The Revive Survive Face Saver

This is a little life saver.

Okay, that is a bold statement, but when there are so many products on the shelves, it is hard to find one that stands out from the others for something specific. Especially skincare for men!

Say hello to Rehab, and in particular, their new (ish) Revive Survive Anti-Fatigue cream which has now cemented it's place in my wash bag!

This little pot is perfect for when your face needs a pick-me-up after a night out on the town, looking a little on the tired side of life, or just need to add a bit of moisture back into your skin.

It is, literally, The Face Saver!

Rehab have produced a range of products that are specially for men. Our skin is different to female skin, and sometimes the chemicals in there can do more damage than good - hence the '95% naturally derived for men' mention on the box!
Basically, that means that it contains natural ingredients that your face craves on a daily basis, which helps moisturise and give you your glow back.

The idea behind this cream is that you can put it on, day or night, and in 10 minutes the magic kicks in to refresh your face.

All you need is a pea size amount...

... because it spreads really well. Rub it in, time 10 mins and your skin will feel softer and refreshed.

Pretty simple stuff!

If you have oily skin though, don't be put off by the slightly grease look the product gives when you put it on. Once it has soaked in, it doesn't make your skin look greasy at all.
I have been using it for a couple of weeks now, and now carry it around with me in-case I need a bit of refreshing- and now I am hooked I think I am going to try the Scrub Up Daily Detox next! 

There are a range of other products in the Rehab range too, have a look here. The prices may scare you off at first, but it is worth the investment as they last for so long! 

Check them out on Twitter too, as they are always running competitions to win some prizes, and at the same time check out my profile too!

Movember

This is the one month of the year that having a moustace can be attractive, and raise money for a good cause at the same time!

Of course, come 1st December having a tash is not the hottest thing anymore, and the male population fall back in love with their Gillet razors, and plug the sinkholes with all that furry hair that has built up over the month!

For me, taking part in Movember would have been near impossible! I have a beard after a few days of not shaving!

However, there are a load of celebrities out there that look HOT with a beard. So without further a-do, here is some Gay Tash candy for you to feast your eyes upon!

Enjoy.

Aaron Paul

Ben Foden

David Gandy

James Franco

Brad Pitt

Johnny Depp

Kellen Lutz

Liam Hemsworth

Louis Smith

Pharrell Williams

Bradley Cooper

Ryan Gosling

Jonathan Rhys Meyers

Chace Crawford

Zac Efron

David Beckham

Ryan Renolds

I think on that note, it is time for the weekend!

Get shaving guys, the clean cut look is what December needs!

Those Perfect Abs

There is always part of someones body that they want to change. Whether it be something facial, those toes, hips, bum, arms, we always want to have something different or better. If you are one of those people who say you are happy with your body, then you need to tell us the secret to that! :D

For almost everyone, it is all about the abs! You know, those muscles that always hurt when you laugh and haven't been around since you had that last bit of christmas leftovers (well, in my case anyways!). They are core muscles, so help maintain your body posture and of course, need to look good for that summer body!

There is no other way to get good abs without working out, and eating healthily. It is that simple. I spoke to one of my friends who I used to live with to find out what he had to say about getting the perfect abs, who has gone from nothing to being in the running for Heat World torso of the week, and I thought I would share with you what he said.

I was really strict with my diet and only ate clean healthy foods, any carbs were wholewheat (pasta, brown rice, bread, pittas) and plenty of meat and fish (tuna, salmon, turey, chicken, lean mince, steak). Take photos every week, it helps motivate you and you usually wont see any physical changes for at least a month!

The improtant thing to remember is to constantly change your workout routines to ensure you don't get bored of working out.. I didn't do any cardio what so ever to get my defined six pack, that was achieved purely from hard workouts and a clean and healthy diet. Dont get me wrong, I always had one cheat day a week where I ate what I wanted and I would always be out drinking at the weekend! At the end of the day I am still human but the lifestyle I live now is so much better than before and you really don't realise that until you do start to eat healthy and become more active!

This is what Callum looked like when he started:

This is what Callum now looks like:

Obviously he has worked out on all his other muscles too, but a few hours in the gym or at home each week will help you tone up and get the abs for the summer! Callum gave me a list of ab exercises which are really easy to do at home, and if you do a couple of them each day then you will start to see a difference! These are really not hard to do, so guy and girls can do these before you head off for your day at school, uni or work!

The Ball Crunch

If you have an exercise ball, then this is a great way to kick start your metabolism and work on your balance at the same time. You perform a sit up whilst on the ball, coming from a laid down horizontal position, to sitting upright. Just remember to keep your stomach sucked in as you do it. Three sets of 15 will help burn a bit of tummy and work those muscles!

The Bike

This one looks easy, and for the first few it will feel like nothing is happening, but it will kick in and the burn will happen! Lay on your back, and bring your legs up to 45 degrees in a straight position. Hands to your head. Then, bring your left leg to your chest, whilst bringing your right elbow to meet your left knee. The key to this is to keep your arms locked in place, so that you have to twist your abs to get to that meeting point. Then repeat on the opposite side. The quicker the better, as this will work the abs more. Start with three sets of 15, but then work upwards when you find it getting easier.

The Mummy Crunch

This one works your legs and your abs, so you are onto a winner. As you can see in the picture, place your legs in the air vertically, and perform three sets of 15 sit ups. It will feel really tight and you might feel like you are only moving a couple of inches from the ground, but it works so stick with it! If you want to make it harder, put your arms straight and reach for your toes each time. No cheating by bending your legs though!

