Best self help books

We’ve put our feet up and had a good read to bring you some of the best self-help books out there.
 
There is a lot of controversy over self-help books and if they actually work, however top psychological experts do recommend them as the next best thing to seeking therapy when looking for inspiration and support in changing our habits or coping with life’s stresses. In fact, self-help books are among some of the best-selling books out there, maybe because they are not overtly marketed as self-help but as manuals on how to cope with aspects of your life.

So to find out what the fuss was about, I dug into three of some of the most highly rated and here’s what I discovered:

The Secret by Rhonda Bryne

A firm favourite of Oprah, who tirelessly campaigned to put this book on every bookshelf in America, The Secret raked in a reported $300 million within a year of its release. Written by a formally unemployed Australian TV producer, The Secret teaches you how to make all your dreams come true and challenges you into positive thinking and to start creating life-changing results in all aspects of your life such as wealth, health and happiness. Based on the underlying concept of laws of attraction, the book teaches you that when you think a thought, you attract similar thoughts and as a result you create your future life. It is an incredible book if you open up your mind and can be a life changing experience for those who read it.

£10.49, amazon.co.uk

How to Stop Worrying and Start Living by Dale Carnegie 
 
A simple but challenging thing, worrying is now a major part of most people’s lives causing misery, fear and depression. Yet this classic novel from Carnegie offers a set of practical formulas that we, as readers can put into action every single day, teaching you lessons that will stay with you for the rest of your life and help you to make it happier. To this day, more than six million people have learnt how to eliminate fear and worry, embracing a full and active lifestyle. A fascinating read and easy to apply, it deals with fundamental emotions and ideas, so embrace the advice and let it change and improve the way you handle life.

£6.29, amazon.co.uk

The Power of Now: A guide of Spiritual Enlightenment by Eckhart Tolle

Simple and clear, Tolle’s writing is supportive and allows readers to really understand the concept and power of ‘living in the now’. While not originally fresh, Tolle is able to explain complicated concepts in an accessible way and encourages individuals to be more conscious of how thoughts and emotions get in the way of their ability to live in genuine peace and happiness. A challenging journey, The Power of Now can radically change lives for the better as it helps people embrace their true self. A book to be revisited again and again, The Power of Now is an international bestseller, inspiring those that read it today like it did a decade ago.

£6.99, m.waterstones.com

Post-Holiday blues

Suffering from a cast of the post-holiday blues? We’re here to here to make sure you feel awesome all autumn.


We all know how much coming back from summer holidays can be depressing and stressful, sinking back into endless emails, boring household tasks and miserable weather but research has shown that it also has a negative effect on our concentration and mood levels in the work place. British Summer fruits conducted a study, which found that on average it takes Brits around four days to reach their usual level of productivity with lack of concentration being the worst side effect. In fact, nearly 17% of participants admitted to making silly mistakes on important tasks and missing deadlines. Yikes!

Post summer, as the need to be beach-body perfect passes we tend to let the pounds creep on. Leading nutritionist Dora Walsh says ‘low mood and low concentration are key symptoms of the post-holiday blues but a snack of sweets will only exacerbate this by giving people a sugar high and an almighty crash soon after’.

But don’t panic, we have pulled together a list of top tips to beat these negative symptoms, stop you from piling on the pounds and actually improve your productivity at work.

Watch your snacks

Resist the temptation to snack on a chocolate bar and instead prepare a bowl of healthy fruit with a spoon of natural yogurt in advance. Dora recommends including lots of berries as ‘they are high in resveratrol polyphenols, which keep our blood flowing to the brain – essential when trying to catch up on a week’s work and battle the dreaded email inbox.

they are high in resveratrol polyphenols, which keep our blood flowing to the brain

Use your holiday to give your daily routine a boost

Elaine Magee, Doctor for WebMD’s weight-loss clinic says that a holiday can actually kick start a healthy eating routine, ‘usually, whilst away you eat out a lot so when you come home, everyone is looking forward to home-cooked meals. So embrace that and use it for motivation into cooking healthy meals rich in vitamins and nutrients’.
Try these speedy recipes to get you in the mood.
Avocado supreme
½ avocado – rich in omega-6 fats, great for brain function
Handful of prawns
Buckwheat noodles – packed with vitamin B for a healthy nervous system
Chopped garlic
Simply mix all the above together.
Blueberry brain booster smoothie
1 cup of blueberries – increase blood flow to the brain for increased concentration
1 banana – tryptophan is a precursor to serotonin and melatonin, so helps boost your mood
2 cups of oat milk
1 pinch of cinnamon – helps to regulate blood sugar
1 tablespoon of manuka honey – great for your immunity
1 scoop of whey powder – helps keeps you full and boosts muscle recovery

