Author Archives: Catherine Balavage

Phil Vickery’s delicious American Style Chopped Turkey Salad

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Watch the video to see hot to make Turkey Steaks in a bed of salad with delicious dressing

We have welcomed the summer with open arms, as always! The bikinis are being dusted down alongside the cocktail shaker so all we need now is a new recipe to bring along to the much anticipated barbeques! But this year, why not be the ‘hostess with the mostest’ and wow the guests with a fabulous new dish that will have them begging for the recipe!

Using traditional British Turkey is the way forward this summer. With its healthy qualities and delicious taste, Turkey should not be forgotten about during our warmer seasons. Britain’s best loved chef, Phil Vickery, is here to remind us of this showing us new ways to incorporate Turkey into a fresh summer dish.

A summer essential is a good salad to put on the table, but to make sure yours is up to scratch Phil is on hand to guide us. Succulent Turkey will be sure to make your salad sparkle this summer. With his easy homemade dressing on the side you can’t go wrong in producing this tasty recipe which keeps your beach body in tact! All’s you need now is friends around the table with a perfectly chilled bottle of white wine.

Watch our video feature where Phil shows us his useful hints and tips to creating the perfect meal whilst creating this new dish.

Are You Suffering From Depression?

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Most worrying fact of the day: Depression affects 1 in 6 people. Mental Health is now no longer something people have to be ashamed about. Even Glamour launched a Hey, It’s OK campaign and Frankie from The Saturdays talked openly about her depression.

According to Beth Murphy, of mental health charity, Mind, one in four people will suffer from a mental health issue at some point in their life. Depression occurs in 10% of the population at any one time.

Are you depressed?
Lack of confidence
Feeling tired, irritable and tearful.
Problems with sleeping and your memory.
Negative thoughts.
Feeling of guilt or worthlessness.
Changes in appetite.
No longer being interested in thing you once liked.
Being self-critical
Losing interest in people and things.

Every one gets down from time to time, it is when it is continuous that you should seek help.

How to help yourself.
The National Institute of Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) say that the diagnosis for mild depression is diet, exercise, lifestyle changes and a talking therapy. Anti depressants are a last resort and you don’t have to worry about a diagnosis of depression being on your medical records, this is private and confidential. Your doctor will not tell anyone else.
Tell someone you are depressed. Don’t keep it all in.
Talk. It’s a cliche but it does help to talk. Try cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
Get some fresh air.
Exercise. There is strong evidence that exercise improves mood. It also improves sleep, anxiety and stress.
Alternative remedies. Try St John’s Wort.
Antidepressants. If you are worried they are addictive, don’t. They are not.

For more help and advice
mind.org.uk
rethink.org
mentalhealth.org.uk
depressionalliance.org
bacp.co.uk
Samaritans 08457 90 90 90 (Hmm, the Samaritans is an 0845 number, not impressed) Samaritans.org

Queen reigns as Brits’ favourite workout music

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DON’T STOP ME NOW

Queen reigns as Brits’ favourite workout music

New research reveals music helps us train significantly better at the gym

57% of fitness enthusiasts have claimed that music helps significantly with their performance when exercising according to new research by Tesco Phone Shop.

Just one in 20 (4%) fitness enthusiasts said music didn’t help with their performance at all.

The retailer conducted the research amongst Brits to celebrate the launch the iT7 range of wireless Bluetooth audio accessories, designed by former Aston Villa midfield Ian Taylor.

The findings of the research comes as no surprise to Dr Costas Karageorghis, a reader in sport psychology and deputy head of the School of Sport and Education at Brunel University in London who has spent 20 years conducting scientific research into the effects of music on sport and exercise.

Dr Karageorghis said:

“Music and sport have much in common: both are culturally pervasive, both are about good rhythm and both touch us emotionally.

“Athletes routinely tap the power of music as part-and-parcel of their training. Our research has shown that during exercise, well-selected music can reduce the perception of effort by as much as 12% and enhance mood by 10%. As well as using stimulative music during training, many athletes are discovering the recuperative benefits of calming music following a tough workout.”

Ian Taylor said:

“This research backs up exactly how I used music when training. It definitely helped my stamina, improved my concentration and boosted my performance.”

What is the person next to you at the gym listening to?

Have you ever wondered what the person next to you at the gym is listening to as they pound the treadmill? The research also looked at what songs it is we Brits like to listen to at the gym to get us pumping.

