 spring onions, finely sliced

2 eggs

100g Dubliner Lighter White, grated

½ tsp salt

¼ tsp black pepper

Method

Place all ingredients together in a large bowl then mix until all ingredients are combined.

Heat a large frying pan over medium high heat, when hot, lower temperature to medium heat then add a drizzle of olive oil.

Drop large spoonful’s of mixture into the pan, use the back of the spoon to flatten fritters slightly and cook for about 4 minutes. Flip fritters over and cook for another 3 – 4 minutes.

Leave cooked fritters to drain on paper towel while you cook the remaining mixture.

Serving tip: Delicious served with a dollop of sour cream.

 

Dubliner Lighter Phyllo Pizza

Who doesn’t love pizza? This one is seriously tasty and makes a great homemade alternative to the shop bought ones.

This recipe makes one pizza, and 241kcal / 100g

Ingredients

Makes 1 pizza

Ingredients

3 phyllo pastry sheets

Olive oil

2-3 tbsp passata

4 slices Dubliner Sliced Lighter Red

4 slices Dubliner Sliced Lighter White

Salt & pepper

Toppings: tomato, mushroom, rocket, peppers, onions, corn – really anything you love

Method

Preheat oven to 220°C / 200°C fan assisted and line a baking tray with parchment paper.

Lay 1 sheet of phyllo onto the baking tray then lightly brush one half with olive oil. Fold pastry in half then brush the top lightly with olive oil. Lay another sheet of phyllo on top, making sure the edges are mostly lined up, then repeat above steps until you have 6 layers of phyllo in total.

Spread passata over the pastry then arrange Dubliner Lighter slices on top. Add your favourite toppings to your pizza then bake in the oven until edges are crisp and golden, about 4 -5 minutes.

Enjoy while hot.

 

Dubliner Lighter Sweet Potato Taco Fries

Sweet potato tacos are a real favourite of mine at the moment, perfect for a lunchtime pick me up, they’re tasty and warming.  In fact, they would suit any meal time. This one is simple to pull together, and of course it’s with Dubliner Lighter cheese which has 33% less fat.

This recipe serves 4 and has 104 kcal / 100g

Ingredients

– For the fries

2 large or 3 medium sweet potatoes

Olive oil

Salt & pepper

– For the mince

500g beef mince

1 onion, roughly diced

1 carrot, finely diced

1 red chilli, roughly chopped

1 packet taco seasoning

2 tbsp

tomato purée

1 tsp salt

½ tsp ground black pepper

1 can kidney beans, drained

– To serve

Dubliner Lighter White, grated

Crème fraîche

Fresh chilli, sliced

 

Preheat oven to 200°C / 180°C fan assisted and line a baking tray with tinfoil. Cut sweet potato lengthways into wedges then loosely arrange on prepared baking tray. Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle generously with salt and a bit of pepper. Lightly toss.

Bake until cooked through, 15-20 minutes.

Meanwhile for the mince, heat a large pan over high heat, when hot drizzle with olive oil then add the mince. Cook until mince is browned.

Lower heat to medium then add the onion, carrot and chilli. Cook until the onions have softened, 2-3 minutes.

Add the taco seasoning, tomato purée, salt and pepper, stir through. Add the kidney beans then leave to simmer on low heat until the sweet potato fries are cooked.

To serve, spoon mince on top of sweet potato fries then top off with a generous handful of grated Dubliner Lighter White cheese, crème fraîche and sliced chilli.

 

Dubliner Stuffed Aubergine Boats

This is a brilliant way to include Aubergine in your diet, providing you with fibre, vitamins B1, B6 and potassium. They’re also full of antioxidants (the skin especially), so if you’re not already eating them, start now.

This recipe serves 4 and has 133 kcal / 100g

Ingredients

2 aubergines

Olive oil

1 red onion, roughly chopped

3 cloves garlic, minced

½ tsp salt

125g cherry tomatoes, quartered

100g quinoa, cooked in vegetable stock

200g Dubliner Lighter Red Cheese, grated

Pine nuts, optional

Method

Pre-heat oven to 200°C / 180°C fan assisted and line a baking tray with parchment paper.

