At the age of 37, Catudal has had a successful career within the health and fitness industry as a personal trainer, nutrition coach, celebrity health coach, and most recently becoming a certified functional diagnostic nutritionist. As the co-founder of Humantra, with Huda Beauty Investments, Catudal has used his own personal battles to educate himself on health and wellbeing, to carefully create a variety of supplement products, in a bid to help people take ownership of their health. Dave in his words, is on a ‘mission to help create the next generation of healthy humans.’

In this digital age, the health industry has become more overwhelming than ever before, as we are overloaded with contradictory information about what is good for us and what isn’t. It can be difficult to make those decisions on how to have a healthy diet and lifestyle, and which supplements and vitamins can help. Humantra’s aim is to help simplify these complexities and offer a way to help people create a solid foundation with supplements addressing these 4 key pillars of health: hydration, gut health, brain health and sleep.

Humantra’s first product – ‘Hydration Hack’ is a plant-based, sugar free electrolyte and antioxidant drink mix with all 6 essential electrolytes, hydrating you 4 times more effectively than water alone. Award-winning performance coach and health consultant Phil Anothony M took to Instagram to review the product as, ‘a new hydration drink that’s backed by science and driven by data.’ Let’s find out more…

How did your Humantra Journey Begin?

That’s a big question but I love it. And really, that’s the point or the mission behind Humantra. It is like an extension of my journey, which came from a pretty hard place, health wise. But it’s been able to help inspire my creation in healthy living in holistic education.

My family was hit pretty hard with cancer; my brother had Leukemia when he was very young and got over it at age nine. He’s a superstar celebrity trainer and now, he’s published a bunch of health books, which is a great success story. But after he was cured, my father, who was literally the healthiest man in the world, never drank, never smoked, took his lunch hours to work out and run; he was diagnosed with terminal cancer when he was only 45, and died in less than a year. It was really crazy times, because he was so healthy, it was just such a shock. I was 17 when he died.

I then got obsessed with nutrition, like, I became absolutely obsessed with health and natural healing and starting to incorporate the power of the mind. I really understood that our emotions were what drives our wellness. Long story short, I got cancer when I was 23. But thankfully, because I had already studied so much about nutrition and the power of healing, I knew that I could heal myself. I had a surgery and then was able to heal from cancer without chemo and radiation, which is a huge, I guess you can say, accomplishment.

To heal, I had to boost my system and fortify my immune system. I had to learn all about herbal medicine and about upgrading our immune system through nature. It led me to the journey of developing supplements that help people.

And finally to where we are today with Humantra. What I really got to realise is through everything, regardless if you’re an athlete, or if you’re working in an office 15 hours a day, the same barrier to your performance is the same thing: hydration. So if you’re not hydrated, your entire system is suffering.

How have you stayed so motivated throughout your personal journey through to Humantra?

It really comes down to the purpose right? I think when this happens to someone – and I’m definitely not the only one who has been through these dramatic, traumatic or significant occurrences in their life – it really makes your life’s purpose unshakably clear. You just know what to do. So I don’t think motivation was ever an issue, I felt like I was made to teach people how to protect themselves from illness.

My mission is to educate and to empower people to make the decisions that worked for me and my client testimonials. Because of what I’ve learned, because I’ve what I’ve experienced, I feel like it’s my responsibility to pay this forward. And, that’s just the most motivating thing; watching people change their life for the better because of the information you’ve given them based on the experience you’ve had.

What has been your biggest takeaway from all the travelling and exploring of different cultures that has helped create your brand?

What I’ve really learned through all of this, is that our emotions drive everything, that our attitude is what makes us sick, or for lack of a better word, bulletproof. I’ve met people who are 102,103, even 105 years old, that did not necessarily live the healthiest nutrition plan. But their mindset was so great! They they just loved life, they didn’t hold on to negativity, they really celebrated the small things in life.

That’s what gave me perspective as a nutritionist to not be too strict on nutrition, but to really focus more on the mindset. So from all my traveling, cultural and nutritional studies, if I’ve really learned anything, it’s that we have to nurture and nourish our mindset and our attitude, as much as we do our physical body. They’re so interconnected, that if we focus too much on calories, proteins, fats and nutrition, we actually miss the point, and we end up stressing ourselves out more. So what I’ve really learned is that it’s all in the mind.

