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The Hand Shapers Bringing Back The Good TImes

Author:  Beau Badinski

When it comes to a lot of things in life— it could be anything; skating, music. Coffee. Guitars. Motorcycles. Surfboards. Whatever turns you on, you know you’re going to get it good if the one doing it truly digs what they do. They did it for fun before the money came, and will continue to do so if the cash runs dry.

This is especially true for hand crafted surfboards.

A lot of the board makers out there who are hand shaping, their story goes something like that. It all started with a fascination for the ocean. For the joy of it. The curiosity. The curiosity for how a board works in the water and why it does what it does. Most started their love affair scraping away at some foam in the garage or the back-yard, making boards for their mates and slowing building it up from there.

I’m not exactly sure why, but it seems like the people who do this, hand shape their boards, still, even after making a name for themselves—they really go for boards with character. Based on old shapes, channels, twin fins, fish tails. Logs. Trading high performance for high fun. That’s not necessarily saying you can’t have both— for sure, you can. Behind a lot of these shapers are the ethos of smooth style, solid form and design, a psychedelic kind of cool and riding by feel with enjoyment being number 1.

Eden Saul of Deadkooks got his start in that exact way, as he says; “Dead Kooks Surfboards has evolved over the past 9-10 years from a backyard hobby making boards for myself and friends to a full-time job working with world champions and a string of the world’s top surfers.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fZyt6a4KZJE

Deadkooks surfboards are shaped out of Byron Bay, Australia, with a focus on design and functionality.  Each shape for an exact reason. Every curve, every fin position and rail— there’s a very specific reason it’s like that. Not only do his boards have a shape you just wanna touch, with interesting foil; they are not at all terrible to look at—often resembling somewhat like the inside of Timothy Leary’s brain. The pintail Hellhound, single fin by Deadkooks is the stuff (wet) dreams are made of.

I can picture it now; it was my first time going into the Deus store in Canggu, Bali. The temple they call it. Just more motor oil and foam dust than other temples. My Fiancé and me, we were ogling the showroom of bikes and boards. Porn, is essentially what that store is. Glorious board and bike porn. Both the bikes and the boards are all handmade with love. As I was drooling down the racks of logs and twinnies, I came across this fish…the Chine Fish, shaped by a young dude named Forrest Minchinton.

I went home, back to the Airbnb that day and googled the guy and checked him out. I’m not a big social media person, but got onto his Instagram—his page is equal parts dirt surfing on a motorbike in some dessert some place in the middle of no-where, and wave riding Indonesian barrels on some hand shaped foam. As it happens, by the looks of things, Deus and Forrest are a perfect match.

The story of what got Forrest into shaping, it fits the guy to a T— and I’d be surprised if his situation isn’t 100 percent unique. Born the son of a surfer and shaper, he got into making his own boards to fund his love of bikes and racing. “I was trying to make money to keep riding basically, so I started doing ding-repair here at Aloha Glassing. And it just went from people I knew coming in and saying “oh shape me a board,” so I would shape them a board and next thing I know I’m shaping another one for my next buddy. It really snowballed a little bit from there.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NgHViCMm1v8

Something that really stands out about almost all hand shapers is that they often shape to what they, or the person they’re shaping for, want to feel. Everything about feel. The feel. Shaping for the feel of a specific break. For a reef. A particular wave. Often these board designs can look, and when compared to their machine shaped counterparts, kind of are— bizarre.

When I say this, I’m looking at YOU, the Duo by Neil Purchase Designs…The strange part of the Duo’s design is in the fin placement; twin fins, close to the middle of the board, running straight. Completely dead vertical. It’s really only strange until you hear the reason why it’s like that. Then it becomes incredible, so simple it’s amazing.

“The whole kind of philosophy behind the duo, having something that, when you’re going down the line, you’ve got no drag” Neil continues, “You’re getting the drive, but when you’re in a high trim and then you’re rolling down the face, you’ve kind of got no drag at all cause the fins are kinda dead straight.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZO7SN3BBUIQ&t=368s

Surfing is at such a rad space in an interesting time right now. On one hand, we have machines that cut a board to absolute precision, making boards completely replicate able.  Pumping them out for the masses.  Volume. Then on the other hand, as basically a total counter point, we have these shapers who are focusing on a small number of boards, made for a specific individual and how they want to surf. The way their body moves on in the water.

In a world of mechanical perfection, sometimes it just takes the simplest of things to standout. Just a shift from the norm. When everything moves in one direction, it’s easy to notice when something starts straying from the line. When they’re looking left, we’re looking right. The ugly duckling is actually far cuter than the others. That kind of thing.

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Do mental and physical health go hand-in-hand

Picture a world-class athlete... now imagine him sustaining an injury to his knee. The obvious solution is to take time off and let it heal, right? So why aren't we taking the same approach to mental health?

When we feel 'down' we brush it off as if it's just a mood, or hormones, or a lack of caffeine, but what if we actually took the time to sit down and analyze what we're really 'feeling'?

As humans it's in our DNA to constantly grow, improve and sustain ourselves, so it makes total sense that a lack of self-confidence and a bad body-image can have a devastating effect on our mental health. So the question is... does my physical healthy have an impact on my mental health?

The answer? YES.

There's no denying that feeling you get after completing a killer workout, or walking away from the dinner table knowing you fully enjoyed that salad & chicken breast and did't indulge in any sugary and/or fatty foods. The endorphins released from knowing you're making healthy, conscious decisions and improving yourself is a clear mood & cognitive booster. In return, having a positive mindset encourages healthy eating & fitness habits. Now we can go on forever on how a positive physical & mental state can have an impact on your social life, love life and career life etc, so watch this following video and see what REAL people had to say about the importance of a healthy mental and physical state.

#mentalhealth physique physicalhealth health workouts

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Should I count calories?

With so much information on the internet regarding calories and their connection to weight-loss, it's easy to get lost in all the fiction and miss out on the actual truth.

Counting calories is a time-consuming, mind-bending practice that’s actually a lesson in futility.

We pull out our calorie-tracking apps and plug in whatever foods we've eaten, feeling guilty when we go over our “recommended” calorie intake for the day, then run to the gym to try and undo it all... and we can't be blamed.The idea that monitoring all your calories is key for weight loss is a popular piece of advice from hundreds of online sources and info-hubs.

While there’s value in recording the foods we've eaten to understand what we’re consuming and offer accountability, and while it’s important to know relative calories (e.g., cake: high, broccoli: low), it’s a colossal waste of time to drill it down to every single calorie that passes your lips. Plus, let's not forget the twisted perception we get of our food and what impact it has on our body.

Of course, calories DO count, since they’re what you consume when all is said and done. But counting calories can be a real drag at best, and a dangerous practice at worst. Not only does it get you focusing on numbers instead of enjoying the food you’re eating, it can be a slippery slope from paying attention to calorie counts to obsessing over them. For anyone with a history of eating disorders, counting calories might be something to avoid. If you have or are in recovery from an eating disorder, it’s best to talk to your doctor before changing your eating habits or tracking your food.

I should also note that weight loss is about SO much more than calories. It encompasses exercise, how you sleep, how stressed you are, and health issues that you may not be able to control, like hormonal changes. That's why, if losing weight is your goal, it's important to acknowledge how individual a process it is and figure out how to do it in a way that's healthy for you. Make sure your goals are realistic for your body as well as the amount of time and energy you have to devote to the process.

Here's a list of reasons on why counting calories is actually NO BIG DEAL?

You likely have no idea how many calories you actually need - Yes, you can approximate the number of calories you use in a day via equations and apps, but that’s all you get: an approximation. If even the “gold standard” machine can be wrong, then why let some app or equation determine how much you should be eating?

You don’t know how many calories your body is absorbing from food - For example, you’ll absorb more calories from cooked meat versus raw meat, and peanut butter versus whole peanuts. Due to size differences, one sweet potato varies in calories from another before you even take it off the shelf at the store. Calories absorbed is a complex business that’s light years beyond any calorie-counting app on the market.

Calorie counts on packages aren’t necessarily accurate - Even if you know how many calories you need and how many you’re absorbing, you’re not done! In fact, the Food and Drug Administration allows up to 20 percent margin of error in the numbers on those nutrition labels you likely rely on to count many of your calories. Meaning, that 250-calorie snack you’re eating might actually have 200 calories—or 300.

Counting calories can encourage you to ignore your hunger cues - Focusing entirely on calories, instead of the quality of the food you’re eating and how you actually feel before chowing down (hungry, bored, stressed, etc.), can wreak havoc on those precious hunger cues you’re born with. Whether you’re eating just because you “have calories left,” even though you’re not truly hungry, or you’re not eating because you’ve “gone over” your calorie allotment for the day, but you’re actually still hungry, you’re doing the same thing: ignoring what your body is trying to tell you.

Calorie counting adds to the misconception you can “work off” the food you eat - Going over your “calorie allowance” again and again because you think you can burn off the transgressions? Nope. Your body doesn’t burn off food calorie-for-calorie like that. Your body can handle those extra calories without making you gain weight. It’s when you overeat on a more frequent basis that you can get into weight-gain territory.

Instead of counting every calorie you eat (or you THINK you’re eating…and absorbing), if you're hoping to lose weight, try this instead.

Opt mostly for fresh, whole foods when you're grocery shopping, and think of it as eating food, not calories. Try as hard as you can to look at your diet as a whole instead of the sum of its parts. That means focusing on healthy items like vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and lean protein, and it also means eating mindfully - slowing down, eating until you're satisfied, and giving deprivation a pass.

If you eat a balanced diet most of the time, your body will most likely respond by finding its balance—no calorie counting required.

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O’Hail King Neptune and His Water Breathers

Author:  Roojin Hooblal

Did I ever tell you about my first experience in a wet-suit? Last April I was on vacation in Cape Town, South Africa. Now, Cape Town starts to get a bit chilly around April, but moving from Ottawa and its twenty-plus-degrees-centigrade-below-nought winter, this weather felt like summer in comparison. Honestly. Scouts’ honor. I was excited to see the rolling hills meeting the ocean out at Clifton Beach. Turned out the Indian ocean water was way too cold to go swimming in (if you see the Kremlin when you look outside your window each morning, then this doesn’t apply). Expert consensus was that if I wanted any waterborne action I would have had to go westward to Muizenberg. All this water coming crashing onto the shore reminded me of my very first time in a wet-suit all those years ago. You know what they say about first times? That you never forget them. This little bit holds true for me too. . . well, just about.

My first time was on a scuba trip out in the Great Barrier Reef. I was so excited about finally going on a free dive that I forgot to pee. . . . ROOKIE MISTAAAKE! So what did I do? I only decided to go in my suit. Oi! No judging! See the logic was that I would be deep in the ocean water (that’s where fish pee right?). This was when I first got acquainted with the physics behind wetsuits. Wet suits are made of a neoprene rubber material that traps tiny gas bubbles which don’t saturate the suit and helps the suit to maintain a buoyancy. The other primary function and feature of this material’s ability to store bubbles, is to create insulation. The suit takes in a little water which then is trapped in the suit and manages to use the heat of the body to heat up the water and maintain warmth during the dive. This was my downfall. This meant my pee was not going to blend with the ocean. It was going to stay with me until I had to peel the wetsuit off. I was going to be pickled. But before you judge me, I would have you know that it is a shark-bite repellant. Good times. Good times.

