While your waist measurement, also known as waist circumference, is a simple measure of your changing shape, it is not the be all and end all of body composition. A better approach if you’re looking to trim down and reduce body fat stores is skinfolds.

Can you pinch an inch? When the weight starts to drop off it’s more than likely you’ll have a gut feeling about it, literally. Chances are that your clothes will feel a little looser and you may need to tighten a few notches on your belt. While your waist measurement, also known as waist circumference, […]

By Judy Davie **”Since I started taking the pill I’ve gained quite a bit of weight. What can I do to keep it under control?” — Diana** A number of contraceptive pills do affect weight gain, either by slowing the metabolism or increasing the appetite. It’s not dissimilar to menopause where hormonal changes — through […]

By Michaela Ryan When women feel ill, they know the doctor’s office is the best place to be. Men know the same thing, but they’ll often suffer in silence rather than ask for help. This reluctance to visit the doctor could mean serious health risks, so if your man is going to great lengths to […]

By Judy Davie **”What’s the difference between an allergy and an intolerance?” — Justine** An allergy is an immune response causing a serious, sometimes fatal, reaction, usually involving inflammation and the restriction of airways. Typical food allergens include gluten, nuts, dairy and shellfish. An intolerance is when a substance may cause an adverse reaction, such […]

By Jo McKinnon When you have a toddler, your world tends to move at their dawdling pace. Here’s how to keep active when things slow down. It may sound strange, but life can slow down when you have a toddler. Where once you could strap your bub in a pram and stride out for an […]

By Judy Davie Is your body missing out on important nutrients? There are ways to spot the warning signs. If your answers are “sometimes”, “often” or “most of the time” to the majority of questions in each section, you should consider increasing your intake of foods rich in the deficient vitamin. If you answer “most […]

By Judy Davie **”I’m a 15 (turning 16) year old teenage girl with a height of 169cm and I currently weigh 85kg but I’ve always had a fairly solid build. I want to lose the excess weight fast, how can I do this without using weight loss tablets, shakes or drinks?” — Jenny** Oh dear, […]

By Michaela Ryan Is it okay to keep exercising when you have a cold? What about the flu? With winter bugs going around, it’s important to know how to alter your training if you do cop a germ or two.

Towards the end of winter it’s easy to abandon our resolve to eat healthily. Our energy levels are often low, making the tendency to eat comforting carbohydrates all the more tempting. This month’s meal plan will help give you the energy you need to tide you through until spring, when you’ll emerge full of life […]