Category Archives: Life & Style

Michael Rowan gets a taste of some of Kent’s finest food and drink, delivered to his door by Produced in Kent www.producedinkent.co.uk

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Produced in Kent is a comprehensive, reliable, and exciting go-to resource for finding the best local food and drinks producers in Kent. It is a dynamic network of the best independent food and drinks entrepreneurs in the county and they have come up with the imaginative ideas of the virtual hamper.

There is something about a hamper that appeals to my inner child. Maybe it is the array of delectable goodies that I wouldn’t necessarily treat myself to, maybe it just appeals to my inner glutton. Whatever it is, a hamper of whatever content, is a very welcome gift in my household.   However, come the New Year, there is the problem of what to do with the empty hamper. Too nice to throw away and too big to store.

Fear not, because those wizards of ‘Produced in Kent’ www.producedinkent.co.uk have come up with the perfect solution. Thanks to their scheme it is possible to order exactly what you want to make up your own hamper or even cut out the Hamper and fill a box or bag of your choice, maybe re use an empty hamper after all it is the contents that we are mostly interested in. Here is the perfect way to fill a virtual hamper. Follow Produced in Kent (PinK) on Instagram Twitter or Facebook.

                             

I began with the Fudge. Until now I have always maintained that fudge is fudge, very pleasant, but one piece is as good as another. I don’t know quite how to explain this, but this fudge really does taste of Christmas and my wife agrees. I mention this because I stupidly said that she could try a piece. It was whilst she was waxing lyrical about the fabulous flavours that I realised that we had different definitions of ‘a piece.’  The Luxury Fudge Kitchen Christmas Crackers: £3.50 each come as three generous squares contained in a Christmas cracker shaped box. With Sea Salted Caramel, Chocolate Orange and Speculoos : https://www.fudgekitchen.co.uk/en/products/luxury-red-and-bronze-christmas-crackers-set-of-6

If we are going to avoid the divorce courts, we are going to have to buy much more of this before Christmas.

If you are Vegan and cooking for yourself then I can thoroughly recommend the Vegan mixed herb mayonnaise to enliven anything and everything that is served for lunch or dinner.  If you are invited to dine away from home, then I would most certainly have this stored upon my person. This would be fantastic with salads, nut roasts and vegetarian wellington – so versatile and so tasty and even as a stocking filler for the vegan or vegetarian in your life. A Little Bit Food Co Mixed Herb Vegan Mayo £3.75 https://alittlebit.co.uk/products/mixed-herb-vegan-mayo

I suspect that this is a Christmas must have and I will be serving this chilled to anyone who doesn’t like alcohol and anyone who needs a rest from alcohol. I would be very happy to toast Christmas with this rather than a fizzy wine. It is crisp, refreshing and tastes as if each glass is crammed with fresh apples. It feels suitably celebratory, not too sweet and not too fizzy. This 100% sparkling apple juice is the first of its kind! Made using 100% apples with a light spark https://biddenden.myshopify.com/collections/juices/products/biddenden-sparkling-apple-juice. Sparkling Apple Juice from Biddenden Vineyard: £43.32 Case of 250ml x 24 bottles. Cheers.

                                        

Even as a lover of cherries I was a little perplexed at how I would use 1 litre of Dalloway’s Kentish Cherry Juice, but I needn’t have worried, as Shakespeare might have said ‘let me count the ways.’ Certainly, at Christmas there is a preponderance of heavy, rich foods, and quite right too, but equally at times there is the desire for something light, fresh and tasty. Poured over vanilla ice cream, the effects are transformative, added to tonic water or sparkling water will provide a delicious non alcoholic drink and added to a cocktail, will provide a delicious alcoholic one. I have yet to try adding to fruit destined for a crumble or pie, but it is only a matter of time. It could also be drunk neat, to get the full benefits of the juice of 3 kg of pressed cherries with nothing added, because the flavour is perfect. The cherry juice comes in 1 litre bottles Dalloway’s Kentish Cherry Juice. £7 https://rentacherrytree.co.uk/farm-shop/cherry-juice

It seemed strange to be trying the Macknade Christmas Pudding: £7.75 450g in November but I was very glad that I did. This is the traditional Christmas dessert, classic, delicious and jam-packed with vine fruits, generously soaked in rum & brandy. I have to confess that after just one mouthful I was well and truly in the Christmas spirit and you will not be at all surprised to learn that I didn’t stop at one mouthful. https://macknade.com/shop/macknade-larder/macknade-christmas-pudding/