Regardless if you’re an athlete, or if you’re working in an office 15 hours a day, the same barrier to your performance is the same thing: hydration.”

Dave Catudal

Who need Humantra and why?

Everybody needs a mantra; everybody needs to hydrate. So as a nutritionist, one of the things that I look at is blood reports. I’m constantly looking at lab reports and have found that even people who are drinking three litres of water a day aren’t necessarily healthy. They’re not smoking, they’re not drinking, but they’re still dehydrated.

It’s a shock to a lot of people because they say, “well, what am I doing wrong, I’m drinking three liters a day, I’m eating a balanced diet, and I’m still dehydrated, like what is going on.” And the reason why is because the water these days, if you’re living in a big city, which 90% of the population is, the water is filtered and purified, which means there’s no minerals and electrolytes in the water.

So what we want to teach people is to start with the basics. Let’s build up your foundation, and that foundation starts with hydration. We’ve really simplified the supplement journey so you don’t spend money taking proteins, collagens, and the vitamins that still leave you dehydrated.

We are coming out with only one product first. And that’s why everybody needs it. It’s really tackling the biggest issue that people have. If you have a headache, it’s probably dehydration. If you have brain fog, it’s probably dehydration. You know, if you’re feeling lethargic during the day, it’s probably dehydration. So by tackling that you alleviate a lot of issues that people are suffering from.

Following on, the dying question that everyone wants answer to: what’s the correct amount of water you should drink a day?

That’s the million dollar question. If you were drinking water from a spring, from the Alps, in Italy, or in Switzerland, or Germany, or France, or wherever, you would only need to drink about a litre and a half of water a day if you’re just having a normal activity.

But if you’re pushing your limits in the gym, if you’re sweating for an hour in the gym, you’re losing almost a litre of water, you’re losing almost a litre of water overnight from all your metabolic processes. That’s two litres already. And if you’re not replenishing it through high water foods, like fruits and vegetables – a lot of people are just eating processed foods – which there’s no water, then you need to drink at least three litres.

So my short answer is you really should focus on three litres of water a day. But then the next question is, if that three litres of water is purified and lacking electrolytes? You’re still going to be deficient. So that’s where Hydration Hack comes in three litres, plus our product is more than enough.

Tells us more about this Hydration Hack product – does it really hydrate you 4 times more?

It’s hard to quantify hydration, but why we arrived four times, is because you take the average bottle of water and look at the average mineral content in that bottled water, you would need four bottles of standard water to give you the same amount of minerals and electrolytes as one package of Hydration Hack.

If we were to give someone one litre of pure water, versus 500 millilitres of water with our Hydration Hack, we hydrate them two-four times more efficiently than water alone.

Why is Humantra different to any other supplement brand?

What my mission is with Humantra, and what I believe really is our USP, is that we’re a supplement brand, with the foundation of us being health educators. That’s what Humantra is here to do; we’re here to educate, we’re here to guide. We do sell supplements, of course, but they are in alignment with the education that we’re providing. We don’t feed customers what’s currently marketing and selling in the health sector like some brands might.

From Humantra’s point of view, we’re really looking at it from a different perspective. We’re saying, what do humans need right now? What is going to make them healthier? And so that’s what drives us. I like to think of us as we’re education first and product second.

What benefits should we be seeing after taking Humantra’s Hydration Hack?

The exciting part about the Hydration Hack is that you feel better right away. And again, in full transparency, we almost can’t take credit for that as a product because that’s just how it feels to be hydrated. Not many people know what it feels like to be optimally hydrated and our product finally allows people to feel that so the benefits start right away. We want to make hydration easy and it so happens to be that Hydration Hack is also delicious.

A lot of people are writing to us and saying “I can’t believe it but since starting the hydration hack, my headache is completely gone.” Or, “Since starting the hydration hack, I’m able to focus a lot better.” Of course it is the hydration hack, but what they’re really experiencing is just being properly hydrated. And so that’s the aha moment that we really wanted people to experience.

We’re helping them solve their problem with a great product, and now they’re able to incorporate optimal hydration as part of the things that they’re focusing on to be a healthier person.

What flavours does Hydration Hack currently come in?