Get some early nights

Don’t overdo it as you step off the plane and avoid scheduling in lots of social activities the week you get back in favour of an early night. Lack of sleep affects so many aspects of our lives and by getting in the zzzs you’ll be much more alert at work without having to reach for the caffeine.

Take your lunch break

Despite the heavy workload, remember to take your lunch break and get away from your desk. One of the reasons why we feel so great when we are on holiday is because we are outdoors much more than usual, so get out and spend more time in natural daylight as it will help to boost the levels of happy endorphins in your brain.

Get active 

Surprisingly, most people don’t put weight on while away because they tend to be more active –such as walking around tourist attractions, running after children or swimming in the sea. So use this as motivation to start including more exercise in your life, whether it’s walking instead of getting the bus halfway or increasing the number of times you hit the gym, not only will it keep you fit but it boosts your energy and mood levels.

Fitness First Home Run

Want to combine your commute with your workout? Fitness First Home Run could save you time and get you fit


Calling all Londoners! If you want to kill two birds with one stone and get fit on your commute home why not sign up to the Fitness First Home Run? Rewriting your journey home, the expert team have put together a variety of guided routes for commuters to join and run home their way. Fast or slow, beginner or marathon runner, everyone can get involved as the Fitness First team take the hassle, frustration and most importantly bags out of your journey.
Running home is such a great way to squeeze a workout into a hectic lifestyle and Home Run London leaves no excuse for missing your weekly workouts due to work commitments, lack of time or hassle of carrying bags. Taking away the fear of getting lost and the burden of heavy bags, the guided tours are there to help commuters not only find an easier, stress-free way of getting home but also an opportunity to increase fitness levels, slim down and indulge in London’s iconic attractions. In addition, by running home and not to work, you are left without the ‘shower-less workplace’ excuse, so don’t even try it!
The idea is to sign up for a season (which is around 6 weeks long) for £15 and then book into both runs, which occur each week. Simply hand over your bags at the beginning before being reunited at the end – simple! Fitness First members have no excuse, as your membership means you can sign up for free!
Depending on the whereabouts of your final destination, you can choose from four different routes each week; Liverpool Street to Stratford, Bank to Clapham Junction via Waterloo, Tottenham Court Road to Highbury and Canary Wharf to Waterloo.
To find out more about the routes, check out Home Run London or the hashtag #GetFitGetHome!

Waterproof mascara

Don’t you hate it when you finish off at the gym after a grueling workout or hop out of the pool after some intensive laps and you find black streaks smeared across your cheeks? Try these waterproof mascaras to stop smudges in their tracks.
 
While mascara is a classic make-up bag staple for most, if you’re an active bod, you’ll need to go waterproof to avoid the dreaded raccoon look! As an added bonus, waterproof mascara can help curl stubbornly straight lashes and actually holds them better than most volumising mascaras.

So, whether you’re heading to the pool this summer, want to be prepared for an unannounced British downpour or are off to the gym to hone that beach-perfect body, check out our top picks to make sure you stay panda-eye free.

Max Factor Clump Defy Waterproof Mascara

We’re massive fans of Max Factor. The latest waterproof mascara has us hooked, with its ability to apply coat after coat without, as the name suggests, clumpiness due to the well in the brush. With its ability to hold just enough of the product to flick on without overdoing it and its water-resistant, anti-smudge benefits make it ideal for an active lifestyle!

£10.99, Boots




Bobbi Brown No Smudge Mascara

Perfect for those of you who are constantly on the go, this revolutionary mascara lasts for up to 16 hours smudge free and without flaking. Its patented brush leaves your lashes beautifully long and curled with its tiny bristles reaching even the smallest ones without leaving lumps or flaking.

£19.50, Bobbi Brown


YSL Waterproof Luxurious Mascara

If you are already a fan of YSL’s False Lash Effect mascara, renown for its ability to lengthen, thicken and curl lashes with an immaculate finish, then you’ll love the new waterproof launch. Benefiting from the original’s counterparts lash-enhancing effects, its new range is water-resistance so you can rest assured that you will remain streak free.