If anything, I probably associate hops with Kent, more than anything else, so I was looking forward to trying the Foundry Man’s Gold – Flagship Golden Ale-£21.99 per case of 12, £13.99 for 6 or £10 in beer gift packs. 500ml bottles. Made from hops named Cascade and Magnum, this ale has the taste of spice, some citrus and grapefruit and is finely balanced with a subtle low-level bitterness with biscuit and caramel flavours. This ale will be great for Christmas but equally tasty throughout the year. Loved it. https://www.thefoundrycanterbury.co.uk/beers/foundry-gold/

I am of all things an aficionado of Gin, but like any aficionado I have my trusted favourites and am content not to interfere with the pecking order. That is, until I tried George Bishop London Dry Gin by Maidstone Distillery:  £39/£15/£5 which is a perfect balance of 15 exotic botanicals, warm Mediterranean orange combined with delicate spice.  Sweet citrusy notes from coriander and air-dried peels are balanced with the tangy piquance of tellicherry pepper, ambrette (musk mallow) and perfumed chamomile. This gin is delightful with a mixer, or in a cocktail. Each bottle is finished by hand, with handwritten batch and bottle number. https://themaidstonedistillery.com/george-bishop-london-dry-gin/

Produced in Kent www.producedinkent.co.uk have worked a Christmas miracle, bringing the Garden of England to the Christmas Hampers and Christmas Stockings of England and, I for one am rather glad that it is beginning to feel a lot like Christmas.

 

 

Living with Alzheimer’s – Bob has Covid by Chris Suich

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chris-bob-suich-living-alzheimers

The phone rang loudly punctuating the silence in the house. My stomach lurched wondering if this was the phone call where I would have to jump in the car to get to Bob as quickly as I could. A solemn voice softly spoken, ‘Duty to inform . . . Bob has tested positive.’ How awful. So he’d got it anyway and I never got to comfort him because of this threat.
It has been 252 days since I hugged my husband Bob. I have never felt such a mix of emotions. I have been rendered utterly powerless.  I have tried everything I can to have some contact.

At the beginning of this nightmare I stood in the street shouting up to the first floor window whilst two carers walked with him towards it. Then we progressed to bringing him downstairs to the Reception area where he sat in the wheelchair looking out at me through a closed window. Then I moved him to a care home that didn’t charge nearly a thousand pounds extra third party top-up fee which, as a part-time teacher, I couldn’t afford.

It was July. There was now a chance to see him outside for thirty mins under a canopy but strictly 2 metres apart – and definitely no touching. But then the carer was OK to touch him without PPE – but not me. I asked why ? I was living on my own, avoiding shops, summer holidays (so off work) but my hands were not deemed safe to hold my husband’s hands. He stretched out for them. He’d shout ‘Chris, Chris,’ and try to stand up in his wheelchair to get to me. I had to watch  from 2 metres  away, getting more and more upset. I begged for another visit at the weekend. Thirty minutes once a week was not enough. I was granted another visit at the window on a Sunday.

I read everything I could about the government guidance and wondered why things were not changing. Our son, Joe, a Covid doctor felt if I saw Bob outside in PPE (and as a frontline worker I was permitted a test which was always negative), I could mitigate the risk.  That wasn’t accepted either.

Meanwhile, Bob’s health and well-being was impacted. He became very sleepy. I’d visit at 11.10 am but he was often still in bed asleep.  I changed the time to 2.10 pm but he often was sleepy then. He wasn’t responsive, barely knew what was happening, and couldn’t focus on me or follow a conversation. He looked clean and tidy but his personality had gone. Bob had disappeared he was a shell of himself.

I wrote letters, several citing new guidance, the breaking of laws such as the Equality Act or Human Rights Act – the right to a family life. My local MP wrote to the regional manager and I wrote to Helen Whately, Minister for Social Care. I wrote to author, Nicci Gerrard after reading her article in the Observer one Sunday evening. She invited me to join a closed group, John’s Campaign set up in her father’s name. The carers on there became a great source of information, comfort and support. I was phoned up by the BBC’s Alison Holt who was doing a piece on how this nightmare had affected me personally. My name had been put forward, would I do a story? Yes,  I certainly would, and I had some film to show my trauma when Bob would scratch the window or shout for me to come in. The article was shown on the main BBC news at 6pm and the 10 o’clock news. Bob would have been so proud of myself and our son, Joe.

