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It might have come later than expected but at last the British summer has arrived bringing with it those scorching 30-degree days and balmy evenings we’ve craved for the most part of this rainy year.

And while we’re grateful for the warm rays and the blue skies, us Brits are still not accustomed to dealing with the high heat of summer and carrying on with our usual daily activities. So, this month, I wanted to share with you my 5 top tips for coping in warm weather and how to keep cool and carry on this August.

1. Cool off & stay hydrated

Top of the list and most important is to stay hydrated! We naturally sweat more in the heat which means we need to drink more to keep our bodies hydrated. Hydration can aid concentration, energy levels, more accurate hunger signals as well as keeping our body functioning the way it should!

Need a bit more of an energy boost? Try the FAB energy drinks – FAB stands for Forever Active Boost. FABX is the one with no Calories, Carbs or Sugars. These delicious drinks give you a natural boost in energy as well as containing vitamins B6 and B12 which contribute to the reduction in tiredness and fatigue. After exertion, FAB would be better as it contains the glucose needed for recovery. Pop these in the fridge for a refreshing energy boost that you can grab and go!

• Take regular breaks

When it’s hot, we’d all rather be lounging by the pool or taking a dip in the sea but realistically a lot of us still have to carry on with our day-to-day lives, and for some of us that means working.

Heat can make us lose focus more easily (especially if you can hear your neighbours splashing around in a paddling pool), or can even make tensions rise, so the best thing I can recommend is to take regular breaks and introduce a bit of mindfulness into your day. I find it makes life a little more manageable and stops you getting all hot and bothered by the daily frustrations.

My favourite way to practice mindfulness is through breathing exercises like Square Breathing (inhale for 4 seconds, hold for 4, exhale for 4, hold for 4, repeat), when you clear your mind of those constant thoughts. Believe me, if you are doing it correctly your mind has to concentrate on the counting. I recommend Mindful Movement for assisting these quiet mindful moments, or with some peaceful melodic music; my favourite is Living with Harmony. Meta and Alistair have created some beautiful videos accompanied by the harp and guitar mostly. They provide music therapy for Homes, and my husband David will listen while doing his creative colouring. Not only does this help you stay more productive throughout the day, it also helps to keep a cool head – in more ways than one!

• Switch up your exercise routine

I love to stay active but I’m not a fan of sweating profusely under the beating heat of the midday sun, so my solution is to get my daily exercise in either early in the morning or later in the evening. It’s great to make use of the longer daylight hours and means I can still stay active over summer and keep my body as strong as possible.

Another thing you could do is switch up the type of exercise you’re doing to make it less strenuous. I’ve had my eye on an e-Bike from Cycle Sphere in Bordon for some time now and it would make a great alternative to overheating whilst pedaling up a hill. Or why not combine the two and go for a leisurely e-cycle in the evening for a nice gentle way to stay active this summer! This is also my preferred exercise as I recover from the very imminent hip replacement.

• Nourish your body with tasty treats

Nothing beats a sweet icy treat on a hot summer’s day – except for one that is as nutritionally beneficial as it is delicious! Why not try this recipe for a Chocolate Banana Nice Cream that’s packed with protein and tastes amazing?

Simply blend:

1 frozen banana

1 scoop of Forever Lite Ultra in Chocolate

2-3 tbsp of milk of your choice

You can pop it back in the freezer to harden up and enjoy a naturally dairy free Nice Cream that’s packed full of vitamins and protein and tastes great!! Increase the chocolateyness (is that actually a word?!) with a generous spoonful of Nutella or something similar.

Fancy something fruity? Switch out the Chocolate Forever Lite Ultra for the Vanilla flavour and add any additional fruit, like strawberries for a Strawberries & Cream flavour, or add pineapple and coconut milk for a Pina Colada nice cream! YUM!

Be creative and please let me know your recipes.

• Stay sun safe

I personally prefer the shade to the sun but if you are looking to pick up a healthy glow this summer, make sure you stay sun safe by protecting your skin with a sun cream. Forever Living’s sunscreen is formulated to protect your skin from UVA and UVB rays while hydrating your skin with Aloe extract.

Enjoyed the sun too much? Check out the soothing Aloe Vera Gelly from Forever – using the highest quality of aloe, the gelly sinks into your skin offering a cooling hydration to hot frazzled skin.

If you want to learn more about any of the products I’ve mentioned above, I’d love to hear from you! Get in touch to have a chat or shop the Forever products here! Happy summer!

As one of life’s adventurers, my approach to health has always been; the better I feel, the more I can do!

And if the last year has taught us anything, it’s that life can be unexpected – very unexpected!