Okay. That was embarrassing but oh what beauty the ocean is! The wild colours of the reefs and the teeming sea life are like nowhere else. I had always been drawn to the mystery of the ocean, and for the first time, I felt I truly was attached to it in a complete and seamless symbiosis. I felt the  pressure, I felt how every movement pushed through the water and like this wasn’t enough, I was in awe at seeing how fish, through evolution, had mastered the underworld and had adapted to it so much that they moved in almost magical ways. Sharp turns, quick darts, everything. I couldn’t imagine what a better experience could be? How else would a human get so close to underwater nature?

Freediving. That’s how. My first thought about freediving was, without an oxygen tank, how would a person stay in the water long enough to experience the nature? I can barely hold my breath long enough to blink, how long would I have to hold my breath to take in the sights? Easy. 3:58 minutes. . . . if you are Herbert Nitsch. Anybody can do that right? Now try 214 meters (702 ft) deep. . . now try that without an oxygen tank . . . now try that without fins. I know fish that won’t go down that deep. Herbert Nitsch does. The man is a legend. The ‘Deepest Man on Earth’ has only decimated world records across all eight of AIDA’s freediving discipline. The man seems to think breathing is overrated.

Reading about the man and his feats has drawn me to the sports of freediving and to an even primal extent, spearfishing. But scuba diving being my baseline, I wanted to know what the similarities were and whether there were any transferrable skills I may need in freediving that I learnt from scuba diving.

The obvious difference between scuba diving and freediving is much more fundamental than the lack of a tank. In scuba diving, divers learn to never hold their breath underwater due to the risk of lung overexpansion. It may come as a shock to some, but freedivers hold their breath throughout the entire dive. Since they don’t inhale additional air underwater, the volume of their lungs remain the same as it was on the surface. This means freedivers generally don’t have to worry about safe ascents, no-decompression limits or making safety stops, as they don’t absorb additional nitrogen underwater.

Another fundamental difference between the two is that recreational scuba diving is usually done with the objective of exploring the underwater environment. Freediving can take on many individual aspects, including challenging personal and world-held limits, in much the way divers like Nitsch did. Freediving is also a favourite mode of diving for fishing, since it is a lot more stealthy than scuba diving. This allows divers to sneak up close enough to fishes to throw or shoot a spear at them or just to interact with them without being threatening. Freediving also allows the diver more room for maneuverability, which can be restricted with a tank on the diver’s back.

But there are many similarities too, that can help divers of either discipline transition to the other. Divers of both disciplines require pressure equalization skills to compensate for pressure increase during descents. Divers of both disciplines also learn to master composure and how to be relaxed and calmer than Hindu cows prior and during dives. This helps divers become more efficient with their energy outputs and for scuba divers, more efficient air consumption.

There are some things that I have learned along the way never to do again in a wetsuit, like. . .  like challenging Herbert Nitsch, but that's alright. Learning about freediving and spearfishing, I am satisfied that there are even more things out there to do in a wetsuit, and I plan to try them all. What is your next underwater adventure?

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Seven Reasons To Love Surfing

Speaking from personal experience, every surfer has their own reason why they started their surfing journey, but one thing that we all have in common is the understanding that surfing is an individual effort with no winner or loser and a constant learning curve. Personally speaking, I would say the first two years of surfing are your best years... During that time you have little expectations of the conditions and yourself as a surfer. It morphs into a focus on the act of riding the board, with all the anxiety around not surfing up to your and other surfer's expectations.

Later in your surfing life, it becomes more about the act of surfing, being in the ocean, enjoying nature, getting away from technology and stress-factors that exists on land (cell phones, computers, kids, wife/husband, work, etc).

If that's not enough reason to escape to the great waters and start your surfing journey, here are 7 reasons why we love surfing:

Surfing is a full body workout. Lately it seems that every new workout fad makes two major claims—that it’s a full body workout and that it’s “the perfect blend” of cardio and strength training (expect for P.VOLVE of course). While these claims may or may not be true, surfing is the classic tried and true total body workout. From paddling out to riding waves, every aspect of surfing tests your strength, balance, agility and stamina.

Surfing teaches patience. Any new sport or activity takes time to learn and for most people surfing takes a little longer than, say, running or biking. Getting good takes a while, but when you hit milestones, like standing up for the first time or mastering a new move, the reward will be that much greater.

It’s a great excuse to travel. Let’s be honest, no one ever really needs an excuse to travel—just the opportunity—but a trip can be a lot more fun when you have plans to do something you’re passionate about. Exploring new territory and meeting local surfers can renew your love of surfing, or if you’ve never tried surfing, your next beach-bound trip could be a great time to start.

Cross an item off your bucket list. Whether or not you have a written-out bucket list, and regardless of whether or not surfing is on there specifically, the premise of these lists is expanding your horizons, doing something that scares you and hopefully coming back with a story worth telling. Learning to surf or surfing in an extraordinary destination would be a great addition to that list, so write it down and then work on crossing it off.

Surfing brings you closer to nature in a unique way. From the one-of-a-kind look at ocean life to the sensation of actually moving with the water, one of the benefits to surfing is perspective. That perspective applies to both personal lives and the well-being of the world. Surfers have respect for the ocean and the rest of the planet, because they rely on the tides and see the effects of pollution first-hand.

You’ll get tan without trying. Everyone loves that sun-kissed look, but a natural tan requires spending some serious time outdoors. While getting outside hardly seems like a burden, runners, cyclists and hikers are synonymous with terrible tan lines. Surfers, on the other hand, are known for their flawless bronze skin. Vitamin D is good for you, wear your sunscreen and get out there.

The subculture is popular and celebrated. Everyone knows the stereotype about surfers, the laid back guys and girls with long hair, tan skin and a deep appreciation for the ocean. As far as stereotypes go, the typical surfer one isn’t all that bad. In reality, the culture is deeper and more obscure than that, but for the most part, the focus is on conservation of the ocean, enjoying the sport and sharing waves. Not a bad tradition at all.

Look, we could list a million reasons more, but we already know you're intrigued. So stop contemplating and get in the water! All you need is a surfboard to start.

Shop our surfing collection here or pop us a message for some tips on where to start and the best surfing spots near you!

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Tech Gadgets For Sport Gurus - Psst...That’s You!

Author:  Helga Barkhuizen

The rapid development of technology coincides with the epidemic of diseases as related to the lack of movement.  Looking at screens all day while sitting down is awful for your body and mind. To make things worse, befriending the displays continue at home with playing games, binge-watching favorite TV shows and there are way too many situations in which technology makes us passive.

Use technology to your advantage

Technology doesn't have to be the bad guy. After all, it's the way we consume new products and services, it’s not the tech itself that is the problem. What if we could use nifty new gadgets and remain focused on an active lifestyle? Why not enhance your sporting efforts with the help of smart tech?

Before ditching all your devices and going old-school on a hiking trip, check out these ten ways technology can enhance your outdoor activities.

1. Smartphone Fitness Apps

Mobile apps have provided consumers with new levels of control when it comes to interacting with a number of industries, from finance, to retail, to hospitality. This also extends to sports and healthcare, but what is 'mHealth' really?

It's the growing trend of using smartphones, mobile devices, and mobile apps for medical and healthcare purposes.

For outdoor sports lovers this is seconded by The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) through a statement on its website: “The FDA encourages the development of mobile medical apps that improve healthcare and provide consumers and healthcare professionals with valuable health information. Mobile applications can help people manage their own health and wellness, promote healthy living, and gain access to useful information when and where they need it.”

Our consumers seem to be seeking those apps with healthy living in mind and what do you know - that's exactly why we're telling you about it. :)  A NYU Lagone Medical Center survey found that of those who downloaded mobile health apps on a smartphone, about:

52% said they downloaded health apps to track physical activity

47% to track what they ate

46% to lose weight

34% to learn exercises.

Those goals are reflected in the US top mHealth and health app categories, that includes weight loss, exercise, fitness and women’s health. Health apps on smartphones, mobile devices, 'wearables', and fitness trackers have become an ideal way for people to benefit from mHealth by collecting personal health data that is easy to understand.

2. Smart Bracelet

If you are a bit more dedicated to an active lifestyle and can't handle a week without going out, a significant upgrade from a smartphone level of fitness support comes in the form of a smart bracelet. When escaping the urban jungle, many outdoor enthusiasts don't want to look at the smartphone. It reminds them of what they're trying to leave behind.

Here are some advantages for getting a Smart Bracelet:

1.  They don't just tell the time

2.  It's a travel buddy on your wrist

3.  Finding a phone is a thing of the past (pair 'Find my Phone' with your watch to eliminate ever losing it again)

4.  Works as a great fitness tracker

5.  You can reply to messages and receive phone calls instantly

6.  You can sync your Social Media notifications

7.  It keeps you connected longer than your phone

8.  Entertainment never sleeps - play music straight from it.

If you are looking for this stylish piece of wearable tech, check this list before getting one.

3. Smartwatch

Having cool apps on your wrist may be a great idea, but most smartwatch features are dedicated to activity. Sure, they can handle notifications, being able to receive calls and play music, but the list of professional sports options could blow your mind. Professional athletes, college fitness programs and sporting enthusiast all use some form of smartwatch on the market.

Brands like FitBit and Garmin have advanced features like

-  wrist-based heart rate

-  oxygen level measurements

-  activity tracking through GPS

-  GLONASS support and

-  integrated maps and altitude indicators.

Based on the above sensors can deliver detailed reports on your performance when hiking, skating or surfing or any of our other fun outdoor activities.

There are also specific profiles for different sports like swimming, skiing or paddle sports. Now you can brag with detailed proof of your achievements tracking distance, pace and stroke count (swimmers) or track speed, distance, and vertical drop for all you skiers out there.

Also included is the altimeter power tool that provides precise ascent and descent data on mountainous terrain.

The list of advanced features goes on, but these are the ones that focus on performance and can help you become better at what you do.

To help you out, we will be selling some of said smart watches.  Keep a look out for your favourite, coming soon.

4. Action Cameras

For more adrenaline- based sports and activities, action cameras are an essential addition. Whether you are on ski's going downhill, or cycling through the woods, trekking over the rocky-mountains or enjoying water sports, action cam's will alalways (with the exception of you not switching it on) deliver unforgettable footage, every time.

The thing to look for when buying is an appropriate carrier for your kind of sport. It could be unpleasant to buy the best camera just to learn that there's no way you can attach it on your helmet. Can we say 'Dumbo'?

Just like wearable tech, most action cameras are waterproof. The king of this category is undeniably the 'GoPro Hero 7 Black'. It has stunning 4K video at 60fps with excellent picture stabilization. There is no better way to get great footage of your sporting success or wipe outs. Haha If you are a tech savant and want to motivate others to pick up some sport, you can stream your training with a little help of a smartphone.

5. Bluetooth Headphones

Some sport amateurs and enthusiasts enjoy ambient sounds of nature. If you are among athletes that are motivated by music, the perfect addition to your sporting gear could be headphones. With Bluetooth 5.1 technology your in for something off the charts!