Our first two flavours are Himalayan Lime because we have Himalayan salt in it. That’s one of the key ingredients to electrolytes and sodium. The next flavour that we have is Berry Pomegranate; it’s a beautiful red as we actually use freeze dried beet root powder to colour our Berry Pomegranate and it’s just high in antioxidants. It tastes so good, it’s refreshing it doesn’t have any aftertaste, like a lot of these other supplements have because they use artificial sweeteners.

What is one message you would like to send to our readers?

Take responsibility for your health! We are a society that likes to look for shortcuts or outsource our health. Nobody knows your body better than you. Be a more educated consumer, do your research, don’t just see an influencer doing something and say “Oh, that must work for me.” Try to find out the reason behind it.

Words by Lucy Rosenberg

_{Header Image: Humantra Hydration Hack}

The post An interview with Dave Catudal: Humantra Has Your Ultimate Hydration Hack appeared first on Voir Fashion.

We are all well aware of the dangers of social media, and what it can present as a constant reminder of comparison. Often it has led many of us to feel unsatisfied with our lives, how we look, how we feel, what we’ve achieved; the list goes on.

If you were to honestly ask yourself ‘Do the people I follow online make me feel good about myself or push me to be the ultimate version of you?’, most would agree no. That is part of their job description; they are there are marketing experts to encourage you to buy items to live their perfect lives.

I’ve done it, my friends have, and I’m sure you have to. However, you grow to realise no matter how much you buy or do to feel like these people online; you never get the satisfaction you were looking for long-term.

I’ve watched the reality program Made in Chelsea on and off since it started, finding entertainment in their lives, following some of the cast on Instagram to see where they got their clothes from. There where it began for me at least following Mimi Bouchard.

While she had a relatively short stint on the program, I continued to follow her on my feed simply because I liked her style.

Mimi Bouchard, Mimi Method

However, as time passed, I noticed a definite change she began a journey of self-discovery. It’s noticeable to see that Mimi isn’t your average influencer shouting ‘look at me’ on Instagram but instead radiates the bliss of what you can achieve when you truly accept yourself. Now if you were to go onto her feed, you would find someone who is actively using their online space for good.

Mimi Method, Bouchard’s wellness platform she created earlier this year amid lockdown, is a space for your self-discovery teaching you how to become the best version of you, and ultimately to find that self-satisfaction many of us have been trying to achieve for so long.

We spoke to Mimi on how she started this journey, how she began her fast-growing platform, and finally, how during yet another lockdown we can genuinely use this time to transform ourselves into a content being.

You’ve been on a long journey from being on reality tv to where you are today, what would you say has been the driving moment or factor towards your amazing transformation? “The driving factor that led towards my transformation was realising that I am 100% responsible for my life. We all are. I wasn’t acting in alignment with my truest self, and I reached a point where I realised that there was more in this world for me. The reality show was a blessing in disguise, as I was so naive when I first started. It taught me to grow up and to be wary of who I trusted. The more I leaned into doing the things that made me feel good, the more I transformed into who I am today. I truly believe that understanding there’s a better life for you out there, practicing discipline, and creating healthy habits that keep you on track is the key to success. Meditation, reading, movement and eating quality foods are a few things that helped me transform from the inside, out.”

Could you explain Mimi Method to our readers? How would you say it differs from other health and wellbeing programs and sites? “Mimi Method is a holistic approach to health and wellness based on the following three pillars – Move, Nourish and Transform. Mimi Method bridges the gap between weight loss,

mindset, fitness, manifestation and nutrition. My guided meditations, healthy recipes and at- home Pilates workouts are all in video form. The program is all-encompassing because I’ve realised that people experience the greatest changes when their body and mind are in alignment with one another. Unlike other programs out there that focus on one area, Mimi Method ties the three most important aspects of transforming your life under one roof.”