Over the past few weeks there seems to be a sea change and up and down the country managers are trying to include visitors safely, in sanitised rooms, pods, using Perspex screens or even plastic overalls. But the way forward for visitors is fragmented; it is pretty much up to the care home . The new guidance is exactly that, guidance. I rang Public Health England asking if they had sent information regarding visiting protocols to Bob’s home. No, not at the moment, they should follow government guidance. So I wrote to the regional manager myself to ask that. It was then that I found out there was a Covid outbreak.
How did that happen? No visitors still. So all that time, when I wanted to see Bob and hold his hands in the summer –  when the R rate was low and I was told I was a risk, it didn’t matter anyway because he was destined to get it from within the home. I know it spreads like wild fire. PPE protocols must be rigorous.
It is now a waiting game. Can Bob get over this? I hope so but I am worried, he is fragile, has impaired health already and respiratory illness.
Joe knows this disease, he has been on Covid wards since this it started. It might start mild but it can turn very quickly.
I have been told I can see my husband at end of life. What a shame.  We have lost so much time and all in vain.

ONLINE PLAY: Falling Stars at www.stream.theatre 22-29 November 2020 reviewed by Paul Vates

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“If songs from roughly a hundred years ago are your thing – this is a show for you!”

If songs from roughly a hundred years ago are your thing – this is a show for you! Conceived and written by the brilliant Peter Polycarpou, Falling Stars is a jam-packed hour full of songs familiar and, perhaps, unknown from the 1920s – many written by Charlie Chaplin! There are also numbers by Irving Berlin and Meredith Wilson, plus many more.

Peter (best known to fans of Birds Of A Feather as Chris Theodopolopodous) is joined by Sally Ann Triplett (most recently seen in Viva Forever! at the Piccadilly Theatre in the West End). Together and individually they embrace the songs with gusto and style. Full of factual information in-between the numbers, the production is directed by Michael Strassen, keeping a tight rein on the whole event. The show was originally planned as a live experience, but during lockdown a decision was made to create this filmed version – which can be viewed by following the links on www.stream.theatre.

Planned and executed over three days, with only one day of rehearsals, the show is a little rough at the edges, but more than makes up for it in energy. For all its bravado, for me the highlight is Peter’s touching rendition of Rose Of Picardy. However, the two do perform Yes, We Have No Bananas where the song actually makes sense!

Although thoroughly enjoyable, I feel this show really needs a live audience to respond to. However, at the moment, we’ve all gotta take what we can get!

.Photography Paul Nicholas Dyke

Producers Ginger Quiff Media and Union Theatre

Writer Peter Polycarpou

Director Michael Strassen

Music Mark Dickman

Running Time 60 minutes

Tickets www.stream.theatre

Shows Sunday 22nd to Sunday 29th November 2020 at 7.30pm

Saturday 28th and Sunday 29th November 2020 at 2.30pm

Price £15 (plus booking fee)

Twitter @Gingerqmedia, @TheUnionTheatre, @stream_theatre

Instagram @Gingerquiffmedia, @theuniontheatre

Christmas on the Home Front by Annie Clarke – Review

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October 1942: As Christmas approaches, the evacuees decide a pantomime is just what the village of Massingham needs.

Viola loves her new job away from the factory, and hopes that her romance with the handsome Ralph might have a happy ending. Meanwhile, married life is proving tough for Fran and Davey as they are forced apart by war work and an unexpected arrival on her doorstep turns her world upside down.

Following her husband’s shock confession, Beth finally feels as though she’s regaining control of her life, that is until he turns up . . .

A lot can happen on the home front, but Christmas is a time for family and friends, and the factory girls will do everything they can to ensure this year’s celebration is one to remember.

Do you need a big hug?

Well, Christmas on the Home Front will wrap its arms about you and make you feel loved and cosy as you turn the pages.

I feel like I’ve been waiting rather impatiently for the latest in the Home Front saga – and it was only July – but it’s been a loooong year. I have wondered what Frances, Sarah and Beth have been up to since we last met – that time it was Wedding Bells and this time it is most definitely about the children – because Christmas is about the children, isn’t it? But it’s about a whole lot of other things too. Especially in Massingham.

Our lovely girls are still working at the munitions factory and their mams are still making proggy rugs to sell to Briddlestones for extra cash. The evacuees are settled at Massingham Hall and the community does what it can to help – and oh, lord, little Eva, what a character, she made me laugh so much. There’s the hustle and bustle of everyday life and a panto to prepare for. And this is no ordinary pantomime I can tell you!