Whether you wear them in or over the ear, a Bluetooth headset a an optimal solution for music motivated performers. Some headphones have storage integrated, but most likely you will need a source of music i.e. your phone nearby.

A good choice to consider is the 'Garmin Forerunner 645 Music' smartwatch, or smartphone where there are more streaming services options. Sound quality and battery should be the main concerns when choosing optimal sport headphones.

6. Capture The Moment

In less intensive sport or recreational activities, action cameras are overkill. If you explore Milford Sound trails, not taking pictures would almost be a crime. For the best quality, photos of DSLR cameras are still on top of their and ultimately your game.

The downside is in their weight and size, which can seriously slow you down. A good alternative are hybrid mirror-less cameras that have comparable picture quality in smaller form factor.

The best ratio between practicality and quality again come in the form of a smartphone. If you have an expensive flagship mobile phone, the pictures will, in outdoor conditions with good light, most likely be acceptable to excellent quality.

You can take a quick snap and immediately share it on social media or your instant messaging Ski/Snowboard group.

7. Intelligent Hydration Cup

With the development of IoT products (what the hell is IoT? Yeah, we said the same thing:  Internet of Things), even the water bottle is getting smart!  Imagine that.

The Intelligent Bottle/Cup is the new trend that reminds you to hydrate while practicing. These products need a connection with a smartphone and will track your activity and remind you when it is time for another sip.

This product category might seem like surrendering the basic instinct and common sense to technology, but on the other hand, could come in handy if you forget to drink water during strenuous exercise or just being lazy in general.  You're welcome!

8. Electric Connected Bicycle

Cycling is one of the most popular and among healthier activities. With an electric and connected bicycle, it can become much more fun. Recently introduced Greyp G6 bike has five levels of assistance from its electrical motor which can be used for overcoming difficult terrain.

This way less conditioned recreational biker can master difficult paths.  You still have to work for it and paddle hard though. What makes this and similar products great are the smart features. The bike captures the force you use while pedaling, monitors your heart rate and has almost high-end car infotainment options.

With integrated maps and a bunch of sensors, the bike will show you the range and optimal routes. You can compare your driving data with others on the same platform and you can record your drive with one of two integrated cameras.

9. Smart Shoes

Like smart bracelets and smartwatches, smart shoes have integrated sensors that gather and transmit relevant data. The idea is to have all the information you need to improve your performance.

Some of the sensors that help the shoe to monitor the performance are an accelerometer, gyroscope, and magnetometer. Some manufacturers use pressure sensors, environmental sensors, and satellite navigation.

Unlike smartwatches and bracelets, the report can't be seen on the shoe;  that'll just be silly! Shoes are connected via Bluetooth to a fitness app on your phone or laptop.  The metrics are reasonably accurate, and most manufacturers have dedicated fitness app that goes with the product.

The main competitors in this area are Nike, Under Armour, Xiaomi, and Digitsole. The downside could be charging the shoes, and for some brands, you'll need to power them every day.

10.Smart Scale

Okay, okay, you probably won't be carrying a smart scale on an outdoor trip, but we know that for some those dreaded numbers on a scale are more important than those on a measuring tape.  

With the number of health issues that derive from weight concerns we are all about being healthy.  I mean don't the phrases 'early death' due to 'heart disease', 'a stroke', 'type 2 diabetes' or 'cancer' give you the heeby-geebies?  While we know you have to change your entire lifestyle, not just one thing, to life a healthy life, weight loss is definitely a great part of it.  Enter = bathroom scale.

A smart body scale is an electronic bathroom scale that measures weight and other body composition metrics which then sends them wirelessly to an app or online service that automatically records the data.

Those other metrics generally include body fat, body water, and often body mass index (BMI). Some of the metrics are readings while others, like BMI, are estimates based on calculations that take into consideration height and sex, too.

Benefits:

1.  You don't have to look.  It'll still record the necessary.

2.  Pregnancy & post-pregnancy weight tracking is so much easier

3.  They can improve your good habits, keeping you (and your kids) motivated.

4.  They typically pair with fitness trackers.

Go Out and Play

Whatever your thing is, running, swimming, diving, cycling, trekking or hiking, there are smart tech products that can give you a boost in motivation, track your progress and help with suggestions on how to improve yourself.  With or without tech gadgets, the most important thing is to break a sweat and get away from the business frenzy, congested traffic environment and enjoy.

Exercise releases endorphins, reducing stress levels and is that magic ingredient all of us seek to be a little bit happier.

The idea is to get better results and have more fun while you remain focused on your fitness goal, so get out, get active and smile while you're busy doing it!  We promise, it will make your or someone else's day (;)) that much better!

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The P.Volve Experience

With the new year approaching, it's pretty common for most of us to start making new years resolutions, most of which are fitness related. However, with a busy 9-5 job, social responsibilities and household chores it's easy to lose track of those goals in the new year.That's where P.VOLVE has changed the game. With equipment and workouts designed to work around your schedule it's easy to get started and maintain your fitness journey.

P.VOLVE is the opposite of a grueling, high-impact, painful workout. Instead, you’ll find a safer, functional movement-based method to help you achieve the beautiful, natural muscle tone and healthy results you want. Backed by celebrities like Olivia Culpo and Victoria Secret model Nadine Leopold the P.VOLVE has taken the world by storm and there's no sign of slowing down.

THE P.VOLVE METHOD

Elimination of bulk, creating beautiful shape and definition

Specifics include more defined thighs, a higher butt, a stronger core

Works with any body shape, any fitness level

Low-impact anti-pulse training is easy on your joints

Activation of hard-to-reach muscles

A stronger body that helps you get more out of everyday life

A noticeable boost to your overall health, well-being, and confidence

Where does Briefcase Bombshells come into play? With exclusive licensing we're able to bring the P.VOLVE experience to your door, without the international delivery charges and waiting period. Even better? we offer Afterpay! So you can get your equipment and workouts right away and pay in 4 easy installments.Gain access to state-of-the-art equipment and streamable, detailed workout videos via the web or on the integrated app. Not only that, you'll be joining a lifestyle & wellness focused community that actually cares about you and keeps you motivated to stay on the right track.Get your P.VOLVE experience here or send us a message with any questions and/or queries.

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How to choose the right board to Boogie!

Author:  Beau Badinski

Tom Moray, the inventor of the Boogie board was never a big fan of the name bodyboarding.  The dude was a big jazz fan and a drummer— instead, he preferred and named it a boogie board, because of course, he wanted a board to boogie on the waves with.

Choosing a board on which to boogie through the barrels of life isn’t the easiest thing to do. They largely all look the same or pretty similar, but there are many differences, from rails to tails to build shapes and materials. Many things determine how the board will dance on the water.

Let’s check out the main things to look for in a Boogie and do Tom proud!

The Size

First of all, no matter what they tell you, size does matter (when it comes to choosing a bodyboard, of course). It all comes down to your height and body weight. You need enough foam underneath you to shred the gnar and move fast, but not too much as to not be able to throw the thing around and get some sweet air.

As a rough guide and rule of thumb, you’ll want a board that comes up to your belly button. But that isn’t really a measurement, and it certainly isn’t precise, so it’s best to use this chard. Get weighed and get measured before choosing your board so you can be as exact as possible.

Board Length(inches), Rider Height (cm), Rider Weight (cm)

40, 156-167, 42-72

40.5, 158-170, 50-80

41, 160-173, 55-85

41.4, 165-179, 60-90

42, 168-183, 65-95

42.5, 170-187, 70-100

43, 172-190, 70-105

43.5, 175-190, 75-130

44, 175-195, 75-130

45, 185-200, 80-135

46, 190-220, 85-145

The Material

The core of a bodyboard is equal to the foam in a surfboard. It’s the soul and shape of the board. It ultimately decides the weight of the board and the way the board feels to ride, how fast it’ll move in the water and how stiff or flexible it is.

The core is usually made up of one of three materials.

EPS- Extruded Polystyrene

EPS is by far the weakest material for bodyboards, and is generally what the cheapest of boards are made of. Remember those Looney Tunes space jam boogie boards you used to find in Target, many years ago? Those are usually made of EPS, and could be snapped by just looking at them! These boards are stiff, light weight and very buoyant, making them good for riding white water into the shore, but not for much else.

PP- Polypropylene

PP boards are the perfect compromise between weight and strength. They keep their shape really well, meaning they should last longer that their EPS and PE brothers. It may be surprising, but not all bodyboard core material is water resistant—luckily Polypropylene is.

PE- Polyethylene

Up until fairly recently, PE cores were the norm in most bodyboards. PE was once considered the stronger of the two materials, but changes to the way it’s made means this is now no longer the case.  PE boards are generally good for low temperature waters, and are still fairly common in places like the UK. The plus side of PE, is in its flexibility, which improves board control. This material has multiple downsides though; it has been found to be pretty bad for the environment and it is significantly heavier than PP boards.

Some bodyboard manufacturers have started mixing construction materials, to create hybrid boards. They may have the main body of the board made of PP, but the rails made of PE. This will create a strong board with more flexible rails for improved and tighter turning.

The Nose

The nose of your board is important to how you ride. If you dig riding drop-knee, you’ll want to go for a less wide nose. This will give you more control to cut through the water. If you go more for prone riding (on your stomach), you’ll want a wider nose with plenty of room to hold on.

The raised bumps on the nose of the board are known as ‘nose bulbs’, which are there to increase hand control.

The Tail

Crescent tail

Crescent tails boards are shaped like a wide U, or…a crescent! These bad boys are the more popular of the two tail shapes. Crescent tails allow more of your body to contact the water’s surface, which in turn will provide the rider with more control. They also keep the body in position, compared to the bat tail, and are more comfortable to paddle with.

Bat tails

Bat tail boards are generally not recommended for beginner shredders, because they are a fair bit harder to control. They pick up more speed due to less of the body touching the water. They tend to ride a little looser than crescent tails and are quite good on smaller waves. Some riders find them uncomfortable.

Channels

Channels are the grooved sections on the bottom of some boards. They almost act as fins do on a surfboard. They work by sort of ‘gripping’ onto the wave, making turns more solid and makes it easier to stick to a solid line.

The Rails

When it comes to rails, there are generally two different kinds. 60:40 and 50:50. The numbers refer to the percentage of top rail (the part which is closer to the deck), to bottom rail (the part which is in direct contact with the water). A 60:40 rail means 60 percent is bottom rail, and 40 percent is top rail. 60:40 rails are by far the more common of the two, and are most riders top choice. They provide stability and control, whereas the 50:50 rails provides more speed and maneuverability.  

The Stringer

Just like surfboards, bodyboards also have a stringer. It essentially serves the same purpose, which is to provide strength and flexibility to the board, and help it keep its shape. Unlike the stringers in surfboards though, the stringer of a bodyboard is a usually a replaceable carbon fiber or fiberglass tube running from the tail of the board. The stringer can add flexibility or rigidity to your board, depending on which one you choose.

So there you have it. A few things to keep in mind when getting into the Boogie. Choose your board and just get out there and be stoked on the ocean. Ride the waves on absolutely anything you can (but the right board helps). Stay salty and enjoy the ride!