Queen’s Don’t Stop Me Now topped the poll with 15% of votes followed by Survivor’s Eye Of The Tiger (14%) and Tina Turner’s The Best (8%).

As Brits embrace the summer of sport, pop music topped the training charts, with 29% saying it was the best type of music to exercise to, followed by dance music (26%) and rock (25%).

And when it comes to best bands for feeling the burn, Queen, Madonna and Lady Gaga were named as the biggest musical motivators in the gym.

Here are more of the figures:

Music Genre

· Pop – 29%

· Dance / house – 26%

· Rock – 25%

· RnB – 5%

· Classical – 3%

· Heavy metal – 3%

· Other – 8%

Artists

· 1. Queen

· 2. Madonna

· 3. Lady Gaga

· 4. Rihanna

· 5. Beyonce

· 6. David Guetta

· 7. Prodigy

· 8. LMFAO

· 9. Foo Fighters

· 10. Gorillaz

Here’s a breakdown of the top songs by gender and age:

· Queen – Don’t Stop Me Now was the most popular track overall and also with women – 16% of the female vote

· Survivor – Eye of the Tiger was the most popular track for men with 18% of the male vote

· For the 18-34 age group Survivor – Eye of the Tiger reigned supreme with 14% of the vote

· But the 35-54 and 55+ opted for Queen – Don’t Stop Me Now with 15% & 20% respectfully

· Tina Turner – Simply the Best was also popular with the 55+ age group with 16% of the vote

Queen’s 70s chart topper reigns supreme as the top tune to train to according to research by Tesco Phone Shop.

The retailer conducted the research amongst Brits to celebrate the launch of the new iT7 wireless audio range in store. Queen’s Don’t Stop Me Now tops the poll with 15% followed by Survivor’s Eye Of The Tiger (14%) and Tina Turner’s The Best (8%).

As Brits embrace the summer of sport, pop music topped the training charts, with 29% saying it was the best type of music to exercise to, followed by dance music (26%) and rock (25%).

And when it comes to best bands for feeling the burn, Queen, Madonna and Lady Gaga were named as the biggest musical motivators in the gym.

The iT7 range of wireless Bluetooth audio accessories, designed by former Aston Villa midfield Ian Taylor are designed with sport in mind, providing crystal-clear sound without limiting movement – handy for the 57% of fitness enthusiasts claimed that music helped significantly with their performance when exercising.

This comes as no surprise to Dr Costas Karageorghis, a reader in sport psychology and deputy head of the School of Sport and Education at Brunel University in London. Dr Karageorghis, who has spent 20 years conducting scientific research into the effects of music on sport and exercise, said: “Music and sport have much in common: both are culturally pervasive, both are about good rhythm and both touch us emotionally.

“Athletes routinely tap the power of music as part-and-parcel of their training. Our research has shown that during exercise, well-selected music can reduce the perception of effort by as much as 12% and enhance mood by 10%. As well as using stimulative music during training, many athletes are discovering the recuperative benefits of calming music following a tough workout.”

Ian Taylor, former Aston Villa footballer and designer of the iT7 range, adds: “This research backs up exactly how I used music when training. It definitely helped my stamina, improved my concentration and boosted my performance. With this in mind, I’ve designed the iT7s sport in-ear headphones especially for use while working out, training and getting fit. Whatever your musical tastes may be, maximise your workout and feel like a fitness champion with a tune or two!”

The iT7s headphones are available at Tesco Phone Shop for £99, part of a range of Bluetooth-enabled headphones and mobile accessories.

Tracks to help you feel the burn

With a bumper summer for sporting activity ahead, the nation’s top 10 tracks to train to are:

11. Queen – Don’t Stop Me Now

12. Survivor – Eye Of The Tiger

13. Tina Turner – The Best

14. Scissor Sisters – I Don’t Feel Like Dancing

15. Eric Prydz – Call On Me

16. Irene Cara – Flashdance… What A Feeling

17. Lady Gaga – Born This Way

18. Katy Perry – Firework

19. LMFAO – Sexy And I Know It

20. Snap! – The Power

New Bond: Skyfall Picture

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Honda Announced as the Choice of 007 for Skyfall

Honda (UK) is delighted to announce its partnership with the upcoming James Bond film, Skyfall, and today unveiled the actual Honda machines used in the film, at the National Motor Museum in Beaulieu.