£24.50, YSL Beauty


Maybelline New York Great Lash Waterproof Mascara

A personal favourite of mine, Maybelline’s Waterproof Mascara leaves your lashes curled and beautifully defined thanks to its small tapered spiral brush. Slightly on the thicker side, as typical of many waterproof mascaras, it leaves lashes looking cleanly separated and voluminous, yet resistant to sweat from a tough workout. £4.99, Boots

  
MAC False Lash Waterproof Mascara

A favourite with the pros, Mac has recently launched an even longer-lasting, waterproof formula. For up to 12 hours, this new edition stays water, tear and humidity proof thanks to its double-lush brush, which delivers double the level of pigment right to the tips while creating beautifully defined, voluminous lashed. £19.99, MAC

Frozen cocktails

The UK is having a full blown love affair with frozen cocktails, from frozen margaritas to alcoholic twists on favourite childhood ‘slushies’, the US-inspired import is everywhere. Here’s where to get your fix.

KOLD
Entrepreneur, Nick Sotiropoulos has just launched his new range of premium frozen cocktails in the UK. The new KOLD cocktail range, are ‘mixed classic well-loved recipes using high quality, 100% natural ingredients and premium spirits. Stemming from idea of being able to enjoy bar-quality cocktails whenever you want, without the hassle of needing a ton of ingredients, he has produced three classic frozen combinations; the cosmopolitan, mojito and lychee martini and are all-lower in calories due to their natural content.

£6.99, koldcocktails.com

Rocktails

Founders, Helen McAvoy and Naomi Kibble always enjoyed night spent in town drinking cocktails but when trying to recreate them at home, found them frustrating and amateur. As a result, Rocktails came to life offering a premium range of frozen cocktails in three fruity flavours; FrostBerry, Artic Passion and CoolCumber. All blended from a unique fusion of refreshing fruits and vodka with no artificial colours or flavourings, they look and taste fabulous, with the frost effect rivaling some of the top bar-mixologist creations. Keep frozen until 20 minutes before desired consumption and then either squeeze into a glass or drink straight from the single serve pouch.

£4.99, ocado.com

Parrot Bay

Spirit manufacturer, Diageo has launched Parrot Bay ‘freeze and squeeze’ cocktails, which come in a single serve, pouch format, and are ready to drink. There are three flavoursBerry Daiquiri, Citrus Daiquiri and Pina Colada. We like the lot!

£2.50, tesco.com



Smirnoff Sorbet 

Following in the footsteps of Parrot Bay, Smirnoff has released its new range of single serve, ‘freeze and squeeze’ frozen alcoholic drinks. Available in three fruity flavours, the new Sorbet range joins the  brand’s other frozen tipples, including the Smirnoff Apple bite and Smirnoff Ice. Refreshing, delicious and easy to drink.

£2.99, major retailers

MyCocktail


For ultimate cool and convenient cocktails, MyCocktail has produced its new strawberry DaiqGOri and Lime MarGOrita, served in individual pouches and designed to be ‘freezed, squeezed and enjoyed’. For the ideal summery adult slush, the pouches should be kept in the freezer before leaving to stand for five minutes before drinking.

£1, My-Cocktail
 

Running events we love!

If you need a new goal to boost you fitness mojo, try these fab events running events we love! Motivation and goals are key to keeping fit, as is making sure your workouts stay varied and fun. There’s nothing like an event to keep you on track, here are some running events we love to boost your motivation mojo.

Not only will signing up to an event help you stay motivated and keep you on track with your fitness but it’s a great opportunity to pull together the girls or family to embark on a new challenge. What’s even better, events these days are getting more creative and unique, offering something different to your a typical road running race. These are some of our favourites coming up…

Run To The Beat

One of London’s most unique running events, Run To The Beat is definitely an event worth taking part in. After six years of helping 96,000 runners achieve their half marathon goals, September 14 2014 will see 15,000 runners make their way around a brand new 10K course starting at Wembley Park, to the pumping tunes from live Djs. Revel in a PB or just crossing the line with the headline act at the end. There is limited availability but places are still open for £36.50 per entry with the added bonus of receiving a free running shirt.

