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alwaysahiccupandastrid · 4 years ago

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How Bad is Sia’s “Music” really?

I watched it illegally (because there was no way I was paying for that bullshit) and found out. It’s not as bad as we thought... It’s worse.

TW for ableism, Sia, drugs, alcohol, just in general a terrible movie, meltdowns, blackface

Literally the first thing you hear while they’re showing the production companies is THOSE stereotypical noises. If you’ve seen the trailer, you’ll know what I mean.

And yes, she does this for the WHOLE fucking movie

What was the need to show her in her underwear? Maddie Ziegler was 14 when this was made, so what was the need??? And why did Sia prolong the scene by having her hitting herself?

Less than a minute in and my reaction was already “what the fuck is this shit?”

So the opening number not only had stereotypical exaggerated facial expression, it has Maddie in BLACKFACE?!? And with culturally appropriated hair?!?

The exaggerated facial expressions are literally constant and I took photos during the film to show it, more later, but I’ll keep mentioning it

ITS LITERALLY THE WHOLE FUCKING TIME SHE IS ON SCREEN

Even her way of walking is fucking offensive, Jesus Christ

The vocalisations just had me cringing so hard, I cannot describe how awful it made me feel

Why do all the neighbours need to be paid off and help her when she goes for a walk? I don’t-

Yes, by about the five minute mark I was already seriously debating all my life decisions. It was that bad.

Kate Hudson really didn’t give a fuck that her grandma died

I will keep saying it but WHY are the facial expressions/vocalisations CONSTANT?!! Literally they do not stop at all. I work with a child who is actually similar to this in that he’s nonverbal and he makes similar noises/faces, but the way they’re in this movie is so over-exaggerated?!? And even the kid I work with doesn’t do it 24/7?!?

Sia, calling your characters Zu and Music doesn’t make them interesting in the slightest. They’re still painfully terrible and one dimensional

Literally ONE minute after being left alone with her autistic sister, Zu calls the mental health service asking if they could “theoretically” “pick up” her sister?!? Like she wants to get rid of her already?!?

“A magical little girl” - autism isn’t a magical power?!? And Music is a young woman, not a little girl?!? Why are you infantilising her?!?

Okay I’m not being funny but this choreography is NOT hard. ANYONE can do it, so claiming that you needed to hire a dancer to be Music because of the numbers is literally bullshit (and even so, there are so many amazing autistic actors and dancers?!?)

20 minutes in and I wanted to give up

So she had her first meltdown because her hair didn’t get braided immediately and that’s... certainly interesting??

The fact that Leslie Odom’s character says “I’m going to crush you now”?!?

AND THEN HE FUCKING PICKS HER UP AND FULL-BODILY PINS HER DOWN ONTO THE FLOOR

“I’m crushing her with my love” - oh fuck you, just fuck you

So Sia lied, the restraint scenes were NOT removed and there was no warning. She’s a fucking POS liar

I have no idea why he’s called Ebo or why he has such a cliche African accent?!? I might have missed out on why because I was busy trying not to bang my head into the table while I watched this film but just... yikes

“He (his brother) liked to be held” - YEAH, HELD. NOT FUCKING CRUSHED

“He is dead now” - IM NOT FUCKING SURPRISED IF YOU CRUSHED HIM LIKE THAT

The constant babying and patronizing of the autistic character is so exhausting to watch. I’m so tired

“Planning on sending her to the people pound but I guess I’ll keep her a little longer” - SHE WAS JOKING BUT THAT WAS NOT EVEN REMOTELY A FUNNY JOKE. NOT EVEN IN AN AWKWARD WAY

STOP THE FACES IM-

^ YEAH, Sia, totally a fucking love letter to the autistic community here ^

So Zu finds this necklace she made as a kid that had a little dog on it, and she says to Music, “He had seizures too, just like you”... MELTDOWNS AND SEIZURES ARE NOT EVEN REMOTELY THE SAME FUCK THIS MOVIE-

It’s like Sia is trying to make the movie funny but it’s really not at all

Is Zu implying that Music is autistic because the mum was a junkie?!?

