< Previous30 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY FASHION Sartorial sophistication Sartorial sophistication There’s never been a better time to mix up your wardrobe and explore your style. There’s never been a better time to mix up your wardrobe and explore your style. 22-31.qxp_Layout 1 17/12/2020 07:29 Page 9LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY 11 FASHION Opposite: Dune London Whatever you’re wearing, you’ll want a sharp pair of shoes to set it off and this pair from Dune London will add instant style. Above: Burton If you want to see the future of men’s fashion, just look at Burton’s latest looks. Top right: Barbour With Barbour, you get a shirt that’s stylish enough to wear socially, but rugged enough to wear around the house and garden, whatever you’re seeing to. Right: Joe Browns Joe Browns offer a style guide with this outfit to the modern gentleman’s attire. 22-31.qxp_Layout 1 17/12/2020 07:30 Page 10© Shutterstock /Sofia Zhuravetc 32-33.qxp_Layout 1 17/12/2020 07:25 Page 1LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY 33 HAIR & BEAUTY Year after year we see the same thing with an influx of new looks, techniques and styles to shake things up but, at the core, is the return of old favourites. It’s hard to imagine a year where smoky eyes aren’t on-trend, they’re just impossible to go out of style. It’s hardly a surprise, given they pair with just about any look and just about every make-up style – whether that’s a full-on glam look, or a more nude approach with the lips and skin. Whatever your completion, smoky eyes are a winner, but if you wanted to mix things up, you could always swap the usual black for blue. It looks like we’ll be seeing the return of the statement brow this year. Rather that the garish brows we’re used to seeing on Instagram, these are more subdued, but still make a big impact. Eyebrow slits are becoming more common on the catwalk. If that’s bit extreme, you can stick to just feathering your brow to add texture and create a fuller look. If smoky eyes are a bit, well too dark and smoky, for your taste, one of the big trends tipped for the coming year is exploring the brighter side of the colour spectrum. Think pinks, yellows and oranges in all kinds of textures: mattes, shimmers and glosses. You can add to the lips, of course, but it’s most effective worn around the eyes, whether a complementary colour to your eyes, or competing for a really audacious look. Wearing under-eye glitter will also be more popular – because we could all do with more sparkle in our lives. Red lips are as timeless and glamorous as smoky eyes and this year, they’ll be back in the spotlight. The trick here is to arm yourself with a good brand, one that doesn’t smudge, for a great look that lasts all day. If you want to go a step further, a look that will serve you well in 2021 is berry lips. To accomplish this style, all you need to do is add a touch of berry-coloured lipstick to the centre of your lips and blot it out. It’s an easy technique with minimal effort that has a big impact. With the pandemic keeping many of us inside, and with summer holidays almost non-existent last year, many of us didn’t get that healthy golden glow that usually sees us through the winter. So, unsurprisingly, radiant skin will be a major trend for 2021. There’s loads of great products available on shelves and online to give healthy glowing skin without needing the sun to show itself, or even needing to visit a tanning bed. Get the 2021 look With a whole new year ahead of us, it’s time to take a look and see what beauty trends are on the horizon. We might still be socially distancing, but that’s no reason not to look as good as you want to feel. 32-33.qxp_Layout 1 17/12/2020 07:25 Page 234 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY HEALTH AND FITNESS Adapting to the season Christmas is over and the new year is here. As is tradition, the time to pick up a new fitness routine is now. But it’s winter, it’s cold and dark outside, and cosy indoors. You’re not really comfortable yet going back to gyms in a COVID world, and isn’t it more dangerous jogging or cycling outside at this time of year anyway? Maybe you should just pop the activewear in the back of the cupboard and wait until spring. These are all likely thoughts running through the minds of Lincolnshire residents at present. Though the new year health kick is in motion, motivation is difficult to come by and maintain - especially in the dull, wet winter during shorter days. Lincolnshire Today is here however to highlight the beauty of the winter workout, its breadth of benefits, and how to get yourself primed for exercising in this season. There’s no need to fear the cold of winter workouts Not only is outdoor winter exercise great for getting a dose of vitamin D - which we typically lack in the winter due to less sunlight exposure - and boosting the immune system, it also provides an opportunity to improve endurance. Meanwhile the body has to work harder to regulate temperature, which means you burn more calories, and studies have shown that cold weather exercise can increase one’s metabolism and fat burning ability. Getting outside is also connected to lowering risk for depression. How to prepare for exercising in the winter Working out in the winter does of course require a few adaptations. One should ensure to allocate extra time for warmups and cool downs to help flexibility, performance, and prevent injury. In cold temperatures muscles contract and tend to feel tighter and therefore need a little more focus before you get going. If one simply jumps straight into a workout with cold and less flexible muscles, the chance of