One of my sons has had a nasty bout of Covid and recovery is slow. He’s eager, however, to get some exercise even if it’s only taking the dog for a short walk. Even that exhausts him and I imagine there are many people recovering from the virus who are in the same boat. So how should they and my son go about getting back to their pre-Covid fitness level? Well, David Salman and colleagues from Imperial College London, Hull-York Medical School and the Army Medical Service provide useful steers in the BMJ with a safe four-phase return. We now know that about one in five people recovering from Covid remain unwell for six weeks or more and they can find trying to return to exercise an uphill struggle. The priority is to start exercising safely – and may mean going more slowly than you’d like, not pushing yourself to achieve old goals and stopping if tiredness overwhelms you. Only think about resuming exercise after at least seven days without symptoms, and the first two … [Read more...] about ‘The four stages of exercise you need to know to help get your fitness back after Covid’
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Best resistance bands for 2021 to tighten and tone your muscles
Want to improve your strength and stamina but not a big fan of lifting weights? There’s a brilliant alternative that you don’t need to visit the gym to utilise: resistance band training. Using the best resistance bands, you can activate your muscles at home, fitting in a strength-boosting session easily before or after work. Resistance bands are a great way to work your muscles without putting strain on your joints. They can improve mobility, flexibility and strength, and you can easily store them in a drawer without taking up much space, making them a bit of a workout wonder product. They can be used to work almost every muscle in the body and are a brilliantly versatile piece, despite their understated looks. We’ve rounded up the best resistance bands below so you can easily keep up your fitness and flexibility routine at home. Resistance is definitely not futile… Best resistance bands 2021 1. Pro Fitness Resistance Bands Set Resistance bands can really help you … [Read more...] about Best resistance bands for 2021 to tighten and tone your muscles
Mum makes ‘self-cleaning toilet bomb’ using three household ingredients – and it’ll make your bathroom smell like a spa
A MUM-of-two has revealed how she made a “self-cleaning toilet bomb” using three household products. Carolina McCauley , from Perth, shared on TikTok how she uses it once a week in her home - and it makes her bathroom smell like a spa. She wrote: “Here is how to make my self-cleaning toilet bomb.” Carolina advised how you mix together a cup of baking soda, a quarter of a cup of citric acid, essential oils of your choice and a little water. She said you should mix together in a glass bowl until it has a consistency like “damp sand.” She continued: “Then, just pack the mixture into a silicone mould.” Next, you need to let them dry so they come out like ice cubes. She advised: "They smell so good and all you need to do is drop them into the toilet bowl for a fizzy clean.” Her video has been viewed thousands of times, with many saying they were keen for their bathroom to smell like a spa. One raved: “I'm going to try this very soon.” Another added: “I need … [Read more...] about Mum makes ‘self-cleaning toilet bomb’ using three household ingredients – and it’ll make your bathroom smell like a spa
Childhood sweethearts rekindle relationship after bumping into each other in Benidorm 34 years later
A PAIR of childhood sweethearts have rekindled their relationship after bumping into each other in a bar in Benidorm after 34 years apart. Gaynor Williams, now 50, was just 16 when she met 19-year-old Dean Ryan, now 53, at Memories bar in Chester, Cheshire, in 1986. The pair became a couple and dated for 18 months before they split in 1987 when Dean moved to Pontins, in Burnham-on-Sea, Somerset, to become a performer. But 34 years later, in August 2019, they fell in love all over again after a chance meeting in a bar in Benidorm - where Dean lived and Gaynor was on holiday - and they have now started a new life together in Spain. Gaynor had just split up from her partner of 15 years and moved out of their shared home in Dunham Hill, Cornwall, when she took a week-long solo trip to Benidorm, Spain, in August 2019 to do some soul searching. The mum-of-one couldn't believe it when she saw her former childhood sweetheart, Dean, working as a singer in the Rock and Roll house … [Read more...] about Childhood sweethearts rekindle relationship after bumping into each other in Benidorm 34 years later
Ashley James shares difficult reality of postpartum to educate future new mums
Ashley James has opened up about learning to love her postpartum body seven weeks after giving birth to her baby boy. The 33-year-old former Made In Chelsea star, who welcomed baby Alfie in January, admitted that she wanted to change the narrative about how postpartum bodies are viewed. According to the reality star, there remains a lack of knowledge about how the body works post-pregnancy and she wanted that to change. In the candid post, she admitted that she was 'sad' that some women 'suffer' because they don't receive the required postnatal care. The new mum now appears to be on a mission to inform other new parents about the realities of motherhood, as well as praising her body for what it is capable of. In the post, Ashley also shared several candid snaps alongside her baby boy. "Alf is 7 weeks old today, which means my body is 7 weeks into its recovery," she wrote. "I occasionally have low body image days, but whenever those thoughts creep in I remind myself … [Read more...] about Ashley James shares difficult reality of postpartum to educate future new mums