During the lockdown, many of us battled with our health to some degree; some of us physically, some of us mentally, and some of us emotionally, so as we ease back towards normality, we all seem to have developed a new appreciation for what it means to be healthy.

In my last blog, I spoke about how I believe health is more about how I feel than how I look – and that remains true. And to the same point, maintaining my health is about keeping myself feeling great for whatever comes my way.

A few years ago, I had my first hip operation – the recovery was quicker than most because I diligently followed the exercises that the hospital recommended. I did it to the letter, never failed so I was back to normal activities in fewer weeks than the hospital expected. I was told to continue daily activities like walking, a dream for me because I love walking, especially around here where I live. They also suggested cycling or swimming or both. Now I have an issue with swimming – I hate the getting changed, getting wet, getting dry and getting changed again! What a bore! I chose cycling because I enjoy it and I have friends who enjoy it too. A lovely therapeutic and social time, even though I was challenged with the steep incline going home. One of the drawbacks from living on a high point in Hampshire. I bought a bike with 18 gears! That was challenging, even though I’m good with numbers, I never knew which one I’d chosen! It was always a topic of conversation when I told people I had bought a Land Rover! Yes, the bike had the very recognisable Land Rover logo stamped on the frame.

 I’ve been using a vast range of Forever Living products for quite some time now and would happily attribute my good health and general wellbeing as a direct result. Along with following the hospital’s exercise regime some of these fabulous products also aided my speedy recovery and now I’m looking to beat my recovery record with my second hip operation, when it happens! I’m part of the shocking NHS statistic of over 5 million routine procedures still pending!

Maintaining good health pre-op gives you a head start on your recovery post-op, so as my second hip operation looms somewhere in the future, I’m ramping up my health practices so I can feel my best heading into the operation, fast-track my recovery and get out exploring again ASAP.

To help me on my way, I’ll be using a range of Forever Living products that I use daily and truly love so, I thought I’d show you my top 5 so you can join in and feel your best for whatever life brings your way. Please bear in mind, I’m sharing the ones that are specific to my current health which is poor mobility. There are so many you would be overwhelmed. More about those another time.

Forever Aloe Vera Gel

As one of nature’s natural healers, Aloe Vera is a foundational ingredient for Forever Living – and with good reason! The Forever Aloe Vera Gel provides numerous health benefits like aiding digestion and supporting gastro-intestinal health. It is made of 99.7% pure inner leaf gel and now contains vitamin C which contributes to the normal function of the immune system and to a normal energy-yielding metabolism. So, if you’re looking for an easy way to boost your health – this daily drink is one of my favourites!

Forever Freedom

This drinking gel combines all the benefits of the pure Aloe Vera drinking gel with added glucosamine, chondroitin and MSM (methyl sulfonyl methane), those lovely elements that assist in keeping your joints flexible, hence it’s popular with those leading an active lifestyle.

Forever Arctic Sea

This is a perfectly balanced blend of omega-3 fatty acids. It supports heart and brain function. The human body cannot naturally make the omega-3 fatty acids which are commonly found in fish. Forever’s Arctic Sea is a blend of natural fish, calamari and oleic olive oil giving the perfect balance of these essential fatty acids. It’s a pure source of EPA for normal function and DHA which contributes to the maintenance of normal brain function.

Where would I be without my daily Arctic Sea? I hate to think!

Forever Move

As the description says “Keep moving towards your next adventure with Forever Move”!

It combines two powerful and patented ingredients: natural eggshell membrane (NEM) and curcumin turmeric (Biocurc), a prized Asian root popular with people who lead active lives. These are perfect for people who lead busy and active lifestyles, sport and fitness enthusiasts, maturing adults (that’s me!) and those who work at strenuous jobs.

Forever Lite Ultra

This plant-powered protein powder comes in two flavours, Vanilla or Chocolate and is the perfect thing to add to your morning smoothies to boost your muscle repair and protein intake. It contains 24g of protein per serving when mixed with 300mls of skimmed milk and is chock-full of vitamins and minerals to support your body through exercise. I love adding a scoop of vanilla to my morning porridge – absolutely delicious! We call this a kitchen cupboard product because of its versatility. You can make smoothies of your choice and it makes really healthy pancakes or banana bread too. A great way to take on board your nutritional requirements as an alternative to a meal when you are pressed for time.

Fancy giving your body a boost and staying healthy for whatever life throws your way? Shop Forever Living products here or get in touch to learn more and find the perfect ones to suit you!

So, what’s next?

