Latest news with #personalTrainer
Daily Mail
21 hours ago
- General
- Daily Mail
Health expert reveals top signs your body is heading towards diabetes
By A health expert has revealed the top physical signs your body is heading towards Type 2 diabetes - and the one thing you need to do to get your health back on track. Former personal trainer and health advocate Rav Malik (pictured) shared that your body develops several markers of insulin resistance before it turns diabetic. Insulin resistance is a clinical condition in which insulin, the hormone secreted by the pancreas to control blood glucose levels in the body is no longer working as efficiently as it should. Insulin has a profound effect on the body's ability to burn fat and lose weight, and if you're insulin resistant, you will find it difficult to lose weight even if you're eating in a calorie deficit. In order to ensure your insulin levels remain within the recommended range, you need to decrease your intake of processed sugars and refocus your diet to include more protein. Rav (pictured), the founder of The Feel great System, shared a video outlining the various signs, such as cracks on the back of your neck and swollen feet. He revealed that your skin will also start to change, with the appearance of skin tags and pigmentation around your neck and knuckles. Another surefire sign is when your belly fat is 'hard' and 'dense' instead of soft. 'If you touch your stomach fat and it's hard and dense - you're insulin resistant because the body is stuck in storage mode,' he said. 'Your feet will also start to swell because your body is retaining water and your blood pressure is higher,' he added. 'Your neck will get fatter and make it difficult for you to sleep, and you may even develop sleep apnea.' The health expert also revealed that having 'flabby' arms is a sign of insulin resistance. 'Our body is so tightly regulated, so whenever we eat food it increases our blood sugar,' Rav shared. For example, a high-sugar meal like cereal will increase a body's insulin levels by a significant amount and it'll take longer for it to come back down to it's base amount. It makes you hungry, tired, and want to eat more - but here's where the problem lies. If you're constantly eating lots of sugar - your insulin doesn't go down and your body starts to become resistant to it.' That will cause you to develop Hyperinsulinemia, which is when the amount of insulin in the blood is higher than what's considered healthy. 'The new normal leads to sickness - you start experiencing the physical symptoms but you also start looking older, craving sugar, feeling intense hunger, and have difficulty concentrating.' One way to fight Hyperinsulinemia is to regulate the amount of processed sugars you consume and replace it with natural sugars like fruit and vegetables. Many thanked Rav for sharing his knowledge. 'Wow, I didn't know there were so many signs to look out for. I'm going to do a physical check before visiting my doctor - thank you!' one said. 'I knew I should be concerned about the sudden pigmentation - thanks for sharing,' another added. Read the full story:
The Sun
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Who is Aaron Buckett? First male Love island contestant revealed for 2025 series
AARON BUCKETT is a personal trainer from London who will be appearing on the upcoming summer series of Love Island. Following his exclusive reveal to The Sun as one of the first of this year's villa entries, we're sharing all the details we know about the reality star-to-be so far. 6 6 Who is Aaron Buckett? Aaron Buckett is the first male contestant to be revealed for the summer 2025 series of Love Island - and in true Love Island style, he's a tall, dark, and handsome head-turner. 'It's a fact of life that girls go crazy for a tall lad, and Aaron is a man mountain," a source exclusively shared with The Sun. 'He's got great chat too." Standing at a staggering 6 feet 5 inches and stacked with muscle, he's sure to catch the eyes of his fellow contestants in the villa no matter when his entrance ends up being. 'Aaron is in the mix for this year's cast, but execs are still finalising whether he'll be in the opening line-up or as a tempting bombshell,' the source continued. And while we'll need to wait until his official introduction on Love Island to find out his age, we do know that the muscular 'man mountain' lives in London. What does Aaron Buckett do for a living? As evidenced by his build, Aaron is a personal trainer, who shares his workouts with tens of thousands of followers across both his Instagram and TikTok pages. As of May 2025, he has a total of 3.7k followers on Instagram, and 13.3k on TikTok. In addition to documenting his fitness routines and toned physique, he also offers an online workout plan, which fans can purchase for £49.99. Who else will be joining Aaron Buckett in the Love Island villa? Aaron Buckett will be joined by Lucy Quinn, a 20-year-old make-up artist from Liverpool who is expected to enter the villa as a bombshell. 6 This year marks a decade since the show first aired in 2015. And between the cast reveals and a 10-year anniversary special featuring fan favourite couples such as 2021 winners Millie Court and Liam Reardon and 2022's second runners-up Indiyah Polack and Dami Hope, it's shaping up to be an unforgettable summer. The Majorcan villa is also undergoing a major makeover, with aerial images showing that the firepit is now purple. While the look of villa may be changing, The Sun can also exclusively share that the iconic voice of the show, Iain Stirling, isn't going anywhere — and neither is the spin-off show AfterSun, according to host Maya Jama. 6 6 But when can we anticipate this summer's series to drop? An official series premiere date is notably absent from both announcement teaser on ITV's Instagram and the recently-dropped trailer, but despite that, we can anticipate a season full of "twists". "This year I want more drama, more bombshells, more break-ups, more makeups," Maya says while standing at the head of a boardroom table in the trailer. "I want more twists, I want more twists than ever."