Cut the aubergines in half lengthways. Using a sharp knife, cut a 1cm boarder inside aubergine halves, then use a spoon to help remove the flesh from the middle. Roughly dice the removed aubergine flesh and set aside.

Brush hollowed out aubergine boats with olive oil, place cut side up on the baking tray then bake for about 20 minutes until cooked and the edges are starting to char slightly.

Meanwhile, prepare the filling. Heat a large frying pan on medium high heat then drizzle with 1-2 tbsp olive oil. Add the diced aubergine and allow to brown slightly, stirring occasionally. Lower the heat to medium low and continue to cook until aubergine is mostly cooked through.

Add the onion, garlic and salt and cook until onion is tender, stirring occasionally. Stir in the cherry tomatoes and cooked quinoa, cook for further 5 minutes until tomatoes start to soften and release their juices. Remove from heat and stir in 150g of the grated Dubliner Lighter Red cheese.

Spoon filling into the roasted aubergine boats and sprinkle each with pine nuts (or any other seed of your choice) and the remaining 50g grated Dubliner Lighter Red cheese.

Return to the 200°C / 180°C fan assisted oven and bake for 10 minutes, or until the cheese on top has melted.

Serve immediately.

 

Dubliner Burrito Bowl

Don’t spend a fortune at lunchtime buying these – not only are they expensive, but they won’t taste half as good as the one you make yourself.

This recipe serves 4 and has 110 kcal / 100g

Ingredients

For the mince

2 tbsp olive oil

500g beef mince

1 onion, chopped

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 tsp ground cumin

1 tsp smoked paprika

½ tsp cayenne pepper

1 (400g) can chopped tomato

1 (400g) can kidney beans, drained

250ml beef stock

Salt & pepper

For the salsa

4 tomatoes, seeds removed & finely chopped

¼ red onion, finely chopped

1 garlic clove, minced

1 tbsp fresh lime juice

½ red chilli, finely chopped (optional)

To assemble

4 portions cooked basmati rice

Cooked mince

2 avocados, sliced

Salsa

150g Dubliner Lighter Red Cheese

Sour cream

Fresh coriander, roughly chopped

Method

To cook the meat, heat pan on medium high heat. Add olive oil then add the mince. Break up large pieces with a fork and spread out over surface of the pan. Brown the meat, stirring occasionally.

Lower heat to medium then add the onion, cook for 1-2 minutes. Add the garlic and cook further 1 minute.

Stir in the cumin, smoked paprika and cayenne pepper. Add the chopped tomato, kidney beans and beef stock. Stir to combine, then leave to simmer on medium low heat until half of the liquid has been reduced, stirring occasionally. Between 15-20 minutes. Taste for seasoning, add salt & pepper as needed. Remove from heat.

While mince is cooking, make the salsa. Combine all salsa ingredients and stir together. Chill in the fridge until needed.

To assemble the burrito bowl, spoon a layer of cooked Basmati rice into serving bowls. Spoon cooked mince over about half of the rice, then spoon fresh salsa next to the mince, covering about 1/8 of the rice. Arrange half an avocado on top, then sprinkle generously with Dubliner cheese. Garnish with fresh coriander and serve with sour cream on the side.

 

These gorgeous recipes are all made with Dubliner Lighter which has 33% less fat, for more great recipe ideas you can follow them here on facebook or here on insta.

 

 

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January is long behind us, and it can be tough to keep the ‘healthy living’ momentum going when something as concrete as a New Year’s resolution now seems so distant.

Luckily, there are plenty of simple, wholesome and healthy steps that we can all take every day to see an improvement in our health.

These every day, easy tips can make a huge impact on how you feel health-wise, and can improve your own sense of personal wellbeing.

  1. Get those steps in

It may sound daunting, but it is recommended that everyone takes at least 10,000 steps per day.  Start small – if you commute, get off the bus a stop or two ahead of the one closest to work or home, or if you drive, park 20 mins away from work. It might even end up being cheaper for parking.

  1. Simple Swaps

While giving foods you love up entirely is just being mean to yourself, making simple swaps can help you cut down on the dietary aspects you need less of while still enjoying your fave recipes.

Whether it’s changing regular bread for a low-sugar version, or your regular cheese for a lighter one, the smallest changes can make the biggest difference.