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A Skater’s Guide To The Island of The Gods

Author:  Beau Badinski

Bali, Indonesia. Island of the Gods. The place conjures images of palm trees, hollow left-handers stacked to the horizon, black sandy beaches, bikinis, pig on a stick and bowls of something soupy and hot served from the back of a motorbike on the road side.

The surfing scene is ripe, everyone knows it. Where I live, on the Bukit Peninsula down south, just on this tiny section of the island, there are 9 world class surf breaks. A total surf Mecca. What a lot of people don’t know though, and probably would never guess with all the pot holes, no sidewalks and cracked concrete— is that the island also has a bangin’ skate scene, with almost as many bowls and parks as there are waves.

Head to the west coast of Bali, an hour from the airport and you’ll hit Canggu. In Bahasa Indonesia, the letter C makes a Ch sound. Pronounced; chun-goo. Canggu. The Byron Bay of Bali.

Image Credit:  Pretty Poison, Instagram

Pretty Poison, positioned in the middle of the infamous shortcut (the Canggu shortcut is a road running across, right through the middle of rice paddies, with a meter drop on either side of the narrow road. Cars, scooters and buffalo all end up victims of the shortcut) is somewhat the heart of the skate scene in the village of Canggu. It’s a bar with an empty pool with slicked up coping, a live music venue and a place to get up to no-good.  

Tuesday nights at Pretty Poison are a skate jam. Beers, loud music, skating and skin stickers. Led Zeppelin and Motorhead. It feels like a backyard party. Skaters from the world over are here doing laps in the pool with the local boys, taking big slams, knocking into the shins of the spectators around the edges of the bowl. Good times.

Photo credit House of Canggu instagram

Just up the road, not 15 minutes scooter ride from Pretty Poison, you’ll hit House of Canggu, or HOC. Bar, food joint, coffee place and accommodation featuring a mini park and pool.  The HOC park is small, as is their pool (essentially a wading pool). But, as anyone who’s seen alcohol and bodies of water combined will tell you; it’s best to keep it shallow.

The size ceases to matter though, with views like this. An evening skate with the sun dropping over the greenest of flurry green paddies, good company and some sexy people in the pool. Things could certainly be worse.

The park is a little interesting in the way that it’s modular. They move bits in and out, so depending on when you go, you might get a bright pink mini ramp, you might get a couple of wedges, a few rails and a box. Try your luck or check out their Instagram to see what’s up.

Photo credit Motion Skatepark Co.

Heading a little further out of Changgu, you’ll find this glorious place; Motion Skatepark. It reminds me of the hangar level in Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 2— except instead of being in the made up land of Mullet Falls, like it is in the game, Motion is bang in the tourist center of Kuta. Smooth concrete with wooden ramps, funboxes, gaps, a six set and rails galore.

This indoor beast is made by Motion Skatepark Co.—the crew behind many/most of Bali’s bowls and skating facilities from here to Ubud and as far as the neighboring island of Lombok and mainland Jakarta. These guys change up the park every year, which makes the entry fee of 30.000 IDR (around $3 AUD) ridiculously cheap for all day indoor skating. A wet season go-to. Here you can expect to see some the gnarliest skaters on the island.

Photo credit Amplitude Skatepark

Also made by the Motion Skatepark Co. is Amplitude Skatepark. It looks like the result of a crazy dream a skater had. ‘First, I’ll build a 9ft deep bowl! Then I’ll put a pump track with a million humps and bumps around it! I’ll finish this bad boy off with an L-shaped street skating section! It’ll be sick.’

That’s exactly what they did, and the park turned out oh so well. It really is a thing of beauty. A giant world class pump track entirely wrapped around the deepest bowl in Bali. Tranny from the pump track into the street skate section with stairs, rails, wedges, boxes and a mini half-pipe.  Let’s go!

Amplitude skatepark hosts a bunch of skating and live music events, including International events sponsored by Thrasher and Red Bull. This place is a staple of the Balinese skate scene.

Though these three are my picks of the litter for places to skate in Bali, there are so many more. And me, not being a fan of secrets, will share all I know with ya! Here is a quick list of other bowls, pipes and parks in southern Bali, broken up into area.

Changgu area:

Deus ex Machina has a solid little concrete half pipe on the side of their shop. Go here to also check out handmade surfboards and motorcycles.

Konkrete store café and bar has a bowl. One of the many made by the Motion Skatepark Co. dudes. It’s nice and attracts a good crowd.

Kuta area:

Donkey skate park. An indoor wooden park with some nice rails, half pipes, ledges and kickers.

Bukit Peninsula area:

The outside corner just past Padang Padang surfbreak. They have a sweet bowl with various corner sizes and steel coping.

Balangan surf skate offers accommodation, food, beers and a skatepark. This place started with just the bowl, and things went from there.

Another bowl right near Balangan beach is the Bukit Bowl. A skatepark with a nice big bowl with pool coping and few other ramps and ledges around it. They also run a homestay here.

The Globe Bali skatepark is just after the airport as you’re coming onto the Bukit Peninsula. This park features a concrete coping bowl with a volcano shooting out of the middle, and a mini ramp with a hump. They also run a well-stocked skate shop on site.

There you have it—Bali is as nuts about skating as it is surfing. Grab your board and get down here! Though these are some of the great parks, I reckon there are some equally as rad street spots around, ripe for the skatin’. Get on the moto and have a hunt.

Have you been to Bali and dig the skate scene? Did I somehow miss a Bali skating essential? Skating is all about sharing the love. Share the love, let me know, drop us a comment below and spread the four wheeled love!

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Kai-yacking!

Author:  Roojin Hooblal

“And so we beat on, boats against the current.”

This is one of the most iconic quotes in English literature. I realized very early on that nearly all the classic books I was drawn to had something to do with water. Moby Dick, The Heart of Darkness and of course, The Old Man and The Sea by Ernest Hemingway.

My first water-induced adrenaline rush was when I first did my first whitewater kayaking down the Batoka gorge in Zambia. When anyone mentions the Victoria Fall, locally known as the Mosi Oa Tunya (‘The smoke that thunders’), my mind immediately remembers my first time on the water. Sure, if anyone has taken on the Zambezi rapids they will tell you that you may be some kind of crazy to start off on such a beast of a river, they will also tell you about the Stairway to Heaven, the Three Ugly Sister, The Devil’s Toilet Bowl, Gulliver’s Travels, and of course the granddaddy of all 24 rapids; rapid number 9, Commercial Suicide!

It started innocently like all great ideas do, among a group of mates, screaming fables over shots of Snake Baijiu in the middle of China. BAD IDEA!! Two months later, there we were, standing at the start point, the gravity of the situation quickly dawning on us as we watched the river crash violently against the rapid number one aptly called Against the Wall. During the expedition I made two vows. The first which I’m certain was going through the mind of a marooned crocodile we came across was that if I made it to the end of the gorge, I would never touch even a cup of water ever again. When We got to the end I made a second vow; that I would have to come back and do it again! Boom!!!! I was hooked. The water had claimed me.

Getting into kayaking could be the most rewarding activity or sport you can get to. Many people may think the kayak is a new way for kids high off energy drinks to do stuff for their YouTube channels. The kayak actually goes back hundreds of years. Man and his affair with the water has a long and fascinating history. The kayak was first used by the indigenous Aleut, Inuit, Yupik and Ainu hunters in the subarctic regions of the world to hunt on inland rivers and lakes. In fact, the word kayak originated from the word qajaq meaning ‘hunter’s boat’. Early qajaqs were made from the stitched hides of animals stretched over a wooden frame and ranged up to approximately 9 meters.

Due to its use in hunting, the kayak was built for optimal maneuverability. The paddler was intended to be able to change direction easily and in the event of an accident, the paddler would be able to rescue a fellow paddler. The kayak’s design focuses on directional stability or tracking Vs maneuverability. The paddler’s body also plays an integral roll in how the kayak will perform and respond. For example, if the paddler is too heavy, the kayak may sin due to excess weight. If the paddler is too light, the paddler may not be able to get the most control of the kayak’s mobility. Ensuring that a kayak is the right size and fit is one of the more crucial steps to an enjoyable experience that can lead to a life-long hobby.

Benefits of KayakingThough there are various styles of kayaking, one thing is for sure; Kayaking is a healthy way of living. What is it about kayaking that becomes an addiction to anyone who decides to pick up the paddle?It is SocialIn water sports, like kayaking, I have had the chance to meet so many interesting people from all walks of life and from all over the world. Each with their own stories of how they got into the sport, the challenges they face and how they overcome them. Personally, through kayaking, I have learned to challenge myself and overcome fear and indecision better. It is always stimulating to hear stories from other paddlers after a long expedition around a campfire looking up at the starry sky.FitnessNothing will get your muscles jumping into action faster than behind a paddle. Kayaking is sure to demand you develop a level of fitness. It is also sure to give you a proper aerobic exercise. But best of all, it gives you concentration. You start to pay attention to things like rhythm and cadence. You start to adjust and understand your body better. You learn how to economize your energy output. You start to learn how the paddle is an extension of you. It definitely will keep you healthy.A Chance at NatureVery few activities will bring you this close to nature. You become mentally aware of currents and undercurrents. You feel winds and even the slightest breeze makes you make tiny adjustments. This is very meditative and calming. And if you love recreational kayaking or for fishing, very few modes of transport will take you closer to schools of fish without agitating them the way a kayak would. Depending on your location, you could even get very close to seals or dolphins that you can touch them. They may curiously swim to you in ways they may not if you were on a motor powered vessel. These encounters can be very rewarding.Whitewater KayaksThese kayaks are roto-molded in a semi-rigid, high impact plastic, usually polyethylene. This type of kayak is ideal for fast-moving water. The plastic hull allows the whitewater kayak to take contact from rocks without breaking or leaking. They range from 1.2 to 3.0m long. Whitewater racing combines a fast, unstable lower hull with a flared upper hull to combine flat water racing speed with added stability in open water. These require the paddler to have substantial skill to achieve stability, due to their extremely narrow hulls. Like all racing kayaks, white-water racing kayaks are made to regulation lengths.

Play boat

Whitewater Kayak

This type of whitewater kayak is short, with a scooped bow and a rounded stern. This ensures high maneuverability over speed and stability because they are already in faster-moving waters. These are pretty much the closest thing to a BMX kayak. They are built for performing tricks. They are the primary kayak used in playboating or freestyle competitions which are also known as rodeo boating. You are more likely to see paddles doing airborne tricks with one of these. Pretty Dope, eh?

Creekboat Whitewater Kayak

These are significantly longer than and more voluminous than play boats, making them more stable, faster and higher floating. They are primarily used for speed on narrow, low volume waterways and rivers because of their stability and speed, which enables them to hit rapids at higher speeds.Sea and Touring KayaksIn 1932, a German man called Oskar Speck, disenfranchised by the economy, hopped into his kayak and only paddled for seven-and-a-half years and over 30,000 miles to Australia. Only to Australia. Unfortunately, after weathering monsoons, mosquito bites, limited fresh water, and crocodile infested water, upon reaching Australia, he was immediately arrested as a war criminal. Oskar eventually was released and wedded an Australian gal. His mode of transport was a Sea kayak. Embarking on such an epic journey definitely requires fortitude and a lot more planning and substance. Of course this challenge was successfully  taken on recently by Sandy Robson and she had to use a kayak built to handle such an expedition.