News24
27-05-2025
- Business
- News24
HONOR 400 Lite: The Torch Has Been Passed, Now It's Running Its Own Race
The HONOR 200 Lite didn't just win on price, it won the country over by delivering where it mattered. It topped post-paid smartphone sales across all brackets in 2024, proving that South Africans don't fall for hype. We choose what holds up. Now, the HONOR 400 Lite picks up the baton with real upgrades to battery life, camera performance, everyday usability and sleek styling, all wrapped in a body so slim it's almost unfair. And it's already proving it can keep pace with the energy, ambition and variety of Mzansi life. One phone. One day. Five different lives. Still going. Let's imagine the HONOR 400 Lite moving through a full day across five people, each with a different rhythm, role and reason to expect more from their phone. · 6:00 AM – The Early Starter A personal trainer grabs the phone on the way to gym. It's light at just 171g, responsive and glove friendly. One press of the AI Camera Button and a sunrise snap hit social before the first client even arrives. · 9:00 AM – The Hustler on Campus A student scans a timetable using Google Lens. The 6.7-inch AMOLED screen stays bright and clear, even under harsh morning light. At 3,500 nits, it's built for outdoor clarity. Timetables, notes and admin? No problem. · 1:00 PM – The Creative in Motion A small business owner jumps between design tools, messages and delivery tracking. There's no lag. That's the MediaTek Dimensity 7025-Ultra processor, backed by up to 24GB of RAM with HONOR RAM Turbo. · 4:00 PM – The Family Navigator A nurse turned road trip driver heads north with Maps running the whole way. The 5,230mAh battery still shows over 40 percent. No low-battery warnings. No stress. · 11:30 PM – The Night Owl A teacher winds down, scrolling messages and playing a podcast. The Circadian Night Display softens the screen light, giving tired eyes a break. Still no charge needed. 'The HONOR 400 Lite builds on the trust we earned with the HONOR 200 Lite. We do realise that every device must echo and amplify this benchmark – which is why we made sure the HONOR 400 Lite could rise to the challenges of a fast-evolving South African lifestyle. Our mission is to remain connected to the hearts and minds of South Africa by ensuring that the tech is there and ready, whether you're on the move, creating, connecting or just making the most of every day,' says, Fred Zhou, CEO, HONOR South Africa. The HONOR 400 Lite is made to move, switch and stay charged and looking the part in Mars Green and Velvet Grey. It suits people, not just profiles – with features that go the distance without making a scene.
The Sun
25-05-2025
- Business
- The Sun
I was overjoyed to get Aldi's reformer pilates machine which is £1.7k less than other brands & will transform workouts
DO you enjoy reformer pilates but find the hefty price of classes or machines off-putting? Thankfully Aldi has just released a purse-friendly machine for £149.99, and excited shoppers are snapping it up. 6 6 6 Shopper Kasey Clarke was among lucky Aldi fans who have managed to get their hands on one of the coveted machines after it arrived in stores today. Taking to her @kaseyclarke0 account, she said: 'POV you won the Aldi war and got a pilates reformer. 'Happy Aldi reformer day to those who care.' The easy-to-assemble machine is £1,750 less than the Original Fold Reformer, which will set you back £1,899.99. The machine features adaptable resistance levels with five resistance bands and adjustable height settings. It has a smooth gliding functionality, and has transport wheels for easy movement, and foldable storage capabilities. If that wasn't enough for your fitness journey, Aldi is also selling lots of gym accessories to go with it. Each of the products are just £5.99 each, and will help with strength, balance, conditioning and coordination. For additional strength training, Aldi's adjustable step deck (£12.99) allows fitness gurus to add in cardio with ease, and even includes resistance handles and a balance board for a full-body workout. I'm a personal trainer - these 5 at-home core slider exercises mimic reformer Pilates (1) As with all Aldi Specialbuys once they're gone, they're gone, so head to stores quickly if you want to grab them. Reformer pilates has become a viral hit online in recent years with over 2.8 million posts being made about it on TikTok. While it is proven to be an effective workout, it can be costly. Prices for just one class start at £37 - not something we can afford to do multiple times a week. 6 6 Aldi bosses say: "Whether looking to strengthen cores, improve flexibility, or tone muscles, the machine is designed to help anyone achieve their fitness goals. "Complete with an introductory exercise chart, it's a must-have addition to any home gym." For those tech savvy trainers, a smart watch is also available for £11.99 to track your progress. When you are done with your workout cool down with the foldable fitness mat for just £19.99. The new stock came into stores on May 25 at selected stores. The 5 best exercises to lose weight By Lucy Gornall, personal trainer and health journalist EXERCISE can be intimidating and hard to devote yourself to. So how do you find the right workout for you? As a PT and fitness journalist, I've tried everything. I've taken part in endless fitness competitions, marathons and I maintain a regime of runs, strength training and Pilates. Christmas! The key is finding an activity you love that can become a habit. My top five forms of exercise, especially if you're trying to lose weight, are: Walking Running Pilates High-intensity interval training (HIIT) Strength training