  1. Mind as well as body

There is no point in embarking on a healthy lifestyle change if that change doesn’t take your mental health into consideration.

Taking the step to change your usual 30 minutes of phone scrolling into a time for mindful meditation and reflection can help your mindset astronomically.

  1. Big plate, little plate

If you want to maintain or reduce your weight for health reasons, or simply incorporate more veg and fruit into your meals, the big plate, small plate method can help.

You can choose to eat your meals from two plates – a big plate, which should be full of salad and leafy greens, along with cooked or raw veg, and a small plate to hold your carbs and protein sources.

  1. Get a fulfilling nights rest

Sleep deprivation can cause so many things – from overeating to accidental over caffeinating, and nobody wants that.

While it might seem like a daunting task to add an hour or so of shut eye to your current routine, your health will thank you for it.

  1. Venture outside

Going outside is proven to be good for both your mental and physical health., We spend so much time cooped up in office buildings and sheltering from the Irish rain – why not take the opportunity to get out and about when you can.

Fresh air and relaxing in nature can relieve stress – a hugely negative lifestyle factor.

  1. Water water, everywhere

Ah water, the unflavoured spice of life.

There are too many benefits to getting your water in every day to list – but getting 1.5 to 2ltrs of water drank is one of the easiest ways to feel more energised.

 

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Knowing what ingredients we are putting into our bodies is vital. 

Salt and sugar might add delicious flavour to our foods, but often processed foods in particular are laden with them, leading us to go above our recommended daily intake regularly. 

Lidl Ireland has today announced that over 850 of their own-brand products are currently being assessed for ways to reduce their salt and sugar intake. 

The affordable supermarket brand have pledged to create a 20% reduction in added sugar as well as reducing salt levels by the year 2020.

In their sugar reductions, the brand will be focusing on reducing levels in items targeted to or enjoyed by children.  

For salt, Lidl will focus on everyday meal items, including ready meals, soups, pizzas, crisps, cakes and meat products.

'The food and retail industry can make a positive contribution to the prevention of obesity, so it s important we work in partnership to achieve a reduction in the amount fat, salt and sugar in foods eaten regularly by consumers, said  Minister for Health Simon Harris, commending the move. 

'I want to commend Lidl for this initiative to reduce the sugar and salt content of many of their own brand products to help create a healthier food environment.'

'This is something I hope others will replicate.'

The positive contribution to the nations' health will aim to fall in with the UK's Food Standards Agency targets for salt reductions. 

The World Heath Organisation has found previously that the consumption of excess sugars can contribute to weight gain and obesity. 

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One of the UK's most senior doctors, Professor Stephen Powis, has written in The Telegraph that weight loss advertisements which are celebrity-endorsed should be banned.

Professor Powis is currently the NHS' medical director, and has criticised well-known celebrities such as the Kardashians for promoting weight-loss products and aids such as teas, shakes and pills on social media, and has even called for Instagram to oppose them.

The doctor referenced the troubling statistic that more than one in 10 young people are affected by mental health issues in the UK, and are heavily influenced by body insecurity and famous faces encouraging them to lose weight.

He emphasised that mental health issues are one of the "most pressing issues facing out country".

SHEmazing recently wrote about the level of profit which people like the Kardashians can gain from the insecurity of their fans. 

Poor messaging can lead to dangerous consequences, and numerous organisations such as the National Eating Disorder Association have branded the Kardashian family’s representation of weight loss products as ‘triggering’ for those who struggle with eating disorders.

Professor Powis made sure to emphasise that impressionable young people look to these people for lifestyle guidance; "At what is already a sensitive and important time in their development, this group is especially vulnerable to pressures which trigger or exacerbate mental ill health," he writes.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

#ad You guys all know I looove @flattummyco shakes. I've just restarted them (it's Day 2 today) and I’m already feeling so good. We had a huuuuge Christmas this year and between that, New Years and everything inbetween… I felt like it was impossible to fit in my regular work outs and eat healthy. But this program is giving me a kick in the right direction that I need. These meal replacement shakes are so good and they're helping me get my tummy back to flat. I’m already feeling amazing and I’m so excited for the next few weeks. Because they’re all about getting women back on track… they’ve got a 20% off sale going on right now, so if you want to start 2019 off right… trust me, you’re going to want to check them out. PS. I’m doing the chocolate program

A post shared by  (@kimkardashian) on

A shocking HALF of young girls say that they feel under pressure to lose weight, the doctor says that social media's ascension has escalated this pressure and both celebrities and the platforms themselves must take responsibility for their posts.