All life is here, in Christmas on the Home Front, it teems from the pages, and the love, hope and dreams of the tight community of Massingham shines from every line.  The times are tough, the people more so and they all pull together to help each other. As always, with any Annie Clarke book there is warmth and compassion in bucketloads.

All of the Home Front books can be read without having read any of the other titles but why deprive yourself. You’ll miss out on so much. I was worrying about poor Ralph the whole way through. Would he be able to redeem himself, would his secret past be revealed. To find out this and so many other things get yourself a copy, a cuppa and a big fat slice of cake and snuggle up to discover for yourself.

I sat up until the wee hours reading and had to stop myself at 2am to save the last chapters for the following evening. I wanted to savour the richness of the ending and I was not disappointed. I closed the book feeling warm and satisfied, and with the feeling that there are good people in the world, you can find them everywhere. I know these are fictional characters but they reminded me of so many people I know and have known – and that’s the magic spell Annie Clarke casts.

I feel I could catch a train when all this is over and find my way along the streets of Massingham. I’d stay there a while, walk to the beck where so many happy memories were made, along to Massingham Hall which would surely be a five star hotel by now.  Perhaps the landscape would have changed but the people would still have the strength and heartiness of the characters in this book. Don’t miss out on a hug!

Christmas on the Home Front 

Published by Arrow £6.99

About Annie Clarke

Annie Clarke’s roots are dug deep into the North East. She draws inspiration from her mother, who was born in a County Durham pit village during the First World War, and went on to became a military nurse during World War Two. Annie and her husband now live a stone’s throw from the pit village where her mother was born. She has written frequently about the North East in novels which she hopes reflect her love and respect for the region’s lost mining communities. Annie has four adult children and four granddaughters, who fill her and her husband’s days with laughter, endlessly leading these two elders astray.

Tea Break Theatre’s Sleeping Beauty? Streaming 17th December – 30th December 2020

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Turning a much-loved story on its head with an intriguing modern twist, Tea Break Theatre will present their new re-working of Sleeping Beauty?.

This live and interactive epic Zoom adventure will feature puppetry, original music and comedy. Everyone knows the story: in a faraway time and a faraway place, a beautiful Princess is asleep in a castle. But this time, it’s 2020, and that faraway tale is happening here and now. Prince wants to save the Princess, so sets off on an adventure with his faithful dog, Puff. Can he save the Princess and defeat the evil villain, Dreaver, who is determined to turn your own dreams against you, all in time for Christmas?

Written and directed by Katharine Armitage (Big Finish’s Doctor Who Audio Adventures; Funny Women Writing Award finalist, 2020), Sleeping Beauty? is a fairy-tale for the 21st century. Families will be transported into a magical fairy-tale world, while exploring the feelings of loneliness, community, and isolation that have been heightened during the Covid-19 lockdowns. This uplifting and enlightening tale will explore how being honest about our emotions and identity can help our mental wellbeing. Sleeping Beauty? hopes to help adults and children alike feel grounded and empowered, in what for many has felt like a chaotic and uncontrollable year.

Performers Felicity Sparks (Golem, BBC Four; A Christmas Carol, Pitlochry Festival Theatre), Alicia McKenzie (Blond Bombshells of 1943, Pitlochry Festival Theatre; The Wind in the Willows, New Vic Theatre), Chris Dobson (In The Night Garden Live, UK Tour; Bobbin, Little Angel Theatre) and Molly Small (A Wake In Progress, The Bunker, Pleasance and Underbelly; Beauty and the Beast, Sutton House) will engage with families directly in this live spectacle, while audiences remain on mute to enjoy this home adventure in their own individual way.

Katharine Armitage, writer and director of Sleeping Beauty?, comments, The power of theatre is that it is always there for us, whatever is happening, whatever the challenges, theatre finds a way to tell stories which both distract us and allow us to process the world we find ourselves in. By taking theatre online, but keeping it live and interactive, I hope to create something new and exciting: a form of theatre that actually would never have existed without the pandemic! I want to tell a story which will transport you and your kids to an epic adventure with all the magic, hope and joy we need right now. Ensuring theatre is accessible for all families this Christmas, Tea Break Theatre will be using a ‘pay what you can’ ticketing system, where low cost and free tickets are available for those who need them most.

