My 24 Week Skin Care Challenge - week 5 SUNBURN!

Meet Donna  - the skincare guru from Ibuki Health for my 24 week skin care challenge with Environ. Donna tells it like it is - so there is no hiding from the fact my skin is sun damaged and really in need of some TLC and repair.
I haven't told her yet that I got badly sunburned yesterday while walking the dog...whoops - the first time in YEARS.


It's week 5 of my skin care challenge with Donna and Environ,   I have to say I can feel and see a change! My skin feels firmer, fresher and bounces back from dehydration and being tired a lot quicker than before.


We were discussing last week how most people will pay more for a quick fix of products that will get weight loss or make them look younger for example but very few put the hard work into maintaining and nurturing what they already have. 


The body is an amazing thing-> it regenerates, rewards and keeps on giving us second chances despite the bad environments, lack of attention and 'take it for granted' approach.

My fav product this week the CBoost!

The majority of my clients rate more time spent on work or others than on their own personal well being. If you want to look and feel your personal best then you have to make it your business to do so. Getting started does not have to be expensive. But you need to start looking after your skin NOW if you haven't already.  If you are going to invest in what you put onto your skin then it's worth doing your research and make sure you can have trusted sources that will give you the best advise for your needs and goals. It may change as time goes on but that's where great experts in skincare can tailor products and programs to you.  I'm exceptionally lucky to have tried Environ before years ago so when I met with Daphne, Kelly, Eddie & Krista & co at Margi Fox Distributors I knew the product was fantastic - I just needed to be open to the idea my skin was going need attention with at home products and some key salon treatments before it recovered from years of being outside for work. 


What you put in your body effects how your skin looks too:

Think about what you are putting in your body as well as on your skin. Make sure 70% of your diet is from fresh fruit, vegetables and lean sources of protein. Have a go saying no to dairy for a while to give your digestive system the best advantage to absorb nutrients, vitamins and minerals. Even in Australia where there is loads of sun many people are vitamin D deficient - and this is an important vitamin for the absorption of calcium for healthy bones. Vitamin E, C and A are skin boosters. Be aware of what your natural environment and daily diet is serving you in terms of vitamins and minerals. Ask your health care or pharmacy vitamin specialist to check levels for you.


Overall FRESH IS BEST. The more processed the food the worse it is for you.  So as I'm embarking on the 24 Week Skin Care Challenge I also need to pay attention to having a healthy, fresh and inspiring diet to give my skin all the support it needs to repair, rebuild and feel fantastic!  


Looking forward to getting some new products this week as I think I am going up to the Sequence range...exciting! 


Don't forget to comment if you have questions or feedback you'd love to share! 
Nikki
www.lifesagym.com

nikki@lifesagym.com


www.ibukihealth.com

www.margifox.com.au

Bike Maintenance 101 - looking after your investment

Thanks to specialist cycle and tri shop Le Cyclo Sportif  triathlete and shop owner Greg has put together top tips for keeping your favourite bike in the best condition:

1. Wash your bike after every ride in the rain

2. Wash your bike once a week if it doesn't rain

3. Use diluted, 20:1, CT18 truck wash sprayed over the whole bike to wash it. Buy it at SuperCheap autos.

4. Wipe the braking surface on your wheels clean with a dry rag.

5. Check tyres for glass and remove any fragments with a sharp object before they cause you a puncture

6. If your tyres are split or starting to take a square, rather than round, profile replace them

7.Buy and ride on training tyres with good puncture protection such as Maxxis Refuse.

8. Carry a spare tube, tyre levers and a pump with you

9. Learn how to change a flat. We are happy to show you the right technique.

10 If you crash, drop your bike or travel with your bike, make sure the rear derailleur clears the wheel spokes when in the easiest gear BEFORE riding.

11. Buy a Torque wrench and use it to check that all stem and aerobar bolts are tight from time to time AND everytime you travel. Torque wrenches are relatively cheap now ($119) and easy to use. If you buy it from us we will show you how to use it and the correct tensions for your bike.

Want to find out more  - be warned if you're online or in store it's hard not to want to upgrade your trusty steed for a new bike bling!

Enjoy and happy cycling - Nikki

Life's a Gym and Le Cyclo Sportif recently held a women's bike maintenance workshop - stay tuned for the next workshop on  Life's a Gym Facebook  and due to request it's for guys & girls!

Stop in and say hi to Greg & Jo if you are in Noosa:
Le Cyclosportif
Noosa Junction
Ph (07) 5447 4466 cycling@lecyclosportif.com

The business of becoming your personal best, by Nikki Fogden-Moore

How can you achieve your absolute personal best? By making YOU a real priority and putting a personal goal at the top of your list. The best kind of wealth is your health.

I'll be writing a three part series on the Business of Becoming Your Personal BestTM  - how to define what that is, creating a toolkit to get you there and how to be resilient and bounce back from the guaranteed challenges that might take you off course. 


For the purpose of Life's a Gym and for our clients we will focus on personal best in wellness, health & fitness - but you can apply these principles to any part of your life - relationships, work and family.


Successful people never stop learning - and they never stop learning about themselves. Real achievement comes from the constant journey of personal development, being open to change and new situations and being optimistic with your future as life throws us curve balls. Conviction and courage are the most magnificent partners in progress!


Remember you are in charge. You are responsible for your life, your reactions to situations and people are what you create in the time ahead. Once you accept responsibility for yourself and the key areas of your life nothing can hold you back! 


