A recent report from the Australian Bureau of Statistics is highlighting a new trend in overweight and obesity — many people who are overweight do not perceive themselves that way. It may be that we are so used to seeing larger people, especially on reality TV shows, that carrying a few extra kilos doesn’t seem […]

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, […]

This month we take a closer look at one of the less common varieties of canned fish. A little fishy There’s nothing new about sardines, but the fact that they have been largely overlooked in the omega-3 stakes is, well, just a little bit fishy! Sardines are a great health bargain as they are easy […]

Last month we looked at the pros and cons of the popular sports supplement carnitine and this month we delve deeper into amino acid land. Branched chain amino acids, valine, leucine and isoleucine are also popular supplements, but what are they and do they really work? What are BCAAs? Unlike other amino acids, the branched […]

Whether you want to lose a little or a lot of weight, there are three things that can guarantee your long-term success: a healthy relationship with food, an active lifestyle and a balanced approach to living.

Have you ever tried going to do a couple of dance classes instead of going to the gym all the time? I used to weigh 80 kilos, then I started going to funky jazz classes and the weight dropped off me! Of course I was eating right — I was going to the gym once […]

While weight loss is an individual journey, I often see people facing common challenges even though they are in different occupations and at different life stages. So if you’ve decided the time has come to get in shape, check out if any of these challenges apply to you. Don’t worry if some of them sound […]

Let’s take a closer look at one of the lesser known midyear fruits, custard apples. Custard apples originate from Peru in South America and were introduced into Queensland around 1874. They are also known as cherimoya, atemoya and bullock’s heart. Custard apples look like an artichoke — heart-shaped with a leathery, bumpy green skin. The […]

Carnitine, an amino acid derivative, is one of the more commonly popped supplements. It’s touted as a fat mobiliser and weight loss aid, but is also said to improve athletic performance. Support for the weight loss benefits of carnitine is very slim to say the least, but what about its use as a sports supplement? […]