Title Sleeping Beauty? Dates Thursday 17th December – Wednesday 30th December 2020

10.30am performances – 20th, 22nd, 23rd December 5pm performances – 17th, 18th, 20th, 21st, 28th and 30th December 7pm performances – 18th, 21st, 22nd, 29th December

Running Time 50 minutes

Tickets: Tickets are available as ‘pay what you can’ from £5.

Advanced booking is available here: www.ticketsource.co.uk/teabreaktheatre

Twitter @teabreaktheatre Instagram @tea.break.theatre Facebook @teabreaktheatre Hashtag #NotAsleep, #SleepingBeauty? Website https://www.teabreaktheatre.com

Age Guidance Age 3+, perfect for children aged 4 to 9.

PHOTOGRAPHER ADRIAN HOUSTON LAUNCHES NEW COLLECTION OF BESPOKE MURALS AND LARGE-SCALE ART PIECES

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Grand Hotel Royal Bedroom Italy

Determined to highlight how trees connect us all on a universal level, photographer Adrian Houston’s acclaimed retrospective, A Portrait of a Tree, succeeded in reaching, and indeed surpassing, his original goal.

Inspired by this success, Adrian decided to introduce these powerful and extraordinarily beautiful images to a new audience as Eclipse puts them centre stage in an exclusive and bespoke new collection of luxury murals and art pieces. Adrian spent several years photographing trees that held a very special meaning for a diverse group of individuals, among them actresses Joanna Lumley and Goldie Hawn, Pink Floyd drummer Nick Mason and Sir Richard Branson. Locations included Madagascar, Ibiza, France and the UK. Now captured in this stunning series, the magnificence and atmosphere of each tree will create a stylish and dramatic statement for both contemporary and period properties.

A private home in London UK

It was back in the 1700s that murals were  first used as a replacement for tapestries and taken as a sign of great wealth. Since then they have been viewed as a timeless luxury interior design item, adding a distinctive look and feel to a home. This ephemeral collection will similarly transform any space.

Says Adrian Houston, “Murals have always been an important medium for communication and information. From prehistoric times onwards, they have served to educate as well as enhance the living space. I am delighted that my tree portraits will carry on this time-honoured tradition.”

Added Graham Hayhurst, MD of Adrian Houston Art: “Adrian Houston enjoys a global reputation as a photographer who sees the natural world from a very personal perspective. His powerful photographs serve as a timely reminder of the contrasts our world offers and the importance of preserving them. We are delighted to have the opportunity to translate this iconic artwork into large scale decorative murals.”

Tyringham Hall sitting room UK

Employing the latest technologies and the skills of its in-house design team, Eclipse will ensure the murals remain true to Adrian’s original vision. In line with Adrian’s own eco-friendly ethos, the electronic print process reduces plastics and solvent emissions found in more traditional printing processes.

In addition, the use of non-woven material significantly reduces the use of paper and consequently the natural wood products required to make it.

The Portrait of a Tree Collection will be produced to customer bespoke dimensions as limited edition of 50 prints.

Mural pricing starts at £330 per square metre. Art pieces measuring three metres by two metres are priced at £9000.

Images are credited to Adrian Houston

Commercial enquiries should be directed to Graham Hayhurst  ( graham.hayhurst@sky.com. )

Now What Napkins – Something Good Out of Lockdown? – by Award Winning Author Dr Kathleen Thompson

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I must say it’s always uplifting and inspiring to hear of those special people who grasp opportunities from even the most difficult situations.

Take 31 year old Pippa Kent for example – having had a double lung transplant, she needed to shield throughout the first Covid lockdown. So after thirteen weeks of house arrest, having become bored of the incessant circulating toilet paper jokes, TikTok and staring at her four walls (maybe this says more about me than Pippa), she started designing and making beautiful table Napkins. At first they were intended for personal use, just for her and her husband and to help her de-stress, but when friends and family saw them, they begged her to make some for them too. So one thing led to another and now she’s selling them as a business. Well done Pippa.

The Napkins are beautiful. Lovely soft 100% cotton, hand tie-dyed in beautiful colours and designs ranging from delicate pastels to striking deeper shades.

They come beautifully wrapped and with a note from Pippa herself. Prices start at just £12 for two Napkins, up to £35 for a set of eight.

The Napkins became so popular that Pippa has expanded her range to Tea Towels – which I just love – in fact I had to open mine up to show its full glory in the picture below. Like the Napkins they are cotton, but thicker for absorbency and at £8 make a really unusual and attractive Christmas gift.

And guess what? There’s more. Now you can also buy table runners and tote bags. How about a Tote and matching Tea Towel for £15?