First up is defining a set of goals that are tangible, defined and as accurate as possible. 
(There are NO boundaries):

1. Take a sheet of paper and start with your Dream Sheet
2. List everything you would love to achieve, create, master and be within the next 12 months - make it longer if you like.
3. Where do you see yourself in 5 years (be as SPECIFIC as possible - how you look, kg, fitness, races/milestones, food and enjoyment - what can you see yourself doing, who are you surrounded by and where..you can extend this to job, home, family, travel etc)
4. Identify the top 5 most important goals within your 12 month list. (Why are they important to you - they should be the ones that effect your life the most and will make the most impact).
5. Find the 1 goal that if you could achieve within the next 24 hours it would make everything else fall into place (it could be about losing 10kg, having money for a fantastic personal trainer, becoming a certified instructor yourself, taking your family on an Eco holiday, conquering an adventure or reducing your cholesterol - anything goes)
6. Put this 1 goal at the top of a page and write 20 things you will need to make that happen - hours per week, resources, people, meals, financial needs - everything you think will make that goal a reality.

That's the first step done:

• Clearly defined goal
• List of how you are going to make it happen

Questions? you can leave a comment and we're here to help!


Next issue is about finding your dream team  - the people who are going to support and aid you to achieve your goal. Questions to ask personal trainers, how to get the most out of your gym membership, selecting coaches and clubs, finding races and milestones and your team of experts!


Remember it's up to YOU to Create the life YOU want.


Nikki 


www.lifesagym.com
Life's a Gym on Facebook & Twitter @Lifes_A_Gym
Your personal guide to feeling fantasticTM.

Life's a Gym team up for with A list resort for Wellness in the Workplace

Life's a Gym are working together with the Outrigger Hotels & Resorts  in Noosa and the Gold Coast to provide vitality vouchers that enable conference and event organisers to seamlessly integrate an element of wellness into their program - for FREE!


The special offer voucher entitles each booking of a certain number of people to access the VIP vitality program with Life's a Gym and select a Wake Up Workout or tailored one hour program for their group.

No matter what the age, level of fitness or role in the company we are here to create a bespoke inspiration session that will empower those attending to consider integrating some simple but effective fitness or food options into their daily lives - 

We love working together with the Outrigger Resort & Spa group as their vision reflects ours for nature, harmony and a commitment to excellence for guests  - whether individual clients or groups. Nikki Fogden-Moore founder of Life's a Gym

This promotion will kick off 2012  as a great year for people to focus on sharing knowledge and resource with their employees to assist with lowering stress levels, improving performance, overall health and reducing the amount of sick leave or burn out. After all healthy people  = healthy profit.

For more information on booking your conference, team building or strategy session at the Outrigger Resort & Spa group in Australia contact Sophie or email nikki@lifesagym.com about our specialist Corporate Vitality Programs.


For the latest article on the importance of wellness in the workplace read it online at CBA Women In Focus


Yours in health & vitality


Life's a Gym


www.lifesagym.com
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Lifes-A-Gym/158534920826855


 

24 Week Skin Care Challenge with Environ & Ibuki

Nothing is more humbling than seeing the effects on your skin from years outside, in the sun, ocean and elements than agreeing to do a 24 week skincare challenge. In January 2012 I've embarked on a revealing and hopefully regenerating experience of repairing some sun damaged skin and sharing my experience.


Luckily Margi Fox who are the stockists for the skincare range Environ and my favourite mineral SPF make up Jane Iredale - have teamed me up with the best in the business on the coast ->  Donna Gordon from the wellness and anti ageing clinic Ibuki health. 


What's in it for me? Well this is not about paid endorsement but rather a frank, sincere and open view of the fact it's never too late to start reversing the effects of sun, wind and oxidant damage. I'm always willing to try the journey and be able to share with our clients, so count me in. 


The team at Margi Fox is lead for this project by Daphne who has years in the beauty industry herself as a therapist now working on Environ Qld. The Ibuki clinic in Noosaville set up by Dr Viv Taylor has specialist  skin  therapist  Donna Gordon doing the more intense treatments. Note this is just about using standard products, no IPL, or invasive techniques - just a matter of personalising the treatment for your skin - like fitness and nutrition every body is different, every skin is different. 




Weeks 1-3
The first step was to set up at home with pre cleanse oil (my fav) gel, cleanser, toner, serum gel, AVTS 2 & 3 and eye gel  -supplemented by C Boost and Alpha Hydroxy Lotion for the evening. Sounds like a lot but 'cocktailed' together it's a super easy routine and I needed to repair my skin before starting the treatments with Donna...


So far I've had an intro appointment with Environ expert Kelly and then 3 treatments with Donna - the result so far definitely a more supple feeling and more hydrated skin ->  plus after the treatments it positively glows for days.
Apparently I'm to expect more pigmentation before it gets less (I wasn't even aware I had any - just thought that was freckles :)).  Alarmed by the wires?  It's a deeper treatment to infuse the essential ingredients deeper into the dermal layers after a peel...


Exciting! I'm meeting up with Daphne this week to assess progress so far and see what at home products I'll need to maintain the work with the weekly treatments...no use having a PT unless you do the hard work between! 




Till next week!

Nikki

Life's a Gym go live with the Women's Health & Fitness Mag for iPad

Australian Women's Health & Fitness Mag launched their new mag for iPad version today and we're excited to be a part of the first ever digital issue. Packed full of tips, tools, videos and workouts. Download yours now! http://itunes.apple.com/wa/app/womens-health-fitness-magazine/id486596443?ls=1&mt=8 

Special Offer Bodibreaks with Virgin Australia

Need 4 or 5 days of the rockstar treatment for total health, fitness & pampering..! This IS THE way to start your new year!

http://www.virginaustralia.com/au/en/specials-offers/holiday-specials/holiday-packages/bodibreaks/