Rigorous fi tness regimes and sensible eating are one route to long-term health and happiness, but sometimes you need a quicker fi x. So we asked two experts for their tips on how to get radiant right now, inside and out
GET UP AND
Make good on the outside
Personal trainer Tim Drummond on the little things that are sure to bring rapid results
1. Do less. Get more. Forget spending fi ve days a week in the gym – for quick results, lift weights for half an hour three times a week. 2. And… breathe. Never mind work, the kids or the mortgage – just focus on whatever it is you’re doing at any one moment to maximise relaxation. 3. Stretch when stressed. As well as being great for your posture and muscle tone, an activity such as yoga helps to modulate the cortisol imbalance that aff ects your stress levels. 4. Sleep. It helps your body to recover and lowers stress levels. Get just an extra half-hour a night and you’ll notice the new get-up-and- go in the morning. 5. Train in the morning. Ideally, your stress levels should decrease throughout the day – but working out in the evening will push them up. timdrummondpt.com
Feel great on the inside
Nutritionist, chef and food writer Jane Clarke on eating your way to feeling fi t
1. For the majority of us, the more fi bre we eat, the better. Boost fi bre in your diet and you will feel better in hours. Think fruit, vegetables, pulses and grains. 2. Know your vitamins. Slice up some melon for Vitamin A, which gives you healthy skin and teeth, grab a bio yoghurt to stock up on your Vitamin K for strong bones, and chicken is a good source of Vitamin B6 which will help give your nervous system some vigour. 3. When making tea, water is best fresh and not re-boiled, since the oxygen content is diminished. Try lemon verbena to feel calm, chamomile to send you off to sleep and English peppermint to help with digestion. 4. The more water you drink, the better your energy levels, your skin and your digestive system will be. Try adding fresh mint, lemongrass or thin slices of cucumber, lemon, lime or orange to a jug of cold water, as these can infuse a subtle fl avour, as well as look pretty. 5. Vegetable juices are a fantastic way to glean Vitamin C and fi bre. Make them fresh at home using a juicer, or buy ready-made juices such as beetroot and apple or apple and rhubarb. janeclarke.com