"Our young people are bombarded with ideas, images and advertising which set such a high bar for what they should feel and look like," he writes. "And yet there is little accountability for the impact this has.

"Where celebrities and the platforms which promote them exploit this vulnerability by pushing products like laxative teas, diet pills and other get-thin-quick solutions, they are taking the health of our young people in their hands and should act with far greater responsibility."

Activist and actress Jameela Jamil tweeted her support for Professor Powis:

Prof. Powis also suggested that practical measures should be taken to stamp out the 'exploitation' of youth, such as online platforms "banning adverts for products with a known health risk". YAS KING.

He argued that the NHS is working on understanding and treating mental health conditions in young people;

"Everyone, especially those engaging with young people like social media firms, and celebrities who profit from them, have a duty of care to do more for our health and wellbeing".

"The NHS can't keep putting out fires if some parts of society keep lighting matches," he concluded, using a pretty effective allegory. 

Kim Kardashian West has an especially long history of promoting weight loss products on social media, as well as her sisters, Kylie and Kourtney. Kim faced backlash in May for promoting appetite suppressant lollipops on her Instagram.

One of the world's most powerful women was literally telling other women and young girls NOT TO EAT.  The Good Place actress Jameela Jamil founded the i Weigh body positivity social media movement and Kardashian West "a terrible and toxic influence on young girls".

Jamil has consistently called out celebrities including Cardi B and Iggy Azalea for promoting 'detox' teas, claiming they're just selling digestion problems instead.

She also called Kardashian 'an agent of the patriarchy', for her incessant need to 'recycle self-hatred.'

Jamil herself experienced an eating disorder as a teenager, and skipped meals for years at a time. She spent money on "miracle cures and laxatives and tips from celebrities" which later left her with "digestion and metabolism problems for life".

The Competition and Markets Authority has announced a clampdown on celebrities who don't label their posts as promotional advertisements, but solid rules aren't in place.

NHS England's national mental health director Claire Murdoch expressed concern over the influence which these celebrities have young people at an "impressionable" stage in their lives.

"Both the celebrities themselves and these social media companies themselves should be more responsible," she told BBC Breakfast.

We're so glad the NSH are finally using their influential platform to steer people in the right direction. Time will tell what type of future diet fads will hold, but they're looking highly unpopular right now.

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Temple Street Children's University Hospital has claimed that a shocking 842 children who were attending its Emergency Department in 2018 were living in emergency accomodation, or didn't have a fixed address.

This means that there has been a 29 percent increase in the amount of patients who are being discharged into homelessness in Dublin, and one-quarter of the children were under one year old.

In 2017, the number of children discharged from ED who had no fixed address was 651.

The majority children last year presented with medical ailments such as chest infections, seizures, asthma, high temperatures and vomiting.

On the other side, 23 percent of children presented with trauma such as head lacerations, burns, self-harm and hand and arm injuries.

In the final three months of 2018 alone, 260 children attended Temple Street's Emergency Department without a fixed address.

Head Medical Social Worker at Temple Street, Anne-Marie Jones commented on the situation, condemning it as "shameful";

She said: "When these children leave our ED, they stay in temporary accommodation with cramped conditions and no appropriate cooking, washing or play facilities."

She added; "This results in accidents or traumas that wouldn’t normally happen if these families were housed in a family home.” 

Dr Ike Okafor, Emergency Medicine Consultant , meanwhile, argued that children's recovery is massively affected by their living situation.

Dr Okafor claims that; "There are children where you do what you can do in hospital, and then you hope they'll go home and recover."

"But these accommodations aren't conducive for recovery for some of the conditions – so they're not the ideal," he said.

He described cases of children undergoing surgery and then having nowhere to go from there, as well as incidents involving children being assaulted trying to find accommodation.

The most recent official homeless figures from November show there were 3,811 children in emergency accommodation that month.

