New site!!!

Hello to all of our loyal followers!!! Positively Slim has been working very hard the past several months to find ways to service our members even better! We have now, with the help of Open Book UK (www.openbookuk.com), developed a wonderful new brand and a social networking site both of which we launched this weekend.
I will keep this current blog running alongside of the new until I know that most of you have switched over. We would be honoured if you would take the time to have a look at our ning site (www.positivelyslim.ning.com) and potentially sign up as a member. We will make sure there is plenty of info in the areas of health, nutrition, exercise, yoga, pilates, recipes and wellness.
I want to take this opportunity to say thank you so much for so many of you reading our information. Charlotte and I always hope that everyone single one of you finds something relevant and interesting to help you live a healthy lifestyle on a regular basis.
Charlene

Episode 3: Fad dieting for your wedding…but do you need it?

In the third episode of ‘The Butterfly Journal; An Inspiring Wedding Guide’ host Michelle Pierre-Carr tackles fad dieting amongst brides and grooms and speaks with three very different health and fitness professionls. Charlene Hutsebaut co-founder of Positively Slim, explains the benefits of her online health and wellness programme. Geeta Sidhu-Robb founder of Nosh Detox shares advice of cleansing and juicing and former Olympic athlete Jacqui Agyepong takes her through a personal fitness session and discusses what is the best and realistic way of getting slim and fit for your wedding day.

And as always Sarah Ivens best selling author of ‘A Modern Girl’s Guide to getting hitched’ and ‘A Modern Girls Guide to Etiquette’ shares some more advice on wedding diplomacy.

TRX Suspension Training

Started training clients with this amazing tool! The TRX Suspension Training method is brilliant for outdoor workouts or to round out your programme in the gym or at home. Book now for a session with me, Charlene Hutsebaut, London Personal Trainer. www.charlenehutsebaut.com

The Butterfly Journal

There's so much to planning a wedding, it's hard to know where to start, which is why Positively Slim is featured in a new wedding podcast called 'The Butterfly Journal'. Produced by Caribbean wedding specialists, Pierre Carr, Exclusive Tropical Weddings, the series delves into all aspects of wedding planning; from dresses and diets to relationships and the groom's view. For more details and to find out when you can download the show featuring Positively Slim go to www.pierrecarr.com. You'll also have a chance to win a romantic honeymoon to the exclusive Half Moon resort in Jamaica.

http://www.pierrecarr.com/blog/?cat=3

Marcia Kilgore of Bliss Spa

Went to see Marcia Kilgore, a good Prairie girl from Canada speak last week at Canada House in London. What an amazingly creative and passionate business woman. Thank you Marcia for the inspiration.

Alcohol & Nutritional Damage

Alcohol and Nutritional Damage

Regular drinking may lead to blood sugar problems, weight gain and eventually other serious health problems such as diabetes, obesity, liver cancer and alcoholism. Alcohol depletes the body of nutrients in many ways. Firstly, it is a source of great amounts of sugar in an instantaneous hit. Like sugar, alcohol can be rapidly turned to fat by insulin, the hormone responsible for blood sugar control. This is deposited in the body and stored in the liver, which may damage it, adding to a failing ability to balance blood sugar. When blood sugar levels are low, alcohol is often used to raise them, kicking off another vicious cycle. Secondly, the ethanol that causes intoxication is, by its very definition, toxic to the body and causes damage to all the liver’s detoxification pathways. The liver works overtime to eject it, but the alcohol itself actually depletes the very substances needed to speed it out of the body. Thirdly, it directly depletes vitamins and minerals, especially those needed for energy and dealing with stress such as B vitamins, vitamin C, magnesium, zinc, and chromium.

Next Time...... Nutrients which may be depleted include:

www.positivelyslim.com

Yes, you can exercise when it snows!

So, yes you can exercise when it snows outside in the UK. I went out for a fabulous winter walk this afternoon in the weather you see in this video. Layering of clothing is important so that you are warm but don't end up getting cold because you are sweating (Clothing layering for winter entry coming soon!). Proper footwear is essential so your feet are toasty and the soles keep you from slipping. One little tip is: if in a park walk on the grassy areas as you will be on the snow with grass underfoot which is less slippery and gives some traction rather than the sidewalk/pavement with concrete and ice. Other than that you can get out the front door and walk to your hearts content and your body will love you for it! Take a friend or loved one for conversation or go alone and just breath and be. Easy, cheap and fun too! And you don't have to slog it out at the gym. Hope you discover the joys of being outside in winter too.

Charlene

www.positivelyslim.com

The Pineapple

Finally some Nutritional Information for our loyal readers. All acknowledgement to my amazing business partner Charlotte Watts. Thanks honey.....



We often associate pineapples with the island of Hawaii, but they only arrived there in the 1700s. It was the Spanish who actually had the good idea of carrying pineapples on long sea voyages to avoid scurvy, a disease caused by deficiency of vitamin C. It is also believed that they were only introduced to the Caribbean when washed ashore from the wrecks of Spanish ships. When Christopher Columbus made his second trip to the Caribbean in 1493, he called the pineapple the “pine of the Indies”, as it resembled a pine cone. The “apple” part was added to the name when it was introduced to England, to make the association with that particularly popular fruit.


Pineapple has been eaten for therapeutic reasons for centuries, in particular for digestive problems. An important active ingredient found mainly in the pineapple stem, is bromelain, a potent protein digesting enzyme which helps clean out waste in the digestive tract. Think of the traditional gammon steak and pineapple – the latter is not just there for taste, but to help digest the pork that it so difficult for humans to break down. Bromelain is often seen in commercial meat tenderisers. This property also helps to break down mucus in the body and bromelain in supplement form can be helpful in relieving symptoms of ear, nose and throat conditions, asthma and inflammatory conditions such as joint problems.

The high vitamin C and manganese content of pineapples make them highly supportive of immune system function, especially alongside bromelain, as effective anti-inflammatory foods. These nutrients also promote healthy collagen production and so help to heal all the tissues in your body; not bad as fresh pineapple tastes really fresh and juicy too!