The Plank.

'Oh, I can do that, it's easy.' When you try this, you might change your mind. Assume the position and suck your stomach in, and tense your bum, and hold yourself in this position for 30 seconds. Remember to keep your back horizontal and dont stick your bum in the air! Those 30 seconds are the longest ever, and you will start to feel like you want to drop to the floor, but don't give it. It works your core and strengthens the abs, making them more toned. If you find it easy, up the by 30 seconds each time!

The Crunch

This is a slight alteration to the standard crunch, with your arms stretched out above you. Do three sets of 20, and your will feel it. If you find having your arms above you, then bring them back to the original position (hands on head) and finish the sets that way.

These five really work, I have started these last week and alternate which ones I do each day. If I don't have time one day, I just make sure I try to fit in at least one of them. Just remember to keep your stomach sucked in though!

In no time, your abs will start to look like this...

Let me know how you get on!

The Black Belt

Hundreds of spectators cheering on their sons, daughters, loved ones and friends. The thud of someone hitting the floor. The sight of St Johns Ambulance staff running to the next injury. The high kicks and quick punches. The clapping and woops for the champions.

Welcome to the South West Tae Kwon Do Championships, and on Saturday I found myself revisiting it once again.

Tae Kwon Do is a bit like Karate, but based more on self-defence and comes from Korea. I can't remember when I started it, but by the time I was 14 I had my black belt, and a few years later I was competing in championships. However, with going to university and already achieving my goal of becomming black belt, I gave up the sport. At the time my sister was training to get her black belt, and all these years later I still find myself at the competitions cheering her on.

When you compete, you can take part in either patterns (a series of set moves, marked on technique) or sparring (ful contact fighting!), or both! In the past I took part in both, and today my sister was doing the same. She had huge success a couple of years ago, with sparring trophies from the Great British Championships, English and South West again. With a couple of years away from competition, it was time to get back into it.

The patterns are based on the technical elements, and to a general spectator it can seem a tad bland. However, the trophies are just as prestigious, so you can imagine the cheer we gave when my sister came first for her pattern.

The sparring is where the excitement really kicks in. You have anyone from small 4 year old girls and boys, to full adults taking part. Each person has to wear protective gloves and helmet etc, and each age group is split into weight categories to make it fair. Then two people take to the area, and literally go for each other over a set period of time, aiming for the point areas of the body whilst defending theirs.

I am going to moan for one moment, because this really angered me yesterday. At some other competitions, there are soft mats on the areas to help if anyone falls. Yesterday, the ground was a standard badminton court floor that is pretty solid. One fight involved two teenagers, and one of them punched the opponent in the face when he was in mid air. He went horizontal and fell to the floor, hitting his head with such a thump that everyone heard. He stood up, swayed around and then fell to the floor with concussion. The protective helmet helped, but surely a protective mat on the floor would have help prevent him collapsing.

My sister managed a third in her sparring competition, which is a great results after so long away from competition. The only problem I had was the slight urge to grab my old kit and join back in with the competition! Then again, there is always next year!

If you want to know more about Tae Kwon Do, then check out their website here.

The Man Flu Survival Kit

Man Flu, if anyone is wondering, does exist. We all get it, but it is the prime opportunity to be like a kid with a day off school again, and spend the day in your PJs!

Sounds like heaven in any busy lifestyle. Minus the coughing and everything else that comes with it, obviously!

To get through to the other end, you will most definitely need:

- A multi pack of Lucozade, or a packet of Barocca.
- A consistent stock of Orange Juice and Milk. It is all about Vitamin C!
- A box of tissues (preferably the softest ones possible to prevent sore noses).
- Strepsils, or Lockets.
- Paracetamol or Ibruprofen.
- A one litre tub of Ben and Jerries.
- A good selection of DVDs, or links to television programmes online (which are all below for you).
- A comfortable bed with lots of pillows, and the most comfortable duvet you can find!

Right now I have zero energy thanks to this alien that is currently taking residence in my body. Usually I take a few paracetamols and a bowl of hot water and it's gone. This one isn't budging!

Don't go to the doctors when you have Man Flu, because after a long wait they tell you the standard 'take some tablets and bed rest' sentence.

I know, the thought of going to the doctors will make you feel better and justify that you have the flu, but it really isn't worth zapping all your energy to go there!

Instead, stock up on that list and ride this out till the end like a man! Get your friends, partners, parents or whoever happens to answer their phone to grab all the items for you, whilst all you have to do is lay back and enjoy some you-time.

Don't forget the puppy eyes, they are always a winner in these situations!

Literally, I have drank so much Lucozade and Orange Juice that I think my blood is an orangie colour... The vitamin C in the OJ helps keep your cells healthy and fight the flu, whilst the Lucozade helps your sugar levels! The milk contains Vitamin A, which helps boost your immunity, which is much needed at this time!

Read label of the tablets though to ensure that you don't take too many in a given time, but if you are taking throat lozenges and pain relief, make sure your spacing them out between each other.

Don't forget to open a window! fresh air and cooling your temperature down will help fight this nasty little bugger!

The plus side to being ill? You can catch up on those shows you missed and watch those boxsets you got for christmas. I have caught right up to date with Revenge, The Apprentice, and have even started watching old series of the Great British Bakeoff! Once they have ran out, get online to 4od, iPlayer and ITV Catch up to keep yourself entertained :D

Make the most of being in bed for the day, before you know it you will back to full health and having to be a responsible adult again!