For real though, the dialogue in general is so fucking awful and cringey. Whoever wrote this should never be allowed to write again

Did she seriously leave her autistic sister alone to talk to who I’m presuming was her dealer or loan shark?!?

Also why is he - a white dude - wearing cornrows?!?

So who is the film really about? The autistic girl or the older sister saviour? I think we all know the answer to that one

WHY IS SHE WALKING AROUND WITH HER TEETH JUTTING OUT LIKE THAT ALL THE TIME

The musical numbers are literally so painful to watch. The overly bright colours, the flashing... my eyes were hurting and so was my brain

Autism representation aside for a second, the musical numbers/choreography are all fucking atrocious. Ditto for the costumes

LIKE WHAT THE FUCK WERE THE PINK OOMPA LOOMPA FRUIT THINGS?!? THEY LOOK LIKE THE PINK VERSIONS OF VIOLET BEAUREGARDE THE BLUEBERRY

I wanted to cry by this point, this movie is far more awful than I thought

“I’m not saying she doesn’t want to change, I’m saying she can’t” - FUCK YOU. Why is it okay for him to assume what she can or can’t do

Can I just say that autistic people aren’t constantly in a coked up wonderland state?!! We don’t see the world as a wonderland fantasy world 24/7?!!

“She can hear you from two rooms away” / *shows her listening through two brick walls to a conversation* — Also, we don’t have super fucking sonic hearing?? WE CANT HEAR THROUGH FUCKING BRICK WALLS?!?

“She can understand everything you’re saying to her” - she’s autistic not fucking deaf

Less than 45 minutes in, there’s another meltdown in the park

“I’m not climbing on top of a small screaming white girl in public” - yeah please fucking don’t

So Zu fucking pins her down with her weight 🤦‍♀️

“She doesn’t know who she’s hitting” - IM SORRY WHAT

EBO LITERALLY SAID “TREAT HER LIKE A BEAR” when talking her through the prone restraint, I fucking CANNOT

“Tell her she’s safe” - NOT IF YOU FUCKING RESTRAIN HER LIKE THAT SHE IS NOT

The fact that she gets up, smiling and happy after a meltdown and immediately is excited to get a snow cone... I can honestly say that after a meltdown, I am in no way happy or smiling. I am often not very verbal and I’m withdrawn/not myself for at least several hours, usually the rest of the day. Fuck this film

This film is literally just about Zu, and Music is there for a plot device to give her character development. That’s all she’s there for.

Love how Sia shoehorned Zu being suicidal in there. You know, just to try and make her more easy to sympathize with (it doesn’t work)

This film is literally just a 1 hour 47 minute Sia music video with ZERO plot

WHY WERE THEY WEARING PILLOW DIAPERS IN ONE NUMBER-

I really did not feel into the side plot with that guy who was fighting but it was still better than the actual movie so...

I am SO DONE with the NON STOP CONSTANT vocal shit. So tired.

LOJ’s only role in this film is to be the stereotypical wise black guy who assists a white woman’s story. There’s like hardly any other depth there

The Ebo/Zu romance is so fucking stupid and pointless and out of NOWHERE. I couldn’t even tell if they were into each other or not

I was already so bored of the musical numbers by this point. They added NOTHING to the plot but they pretended they did, and I was so over it. And it’s not because I’m not “creative enough” or anything to understand, I love musicals and I think it could have been cool if done right... but it wasn’t. They were a mess. It’s just bad.

Sia really tried to pretend her movie was deep but really it’s a shallow mess

So Zu is meeting rich drug clients and says to Music “try not to have one of your freak outs up there” and “if you could try to get it out now”... FUCKING YIKES. It’s not an on/off button, shut the fuck up

YEP THIS WAS THE SIA CAMEO FUCK THAT BITCH

The fact that she just calls “DRUG DEALER?!? DRUG DEALER IS THAT YOU”, fucking end this please-

I fucking hate this bitch I’m dead serious

“We’re gonna send them to Haiti cause there’s been an earthquake. All these buildings fell down, children’s bones were dislocated” - WHY WAS SHE SO CHEERFUL ABOUT IT

“Gonna buy a shit load of pain meds, gonna but them on my private plane” - FUCKYOUFUCKYOUFUCKYOU

“Pop stars without borders” - Sia thinks she’s so clever but I would give anything to punch her I swear-

ANOTHER MUSICAL NUMBER JUST STOP IM BEGGING YOU

There’s this awkward conversation/bit with Zu and her drug dealer/loanshark about his outfit that was clearly meant to be funny but was just flat and painful

Yep, Sia really showed Music eating chewing gum off the underside of a park bench. Of course.