What made you want to create Mimi Method as a platform? “For the past six years, I’ve been on my development journey where I’ve completely transformed my mind, body and diet. It was a process that took a lot of trial and error, and I wanted to create a platform where I could share all of my knowledge with my followers in one cohesive place. I also love the community that the Mimi Method platform has fostered, with girls all over the world sharing similar values and supporting one another on their personal growth journeys. Seeing these girls that subscribe to Mimi Method transform right before my eyes is truly the most rewarding part of it all – I love going through my DMs! There’s always a new heartwarming story to read. “

Mimi Bouchard, Mimi Method

For readers who aren’t familiar with mediation and its purpose, could you explain a little about why you started, what it brings to your life, and how you think it could help others? “The purpose of (my kind of) mediation is to train your mind to start thinking differently. Honestly, it’s more like hypnotherapy, but I don’t use that word much because it can scare some people off. I use mental rehearsal in a lot of my guided meditations as this is one of the best ways you can reprogram your mind to start choosing differently in your day-to-day life. We are all conditioned with beliefs, and most of us don’t realise that we have the power to change them. Meditation is so powerful and has completely transformed my life. I started meditating because I used to find myself falling victim to my emotions and letting them control me. Meditation is a tool that allows me to regain control over my mind and be less reactive. It’s also taught me how to breathe and refocus during moments of stress and anxiety. A lot of my meditations on Mimi Method are focused on the law of attraction to manifest your goals. I believe that everyone can find value in meditation, especially during these uncertain times, where so many things feel out of our control. I have truly created my dream life, dream body, dream relationship, dream career through doing inner work like this. “

What are your tips for people wanting to create their businesses from scratch? How did you find your niche and hone down on what you wanted to make? “I’ve always been an entrepreneur at heart. I dropped out of college during my freshman year because I knew I was destined to do something different and forge my path. I hated rules. I wanted to be my own boss. One of my biggest tips for people wanting to create their own business is to take the risk and JUST START. Once you launch your business, you can always pivot and grow based on the feedback you receive. I found my niche in the health and wellness / personal development space because this was an area that I was truly so passionate about – I was always eager to learn about it and naturally wanted to share what I discovered. I knew I wanted to create the Mimi Method platform because I wanted to help other women tap into their innate power, transform their minds and bodies, and finally start living the lives of their dreams. I did it… so I knew I could teach it. I love helping people, and seeing my work change lives.”

A lot of our readers will understandably be struggling with being out of work, among many other things, during this crazy pandemic. How have you personally dealt with the Coronavirus pandemic, and what do you recommend to people who are feeling overwhelmed with it all?

“I’ve dealt with the pandemic by sticking to what I know makes me thrive: my healthy routines. My morning routine really helps me start my day off on the right foot, as well as feel a sense of normalcy and control. Meditating and moving daily helps my mindset too. It is easier said than done, and there are certainly days when I feel overwhelmed and anxious. On these days, I try to carve out some time for myself to get back to ME, the person I want to be. On these days, I try to practice discipline with a side of self-care, whether it be reading a good book while walking on the treadmill, meditating and doing some Pilates, or cleaning the house. I always feel like cleaning and organising helps my brain. My recommendation to anyone out there feeling overwhelmed: meditate. Trust me; you can control your mind more than you could ever imagine. You can completely reinvent yourself by the end of 2020 by doing the inner work. I almost feel guilty for saying it, but 2020 has been one of the best years of my life. I have had the time to delve into personal development, even more, I finally had the time to start my new business, and my relationships have a new depth to them. You can decide what you make of this year. “

At this time of year, a lot of people are getting colds and illnesses, let alone perhaps having Coronavirus. What are some tips you would give for when you’re feeling physically not well enough to move or meditate? How do you keep yourself from feeling guilty? “Great question! It’s so important to listen to your body and honor what you’re feeling. I try my best to act intuitively and listen to what my body is telling me it needs. If I’m feeling tired or under the weather, I’ll take it easy and maybe do some relaxing stretches. If even that feels like too much, I’ll nourish my body with healthy foods, hydrate with lots of water and be sure to get plenty of rest. I try my best to remind myself that no one is perfect 100% of the time, and there is no reason to feel guilty over this. One key area I focus on is my bounce back rate, meaning if I fall off the wagon or feel “off” for a day that’s okay, but what matters is how quickly I can get back on track. Remember, everyone is human!”