Sea and Touring KayaksSea kayaks, also known as Touring kayaks are built for journeys of hours to weeks long expedition. Their volume above the waterline gives them increased security in rougher conditions and even more room for gear.  Yet, the sea kayak offers a low profile to the wind, with a forward-raked design and unique mini-transom, sure to appeal to the sophisticated paddler. Sea kayaks in most cases trade maneuverability for seaworthiness, stability and cargo capacity. They typically have a longer waterline, and provisions for below-deck storage. They can accommodate one to sometimes three paddlers.Sit-on-topsThese are sealed-hull crafts, developed for leisure use and are mainly constructed using polyethylene to ensure strength and affordability. These have scupper holes which are tubes that run from the cockpit to the bottom of the hull so that water that enters the cockpit can be drained out. Sit-on-top kayaks range from one to four paddlers. They are popular for fishing and scuba diving. A disadvantage with this kayak is that its hull may develop perforations that may fill with water over time without the paddler knowing.

A sit-on-top tandem kayakFishing has become a fast growing activity in kayaking. Where a Sit-on-top kayak is not the go-to kayak for paddling for paddling and maneuverability’s sake, it outperforms other kayaks as the best platform for angling/fishing. Its ability to sit shallow allows it to approach schools of fish without scaring them off the way a motor-powered boat wouldn’t. Its very stable and can allow paddlers to spend hours out on the water easy!Inflatable KayaksInflatable kayaks don’t have to mean boring! Au contraire!!! Inflatables have an advantage when it comes to portability. The paddler is able to carry them to their favourite scenic spots with the help of  a large enough bag.

Choosing Your KayakBefore you decide on getting a kayak, it is important for you to identify the one that suits the activity you want to be doing, because kayak performance is determined by a varying number of factors. It is important to be practical about how often you think you may need to actually go out kayaking. Is it a hobby you are committing to? Is it an activity you plan to do a few times only? It may be more practical for you to rent rather than hastily purchase one if so. This will allow you to test a wide range of kayaks to find which one appeals to you the most before splurging. However if you are committed to a journey into the world of kayaking, you had better select one that matches the kind of activity you will spend your time doing.Another important feature for the ideal kayak is comfort. You will most likely be spending hours on end in the kayak and the last thing you want is to have your legs go dead on you. You have to ensure it is the right size for your body and that all adjustments are correctly done according to your particular needs. Most importantly, always be safe and have fun!Top Kayaking DestinationsIn an article for Red-Bull, ten-time world champion Claire O’Hara listed some of these kayaking heavens. I have kayaked on only two of these listed, and based on my own experience I am inclined to trust her judgement and also consider this as my Wish list kayak destinations:

1.  Slovenia

2.  Ottawa River, Canada

3.  Zambezi River, Zambia

4.  Lake Rotoiti Rotorua, New Zealand

5.  Norway

6.  White Nile, Uganda

7.  The Grand Canyon, USA

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How to Identify and Cure Fatigue

Are you feeling tired, wiped out, or spent? Is going to work a struggle regardless of how many hours of sleep you get? Have the activities you once enjoyed become a burden?

Chances are that you are one of the millions of people suffering from fatigue. Depending on the duration of symptoms, how debilitating the symptoms are, and the concurrence of various other issues like sleep problems or cognitive impairment, the official medical diagnosis that one might be given by a medical doctor is generally either “idiopathic chronic fatigue” or “chronic fatigue syndrome/systemic exertion intolerance disease.”

Let’s break down the basics of exactly what chronic fatigue is, why it’s so common today, and the approach we use to help our members regain their energy and find their optimal well-being.

Are you experiencing symptoms of chronic fatigue?

The prevalence of fatigue is on the rise. A study done in 2007, and published in the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, showed that the prevalence of fatigue in the US workforce was almost 40% and that workers with fatigue cost employers $136.4 billion annually in health-related lost productive time.

Symptoms of chronic fatigue can mimic a number of disorders and aren’t always easily recognizable. Below are some of the most common causes and symptoms that are associated with chronic fatigue.

Common symptoms of fatigue:

Autoimmune conditions.

Brain fog.

Depression.

Hormone imbalance.

Skin conditions like acne.

Difficulty sleeping.

Hair loss.

Sweet and salty food cravings.

Potential causes of fatigue:

Prolonged stress.

Lack of sleep.

Poor diet.

Undetected food sensitivities.

Over-reliance on stimulants like caffeine.

How to overcome fatigue

A patient named Josie recently came to us with a long-standing history of fatigue. She had symptoms since graduating from college 7 years ago and clearly qualified for the diagnosis of “chronic fatigue syndrome/systemic exertion intolerance disease”.

In conventional medicine, the treatments that are recommended for chronic fatigue consist of cognitive behavioral therapy, anti-depressant pharmaceutical medications, graded exercise therapy, sleep hygiene, discouraging over-sleeping, and referrals to support groups. Unfortunately, none of these treatments effectively address the root cause of what the fatigue is. It’s no wonder that more than half of patients with chronic fatigue don’t improve after a year of therapy.

Not only did Josie suffer from fatigue, she was also suffering from chronic digestive issues, irritable bowel syndrome, autoimmune thyroiditis and hypothyroidism (treated by an endocrinologist), insomnia, body aches, cystic acne, weight gain, PMS, anxiety, and depression. In a standard conventional model, she probably would have been referred to a rheumatologist, sleep specialist, psychiatrist and dermatologist, in addition to her endocrinologist.

Luckily for Josie we understand the inter-connectedness of the body and treat people as a whole, instead of breaking them down by organ system. We were able to partner with her in addressing all of her problems. There are usually other symptoms that accompany fatigue. This is due to the fact that fatigue is usually just a down-stream symptom of imbalances in the body that tend to present in a multitude of ways. The investigative work of figuring out the root cause of Josie’s fatigue was just beginning.

Testing to determine the root cause of your fatigue.

In order to figure out what was causing her symptoms, in addition to regular conventional blood testing, we ordered Josie more extensive blood work, salivary hormone testing, digestive testing consisting of a stool and breath tests, and genetic testing. She was found to have yeast overgrowth in her intestines, positive autoimmune inflammatory tests, hormonal imbalance, and nutrient deficiencies.

4 steps to heal chronic fatigue.

1. Optimize gut health.

First, Josie was given supplements and medications to treat her yeast overgrowth. Addressing this chronic intestinal infection in her microbiome (the compilation of trillions of bacteria that live within our intestines) not only corrected her digestion but also helped to heal her leaky gut.

THE FOLLOWING PRODUCTS CAN ASSIST WITH THIS PROCESS.

Leaky gut, or intestinal permeability, is caused by inflammation in the cells that line the digestive tract. This inflammation can be caused by an infection, chronic stress, inflammatory foods like gluten and sugar, or medications like ibuprofen. Leaky gut leads to auto-immunity (when the immune system attacks part of our own bodies) by disrupting the barrier between the contents of our intestines and our bloodstream. When this barrier is disrupted, the bacteria, food, and immune complexes within our digestive tracts can seep into our bloodstream and cause chronic inflammation, and even hyper-reactivity of the immune system against part of our own body.

Most people with symptoms of fatigue will also present with some evidence of leaky gut. Not only does leaky gut lead to autoimmunity, but it also leads to nutrient deficiencies, because of the subsequent inability to absorb nutrients from the food we eat.

2. Incorporate stress reduction techniques.

Josie was also encouraged to begin a regular meditation practice and to harness thoughts of gratitude, compassion, and peace, and to picture herself in a healthy state six months from that time. These types of visualizations and emotions are necessary on a daily basis in order for our bodies to heal.

When we spend much of our time with negative thinking and anxiety, our bodies perceive that we are in survival mode. If we live in a chronic state of survival, then our brains will be surrounded by high levels of cortisol and adrenaline which can eventually cause the size of our hippocampus (aka the memory center) to decrease and can even shrink our muscles. These effects contribute to feelings of fatigue. Meditation on a regular basis switches the brain from survival into healing and resting mode and will counteract these effects.

3. Address nutrient deficiencies.

We also addressed Josie’s various nutrient deficiencies. She was given supplements and a nutritional plan that would replenish her levels of vitamin D, B vitamins, and magnesium. - Briefcase Bombshells can offer you the same.  Have a look here.  These products assist in natural well being.

These nutrients are low in most people in our country. We are not outside in the sunshine every day, and therefore lack vitamin D. Our soil is over-farmed by the farming industry, and practices like crop rotating are no longer performed to replenish nutrients into the soil. Therefore, even when eating a seemingly nutritious diet, we still lack minerals like magnesium, zinc, and iodine.

We also gave Josie supplements to aid in lowering inflammation and encourage detoxification, like omega 3 fatty acids and vitamin C. Always work with your provider to understand your specific deficiencies and the best supplements and dosages to help address these.  BB offers an Omega range that will blow your socks off, check it out here.

4. Eat more anti-inflammatory foods.

Finally, Josie was given a nutrition plan that focused on anti-inflammatory and detoxifying foods. Given her existing auto-immune condition, we needed to try to calm her immune system down. An auto-immune condition is one where the immune system attacks proteins in the body that are essential for function. Over time, if left unchecked, it can potentially cause deterioration of organs and even organ failure.

Because modern day life exposes us to hundreds of toxic chemicals daily, our immune systems are living in hyper-reactivity mode. Therefore, part of the solution often involves removing as many things from our diets that might be seen as foreign invaders by our immune systems.

Since 75% of our immune cells are made in our intestinal lining, it’s imperative that we minimize the number of chemicals that our digestive lining comes into contact with, in order to calm the immune system.

So what does this look like? Start by eating organic foods as much as possible, and removing large proteins from the diet that are seen as foreign by our immune systems like gluten from wheat and casein found in dairy. Excessive refined sugar in the diet also adds to inflammation and fatigue. Refined sugar intake leads to rapid spikes of insulin and results in rapidly plummeting blood sugar levels and feelings of fatigue, irritability, and more sugar cravings.

BB has an incredible food app designed by some really clever people that can assist with your nutrition plan to empower you to make the right choices at home, without just saying 'this is what you should eat', so you learn and grow in the process too.  Have a look at an ALL ROUND program that will address all of the above.

Article by:  Soyona Rafatjah

Head on over to Nefariouss.com - Nutrition to grab yourself the best products on the market, no added ANYTHING, pure wholefoods to help you with your fatigue.

#fatigue #chronic fatigue #nefariouss

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We thought YOGA wasn't meant for DOGS..uhm SURFERS

Author:  Beau Badinski

Okay, so maybe it’s true.

So what?

Maybe I did start— or first try Yoga for reasons that weren’t, say, because my arms were tight, back was stiff, neck ached, concrete filled my joints and my hamstrings felt like a leather belt. Maybe I didn't, because I wanted to reach my true self - breathe - not to sit quietly, eat kale and quinoa and meditate at the base of Mt. something.