As I give my body everything it needs to stay fighting fit, there’s one other thing I’ll be acquiring to keep me exploring – an e-Bike! I’ve had my eye on one these since I gave up my previous two-wheeler, the Land Rover, as the hills where I live are too challenging for me now. I’ve visited the newly opened Cycle Sphere at the hub of Bordon town centre – The Shed, to see what they had to offer. What charming people and so many to choose from. I think I’ve made my choice. I can highly recommend you pay them a visit, they have so much to offer for all abilities and requirements.

I’m looking forward to getting back to my adventures and whizzing up hills with ease – stay tuned to hear where my new bike takes me!

Shop Forever HERE

When was the last time you felt adventurous?

I’m one of life’s adventurers; I like to continually challenge myself and improve my life, staying positive and upbeat through all life’s twists and turns. Like the rest of the nation, my expeditions have been rather curtailed in the past year, however, that hasn’t stopped me from having “mini” adventures exploring locally and learning new things – even indoors. I’ve found there are new experiences to be had everywhere!

Here are a few mini-adventures from my recent past to inspire you and challenge you to think about life a little differently – I would love to hear what you’ve been up to too; mini-adventure or otherwise!

The “I have fallen over and cannot get up” adventure

I truly love walking, it’s one of life’s little joys; taking the dog for a walk, stretching my legs and getting some fresh air while exploring the network of footpaths and outdoor spaces in the local area. It’s a great way to get some headspace, I do my best thinking walking alone.

One day I went out after some bad weather, the rain had churned the mud up into a slippery sheet which conspired against me until there I was, engulfed, staring up at the sky, feeling rather sore. Like a beetle on its back I wriggled, glaring at my left hip which is calling for a replacement. It dawned on me that no one was there to help me up and I giggled knowing that this would’ve likely been a funny sight to see. Choosing to be positive, I gathered myself up and finally arranged myself into a vertical position – grateful to be stood again, caked in mud but with a smile on my face. How did I manage that? I don’t know! I just gave myself a severe “talking to”. Mind you, I now had a dry clean only coat, beautiful pale cream, and no idea if dry cleaners are essential providers right now. Luckily it brushed clean when left to dry naturally.

The “I have a Land Rover” adventure

Years ago, I acquired a Land Rover – you may be more familiar with them being 4x4s, well mine was a 1X2, being that it was a bike! A bit of a boneshaker and far too much choice with 18 gears but it got me up and down the hills and took me out for lots of cycling adventures, including my nemesis – the big hill on my route home. There was no avoiding this, I live on the top of the hill. When I was out cycling, I always dreaded the incline which seemed to go on forever and so I broke it down into 3 sections

• Section 01) The initial incline which I spent telling myself “I can, I can, I can…”
• Section 02) Feeling less sure I would start to say “I will, I will, I will…”
• Section 03) The toughest, when I got to the top, I’d say “I have I have, I HAVE!!!”

In 2011 I had my first hip replacement and bike riding was my chosen form of remedial exercise for recovery, hence purchasing my Land Rover, albeit a bike, to get cycling into my life – with a new zest! However, I got the chance to try out an electric bike, now that’s a game-changer for me, it was fabulous, simple, easy to get used to and speedy, no gear changing ….. but expensive. I’m saving up for mine now, but I seriously recommend trying one out! I want to have it for the recovery exercise when my second hip is replaced once COVID-19 isn’t holding us all to ransom.

The “Fantastic Coffee and Cake” adventure

My husband and I have a policy of only shopping every third day to keep ourselves safe and reducing our journeys as much as possible. On my way to Bordon, which was part of our essential outing, I happened across Dayne, a local businessman who has just launched Acorns Coffee and Cake with his wife Tracey. Their newly built mobile coffee shop looked just too enticing not to visit and sample their tasty treats – I have to say, they truly are delicious!

It had been bitterly cold, and I could see that Dayne was going to need some protection.  Thankfully I came prepared! Being no stranger to the outdoors in cold weather, I knew exactly what they needed – Forever Aloe Lips is my saviour – perfect for dry, chapped or sore lips. Luckily, I always keep a couple on me so I handed Dayne two, one each for himself and Tracey and after a gracious ‘thank you,’ he said, ‘can I use this on my hands?’ –  absolutely! in fact, my blog post next month is going to be about 10 unusual uses for a lip balm. Though, if you’re looking for the best hand treatment to rehydrate and protect, it’s the Forever Propolis crème – a blend of propolis from the hive and aloe to keep skin supple and protect on any future adventure. Dayne is using that now.

If you are one of life’s adventurers, or if you are a wannabe adventurer and would like to explore your next move, get in touch.

Forever – The Aloe Company has given me the ability to go on some wonderful adventures and I would love to show you how this opportunity could help your adventurous spirit thrive!

Visit: https://www.sheilalemon.com/contact-me/