Mimi Bouchard, Mimi Method

You’re very open and honest about your continual journey to be kind to yourself and continuing to transform, despite having moments where you return to old thinking and feeling insecure. Could you explain to us your old mindset versus your mentality now? “In my old mindset, I was overly self-critical and was always so hard on myself. I used to approach exercise and health from a place of hating my body and wanting to change it desperately. Once I altered my thought patterns and approached health and wellness from a place of love and self-respect, everything clicked for me. I was finally treating my body well because I was so grateful for it! This healthy mindset not only made the journey so much more enjoyable, but I was also finally seeing the physical results I had always wanted. Working on my mentality has truly changed my body. It sounds crazy, but I no longer hold the emotional weight that I used to. Meditating on changing old unhealthy habits like overeating helped me too when it comes to weight loss. There are certainly moments where I find myself falling back into old thought patterns, but I am now able to catch myself and redirect my thoughts before falling too deep down that rabbit hole. I truly feel like this “new me” mentality is the real me. I just had to unlearn what I was conditioned to be my entire life. “

As someone who personally struggles with body dysmorphia, and at a time when exercise is made even harder, how do you tackle negative thoughts towards body image? “Oh girl, I feel so much love and compassion for you! I know how it feels. I’ve made so many strides in regard to my body image and learning how to love myself, but I still have moments where I’m affected by body dysmorphia too. One thing I do is practice gratitude towards my body because even on my “off” days, I can recognise that I’m so lucky to have a body that is healthy and able. Learning to extend more love and gratitude towards my body has helped me heal past disordered relationships with food and body dysmorphia. I’m also a huge advocate for intuitive eating. When I’m eating intuitively, I feel more connected to my body and feel as if I can trust my body. Lastly, doing the work that I know makes me feel unstoppable. Meditating daily, moving daily, and simply being who I want to be, even if I don’t feel “there” yet.

Your podcast The MIMIBEE Podcast is a somewhat supplement to Mimi Method, what’s your favourite podcast, and who do you hope to interview on it in the future? “This is such a tough question – I loved so many of the 210+ episodes of The MIMIBEE Podcast! One of the coolest episodes I’ve recorded was with Ed Mylett – episode #153. I find Ed to be so inspiring while remaining incredibly down to earth and open about his journey and experiences. Episode #101 with Kathrin Zenkina was also amazing. In the future, I’d love to interview Dr Joe Dispenza. His teachings are fascinating, and I’m obsessed with all of his work. I live by so many principles I’ve learned from him, and I’m going to one of his week-long events in January.”

Finally, what’s the development of the Mimi Method going to look like? What can people look forward to seeing? “Mimi Method is growing and evolving every single day. The platform already looks different than it did when I originally launched it in late June. I’m constantly striving to elevate the platform and am always listening to feedback from my amazing subscribers. One of the most recent changes is that I received my Pilates certification through Equinox, so I’m taking the workouts to the next level. Another recent addition to the platform is I’ve started to create scheduled calendars and programs based on goals and skill levels, such as a “7-Day Schedule for Beginners” or a “2-Day Weekend Reset”. I’m always looking to improve the Mimi Method platform, and there are so many exciting initiatives coming down the pipeline in the next few months! After launching a few short months ago, we already have thousands of subscribers and an amazing community. These girls are the ones that motivate me the most to keep going. Their positive feedback drives me.” You can find Mimi on @mimibouchard, mimimethod.com, and The Mimibee Podcast available on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Interview by Hayley Barnes

Images via Mimi Method

The post How Mimi Bouchard Became Her Superwoman Self, and How You Can Too appeared first on Voir Fashion.

Whether you’re on your new year fitness journey or you are an avid gym member you may have realised that the gym routine after sometimes becomes monotonous and then boring. Like everything else in life, you have to keep it interesting. So, in the search of interesting, here are five trendy workouts you need to try.

Soul Cycle

Usually in a dim-lit studio with motivational quotes on the walls, a few rows of high-quality bikes and one leader bike at the front podium. Soul Cycle was most likely the number one fitness workout of 2019. Endorsed by many celebrities like Michelle Obama, Gwyneth Paltrow, Beyoncé and Hilary Duff. Soul Cycle is a 45-minute-high intensity, cardio cycling workout to upbeat music. The cult workout is known for the class energy and motivational impact of the classes. The workout is best if you want to improve your cardio and general fitness.

Pole Fitness

Pole fitness is an extension of pole dancing that uses the pole as the only equipment. The workout consists of pole dancing and resistance training by using your body as the resistant weight. The workout is mostly an upper body workout that improves your arm muscle tone, flexibility and core strength. So, for all those trying to bring the sexy back into their workouts pole fitness is a fun option to try.