pulling a muscle is raised, and the subsequent pain will put you off your fitness routine. A dynamic warm up with active stretch movements is key. Take 10 to 15 minutes to warm up and stretch, and the same amount of time for your cool down. It is also vital to hydrate properly during winter exercise, where we lose fluid through breath in cold air. While one may expect to sweat less and feel less thirsty in the cold, without hydrating, cramping and dehydration will likely occur. Furthermore, if it is particularly cold out, consider switching out long workouts with those of a HIIT style to reduce your time exposed to the elements. In addition whether you are a walker, runner, or cyclist, it is important to adapt the gear you wear. As the old adage goes: there’s no such thing as bad weather, only unsuitable clothing. Plan ahead and think “layers” - not only will they protect you from the cold but allow you to remove clothing as desired to avoid overheating. Choose moisture-wicking fabrics for your base layer and avoid cotton, which holds onto sweat. Next, wear an insulating layer and finish with a breathable outer layer that will repel rain and is wind resistant, as well as appropriate footwear with good grip for the conditions, which may be slippery. Avoid large jackets and jumpers that will make you overheat, sweat more, and then leave you shivering due to cold sweat, however. Thermal leggings are also a solid choice when temperatures dip. Remember to protect your extremities too - head, hands, and toes - which are vulnerable to cold and crucial in Frequent outdoor exercise shouldn’t be restricted to spring and summer or simply when the sun is beaming. It’s important to continue moving through the year, and with the January health drive underway there is no better time to get back on track. Frequent outdoor exercise shouldn’t be restricted to spring and summer or simply when the sun is beaming. It’s important to continue moving through the year, and with the January health drive underway there is no better time to get back on track. Adapting to the season 34-35.qxp_Layout 1 17/12/2020 07:22 Page 1LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY 35 HEALTH AND FITNESS © Shutterstock /bbernard heat regulation. Consider running mittens, hats, neck warmers to pull over the nose, and buy good socks. Additionally, when your workout is complete ensure to remove sweaty clothing quickly and shower. Standing around in the cold, drenched in sweat increases the danger of hypothermia. Wearing reflective or fluorescent clothing is also essential if you are exercising in the dark, due to shorter days, or in low visibility conditions so that you can be spotted easily. A head torch is also useful, especially if running alongside roads, and if doing this, make sure to run against traffic so vehicles can see you, and you what’s coming. Staying motivated and getting going To get motivated for winter workouts, consider training in the morning or lunchtimes to make the most of daylight - dark evenings are a massive repellent for exercise. Further, if planning to exercise first thing, why not lay out your gear at the foot of the bed so you can get out of the door quickly and easily? It is also important to set goals to give exercise purpose and ensure that the activity you do is something you enjoy. If it really is dreadful outside - icy, wet, and windy - and it would perhaps be dangerous to venture outdoors, don’t drop your exercise routine. If last year showed us anything it was that the opportunities for indoor fitness are endless. While it may not come with the aforementioned benefits of working out away from home in winter, something is always better than nothing! 34-35.qxp_Layout 1 17/12/2020 07:23 Page 236 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY Like yoga and veganism before it, mindfulness is the latest wellness trend to hit the mainstream. Although this popularity has been driven in part by the widespread move towards healthier practices, the coronavirus pandemic has played a major part. During the first national lockdown, many were spending unprecedented amounts of time inside, leaving many turning towards yoga, Pilates and meditation for the first time to counteract the stress, anxiety and depression of living through a major global crisis, and to sharpen their minds and bodies. But “mindfulness” is more conceptual. After all, most of us can visualise yoga and veganism. So, what does mindfulness mean exactly? According to public benefit corporation, Mindful Communications, mindfulness is the basic human ability to be fully present, aware of where we are and what we’re doing, and not overly reactive or overwhelmed by what’s going on around us. To give an example, you can practice mindfulness by sitting down for a formal meditation practice, or by being more intentional and aware of the things you do each day. Unlike many other wellness practices, being mor mindful doesn’t require any purchases whatsoever, but can have a profound impact on our lives. In fact, you can practice just about anywhere. All you need is to dedicate some time and space to assessing your mindfulness skills every day. Another major misconception here is that the end goal of mindfulness is to quiet your mind, but there’s no real way of doing that. The goal is not to achieve some blissed-out state. Rather, you’re trying to pay attention to the present moment without judgement. Given that, your mind will wonder and that’s okay. The more you practice paying attention to what’s happening in your body and mind at the present moment, the more thoughts arise. It’s also only natural that your mind will wonder to something that happened recently, or