The Sun
18-05-2025
- Health
- The Sun
The ‘C-S-F' workout you can do in your living room to help you live longer
Alice Fuller Published: Invalid Date, FORGET expensive supplements and ice baths; if you really want to live longer, you simply need to move more. Swapping the lift for the stairs and getting up from your desk at work every 30 minutes will help - but if you really want a longevity boost, you need to be CSF-ing at least three times a week. That's according to personal trainer Monty Simmons, who says 'movement is medicine'. He tells Sun Health: 'To live a long time, you need to reduce your risk of disease. 'One of the best ways to do that is through exercise, which will also increase your quality of life.' It's no secret that exercise is beneficial. We know that it reduces our risk of obesity, as well as heart problems, chronic pain and type 2 diabetes. It also promotes good sleep, positive mental health and improved mood. But you may not realise quite how powerful it can be, especially as we age. Research by Griffith University suggests that increasing your physical activity could add as much as 11 years to your lifespan. Scientists found over-40s who are currently less active than average could get six extra hours of life for each one-hour daily walk. And those in the most active group (who managed 160 minutes of daily movement) were 73 per cent less likely to die prematurely than their least active counterparts (who managed 49 minutes per day). The 3 stretches you can do every day to 'help you live longer' A separate study by Harvard University found doing two to four times the recommended daily exercise guidelines (at least 150 minutes of moderate intensity activity a week, or 75 minutes of vigorous activity, plus strengthening activities on at least two days) could slash your risk of dying prematurely by almost a third. Simple things like walking, cycling to the shops and housework will all make a difference, but if you want to amp things up, try Monty's CSF approach. This means incorporating cardiovascular exercises (C), strength training (S) and flexibility workouts (F) into your routine. You don't have to do all three every day, but he says you'll get the most benefits if you complete the sessions at least three times a week. CARDIOVASCULAR 'TO reduce your risk of disease, improving your cardiovascular health is essential,' Monty, from Move With Monty, says. 'There are loads of different methods to achieve this. 'You can do short-burst, higher-intensity training, which is really good for your cardio system. 'It benefits your ability to recover, improves your lung capacity and heart strength, and boosts your overall mental wellbeing. 'But longer forms of cardio, like running, swimming, or cycling, are also great; they keep your heart rate relatively elevated for up to an hour or so. 'You get all those cardiovascular benefits; more efficient heart pumping, lower resting heart rate, better resistance to stress, easier breathing, and lower blood pressure.' Try this sequence of three exercises for 15 minutes, doing as many rounds as possible (AMRAP) in that time... 1. Jumping jacks (20 reps) 19 19 Stand with your feet together, straight legs and arms by your sides. Jump your feet out to wider than your hips while swinging your arms out to either side then above your head. Then reverse the move, bringing your feet back together and your arms to your sides. Stay springy on your feet and keep your legs stiff for bounciness. Maintaining a consistent rhythm is key. 2. Squat jumps (5 reps) 19 19 Stand with your feet hip-distance apart. With your hands on your hips, squat down to 90-degrees, then jump up. Land softly on bent knees, stick your bottom out, keep your chest up, and look forward when you land. 3. Mountain climbers (10 reps) Get into a plank position and, as if running on the spot, bring your knees up to your chest one at a time. Don't let your front foot touch the floor. STRENGTH BUT cardio alone isn't enough. 'The other thing that's really important for quality of life, aside from reducing disease, is how well you can move - and that's where strength training comes in,' Monty (@movewithmonty) says. 'In order to move well as you age, you need to preserve muscle mass, so you've got enough tissue to protect yourself against strains, falls, and so on. 'You want the muscle padding so that you're robust against impacts. 'Keeping strong means you can resist the natural forces in our environment, so when you step down from something high or lift something heavy, your muscles are strong and can handle the strain. 'This helps you avoid pulling muscles and worrying about feeling fragile.' Monty's top three strength-building exercises are push-ups, Bulgarian split squats and sit-ups. Find a rep count that works for you now, then increase it as you get stronger. 