Barre Fitness

Barre fitness is a hybrid workout that combines classic ballet moves with Pilates, yoga and strength training so like the Nutcracker but with weights and resistance bands. In this class, the plies and grand plies are held down longer while you contract specific muscles until you feel the burn. The low impact exercise is best for strength training for your core and also if you are recovering from an injury. The workout can also an accompanying workout for before or after a high-intensity workout.

CrossFit

Cross fit training which was originally popular with bodybuilders and professional athletes has moved to become a cult workout. The workout, usually done in a warehouse garage or basement consists of high-intensity interval training of everyday activities, for example, pulling, pushing and squatting. The workout is a high impact full body workout but can also be segmented into working on different parts of your body on different days, ever heard of leg day? This workout is best if you are training for an event or if you just need to get in incredible shape.

Yoga

When it comes to yoga, there is always seems to be a new kind of yoga. Hot yoga, aerial yoga, blacklight yoga and animal yoga. Although there seem to be infinite types of yoga, the beauty of it is that you don’t need to be a yogi or try all these classes to reap the benefits all you need is a yoga mat, your favourite pair of lululemons and a basic knowledge of the poses. With yoga, you work out both your body and mind. The workout is best for flexibility training but also helps to calm and centre the mind.

Words by Precious Njoki

Graphics by Katie Janes

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It is now 2020 and the word ‘restriction’ isn’t something we women with an independent nature deal well with. We don’t need no man holding us down, much like we don’t need no gym membership holding us down. Voir fashion is partnering with Auro, the genius app on a mission to improve your self-confidence (and booty).

The app offers Over 400+ workouts for all fitness levels (beginner, intermediate and advanced), from HIIT and spin to yoga and stretches. The workouts, designed to be done at home, in the gym or even outdoors. It’s the ‘friends with benefits’ of fitness; all the motivation without the strings attached.

We’ve got Janine George (@missjaninegeorge), group exercise instructor, personal trainer and the woman behind the voice on many of the workouts on Auro to spill the ‘T’ on booties, cheat days, and the fridge contents that give you abs you could grate cheese on.

1). What made you get into fitness?

I’ve always been doing something active, from the age of three I’ve been a gymnast, a swimmer, involved in athletics. I’ve always visited the gym after work to get my dose of fitness as a stress reliever. It made me feel good about myself and I was pleased with the results, so professionally it just made sense.

2). What is in your fridge right now?

At the moment I have celery, hummus (such a great snack!), oat milk, almond milk, lemons and dates; that keeps me going.

3). Cheat days? What’s your opinion?

Cheat days are VERY necessary. We go through a lot of stress throughout the week, it’s nice to be human again for a day or two.

4). What do you eat on your cheat days?

I like to eat pizzas; I’m currently opting for vegan pizzas these days. What I would suggest when you have a cheat day is to try not to go crazy with what your consuming and try and stick within the realm of the calorie intake that you’re supposed to be consuming on that particular day.

5). How long does it take to build a perfect booty?

I would say at least two months after starting a glute programme, you’ll start to feel your glutes firing up very hard during all the types of exercise that you perform. Definitely leave room aside for twelve weeks as a baseline to get accustomed to the programme your trainer has provided you with.

7). Is there a certain food that will assist you to reach your goal faster?

Always make sure your food has nutritional value. Make sure it has the micronutrients, the macronutrients, the fats the carbs, the vitamins the minerals. You want to make sure that you are consuming enough calories with your workload, that it’s nutritional and it’s fuelling your work out and obviously your recoveries also.

8). Are there different exercises for the different areas of the booty?

Yes! You can focus on glute dominant exercises. There are exercises that are more quad dominant like squats, hip dominant which would be your deadlifts, straight leg hip dominant which would be a cable kickback, more hamstring dominant which would be a hamstring curl (hamstring curls are so great).

9). Do the exercises differ depending on the body type?

Yes, there are three main body types; ectomorph, mesomorph and endomorph. The ectomorph needs to focus more on calorie intake, resting for longer periods. You need to minimise your cardio because you tend to have a body type that is very slim and lean, so you really want to be consuming more calories and focusing on building strength. The mesomorph is in the middle, they’re more athletic and can gain muscle easily, so you might want to target a particular area twice or three times a week. The endomorph has a slow metabolism, giving a slighter ‘softer’ figure. They may want to be focusing on more high intensity or longer distance training and more cardio. By all means, every single one of those body types will benefit from strength-based training.