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The latest craze, the Ten Year Challenge is making an appearance on everyone's social media.

It's where people are posting side-by-side comparisons of what they looked like a decade ago compared to how they look today.

Some of the contrasts are striking, other people haven't aged a day in ten years.

But for Katie Piper, it was a reminder of how far she's come since 2009.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by K A T I E P I P E R (@katiepiper_) on

The 35-year-old uploaded two pictures – and they couldn't be more different.

Picture one showed a badly burned Katie who was suffering in the aftermath of an acid attack that had happened at the hands of an ex-boyfriend in 2008.

She captioned it, ''#10yearchallenge don’t let this challenge create anxiety within you about ageing- it’s an absolute privilege. 1st pic me age 25 year of 2009 in my mums kitchen. 2nd Pic is me age 35 last week in my own kitchen 2019! #lifeisprecious #health#humanbodyisamazing.''

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by K A T I E P I P E R (@katiepiper_) on

The second photo, from 2019, showed a beautiful and healthy Katie smiling in her own home.

The message that she writes about is important – while many of us are focused on the passing of time in relation to ageing, we must not forget that it also means we have survived and that we are alive.

Her fans showered her in support.

One said, ''This is the best 10 year challenge I’ve seen. Respect.''

While another wrote, ''So true, my favourite saying is ‘Do not fear getting older, it’s a privilege denied to many’.''

This post is so inspiring and has reminded us to remember that your health is your wealth. 

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We live in a world where implants and fillers and Botox can be seen as the norm, especially in the celeb world. 

So it was a surprise when Yolanda Hadid took to Instagram to say that, at 55-years-old, her figure is natural. 

The former star of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills and mum to models Gigi and Bella and Anwar posted a sizzling snap of herself clad in pink underwear.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by YOLANDA (@yolanda.hadid) on

She captioned it, ''Fifty Five and smiling from the inside out….Finally back to the original 1964. Living in a body free of breast implants, fillers, botox, extensions and all the bullshit I thought I needed in order to keep up with what society conditioned me to believe what a sexy woman should look like until the toxicity of it all almost killed me.''

However, choosing to be free of cosmetic surgery wasn't something that was immediate. 

She continued, ''Your health is your wealth so please make educated decisions, research the partial information you’re given by our broken system before putting anything foreign in your body. It took me many years of undoing some bad choices I made for myself before I finally found the freedom to sustainable internal beauty and acceptance of what is the best version of myself by no standards but my own.''

She added, ''It’s on us to learn to love our selves and celebrate our unique, one of a kind beauty at all ages as we move through this journey called “life”. Beauty has no meaning without your health.''

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by YOLANDA (@yolanda.hadid) on

Her followers were in awe at how fabulous she looked and took to the comments to praise her for looking after body.

One said, ''What a beautiful words.''

While another wrote, ''Such a wonderful post. You are a beautiful soul.''

She is getting so much support for her refreshing attitude to health and taking care of her body.

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January is a tough month – we expect ourselves to snap into shape, give up our vices with ease and run 5k every evening. 

And although it might seem like she is too flawless to need any resolutions, Aoibhinn Garrihy is just like the rest of us.

She has teamed up with Lloyd's Pharmacy who have come to our rescue with a fantastic campaign – Change Your Health Direction. 

They are offering an eight-week programme where you can avail of their healthcare advisors, like if you want to lose weight, give up smoking, look after your skin etc.

And the best bit is it's FREE.

Aoibhinn is super enthusiastic about making positive changes to your lifestyle in 2019 when we meet up with her.  

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Aoibhín Garrihy (@aoibhingarrihy) on

She says, ''People are in reset mode, so it's a perfect time to get involved. We meet so many women with Beo (our health and wellness events) and we tend to put ourselves at the bottom of our own to-do list – but there's an expression that I love and that's ''self-care is never selfish''. The fact that this campaign focuses on overall health, not just weight loss is amazing. It's a scheme that I am really proud to get behind.''

The new year isn't all about just physical health, but looking after your mental health too.

So when it comes to self-care, what does Aoibhinn do?

She says, ''I practice gratitude because we can compare ourselves a lot. So I'm reminding myself that what I see online is curated content and it's not real life and everyone has other stuff going on that they don't post about. Trying to hone in on what I have as opposed to what I don't.''