Fine, okay, you got it out of me! See, the real reason is...my local yoga teacher was hot.  There you have it! [Enter Hot Yoga Teacher picture - amended for your viewing pleasure; and yes, we left this here for you to read on purpose]

That was some time ago. People change and I’ve grown up a little (a LITTLE) since then. Gone are the days of me taking a yoga class because the teacher is attractive, and to be honest, I do like quinoa and kale. Another thing that has changed is, as a surfer, I see yoga as a necessity.

It doesn’t take much thought to realize why yoga is good for surfers. With all the deep breathing and stretching— it’ll make you more limber, it’ll make you stronger and it’ll allow you to increase your lung capacity; equaling longer breath holds. All the good stuff for helping survive in the water. I can say with pretty much certainty, surfers that don’t actively stretch, all need it in the same areas. Shoulders, lower back and hips.

If you don’t like the idea or the image or connections with yoga; smoothies, om and no bake vegan cakes, the light within, Chakra alignment and mandala bed sheets (not knocking it, just saying - they’re connected and you know it). If that’s not your thing, let’s call it movement based stretching.  

The thing about yoga that elevates it above other forms of stretching is it’s an active form of stretching. It’ll increase your active mobility and your muscles range of motion and that’s what’ll improve your cutbacks.

I generally divide yoga positions into what I guess you could call problem areas, so that’s what I’ve done here. These positions hit the shoulders, the lower back, the hips or all three. Be sure to have a play with them, twist and move your body gently and little by little to see where the stretch is most effective for you. Take deep breaths, which will not only deepen the stretch, but it’ll increase your lung capacity over time.

Shoulders

Down(ward) dog

How to do it:

Start on your hands and knees. I like to have my fingers spread as wide as possible, hands directly below my shoulders, and my knees pretty much below my hips, maybe back a little.

Tuck your toes so they are touching the ground or your mat, engage your core and push yourself up, like someone is pulling your hips up and back, so your arms and legs are straight. It should feel like you’re pushing the mat away with your hands.

From here, you don’t want to have your arms right close to your ears, so pull your shoulders back. Widen your hands if you need to, to create more space. You can walk your feet out a little, move your heels up and down to feel a deep stretch in your hamstrings. You’re going for a straight line from your hands up to your tail bone, then another straight back down to your heels, so you’ll end up looking like a human equilateral triangle, with the ground being the base.

Lower BackUp(ward) dog

How to do it:

Lay face down on the ground or your mat with the tops of your feet flat on the ground.

Place your hands with your fingers facing forward, about one hands distance behind your shoulders, next to your ribcage. Your elbows should be roughly at a right angle going backwards.

Straighten your legs with no bend in your knees and push up with your arms until they’re straight. Your thighs and shins should now not be touching the ground and your hands will be almost directly below your shoulders.

Now really pull your shoulders back. Try to pull your shoulder blades down your back and closer to each other, which will open your chest. Head facing forward.

Seated spinal twist

How to do it:

Start sitting down with your feet out in front of you.

Bring your right leg up and under your left leg, so your right heel is near your left butt cheek.

Bring your left leg over your right, so your left foot is now on the ground to the right of your right knee.

Place your left hand on the ground behind you just past your right foot and use your hand to help make your back as straight as you can.

Sit up nice and tall, push your right bicep into the left side of your left knee. Right forearm up vertically.

Use your elbow pushing against your knee to gently twist your body to your left side. Go as deep as you can into the twist without it hurting. Make sure to breathe deeply.

To perform the seated spinal twist on the right side, swap the instructions so right becomes left and left becomes right.    

HipsSquat pose

How to do it:

Start in a standing position with your feet facing straight forward, and a little wider than shoulder distance apart.

Leave your heels in place and turn your toes outward to just under a 45 degree angle.

Slowly lower yourself down until you are squatting.

Press your palms together and push your left elbow into your left knee fold and your right elbow into your right knee fold.

Straighten your back, bring your shoulders back and your chest out.

Crescent Lunge

How to do it:

Start in a standing position with your feet facing forward, hip distance apart.

Step your right foot back so that with your right foot you are on your toes and the ball of your foot.

Bend your left knee. Your left knee should sit directly above your left ankle. Your right knee should bent and be almost facing down to the ground but not touching it.

Slowly lift your arms up, make yourself upright and bring your arms above your head and lean your hips forward into the lunge. Don’t go so far forward so that your knee is tracking past your ankle.

Remember, these stretches won’t do anything overnight— and as with anything, consistency is key. Do these, or stretches like these daily or at least a few times a week, just keep it to after surfing or on rest days. With time, your muscles will loosen up and move more fluidly. This will help prevent injury and massively improve the way your body moves, which without a doubt will improve your surfing and will keep you surfing, hopefully for life!

Get your surf and fitness wear at Nefariouss.com - we can’t wait to see you there!

#surfers #surfing #yoga #yogaforsurfers #yogawear

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Biohack Your Sleep

When was the last time you woke up without an alarm clock feeling energized and not needing caffeine? Have you slept well this past week?

If you answered no to either of these questions you are in good company. Two-thirds of Americans report getting less than the ideal 8 hours of sleep per night.

Why Sleep Matters

In this modern age of “rise and grind”, it can be almost shameful to announce to your friends and family that your bedtime is 10 pm. We live in a culture that is in a constant state of stimulation and hustle. No wonder we are seeing an exponential increase in diseases like Alzheimer’s, obesity, and autoimmune disorders.

The obesity epidemic continues to grow and is costing our healthcare system millions of dollars a year. A study done at University of Chicago put participants on a calorie restricted diet for 8 weeks. One group slept 5.5 hours a night and the comparison group slept 8.5 hours a night. The group that slept for at least 8 hours lost 55% body fat with all other factors remaining constant.

While sleep is not the only factor in sustaining weight loss, it is a key component that is often overlooked. If you have serious trouble getting enough sleep, seek out the help of a functional medicine practitioner to help you get your sleep under control.

Sleep and Our Hormones

Excellent sleep is a delicate balance between key hormones produced in our bodies and each one plays a vital role in quality sleep.

Cortisol

This hormone is often associated with stress and given a bad reputation. If we didn’t produce cortisol after exercise or during stressful situations, we would not survive. The key to optimizing cortisol is producing it at the right time and at the correct amounts. Normally your cortisol levels should peak around 6 am and drop to their lowest levels around 10 pm. Chronic sleep deprivation has a correlation with elevated nighttime cortisol. Cortisol function is one of the many speciality tests we perform at Parsley Health.

Human growth hormone (HGH)

The highest production of HGH is during the first half of our sleep in delta sleep stage. This is when we achieve our deepest sleep and potential for restoration. That’s why it’s also known as the fountain of youth hormone! It aids in building more lean muscle tissue, protects your muscle from breaking down and gives you energy. This means you are able to lose weight more efficiently and maintain lean body mass when you sleep well.

Melatonin

Available over the counter at local stores, this supplement is actually a powerful hormone produced by the pineal gland. It increases our bodies brown adipose tissue and burns white adipose tissue. As we age our bodies naturally lose brown adipose tissue. Research has shown that higher levels support bone health, improve insulin sensitivity, and increase lifespan. Recommended dosing varies and is best discussed with your doctor.

Leptin

The satiety hormone. One night of poor sleep reduces leptin levels and makes us want to eat the whole pint of ice cream.

Ghrelin.

The hunger hormone. These levels increase by 15% increase after one poor night of sleep. This is why we want to eat more sugar and carbs when we are tired.

Your Brain On No Sleep

Compared to all the fancy technology that exists today, our bodies are still pretty primitive and basic. There is no gadget or app that can replace good, old-fashioned quality sleep. Not getting enough sleep impacts our long-term brain health, memory, and detoxification.

Have you ever craved broccoli at 1 am while binge-watching on Netflix? Of course not! We crave foods like chips and cookies when we are sleep deprived. Sleep decreases glucose to the brain which is its primary fuel source. Our bodies naturally seek out quick forms of glucose even when it’s not healthy for us. UC Berkeley did a study that showed increased activity in the amygdala (the reptilian part of our brain) and decreased activity in the insular cortex and frontal lobe (responsible for willpower). This means even when we know we shouldn’t eat that cookie, our willpower to resist temptation is drastically reduced when we are sleep deprived.

Not only does lack of sleep cause cravings and weight gain, it also affects our brain health and memory. When we sleep our glymphatic system is 10x more active. This system is composed of glial cells that are responsible for sweeping away all the toxins that have accumulated throughout the day. In fact, our brain cells shrink about 50% during sleep to allow the glial cells to work efficiently.

Some researchers have reported that the increased incidence of Alzheimer’s is connected to the rise of insomnia in Americans. Alzheimer’s disease is characterized by an increase in amyloid plaques in the brain. One of the waste products cleared during sleep is beta amyloid so Alzheimer’s may just be a buildup of waste that hasn’t been cleared over time.

A Note On Alcohol

Alcohol is ingrained in our society as a way to both relax after a long day and socialize with friends and family. When it comes to sleep though, it can be very detrimental to our health. Alcohol blocks REM sleep which is our dream state as well as when our memories get solidified from short to long-term. Even just one glass of wine can produce a REM rebound effect where we wake up feeling hungover. This is because the quality of our sleep was poor even if we technically slept 8 hours.

Sleep Smarter

Hack your way to better quality sleep with these simple tips.

1. Cycle your coffee.

There is on average about 200 mg in 1 cup of coffee. It takes 72 hours to completely detoxify caffeine from your system to reach that same level of “buzz”. When you regulate your coffee intake, the receptors don’t down-regulate and makes the caffeine more effective when you do drink it.

2. Set a screen curfew.

I know it’s hard for all of us. Why? Each time we scroll through Instagram or watch one more episode on Netflix, we are activating the dopamine reward centers in our brain. These centers are constantly seeking and always want more even against our better judgement. It takes practice and commitment but power down all your devices at least 30 minutes before bedtime for quality sleep. The blue light emitted from our devices lowers melatonin by up to 50%.

3. Heal your gut. Heal your sleep.

We have 400x more melatonin in our gut than in our brains. In addition, the bacteria in your gut also interferes with this key sleep hormone. Eating a diet rich in prebiotic foods and foods that are high in sleep nutrients are essential. Potassium, for example, helps us stay asleep and can be found in avocados. Magnesium helps us to fall asleep and 80% of us are chronically deficient! This is one of the few nutrients I recommend taking a supplement for as foods aren’t going to provide adequate amounts.

4. Time your workout accordingly.

When we workout, cortisol is naturally produced. To mimic our natural cortisol curve it’s best to workout in the morning to sleep better. Even if it’s just for 5-10 minutes, doing a re-bounder or a few rounds of weights can have a profound impact.  Or try to get sunlight in between the hours of 6-8 am as this helps to make cortisol drop lower at night.

Final Thoughts on Biohacking Your Sleep

Getting enough sleep is one of the most important things you can do for your overall health.

Not getting enough sleep impacts our long-term brain health, memory, and detoxification.

Limiting screen time before bed, cycling your caffeine intake and healing your gut with probiotic right food can help to significantly improve the quality of your sleep.

Article by:  Tiffany Lester, MD

#sleep #i need sleep #sleep well #sleep apnia

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Kitesurfing 101

Author:  Kenji Murapa

What is Kitesurfing?