think about what you’re having for dinner etc., but this isn’t something to avoid or fear – it’s simply part of human nature and, crucially, provides the magic moment for the essential piece of mindfulness practice. Because if you can actively notice that your mind has wandered, then you can consciously bring it back to the present moment. The more you do this, the more likely you are to be able to do it again and again. As Mindful Communications says, that beats walking around on autopilot any day. Remember when we said about paying attention to the present moment without judgement? That’s the second part of the mindfulness puzzle. No matter how well adjusted we are, all of us carry around a critical voice in our heads like a judgmental version of Cultivating No doubt, you’ve heard of “mindfulness” recently – but what exactly is it and how do you practice? Cultivating 36-37.qxp_Layout 1 17/12/2020 07:19 Page 1LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY 37 Jiminy Cricket. While there are certainly benefits to this voice – curbing our ego and expectations etc. – it can also be crippling and disarming. But, when we practice investigating our judgments and diffusing them, we can learn to choose how we look at things and react to them. When you practice mindfulness, try not to judge yourself for whatever thoughts pop up. Notice judgments arise, make a mental note of them (some people label them “thinking”), and let them pass, recognizing the sensations they might leave in your body, and letting those pass as well. As Mindful Communications explains, it’s all about returning your attention again and again to the present moment. It seems like our minds are wired to get carried away in thought. That’s why mindfulness is the practice of returning, again and again, to the breath. We use the sensation of the breath as an anchor to the present moment. And every time we return to the breath, we reinforce our ability to do it again. Call it a bicep curl for your brain, if you like. Okay, so now you’ve got a better understanding of what mindfulness is (and isn’t). So how do you go about practicing? In theory, mindfulness seems fairly simple – straightforward, even, but not necessarily that easy. As with any wellness practice, the real work is making time to just keep doing it or, to quote YouTube yoga sensation Adriene, the hardest part is showing up. So, from Mindful Communications, here’s a short practice to get you started: Take a seat Find a place to sit that feels calm and quiet to you. Set a time limit If you’re just beginning, it can help to choose a short time, such as 5 or 10 minutes. Notice your body You can sit in a chair with your feet on the floor, you can sit loosely cross- legged, in lotus posture, you can kneel – all are fine. Just make sure you are stable and in a position you can stay in for a while. Feel your breath Follow the sensation of your breath as it goes out and as it goes in. Notice when your mind has wandered Inevitably, your attention will leave the sensations of the breath and wander to other places. When you get around to noticing this—in a few seconds, a minute, five minutes—simply return your attention to the breath. Be kind to your wandering mind Don’t judge yourself or obsess over the content of the thoughts you find yourself lost in. Just come back. awareness awareness 36-37.qxp_Layout 1 17/12/2020 07:20 Page 238 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY FOOD & DINING nourish the spirit After the great Christmas glut, you’ll probably never want to see a mince pie or pig in blanket again. Instead, your body will be calling out for fruit, grains and vegetables. Whether or not you’re going on a healthy kick, cutting down or participating in Veganuary, here’s some nourishing recipes that will reinvigorate your body, mind and spirit. You’ll need: 1 cucumber 5 sticks of celery 2 apples 1 bag Fresh & Naked baby spinach leaves 1 lime 1 tsp honey Celery, spinach and cucumber juice What to do: Chop the cucumber, celery and apple into chunks. Put everything through a juicer then chill in the fridge. Stir well before serving. Recipe courtesy of www.lovethecrunch.com Feed the body, Boost your nutrient intake with this super green juice. Enjoy in the morning for a healthy start to the day or in the evening to help with a good night’s sleep as celery contains the chemical serotonin, one of the most important brain chemicals, or neurotransmitters, for regulating the sleep/wake cycle. © Shutterstock /T eri V irbickis 38-41.qxp_Layout 1 17/12/2020 07:15 Page 1LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY 39 FOOD & DINING Peanut butter and kale soup You’ll need: 1L of vegetable stock 500ml water 1 medium red onion, chopped 2 tbsp diced fresh ginger 4 cloves garlic, cut into small pieces 1 tsp salt 1 bunch of kale, chopped into strips 3.5 tbsps of tomato paste Hot sauce and/or chilli flakes Handful of chopped peanuts (for garnish) Cooked brown rice, for serving (optional) What to do: 1. In a saucepan, bring the vegetable stock to the boil. 2. When it starts simmering, adding in the onion, ginger, garlic and salt. Cook on medium0-low heat for 20 minutes. 3. In a bowl, combine the peanut butter and tomato paste. 4. Add the 500ml of water to the bowl – this will help smoothen the paste so you need to mix it well. 5. Once smooth, add it back to your pit and stir well. 6. Add in the kale and, if you want, some chilli flakes or hot sauce. 7. Once everything has been added, let everything simmer for another 10-15 minutes. 8. Taste for seasoning. 9. Serve over cooked brown rice and sprinkle crushed peanuts on top. Recipe courtesy of Manilife 38-41.qxp_Layout 1 17/12/2020 07:15 Page 2Next >