Wise words – anything else?

She continues, ''Cutting back on technology, spending more time practicing mindfulness, I love yoga although that necessarily doesn't work for everyone. Find what works for you.''

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Aoibhín Garrihy (@aoibhingarrihy) on

We can think that we have to ''have it all' in terms of life – but that takes its toll on our bodies.

What tips would she give to women who are striving to do just that? 

Aoibhinn says, ''It's a juggling act. I've had to actively work at getting a bit of time for me. My husband will tell me to go for a walk and even though it hard, I instantly feel better. Taking five, ten minutes will feel like a luxury.''

When it comes to her new year's resolutions, hers is something that we can all relate to – less time spent on our phones.

She says, ''We're in that crazy age of technology. Rather than trying to capture the memories that we're making we should just be living in the moment and enjoying them. I'm trying to designate hours where it is a phone-free zone.''

So, why not get involved with Lloyd's new campaign –  eight weeks, no fee and amazing professional support – what more could you want to help get those resolutions kick-started? 

We sure will be. 

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If the New Year has the wheels in motion for a brand new you – you may want to consider Thalia Heffernan's thoughts on the whole idea.

The Irish model expressed her feelings about New Year's resolutions on social media and it's massively refreshing.

As everyone larks on about their plans for the New Year and everything they're going to change – you might be feeling the pressure.

We are all guilty of trying to stick to resolutions but social media tends to put additional emphasis on succeeding to achieve a new, perfect you.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by ThaliaAngelHeffernan (@thaliaheffernan) on

Cutting into the bullsh*t of the tradition, Thalia reminds everyone that in the grand scheme of things, it's just another day.

"I know I’m technically a day, or two, late.. yet despite this being inadvertent (or so I thought) I now think that there’s a good reason for it. The New Year is, of course, a good place to ‘Start’.. a grander version of the Monday so to speak.."

"But with this little box and small space, I want to share some of my truth- instead of filling you with the weight of the aspirations and resolutions that are being thrown around… It’s just another day," she wrote.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by ThaliaAngelHeffernan (@thaliaheffernan) on

That doesn't mean that she is discouraging you from wanting to reach your goals, but she puts the notion of resolutions into perspective and issues a reminder not to pressurise yourself in attempting to achieve the better version of yourself.

"Now, I mean that in the most inspirational way possible! Every single day you wake up is a blessing in itself. However, please don’t put yourself under strain because of a date in a calendar, a benchmark set by society, because you are more than that," she explained.

"I know I struggle with the concept of being a ‘new me’ due to an annual change, and I also know that I shouldn’t. So I guess I’m just saying that a New Year, or a Monday, or because your sister, cousin or best friend is doing something doesn’t mean that it’s right for you," she added.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by ThaliaAngelHeffernan (@thaliaheffernan) on

Wrapping up the inspiring caption, Thalia dished up some good ole self-love and encouragement.

"And a day in the year certainly shouldn’t demand you to be a ‘better’ version of yourself. You be whatever and whoever the hell you want to be and love every second," she said.

We honestly couldn't agree more, we just wished that more people on social media would adopt this idea, instead of cashing-in on the tradition.

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Getting a smear might be something that we dread, but it is vitally important for our health and wellbeing. 

And now Michelle Keegan is getting vocal about why we shouldn't put it off.

The 32-year-old took to Insta to post a video about going to get her smear test done.

She wrote, ''I finally got my finger out, (pardon the pun) and went to my appointment. My doctor was so lovely, I hopped onto the bed and it was over in less than 2 MINUTES!!! It was a tad uncomfortable but no means painful."