Honda’s CRF250R motorcycle proved to be the machine of choice by the 007 film’s action vehicles and stunt crew teams. These motorbikes were modified for the opening sequence of the 23rd James Bond film which was shot in Istanbul and Adana, Turkey earlier this year.

Twenty CRF250R machines were provided in total, to be adapted and ‘dressed’ appropriately into two native style motorbikes. One is a Turkish police bike that henchman, Patrice (Ola Rapace), seizes after a policeman crashes, the other is a Turkish merchant’s bike that James Bond (Daniel Craig) uses to pursue Patrice through the streets. Both bikes feature extensive modifications courtesy of Chris Corbould’s award-winning Special Effects team.

Two CRF450R motorbikes were further chosen for use as HD camera filming machines, as only a motorbike could easily enable the camera crew to keep up with the chase scene and follow the various stunts.

Stunt Co-ordinator for Skyfall, Gary Powell, commented, “We needed a highly versatile and quality off-road motorbike that could be easily modified, without compromising performance or safety, for the opening sequence of Skyfall. Honda’s CRFs are probably the best off-roaders out there so it’s great that we’ve been able to partner with Honda as the bikes, whilst heavily modified, were superb to work with.”

Honda (UK) Corporate Communications Manager, Fiona Cole, said, “We’re delighted to be a partner for Skyfall and are very much looking forward to seeing our Honda CRFs in action in the film and rolling out some great associated activities we’ve got planned from October when the film is released. We like to try and do things differently at Honda, including finding innovative, yet relevant ways to showcase our diverse products, whilst also really engaging with our customers. It’s great to not only have Honda machines chosen as the choice of Bond, but also to be working with such a longstanding film franchise.”

The Skyfall ‘Police’ and ‘Street Merchant’s’ bikes, alongside the unmodified and original Honda CRF250R, were unveiled today at the famous National Motor Museum in Beaulieu, which is currently hosting the BOND IN MOTION exhibition until 31 December 2012. The exhibition, the largest of its kind, celebrates 50 years of the James Bond films and showcases 50 of the best-loved and most iconic Bond vehicles.

To mark the occasion, Honda (UK) is offering twenty pairs of tickets to the BOND IN MOTION exhibition at Beaulieu, to lucky winners who enter Honda’s exclusive competition on its Twitter feed (@Honda_UK) before midnight on Sunday 22 July. Further activities surrounding Honda (UK)’s association with Skyfall will be announced over the coming months on www.honda.co.uk, Facebook/HondaCarsUK and Twitter @Honda_UK.

To see the versatile Honda CRF250Rs in action on screen and to enjoy the latest Bond adventure, head to see Skyfall in cinemas from 26 October.

Free Zumba Video | Health

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The Zumba craze hit in a big way, but if you are still unsure whether it is for you then Frost Magazine sourced a free video. It is slightly advanced, but I had only done Zumba once and have managed to pick it up. It is a good, fun workout. Enjoy!

Jessica Ennis | People

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Jessica Ennis is 9 stone of steely determination and today she has made Britain incredibly proud. The 26-year-old broke the British record in the 100m hurdles and won heptathlon gold for Team GB.

Down-to-earth and wonderfully normal for someone so gifted, Jessica has a fiance, Andy, who works in construction. She has been with Andy for seven years and he is three years older than her. They met in a night out in Sheffield even though they went to the same school.

She’s outspoken “When things don’t go well, I’m always really irrational and thinking, ‘Oh, my world is crumbling around me.'” and honest, saying before a game: “I get really anxious”.

Her ambition is obvious “The silver is a position I just don’t want to be in again. I’ve tasted that and I don’t like it.”

She missed out on the 2008 Olympics because of a stress fracture in her foot. Before the Olympics 2012 Marie Claire magazine asked her how it would feel if she didn’t get it, she said: “I don’t like to think about the negative or the possibility of things going wrong, because that’s just a really bad way of viewing it. It gets in your head.”

Jessica says she visualises every event going well, but not winning as there is “so much to come before that, and so much that can go wrong”.

She trains at the Sheffield’s English Institute of Sport and is the face of Olay Essentials range. She come across as a girl’s girl and says “I don’t even walk the dog without make-up. I’ve always been like that”.

