Fashion and fitness: four simple changes

alice turnbull
Jul 27, 2017 · 3 min read

We know the importance of eating right and exercising but with our busy lifestyles, putting it into practice can be a different matter entirely. So, what if we told you that you didn’t need an expensive gym membership to get fitter? What if all it took was a few simple changes?

Okay, so these changes are unlikely to put you in the running for Tokyo 2020. However, what they will do is make you feel healthier and more energised. Sound good? Read on to find out more.

Walk more

If your barrier to exercise is the price of the gym, walking is a great alternative. You may not work up so much of a sweat but regular walking has been found to reduce the chances of chronic illnesses, including heart disease, stroke and type 2 diabetes.

Find opportunities to include walking into your day, whether that’s getting off the bus a stop early, going out for a lunchtime stroll with your colleagues or taking the dog out on an evening. Step counting is huge too, so why not invest in a Fitbit or similar and compete against your friends and family?

Of course, you’ll need to make sure you’re wearing suitable shoes, as failing to do so can result in discomfort and pain, especially if you’re walking for an extended period. FitFlop footwear has been created based on the biomechanics of the human body, resulting in engineered, comfortable shoes. You’ll find a range of FitFlop trainers at Daniel Footwear that are perfect for casual walks.

Handle your handbag

We’re all guilty of carrying things around in our handbags that we don’t necessarily need, whether it’s a full-size can of hairspray or a mountain of receipts. In 2014, a study found that the average British woman’s handbag weighs 5.4lb, with 90% of women admitting to carrying more than 10 ‘junk’ items.

It’s not just the size of our handbags that could be impacting our posture and causing us discomfort; how we carry them also has an influence. For example, did you know that carrying your handbag in the crook of your arm like the A-listers places unnecessary strain on your biceps and could lead to bicep tendinitis?

So how can you avoid these problems and reduce the strain on your body? The first step is to clear out the clutter in your bag — carry round the essentials and ditch the full size perfumes and toiletries in favour of handbag size miniatures. Cross-body bags with a large strap are best at distributing the weight of your bag — just don’t forget to regularly swap sides.

Skinny — but not too skinny — jeans

Every woman should own a great pair of skinny jeans — but is our commitment to fashion causing us posture problems? A recent study found that super-tight skinnies limited our body’s natural movement, placing additional pressure on other areas of the body. However, many have disputed these claims, arguing that there simply isn’t enough scientific evidence to back it up.

While the professionals battle it out and until further research is conducted, we’ll be wearing skinny styles with a more comfortable fit just to be on the safe side!

Nailing bacteria

Artificial nails are a popular choice for women, with many heading to the salon to get the perfect manicure. However, do you know what is lurking underneath your acrylics?

One study, as reported by the BBC, looked at the amount of bacteria on nurses with natural nails compared to nurses with artificial nails. The findings revealed that those with artificial nails had more bacteria on their fingertips both before and after washing their hands than those with natural nails.

If you do have acrylic nails, make sure you thoroughly wash your hands at regular intervals.

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