You’ve probably come across kite surfing at some point, even if only on the internet. Kite surfing is an action sport that relies on a wind powered sailing kite to propel a manned board or skis across water and sometimes hard terrain. It is both a recreational activity and a professional, competitive sport.

It’s what many would call an “extreme sport”. An inherently fringe and somewhat dangerous activity with a relatively high skill ceiling. Crazy, mop haired adrenaline junkies darting through eternities of salt sprayed air with no reservations and even less hesitation.

This is true in a sense, kite surfing can be edgy and dangerous, but if you take a deeper look, you’ll soon find that in essence, kitesurfing is a natural and rewarding relationship between man and the elements.

Another aspect of kitesurfing that makes it so intriguing is the fact that it’s actually a fusion of several other extreme sports. Take windsurfing, wakeboarding and paragliding, mash them together and you have a portal to a wind powered dimension.

Even more curious is the real history behind the sport.

The History of Kitesurfing

Kite surfing as a popular sport has only been around for just over two decades. Many consider 1996 the year of the kite. This is when kitesurfing became accessible to a mainstream public as a recreational activity.

Before this however, kitesurfing has its humble origins all the way back to the 19th century. As the world began to industrialize in the 1800s, a man named George Pocock had an idea.

Because manufacturing and production for a new modern world required larger and larger shipments of, well, everything, the issue of how to efficiently transport them soon emerged. On land, horse powered haulage was the only way to get by. And by sea, boats and ships.

When it came to the horses, they were generally effective, but being living animals, they required constant inputs and management of constant...outputs. This meant horses became a general burden and in order to compensate for this, a tax was imposed on owners of horses and carriage services.

Back to our buddy George Pocock, who after realizing he didn't want to pay tax (don’t we all) he decided to find a workaround. He took his inspiration from the sea.

Noticing the power and efficiency of wind, a free energy source, he decided to apply it on a smaller scale. Instead of massive sails and spinnakers, George went for the humble kite.

He used the kite to efficiently propel carts of goods and bails across land and water. He employed the same four line system used in modern kiting. So despite it not being a sport at the time, George Pocock basically invented kite surfing.

Kiting Today. What's The Vibe?

Today, kitesurfing is a major action sport. In 2000, Red Bull established the Red Bull King of the Air in Maui and since then, it happens every year in Cape Town. South Africa.

Other developments in the kitesurfing include it almost becoming an Olympic sport. After a 2012 vote which allowed kiting to replace windsurfing at Rio 2016, the decision was reversed.

We might still see kiting in a future Olympic games, but for now, that idea is dead in the water. As a consolation however, kitesurfing featured as an official event at the 2018 Summer Youth Olympics.

Because of the popularity of the sport and it’s rise as an illustrious career, many stars have emerged from the community.

Kitesurfing hotshots: Meet the Big Fish.

Because it’s an extreme sport, kiting tends to attract and produce some crazy characters. The funny thing is, the top athletes in the field tend to be more sane and composed than most. Allow an introduction.

Ruben Lenten.

Ruben is a Dutch mega-loop lover. He’s as brave and adventurous as you could imagine a top tier athlete in such an insane world would be. He won the 2005 Red Bull King of the Air and is considered one of the forerunners of modern kiting.

His greatest victory however, was winning a battle against cancer. His life stands as one of the most inspiring hero stories in modern action sports. Catch him on Instagram.

Paula Novotna

This Czech born water baby has been at it harder than most. Considered one of the kiting world’s most progressive riders.

Having been a junior European and European champion, as well as regularly placing on the podium in global comps, Paula is a gale-force to reckon with.

Bruna Kajiya

This Brazilian pro is a true force of nature. She is the 2015 and 2016 world champion and has a reputation worthy of worship.

Her position in the community has not only made her a role model and inspiration to her peers, but she’s also used the platform to inspire young girls in discovering the magic of kitesurfing. See more of her on Instagram here.

Keahi de Aboitiz

This Australian megastar has been kiting since he was 11. He soon began taking on the big leagues, appearing in freestyle comps around the world.

His appetite for adventure sees him chasing the stoke around the world. Riding big wave competitions and hunting for the biggest swells nature can produce.

Location, Location, Location: Where to Kite?

Two things you need to consider when deciding where to kite. These are community and conditions.

Firstly you will need the right conditions, namely the windy variety. You also need the right kind of terrain, which in most cases means no terrain at all, but instead, the deep blue sea. Secondly you’ll need a community that supports kite surfers and sustains an economy for kitesurfing to be viable in that place. So here are the best places to Kitesurf.

Cape Town, South Africa

Cape Town is the home of the Red Bull King of the Air. The famous Big Bay spot on Cape Town’s west coast receives a crazy amount of wind.

Cape Town also has a thriving kiting community, further backed up by one of the worlds most established water sports communities.

Maui, Hawaii

Probably the most popular kiting spot in the world, Maui has a time-honoured legacy of aquatic action sports in general.

The lush, tropical setting is constantly bathed in strong trade winds, making Maui ready when you are. Maui was also the location of the first ever Red Bull King of the Air.

La Ventana, Baja, California

Nothing quite as charming as a sleepy surf town with an element of insanity embedded in the fabric of the community. Welcome to La Ventana.

La Ventana is also a place of learning and has a robust community of surf and kitesurfing instructors. This makes it a great place to dip your toes in the water.

Gear Up!

With all that out of the way, the last, and certainly not the least thing you’ll need is the correct gear. First we look at the kitesurfing gear checklist. These are the essentials you can’t go without.

Kite

Bar

Board

Pump

Wetsuit

Life Jacket

Helmet

Safety System

Harness

Booties

Gloves

Water

Sunblock

Rash Guard

Food

As for brands, there are quite a few tried and trusted sources. Have a look at our brands:  Kitesurfing

So there you have it folks, Kitesurfing 101. If you’re still not sure where to begin, we suggest you hit up your nearest Kitesurfing school and book a trip.

Don't forget to check out our store www.nefariouss.com for some awesome options and gear setups!

#kites #flying kites #kitesurfing #surf #surfers #kitesurfers #outdoorsports

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Travelling alone

The World is increasingly becoming a woman’s place to be. From reaching the moon and diving deep in the oceans to exploring the extreme corners of the world, there is nothing that a woman can’t do equal or better than a man. While we want you to breathe easy while travelling, a little caution never hurt anyone. So, here is our one cent on making travelling easier for solo woman travelers. Here are some quick and useful tips that might come in handy for women on solo exploration! 1) Always research beforehand: If you are planning a trip to some new place, make sure you are well-informed about the strange land that you are travelling to. Make a list of places you want to visit and have the addresses in a notebook. That, because you can’t always rely on your cell phone or internet connection all the time. 2) Know where you are staying: People usually ignore the importance of staying at a good place just to save a few bucks. Yet, our word is that it is always good to spend a few extra dimes on good hotels because they are safe.

3) Keep your documents safe: It is imperative to keep your travel and other documents safely. Do not carry them along every time you go out of the hotel. Always keep one ID card with you though, just in case. 4) Carry protection: Make sure your handbag is equipped with a pepper spray or a tiny Swiss knife or any such self protection weapons because these things might come handy. 5) Avoid costly jewellery/accessories: Avoid wearing precious jewellery and accessories while travelling alone in a new city. These things mostly invite unwanted glares and attention. 7) Dress like a local: When you are in a new place, try blending in with the locals by dressing up like them. Trust us, it helps a lot.

8) Choose transport with women-only spaces: If you are travelling in a bus or metro, try being in the compartment reserved for women only. You’ll feel more comfortable. 9) Learn to say ‘NO’: Now, this is very important. As a traveller, you’ll meet new people and make plans that include a lot of things, so learn to say ‘No’ and do not feel guilty about it. You need not to trust anyone in just one meeting. And always remember, you are there to explore a new place and not to please people!

10) Do not panic, if you get lost: It is okay to get lost at a strange new place. Do not panic and do not let others know about it too. Calm down, find a café or a restaurant, sit there and relax. Check the map or your phone or talk to the manager of the place and take their guidance.

If you’re more on the tech-savvy side here are four apps to help you become street smart and avoid the more nefarious energies in this world, and should you ever find yourself in a dire situation, you will have the knowledge and tools to get you safely out it. Before leaving for your trip, download these apps and play around with them to get yourself familiar with the user-experience.

TOURLINA

This app has been designed to connect women travellers and enable companionship. The app has a team of connected professionals, who approves every woman applicant wanting to join, making it safe and reliable. Travelers can even choose to meet up prior to their trips to get familiar with one another. This is a no string attached app, so you are not bound to remain with your companion during your trip, though we recommend not letting other women hanging in unknown cities.

GAMING

As much as we celebrate women’s freedom, it seems best to take calculated risks. Avoid dodgy bars, pubs, and clubs as much as you can when in a new area until you get to know the city and its neighbourhoods better. In the meantime, if you find yourself in a state of boredom, download free online games or visit netbet.co.uk. You can play games without needing to download the app. So in the event you find yourself with low data coverage, netbet.co.uk will provide countless hours of entertainment!

REDZONE MAP

If you are visiting a new city, you are obviously going to want to explore. RedZone Map is the app you want to have when doing so. The application gets its data from governmental agencies to specify, on your mobile map, which areas are high crime zones, and which are safe. You can tell them apart from the different coloured pinpoints on the map and can choose the safest route to get to your destination. Isn’t this great?

CALCONVERT

The world is unfortunately cruel to uninformed women. People tend to take advantage of the ignorant, so make sure you aren’t left vulnerable by downloading the CalConvert app, which ensures you don’t get ripped off when booking accommodation or hustling for a bargain. The app converts your currency into the currency you are using at the time of your travels and vice versa. It comes in pretty handy, especially if you are touring and not familiar with all the countries’ various exchange rates. It has a unit converter and calculator, which can convert up to 150 different currencies, and is available in 24 languages.

If you follow these few tips, you are safe to conquer the world all alone!

#travel #travel tips #nefariouss

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SAILING IN THE SKY - Cross Lakes 2019

Article by Greg Hamerton

The forecast was normal for the Lake District – in other words, dire warnings of rain and wind. But I’d arranged time off for the weekend and Team South partner Andy was up for a long drive, so we set off for The Flight Park in Keswick.

The region is a hidden gem of England, tucked away on the North West coast, with proper peaks, steep ascents, and a great variety of geology to entrance the eye and challenge the legs. Despite the high tourist traffic, once on the trails I encountered few people, especially on the back routes that hike-and-fly racing takes you.

The concept for the X-Lakes race is simple: bag as many high points as you can over the weekend, and return to the Flight Park, or as meet director Jocky Sanderson warned in a mock French accent, you get ‘no points’. Nil pwah!

If I’d been more of a planner I might have arranged some support or at least a bag drop which was offered by Jocky, but I’d decided to use the weekend to test the limits of fasted performance. A bowl of leftover pasta on the Saturday morning would be my only meal, so I carried no extra weight of snacks or cookers. A small tent would provide all I needed for one night in the fells.