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

It’s Time to talk Cervical Screening examinations… AKA the dreaded SMEAR (horrible word) test! I’m going to be honest with you all, I’ve had numerous letters come through my front door that I’ve pushed aside. I’ve also ignored my mums tiresome pleas telling me to book an appointment with my local GP …because 1) I used the excuse of being ‘too busy’ with work and life in general 2) let’s face its it’s bloody embarrassing to drop your knickers and open your legs in front of a total stranger 3) I was apprehensive thinking about the pain I was going to endure! However I finally got my finger out, (pardon the pun) and went to my appointment. My doctor was so lovely, I hopped onto the bed and it was over in less than 2 MINUTES!!! It was a tad uncomfortable but no means painful. After doing some research I found that the number of women who should go for a test has dropped to an all time low in 20 years!!! Cervical Cancer is the most common cancer in women under the age of 35, with some having no symptoms whatsoever. 75% of cervical cancers can be prevented by having regular cervical screening, let me break this down for you…SMEAR TESTS SAVES LIVES. My advice to you… STOP making excuses, book, and go for your bloody smear! A smear tests last 5 minutes the impact of cervical cancer lasts a life time! #dontfearthesmear #smeartest #smear #womenshealth #cervicalcancerawareness #selfcare #selflove #getyourselfchecked #justdoit

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She admitted that she had put it off and avoided letters that came in the post. 

However, she did reassure her fans that the process was not painful.

She continued: "found that the number of women who should go for a test has dropped to an all time low in 20 years!!! Cervical Cancer is the most common cancer in women under the age of 35, with some having no symptoms whatsoever. 75% of cervical cancers can be prevented by having regular cervical screening, let me break this down for you…SMEAR TESTS SAVES LIVES. My advice to you…STOP making excuses.''

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Level up season . . Faux fur coat from my @veryuk collection… you NEED to feel how soft this actually is!

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Her 3.7 million followers were quick to comment their support, with one writing, ''as a smear taker myself, it's great to see famous people who are followed by thousands put this out there.

Another said, ''I've been exactly the same as you, putting it off and shoving letters in drawers. I'm going to make an appointment tomorrow."

We applaud Michelle and her bravery in sharing her experience on social media of getting a smear test, and for highlighting the importance of attending appointments to help catch cervical cancer.

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by

Bodies.

They come in all shapes and sizes, right?

Curvy, slender, tall, short etc. etc. – but all gorge none the less. 

So why, when it comes to something oh-so-normal like a hip dip, do people feel like they can't show it off in all its glory?

Are unrealistic and increasingly difficult-to-reach standards set by social media to blame?

Ok so first up, what is a hip dip?

They are an inward curve on each side of your body, just below the hip bone. Some women have quite prominent ones, some don't – pretty standard and deffo nothing to be ashamed of…because it's your body and it's normal. 

That's all well and good until social media begins to poke its nose in and declare something natural like a hip dip is something worthy of being banished.

Ads boasting titles like ''how to lose those hips dips'' began to appear on Insta and women were beginning to ask why…and worryingly, question if their hip dips were something they should be tryna lose. 

Many took to Twitter to hit out at these dangerous ads and to say that they're happy with their bodies as they are, thank you v much.

One hit the nail on the head when she tweeted, ''sorry, but it’s 2018. We’re out here loving all women and ourselves, time to stop conforming to Instagram beauty standards.''

Amen, sister. 

So what effect is this having on us and our view of our bodies?

If the influencers that we follow are editing their bodies so much that they're actually morphing into a version of themselves that isn't real, what kind of false impression does that give us about our body image?

Carys Gray is an influencer who has been quite vocal about this – and she is v v pro-hip dip.

She wrote that, ''if anyone else has these cute ass hip dips then you should rock them…For 20 years I've picked at areas of my body I hate but not once did I pick up on these! A few years ago I would have  felt insecure and wanted to change them. Now I don't care what other people think looks good on women or not. I think they're cool.''

However, some women are not as positive about them and are even going so far as to get filler injected in their hips to create a curvier shape. 

this is known as a ''hip job.'' (what next?!) 

Dr Ross Perry, GP Dermatologist explains the procedure: ''firstly, create a pocket between the skin and muscle to put an actual "implant" in, that is specifically shaped for this area. Secondly, use fat from your body that is harvested and are injected into this area.''

Wtf?!

According to New York plastic surgeon Arthur W. Perry, most people have a bit of fat over their hips and then a depression or a ''hip dip'' and then fat over the outer thigh and it is NOTHING to do with being overweight so procedures like a hip job are crazily unnecessary. 

So lads, if you're part of the hip dip gang, show them off loud and proud and don't edit them out of your social images.

Embrace and love your body because it is perf as it is. 

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