Her beauty icon is Jennifer Aniston and she loves Bobbi Brown make-up. Her beauty routine is low-key, “I train twice a day so I’m always sweating, which is actually quite good for your skin. But I always wash, cleanse and moisturise so my pores won’t clog.”

Some idiot may have called her fat, but the world was outraged and she brushed it off. Jessica has a lot of pressure on those toned shoulders of hers, but she is handling it all with grace and beauty.

Win Incredible VIP Trip to United States Grand Prix with Road to Austin Comp

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Win Incredible VIP Trip to United States Grand Prix
with Road to Austin Competition from Mobil 1

 

  • Enter ‘Road to Austin’ online racing competition and set fastest time to win VIP
    Grand Prix trip to Austin, Texas
  • Use your driving skills and knowledge of motorsports and Mobil 1TM to unlock time bonuses and reach Austin faster than your opponents from across Europe
  • Winner and a friend to meet Vodafone McLaren Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton and experience Grand Prix from ‘behind the scenes’

 

With the 2012 motorsports season shaping up to be one of the most exciting in years, Mobil 1 is offering fans the chance to get in on the action with a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to join the Vodafone McLaren Mercedes team at the 2012 United States Grand Prix in Austin, Texas.

 

The free to play Mobil 1 Road to Austin competition, available at http://www.mobil1.co.uk/performance/racing-academy-game.aspx tests players’ driving skills and motorsports knowledge.  To win, fans race against the clock on a route which takes them through Europe, passing famous monuments such as the Eiffel Tower, Brandenburg Gate and the Leaning Tower of Pisa, finishing in Austin.

 

Throughout the race, players are challenged with multiple-choice questions to test their knowledge of Grand Prix racing and Mobil 1, with correct answers taking 15 seconds from their overall time. Once players reach the end of the track, they can either enter their details and submit their score or return to the start to have another shot at improving their time and chances of winning.

 

Competitors will also be offered the option to play the Mobil 1 Racing Academy game – upon which the Road to Austin competition is based. Here they can race through different racing series such as karting and midget cars, as they follow the careers of Lewis Hamilton and NASCAR driver Tony Stewart.

 

The winner and a friend will fly business class to Austin, Texas, where they will enjoy luxury accommodation before joining the Vodafone McLaren Mercedes team for the duration of the race weekend at the new Circuit of the Americas.

 

The exclusive access includes a private tour of the team’s garage and the opportunity to meet the team’s drivers, with the chance to watch the qualifying sessions and Grand Prix from exclusive Mobil 1 hospitality. The experience also includes spending money and a gift pack.

 

Terms and conditions of entry apply. To view full competition Terms & Conditions please visit http://www.mobil1.co.uk/performance/racing-academy-game.aspx.

62 Per Cent Increase in Rent During Games in London

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LONDONERS RACE TO CASH IN ON THE GAMES

· 62 per cent increase in short term property rentals listed on Gumtree.com

· Average rental price drops as homeowners look to fill their properties over July and August

Gumtree.com has seen a 62 per cent increase in adverts posted by Londoners looking to cash in on their homes and spare rooms in prime Olympic hotspots.

The average asking price for London short-term rentals has actually dropped by 24 per cent between May – June 2012, as homeowners become more realistic in their price expectations and the Games draw closer.

From studios to five-bedroom houses, Gumtree has seen more than 10,500 replies for London properties for rent during the Olympic period. According to the latest Gumtree.com site data, the average asking price for a 4-bedroom family home during the Olympics period is currently £2,377 per week and for a 1-bedroom apartment or room, it is £892 per week.

Gumtree.com has seen hundreds of savvy Londoners advertising spare rooms or sofas, renting their property out in its entirety, while other advertisers are trying to secure themselves a holiday by swapping their property for a week with those living overseas or in other parts of the UK.

Current ads live on the site include:

·         3-bedroom apartment, Euston £995 pw

·         2-bedroom apartment, Wapping £700 pw

·         2-bedroom apartment, Shoreditch £2,495 pw

·         1-bedroom apartment, Stratford £1,000 pw

 

 

Hamish Stone from Gumtree.com said: “With the Olympics starting this week we are seeing more and more Londoners looking to capitalise on their prime locations and get in on the Olympic fever sweeping the country. For anyone interested in renting out a room or home at the last minute, make sure that you highlight how close you are to the Olympic venues, flag transport links, and talk about any local events that visitors might be interested in in your area.”