I didn’t bother with much route planning: I had a simple idea – head south as far as I could, play ‘pacman’ and gobble as many points bits that I could see. Sleep out, then try and stage an unlikely return on Sunday. I’d get lost in the mountains, get exhausted, and test my limits. Perfect!

A far more efficient approach was adopted by Andy, and Rod Holdsworth (the winner). Design a circular route that connected the maximum score possible in an achievable and optimised track that was possible to do mostly on the ground.

I wouldn’t have cared if I had such a route laid out for me. I was there for the flying!

Once the thermals arrived around mid-day, I was able to stitch together a few peaks, but it’s very challenging to fly far in the Lake District, especially when the clouds roll in. Each valley seems to have its own interpretation of the wind direction. Luckily the winds were mostly light, so we could safely explore the deeper ravines and land on odd slopes.

Soon I was happily lost in the world of rocks, ridge lines, trails and the echoes of Wordsworth. All the terrain above an altitude of 1000ft is included in the National Park and offers you the freedom to roam as you will and even camp (or fly). This is a rare privilege in the UK, and one I relished. Nobody telling you where to go and what to do. Just … be as you would be, and explore.

If you have a reasonable level of paragliding skill (BHPA Pilot rating) and enjoy being in the great outdoors, come and join me on the X-Lakes assault course in 2020. Jocky Sanderson and his team provided a safe and supportive environment for the weekend, the Cumbria Soaring Club were excellent hosts and the flying was challenging and very educational. I came away feeling lucky to have been part of this special event while it is still ‘under the radar’ and wonderfully low-key.

To get a better idea of what it was like, enjoy this adventure documentary funded by Flybubble and our wonderful patrons

Get your paragliding gear at www.nefariouss.com 

#nefariouss #paragliding #sailing

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7 Signs You Have a Hormonal Imbalance

Hormones are the most potent chemical messengers in our bodies, telling your body what to do and when. That’s why when your hormones are out of balance, you may be able to feel the effects, whether it be via insomnia, fatigue, weight gain, hair loss, or mood swings. But usually these imbalances are reversible—learn how to balance hormones naturally and turn your hormonal imbalance around.

Produced by our endocrine glands—adrenals, thyroid, pancreas, female or male reproductive system—hormones perform essential functions, relay important warnings and communicate messages throughout the body.

That means, they make sure everything is running smoothly and that your rhythms stay in sync.

Hormones can impact your:

Appetite

Metabolism

Heart rate

Sleep patterns

Reproduction

Mood

Many things can challenge your endocrine system, disrupting hormone balance and function. The longer a system is “out of order” the more difficult it can be to bring it back into harmony. Identifying and correcting the causes of hormonal imbalance early on will help maintain your health and prevent the onset of chronic disease.

Potential causes of a hormonal imbalance:

Underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism)

Overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism)

Chronic stress

Diabetes

Birth control or hormonal replacement

Poor diet

Cushing syndrome

Exposure to endocrine disruptors

So how do you know if you have a hormone imbalance? Find out the signs of hormonal imbalance to look out for, and natural remedies for hormonal imbalance that can help.

Fatigue, weight gain, insomnia, PMS, or PCOS? We treat the root cause of hormonal imbalance so you can get back to feeling like yourself again.  Check out www.nefariouss.com - Nutrition.  All our listed products, help battle these issues.

7 signs and symptoms of hormonal imbalances

These seven major symptoms can help you determine if you have a hormonal imbalance.

1. Fatigue

Everyone is tired sometimes. But you should recover with adequate rest, hydration, and a healthy diet. If you feel you are taking care of yourself but are still exhausted or just can’t seem to get back to your best, consider having a comprehensive evaluation of your hormone levels. Adrenal fatigue and hypothyroidism are more prevalent in our high-paced society than you may think and a hormonal imbalance test can help diagnose this.

2. Anxiety

Nope, it’s not all in your head. Nearly 18 percent of Americans suffer from an anxiety-related disorder and 7 percent from a major depressive disorder each year. Women may be at a higher risk because changes in estrogen during menstrual cycles, pregnancy, or menopause are associated with worsening depression. A study on the effect of estrogen receptors in the brain found that estrogen calms the fear response and anxiety in both humans and rodents. Higher levels of estrogen were correlated less fearful responses when stimulated by fear-inducing scenarios. Men with low levels of testosterone are more prone to developing anxiety or major depressive discover when compared to those with normal levels.

3. Weight gain or difficulty losing weight

Why do so many people struggle with weight loss and maintenance? Usually, it’s because they are eating too little and working too hard. The body processes this hard work as stress and when the body is stressed, it goes into survival or “fight or flight” mode, producing cortisol. When you’re chronically stressed, your cortisol is always high and in an effort to protect itself from whatever danger it senses, your body holds onto fat as a form of energy.

4. Trouble sleeping

Insomnia can be linked to a dysregulated hypothalamic pituitary adrenal (HPA) axis, which is your central stress response system, where your endocrine system and central nervous system interact. It’s also responsible for regulating the sleep-wake cycle through the release of hormones, such as melatonin and cortisol. Melatonin works on the part of the brain that controls our circadian rhythm, allowing us to fall asleep faster and stay asleep longer. An inability to secrete melatonin may result in difficulty falling asleep or adjusting to a new sleep pattern. Similarly, when your cortisol levels are too high in the evening, you may have trouble falling asleep and feel wired but tired in the evening.

40 percent of women going through perimenopause, the phase in which your body is nearing menopause, also report sleep disturbances, such as waking up in the middle of the night with chills and drenched in sweat.

5. Digestive issues

There are more neurotransmitters in the gut than there are in the brain, so it should be no surprise that anxiety and depression are sometimes accompanied by digestive symptoms. Hormones influence gut function through the microbiome and bacterial system in our intestines, so a hormone imbalance can impact the population and function of the bacteria in your gut, leading to symptoms like bloating, diarrhea, or nausea.

6. Skin and hair changes

Acne. A sudden increase in acne is one easy way to identify a possible hormonal imbalance. One of the few hormones involved is androgens. Androgens, typically referred to as “male hormones,” but found in both males and females, regulate your skin’s sebum production., If your body produces androgens in excess, sebum can build up in your pores and cause a pimple to surface.

Hair loss. The quality and vitality of your hair is also directly related to your hormones. Thyroid abnormalities, for example, may cause dry hair or skin, thinning hair, or brittle nails. Hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, and parathyroid disorder can also cause hair loss.

7.  PMS and low sex drive

Low testosterone, estrogen, and progesterone are all associated with a decreased sex drive in both men and women. This is especially common after age 50 when estrogen and testosterone production declines. Since estrogen is one of the main hormones regulating a woman’s menstrual cycle a decrease in production can also lead to irregular periods that are too long, too short, unpredictable, heavy, or painful, infertility, hot flashes, mood swings, or painful intercourse.

At Parsley Health, we work with our members who have hormone imbalances to naturally bring their hormones back into balance without the need for hormonal replacement medications. These are some of our tried and true strategies.

5 ways to balance your hormones naturally

1. Incorporate healthy fats into your diet.

Adding healthy polyunsaturated fats to your diet, such as omega-3 and omega-6 may help reduce your appetite and decrease your risk of obesity. Fatty acids signal the production of leptin, a hormone that reduces appetite by suppressing the area of the brain that controls our appetite and signals to us it’s time to eat. Without adequate healthy fats in your diet, you’re more likely to have low leptin levels, which can induce overeating and an inability to feel satiated. That may be one reason women have been experimenting with seed cycling for hormone balance.

2. Try adaptogenic herbs.

Next time you grab a coffee or matcha try adding in some adaptogenic herbs. Adaptogens have been shown to decrease levels of cortisol, a stress hormone secreted from our glands when we experience stress. Certain adaptogens can help regulate the hypothalamic-pituitary adrenal (HPA) axis which controls cortisol levels. Lowering your cortisol levels can help hormonal imbalance symptoms, such as fatigue or sleep issues. Consistently high levels of cortisol not only impact bodily functions associated with hormones, but can feed the beginnings of hyperglycemia and suppress immune and inflammatory responses. In a study looking at the impact of adaptogens on the central nervous system, Adapt 232/Chisan (a combination of Rhodiola rosea, Schisandra chinensis and Eleutherococcus senticosus extracts) was found to decrease cortisol levels and activate the body’s self defense mechanism in response to stress. Adaptogens that aid adrenal function include ashwagandha, ginseng, jiaogulan, Chinese licorice, reishi, and Rhodiola rosea.

3. Take a high-quality probiotic and incorporate fermented foods.

Taking a probiotic can help balance your gut microbiome and the amount of “good” versus “bad” bacteria that lives in your system. The greater the “good” bacteria, the easier it is on your digestive system to process food. Research has shown that estrogen-related imbalances might be able to be reversed with probiotic supplementation by restoring the set of bacteria known as estrobolome, which is responsible for metabolizing estrogen. Probiotics can also lessen the impact chronic stressors may have on the hypothalamic pituitary axis (our stress response system), which is why probiotics are starting to be considered a form of treatment for those dealing with depression and anxiety. Fermented foods, which also contain live bacteria, can also aid in the regulation of gut bacteria.

4. Supplement with Vitamin D.

A Vitamin D deficiency is more common than you may think, with over a billion people worldwide suffering from either a deficient or insufficient supply of this critical vitamin. Vitamin D plays an extremely important role in a number of bodily functions, such as immune function, cell differentiation, and inflammatory response. Low levels of Vitamin D have been associated with an increased risk in colon, prostate, and breast cancer, as well as tuberculosis, influenza, and heart disease. A relationship has also been found between hypothyroidism and a vitamin D deficiency.

Ideally, we would get our daily dose of Vitamin D from 10 to 30 minutes of uninterrupted sun exposure, but this is unrealistic for most, that’s why it’s important to take a Vitamin D3 supplement and eat foods rich in Vitamin D, such as eggs and salmon. It’s also important to note that as we age, our production of Vitamin D decreases, so make sure you’re monitoring your levels and getting them checked by your primary care provider.

5. Biohack your way to better sleep.

When life is busy, often the first thing we sacrifice is sleep. Sleep or rather inadequate sleep quickly throws our body off balance. This is why it’s one of the first things our doctors ask about when patients come in for their initial visit. In a small study testing the impact of prolonged sleep restriction, participants that slept only 4 hours versus 10 or 12 hours experienced an increase in ghrelin, a hormone responsible for appetite regulation, alongside a decrease in leptin, a hormone responsible for communicating satiation. For many of us, 10 or 12 hours might be hard to achieve. That’s why here at Parsley we recommend getting at least 8 hours of sleep per night. The benefits of adequate sleep will not only increase your glucose metabolism and leptin concentrations but increase your body’s secretion of growth hormones responsible for cell reproduction and regeneration, which all take place during periods of rest.

Final thoughts on hormonal imbalances.

Some of the most common symptoms of hormone imbalances include unexplained weight gain, fatigue, insomnia, and changes in hair, skin, and nails.

Root causes of hormonal imbalances include compromised gut health, high inflammation, and high stress levels.

Natural ways to balance your hormones include eating anti-inflammatory polyunsaturated fats, getting adequate sleep, and using supplements to fill in any nutritional gaps related to gut health and vitamin D levels.

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