I have the feeling this is just the start for this great company, based in Battersea, so watch out for more products.

Pippa’s designs and colours are lovely, but if you wanted something specific she offers a bespoke service too.

You can see more of her lovely designs on her Facebook page and Instagram, and you can buy them on Etsy.

Why not check out her special Christmas range for your gift list?

By Dr K Thompson, award-winning author of From Both Ends of the Stethoscope: Getting through breast cancer – by a doctor who knows

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01A7DM42Q http://www.amazon.com/dp/B01A7DM42Q

http://faitobooks.co.uk

Note: These articles express personal views. No warranty is made as to the accuracy or completeness of information given and you should always consult a doctor if you need medical advice.

Australian Fitness Expert Shares Top 10 Takeaways From Over 100 Celebrity and Model Diets and Workouts

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fitness expert, fitness and diet tips, lose weight, Australian personal trainer and nutritionist Rachael Attard is sharing the most coveted secrets from celebrities and models – the exercise and diet plans that are responsible for their amazing figures. The influential fitness expert has gathered and studied the workout and diet regimens of more than 100 celebrities and models, and is now sharing her top 10 takeaways to inspire and educate others.

“Celebrities are in the spotlight and constantly demonstrating the highest standards of health and fitness,” said Attard. “Their exercise and diet routines are among the top questions I get from clients, so I’ve taken a close look at their strategies to share with others who might want to try them for the same amazing results.”

TOP WORKOUTS:

Cardio is top-of-mind for everyone when it comes to weight loss, maintenance and getting toned, and celebrities are no exception. Boxing is the go-to cardio workout for many, including leading ladies Jennifer Aniston, Salma Hayek, Kate Beckinsale and Sophie Turner; singer Dua Lipa and models Hailey Bieber and Lais Ribeiro.

Low impact exercise options such as Pilates or yoga are popular among singer Dua Lipa; actresses Margot Robbie and Emma Stone; and iconic model Naomi Campbell, who enjoy this mindful option following days of intense cardio or strength training sessions.

Among the more alternative fitness options, superstar singers Beyoncé, Jennifer Lopez, Ariana Grande and Taylor Swift are able to burn calories while rehearsing for tours with dance-based cardio, giving them the toned legs and defined abs on stage that are the envy of everyone.

Celebrities who call Los Angeles home, including model Kaia Gerber, are likely to go hiking – taking advantage of the many trails with close views of the infamous Hollywood sign.

Resistance training, also known as strength training, is the exercise of choice for model Sofia Richie; actresses Penelope Cruz, Emma Stone, Kate Beckinsale and Sophie Turner; and singer Adele who revealed a major weight loss earlier this year. This method utilizes resistance to muscular contraction to build muscle and improve anaerobic endurance.

TOP DIETS:

Among the most consistent diet tips from celebrities and models is to drink plenty of water. Countless celebrities attribute hydration to not only getting them through workouts, but making them feel full while also ensuring healthy skin.

Smoothies are among the most popular breakfast and lunch choices for celebrities, including singer Ariana Grande, Australian model Belle Lucia, former Spice Girl Victoria Beckham and actresses Emma Stone, Kate Beckinsale and Sophie Turner.

A dose of healthy fat in the form of avocado on toast is the go-to lunch for Pussy Cat Doll and Masked Singer host Nicole Scherzinger, while a commitment to regular juice cleanses has proven successful for actresses including Salma Hayek.

An eating pattern that cycles between periods of fasting an eating is a current trend called intermittent fasting, which is popular among actresses Vanessa Hudgens and Scarlett Johansson. Regardless of the fasting cycle chosen, each option reduces caloric intake for weight loss or maintenance.

“When it comes to clean eating and counting calories, celebrities are committed to a consistent lifestyle of healthy choices, but fall victim to cheat meals just like the rest of us,” said Attard. “Celebrities almost unanimously agree that pizza is their downfall, including actress Vanessa Hudgens.”

Rachael Attard is a certified personal trainer and nutritionist who holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Queensland, a Cert III and IV from the Australian Institute of Fitness, and a Certificate in Sports Nutrition from the International Society of Sports Nutrition. She is best known for her 3 Steps to Lean Legs Program, developed from her years of training women and helping them feel good in their skin, and fall in love with exercise and their bodies. Her in-depth blog post featuring the diet and exercise regimens of 100 celebrities and models can be found online, at https://www.rachaelattard.com/category/blog.