1. Push ups 19 19 Hold a plank position (drop to your knees if you prefer). Have your hands about shoulder-width apart and bend your elbows to lower your chest almost to the floor. Then push back up while keeping a stable plank. 2. Bulgarian split squats Use a box, coffee table, sofa or chair for this one. Standing with your back to the item, step your right foot behind you onto it. Make sure your stance length feels right. Go shorter or longer if you feel off-balance or cramped. Now, lower your right knee to the ground and keep a firm foot on the bench or step. Rise back up, then switch legs. 3. Sit-ups Lie down on your back with a slight bend in your knees and your hands at your temples. Now sit up then lower back down. Having your legs out longer in front of you makes this move easier, and shorter legs tucked towards your bum makes it harder. If you're struggling, tuck your feet under something or get a friend or family member to stand on them. If having your hands at your head is too difficult, use your arms to help with momentum by swinging them overhead to your feet. FLEXIBILITY SO you've mastered cardio and strength, what's next? 'Mobility and flexibility are essential too, because as we age, we lose them,' Monty says. 'If we don't preserve them, our bodies stiffen - particularly the spine - and that can seriously impact daily life. 'We might not be able to reach for things or look up at the sky when we want to, because our posture is hunched over and stuck.' To avoid these issues and stay nimble, Monty recommends… 1. Back bends 19 19 Stand up straight with your hands on your hips. Slowly press your hips forward, reach your arms overhead, look up to the ceiling and arch backwards. Only go as far as you feel comfortable. 2. Side bends Stand with your feet wider than your shoulders, with your left hand on your hip. Lift your right arm up and over to the left side. Try not to twist as you move down. Keep your torso going completely sideways and adjust your stance width for comfort. Keep your pelvis still so the bend comes from your spine. Switch sides. 3. Toe touches 19 Stand up straight with your feet slightly apart. Slowly start to bend over, stick your bottom out and reach down to touch your toes to stretch your hamstrings. Keep a slight bend in your knees, then rise back up. HOW OFTEN? ADULTS aged 19 to 64 should do some type of physical activity every day, according to the NHS. This should include strengthening activities that work all the major muscle groups (legs, hips, back, abdomen, chest, shoulders and arms) on at least two days a week, as well as at least 150 minutes of moderate intensity activity (e.g. brisk walking, dancing, pushing a lawn mower or hiking) or 75 minutes of vigorous activity (e.g. running, swimming, walking up stairs or aerobics) every week. This can be spread evenly over four to five days, or every day. Monty agrees, but suggests that to live a long time, you need to be exercising at least three times a week. 'I recommend doing full-body exercises,' he says. 'If you're training daily, you don't have to do full-body every single time, but you do need to keep moving. 'If two or three one-hour sessions sounds like too much, start with shorter 15-minute workouts here and there. Just build the habit of exercising every day. 'The more often you do it, the more active you are, the more you reduce your disease risk. 'Frequency and progression are essential here: you want to keep moving forward so you stave off decay.' The 7 foods you need to eat to boost longevity MORE vegetables and fewer cakes - that's the secret to living to 100, right? Yes, to an extent. Upping our intake of fresh produce and restricting the number of sugary treats we consume is a major part of it. But there is growing evidence that some foods could be better than others when it comes to longevity. From breakfast staples to family dinners, these are seven of them. Corn Beans Walnuts Olive oil Oats Oily fish Eggs To learn more about each food, and the best time of day to eat then, you can read the full article here. But he warns about going too hard too quickly or too often. 'You can end up really sore and run-down, which is more for people who get a bit obsessed,' Monty adds. 'If that's you, remember rest days are important. 'For most people, the bigger worry is undertraining rather than overtraining, though. 'Focus on mastering your technique to give you a sense of achievement. 'The more you learn about exercise form, the better your reps will be, and the more in control of your body you'll feel. 'It's not necessarily about massively reducing injury risk (unless you're doing crazy things), but about mastering your movement and feeling empowered. 'Small, consistent efforts over time are better than short bursts of high intensity and then giving up because it's too hard. 'There's a middle ground. You can do a bit here and there. 'High intensity can be great, but mix it up across your weeks and months. That way, you stay consistent and keep reaping the benefits.' But it's not just about the physical benefits. 'Mental wellbeing is important throughout all of this,' Monty says. 'Exercise staves off different kinds of cognitive decline.'
