LighterLife - Fast 5:2

Eat low-fat foods. Exercise more. Skip meals. Don’t skip meals. Fast. We have all been given different suggestions for weight loss, but which ones actually work?

Here at The Amazing Blog we do not generally approve of dieting; however, LighterLife Fast 5:2 products provide a healthy way to lose or maintain weight through intermittent fasting.

Normally when we hear the word “fast,” we run for the hills because who wants to limit the amount of food they eat?

Intermittent fasting generally involves cutting calorie intake to around a quarter of what you would usually eat for just two days a week. The rest of the week you can eat how you always eat.

Why should you try this you might ask? Intermittent fasting is perfect for shedding a few pounds or keeping your weight in check. Plus, it’s easy and nutritious without the hassle of cooking, food shopping and calorie counting.

On each fasting day, you will be consuming 600 calories while still getting 100% of your recommended daily allowances of key minerals, vitamins, protein and fibre. With LighterLifeFastpacks, you have a choice between savoury meals such as Spaghetti Bolognese and Pasta Carbonara, Porridge, four shakes (vanilla, strawberry, banana and chocolate) and four meal bars (nut fudge, crispy peanut, cranberry & raspberry and toffee).

Our executive editor tried it for a week and was quite impressed that she didn’t feel hungry, even after consuming only 600 calories. She had a combination of all of the Fastpacks and her favourite was the bars. She felt they really stopped her snacking. She wasn’t so keen on the soups and shakes, but she did enjoy the porridge and pasta carbonara.

If you think this is a great way to maintain a sustainable lifestyle, you can purchase a box of four Fastpacks exclusively at Superdrug stores across the UK and Ireland for £7.99. A box of four is enough for one day of fasting. If you aren’t sure whether this product is for you, you can receive complementary media trials to sample the products first hand and then make your decision!

Zaggora Hotpants Giveaway

As regular readers of The Amazing Blog may or may not know I'm currently training for a half marathon. I recently completed a 10k Race For Life in aid of Cancer Research and, still high on adrenaline the next day I (somewhat foolishly) decided to enter myself for the Royal Parks Half taking place on October 7th.

And now that I like to think of myself as a serious athlete (ahem), I decided my bobbled grey jogging bottoms were no longer up to scratch, particularly given the amount of rather hunky rugby players I came into contact with on my evening runs around Clapham Common. And so, having stumbled across copious articles praising the latest Zaggora HotPants, which have been worn by a plethora of celebrities including both Denise Richards and home-grown Holly Willoughby, I thought I'd give these so called miracle pants a go.

Available in a number of eye catching colours, including hot pink, bright blue and lime green, the Zaggora HotPants are certainly not for the light hearted. And having taken two years to research and develop, the HotPants were launched to help women maximise the effect of their workouts and get more for less - something we ladies at The Amazing Blog certainly like to hear. The HotPants increase the core body temperature by an average of 18% more than the control garment, which leads to an increase in metabolism. Following rigorous testing, the results showed that in 30 minutes of exercise, weight loss is around 4x greater in HotPants than in a standard garment. And while I'm certianly no scientist and would struggle to explain the reasoning behind such weight loss, I believe it is something to do with the fabric of the HotPants (rather similar to that of a wetsuit) which causes excessive sweating, and thus an increase in calorie burning. Having worn the Zaggora HotPants on many of my runs while training for the half marathon, I can confirm that your sweat levels reach a point I have never previously known; even my calves were sweating by the time I had finished; and peeling them off was a chore in itself. While they certainly aren't uncomfortable to wear, my body temperature was noticeably higher than when I wear standard running leggings, and you definitely feel like you've worked out to your core - which can't be a bad thing!

So, whether you're hankering after an A-Listers work out wardrobe, fancy some new exercise gear, or are simply in it for the huge increase in the effectiveness of exercise, head to www.zaggora.com to bag yourself a pair of these fabulous HotPants.

And if you want to be in with the chance of winning a pair of Zaggora's fabulous Hotpants simply email amazing@amazing.co.uk PR with your full name and address by Friday 10th of August when two lucky winners will be drawn randomly from a hat. Good luck!