10). Do different exercises give you different results?

Strength training will help you to burn calories a lot quicker and burn body fat. I wouldn’t worry so much about checking the scales because muscle weighs more than fat. Really start looking at yourself in the mirror and see how your body is adapting and changing throughout the process.

11). Is there anything that can hinder the results of working out

Definitely your nutrition and level of consistency you are putting into your work and the discipline. If you have been given a programme and your trainer has said stick to it, there is a reason why they have given you that programme, so if you decide to have 3 cheat days, the scales are not going to go the way we want them to go.

12). Is it true that squats are the ultimate booty work out?

No, the hip thrusters are the best for targeting your glutes. As you rise up you’ve got better contraction there and they work more effectively.

So, there you have it, a fridge full of hummus and an exercise routine full of hip thrusts, what are you waiting for!

Auro have created 5 workouts (especially for us), to firm up those stubborn problem areas and plump up that booty. Head over to the Auro website to start your 14-day free trial today.

Interview and words by Ella Winfield

Graphics by Katie Janes

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The post Booties and Cheat Days: Voir Teams up With Auro to Give You the Fitness Low-Down appeared first on Voir Fashion.

January. Cold, bleak, dull. Not the most inspiring conditions for that ‘new year health kick’ we’ve all been planning since purchasing the first Terry’s chocolate orange of the festive season. What is even less inspiring is when you find yourself in the middle of January, you hop on the scales ready for them to tell you you’ve dropped a stone and the number is two pounds less than it was.

After practically surviving on dust for two weeks, whilst begrudgingly forcing yourself to peel yourself out of your nice cosy bed at stupid-o-clock to awkwardly perch your bum on an uncomfortably hard bicycle seat whilst someone yells at you to ‘PEDAL FASTER, PUSH THROUGH THE PAIN’ under the (quite frankly) irritating flashing lights and overwhelmingly loud pumping music of the spin studio, whilst reassuringly reminding you that ‘WHAT DOESN’T KILL YOU MAKES YOU STRONGER’.

After the two weeks of hell you’ve put yourself through…TWO POUNDS!

The novelty of re-inventing yourself as one of those people who gets up at 4am to fit in the time to 1. Exercise and 2. Muster up the motivation to convince yourself you want to exercise has just about worn off by now. Is your body filled with a surge of pure heart-sinking dread when you are rudely awoken by the irritating trill of your alarm named ‘GYM!!! (bicep emoji, bicep emoji)?

Do you find yourself really needing to organise the contents of your fridge in alphabetical order, having to rip your loo roll into individual pieces and realising the importance of organising that pack of cheerios into lights, mediums and darks; all a subconscious effort to justify not going to exercise?

Do you have to physically restrain yourself from leaping off your bicycle seat and punching your spin instructor every time he has the NERVE to shout at you to ‘TURN THAT RESISTANCE UP’?

Then you, my friend, have a bad case of the ‘mid-January slump’ (technical term). And we have the cure. Well, technically we don’t have the cure, YouTube does. The humble YouTube video has helped us through many problems’ life throws at us; from how to do the perfect winged liner to how to twerk. And now it is going to help you get over your case of the ‘January slump’.

YouTube is brimming with thousands of dance-based exercise videos. Everything from Broadway-themed cardio dance routines from Joseph Corella to Leilah Isaac’s Belly dance fitness cardio fat burn. You no longer have to mortify yourself in the sweaty, red-faced dash from the class studio to the changing rooms past the weights section (obvious reasons).

Cancel that fitness membership that is draining your bank account and soul, and exercise in the comfort and privacy of your own home. You need that feeling of dread you now associate with exercise to simply evaporate away to enable you to enjoy it again.

So, if you fancy strutting and sashaying your way off the sofa (whilst burning up to 400 calories every half hour), here are our top three YouTube Channels that will definitely make you sack the slump.

1). The Fitness Marshall

2). MYLEE Dance

3). Hip Shake Fitness

Words by Ella Winfield

Graphics by Araceli Alonso

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The post The ‘January-Slump’ Cure! appeared first on Voir Fashion.