 runtothebeat.co.uk

Robin Hood Run

A great way to take in Nottingham city, the Robin Hood Run on 28 September 2014, takes you past many of the city’s attractions and historical monuments, including the statue of Robin Hood himself and Holme Pierrepont Hall. Looping around the City Centre and through the University’s Trent building courtyard, this is a challenging but entertaining event with a range of family entertainment and variety of rewards to celebrate achievements.

  robinhoodhalfmarathon.co.uk

The Baxters Loch Ness Marathon & Festival

Also on 28September, 9,000 runners are expected to make their way along the striking shores of Loch Ness via the River Ness and into the city centre. One of the best marathons in the UK and the biggest in Scotland, The Baxter’s Loch Ness offers a range of opportunities for every level to take part, from 5K to the full marathon distance itself. There are delicious hot meals and prizes at the finish line.

 lochnessmarathon.com

Moonlight Challenge

Try something different and run through the night for the Moonlight Challenge on 15 February next year. A fun and safe 32.75-mile route (around 6.5 miles/lap) on the local farm tracks in Kent, participants can drop off whenever they wish. There are water stations and fluorescent glow sticks all the way around, but participants are still recommended to bring their own torch as well.

 challengehub.co.uk

Winter Run

Need a reason to stay motivated through winter, get involved in the Cancer Research UK Winter Run on the 1 February 2015. A similar route to the Bupa and British 10K, 15,000 people are expected to set off from ‘base camp’ down by the River Thames, before looping around a course which takes you past the London Eye, St Paul’s Cathedral, Big Ben and many more of London’s iconic sites. Register now for the early bird fee of £34 until the 16th July.

 winterrunseries.co.uk

Tan commandments

A tan can instantly make us feel more attractive, especially in the summer months, so here are our tan commandments, see what we did there! A tan really helps to give off a gorgeous healthy glow and boost our body confidence by making your figure look more toned and slim. Tanned skin, also helps to hide imperfections and minor flaws in your skin, promoting a clear, soft complexion.

However, unfortunately not all of us are lucky enough to naturally benefit from days spent in the sun or exotic holidays abroad so here at WHL, we have come up with some top tips for faking that summer glow with some expert advice from founder of Cocoa Brown, Marissa Carter…

The right shade
It doesn’t matter whether you are using a cream, gel, spray or mousse, it is essential that you get your shade right, otherwise you won’t achieve that natural look.

Prep!
A good tan results from priming and prepping your body beforehand. Marissa recommends exfoliating every day for 3 days leading up to application to scrub away dead skin cells, preventing  the fake tan clinging to dry, rough skin resulting in streaky, orange patches.

Go hairless
Before you start, eliminate all hair on your legs to prevent an uneven complexion from the product getting caught in the hairs. However, if you are waxing, do so at least 24 hours before hand to avoid the self-tan pooling up in follicles which may still be open and resulting in tiny dark spots.

Avoid stains
‘On the day you apply the product make sure you shower so your body is clean and apply some nail varnish to your nails so that the tan doesn’t stain and petroleum jelly is great on the eyebrow to stop the tan getting caught in the hairs,’ suggests Carter.

Avoid the spritz!
Make sure your body is free from antiperspirant, perfume or essential oils as these can interfere with the tanning product and turn your skin a funny, patchy colour.

Moisturising
Before apply the tanning product, apply an oil-free moisturiser to the drier areas of the body such as the knees, elbow, wrists, ankles, feet and hands. These areas are prone to soaking up more of the tanning products, resulting in darker areas and a fake-looking tan.

Apply evenly
For the perfect application, use a mitt to glide the product onto your skin, taking care not to over rub as this will result in an uneven tan.

Work up
To gain that natural, sunless glow start your application from the bottom and work up. Smooth on the product in circular motions from your ankles up to your shoulders, to prevent any dodgy marks when you bend over. ‘A great contouring trick to make your legs look slimmer is to apply an additional layer after the first has dried to the inside of your thigh,’ advises Marissa.

Perfect your face

Go easy on your face, dab a dime-size dollop of the product on your forehead, apples of your cheeks, the bridge of your nose and chin before blending blend outward with your fingertips.

Keep your tan
Self tans can last between four and 10 days, however, anything which speeds this process up such as long soaks will make it fade much quicker.  Also, stay hydrated to keep your skin fresh with lots of water and keep moisturising.