Purifyne

We've all heard every celebrity and their mother rave about juice cleanses. Whether it's the body of Gwyneth Paltrow, Beyonce, or Miranda Kerr you're after, there are hundreds of juice cleanses out there that claim to be the holy grail. As most girls are, I'm constantly on the look out for anything to help me shift a few pounds, and these juice detoxes claim to do that. So, purely in the name of research, I tried the Purifyne Bespoke 1-Day Cleanse to see if juice cleanses really live up to their hype. The juices for your cleanse arrive at your door (or office if you're like me) the day you want to start your cleanse, making sure they're as fresh as possible - after-all they're the only thing going into your body for at least 24 hours. I just thought I'd receive the juices and a pamphlet and be ready to go, but Purifyne makes sure that you know exactly when and how you should be taking your juices. Along with a schedule sheet, you also receive supplements, and a variety of powders to mix into your juices to maximise your cleanse. One of the things that makes the Purifyne cleanses great is the attention to the individual: you have to fill out a client form full of your health concerns to make sure that your Purifyne cleanse is suited to you. Knowing that Purifyne is really looking out for your health and wellness made the whole process a lot easier! Now all the information is out of the way I can tell you how the juices actually tasted! You receive four juices for the 1-Day cleanse, and they're all different. I absolutely love fruits and vegetables so I actually really enjoyed the juices. There were unexpected combinations, such as Melon, Cucumber & Mint, which was my favourite (super refreshing). Along with detoxifying your body, some benefits from a Purifyne cleanse are reduced tiredness, improved digestion, cellulite reduction and improved sleep.

Now of course you could go to the shop and stock up on lemon juice and cayenne pepper, but if you want to be healthy and smart about your cleanse, do some research and find which one will work best for you. Onto the results of the cleanse. I did lose 3 pounds after my 1-day cleanse, which while not massive, is definitely something. I really did feel like my body had detoxed itself a bit, I can't describe it well, but you just feel a bit fresher. I'm not sure if I would have enough will power to do a longer cleanse, but having a result like that would be motivation in the future. The juices tasted lovely, Purifyne were helpful and health conscious throughout the entire process, and it was all in all a great experience!

If you would like to do a Purifyne cleanse, make sure you consult your doctor first. Cleanses are available from £85.00 to book on their website, and they have a variety of detoxifying cleanses to suit your lifestyle. Delivery is also free within London. Happy cleansing!

Miracle Noodle

If you're like me you love a nice bowl of pasta, however, you probably don't like all the calories either. Nothing compares to a hearty plateful of carbohydrates, but The Amazing Blog has found something that comes pretty close: Miracle Noodles. These amazing little packages really are quite miraculous. If you've never heard of them, they're noodles which are wheat, soy, and gluten free. They have no carbohydrates, and only 5 calories per serving. Yes, five. If it sounds a bit unbelievable, it's not. Miracle Noodles are made from a naturally water soluble fiber called glucomannan which contains no fat, sugar or starch. These noodles are a perfect substitute for regular noodles, pasta and rice, as they easily absorb the flavours of any soup, dish, or sauce. As they're all natural, this 'miracle' fiber is actually good for you, unlike other low-calorie options. If you have diabetes or high cholesterol and need a healthy alternative to regular carbohydrates Miracle Noodles are perfect for you. If you're just looking to shift a few pounds, these noodles are great for you too. As the glucomannan fiber acts to slow digestion, it makes you feel fuller for longer. This slowing of digesting also helps you absorb more of the nutrients from your food. Miracle Noodles are available in Angel Hair, Rice, Fettucini and more on their website, the meal combinations are pretty much endless with these noodles.

Whether its the health benefits or a weight loss plan, pick up some Miracle Noodles and you definitely won't miss regular carbohydrates.

Organic Burst

Summer seems to be fast approaching and if you are anything like me you are still struggling to achieve that perfect bikini body. No matter how healthy you try to eat or how often you go to the gym, your body is insistent on holding onto those pesky extra pounds. I have constantly struggled to find something that would help me lose that last bit of weight that is always the hardest. Thankfully, my coworkers at The Amazing Blog introduced me to the Organic Burst Acai Berry Capsules.

Organic Burst Acai Berry Capsules are a completely organic supplement to one’s diet. I have been using them for a few weeks now and I have certainly noticed a difference in myself. While I had initially hoped they would have an influence on my weight loss programme, I did not realize how many other areas these capsules would benefit. Since I have begun taking two capsules in the morning and two at night I have noticed that my skin has improved and is much more clear and moisturized than ever before. My energy levels have also increased and I am not as lethargic during long work days as I once found myself to be ever since I started with the Acai Berry capsules. What's more, the capsules are filled with antioxidants and contain large amounts of Vitamin E which prevent premature ageing of both skin and organs.

I was interested to learn that the use of Acai berries started in the Brazilians’ diet centuries ago since they are high in dietary fibre and are a natural source of Omega-3. Organic Burst picks all their acai berries locally  and the vegan capsules are 100% pure and not an extract. In addition, there are never any harmful pesticides or chemicals used during their farming or production which ensures that they are organic and very healthy (this is what made the Organic Burst brand of acai berry capsules more appealing to us at The Amazing Blog compared to others on the market). All in all, I have been thrilled with the results of the capsules and do not plan to stop using them any time soon. For £18.90, you can purchase a 90 capsule bottle on their website here and be on your way to not only the perfect swimsuit shape but also a much healthier body inside and out!