Look, the kid I work with does similar stuff by putting literally anything and everything in his mouth but like... why would you put that in your movie?

And there’s no indication before this that Music puts everything and anything in her mouth, she just randomly decides to get on her knees, under the bench and eat chewing gum, like she calculates that it’s there and gets it???

She has a THIRD meltdown after an allergic reaction to a bee sting and her sister just yells at her before realizing... I’m not here for this movie, I feel like I drifted off and was not really there

So Zu got angry because she left the drugs at the park but she’s not that upset that her sister had an allergic reaction???

Zu gets absolutely drunk because a) she lost Sia’s drugs and b) she’s stressed out by her autistic sister... wow, great message, Sia!

She really fucked off and left her sister alone to go clubbing/on a bender

The less said about the musical number here the better

Sia’s movie also checks the box of having stereotypical Asian parents, specifically stereotypical Asian dad being harsh/angry and hitting his wife!

ALSO HE PUSHED AND KILLED HIS SON WTF IS HAPPENING

Less than 3 minutes after the last, there’s a musical number that I think was about this side character going to heaven... another shitty Sia-esque number

The patterns during the number made my brain hurt.

Also there are so many autistic actors who can also dance, and yet Sia chose the neurotypical one because ✨ N E P O T I S M ✨

I just want to know how it was deemed necessary to show the fact the autistic character peed/wet herself? I mean... ??? It’s just so undignified and not at all necessary to the plot. Nothing happens after that, it just moves onto the next scene and it didn’t do anything

“I have no one” - 1) YOUR FUCKING SISTER. 2) GEE I FUCKING WONDER WHY, couldn’t be that you’re a shitty human being?!?

There’s a scene where Music is walking and she does ALL the stereotypical behaviours at once... just YIKES

Zu somehow stopped another meltdown just by grabbing Music by the shoulders and sitting her down???

Aaand yep. Another shitty musical number

Zu really goes to put her sister in a fucking facility and claims it’ll be “better for her” - BULLSHIT. Better for Zu, maybe, not Music.

Ah yes - the girl who the characters have said has problems with routines being changed/change in general... you’re now going to fuck up her routine by dumping her in a facility. Perfect Plan.

The nonverbal autistic girl suddenly speaking to say “don’t go” - you can just predict it from the off, can’t you?

Love that as soon as Music starts talking, Zu is like “fuck it, I’ll keep her!”

Zu really went and crashed Ebo’s brothers wedding... in a fucking bralette... YIKES

“I almost gave Music away” - SHE IS NOT A DOG YOU DONT GIVE PEOPLE AWAY

“We should sing a song” - PLEASE DO FUCKING NOT

Also that kiss/romance montage between Zu and Ebo was the CRINGIEST fucking shit ever

This movie seems to be implying that Music has locked in syndrome or something, like she’s locked in her own head or whatever it’s called, and I just... *sigh*

Oh and now Music magically fucking sings in a room FULL of strangers... this is literally embarrassing, please let this end

I mean it, this movie was fucking painful to watch on ever level

She got a service dog puppy which... okay?

Oh look, it’s the only decent song on the soundtrack but with an absolutely shitty over-stimulatory music video with the credits!

I can only name 5 characters in this film. Maybe 7 at a push, but even then I would be guessing

AND YEP SHE THANKED AUTISM SPEAKS OVER THE CREDITS. FUCK YOU SIA 🖕🏻

Let me reiterate: this is a movie about a neurotypical former drug addict whose character development comes from the autistic character, from having an autistic sister she has to take care of. I’m so tired.

We are NOT plot devices or tools for character development. Not once does anyone in this film treat Music like a human being - she’s treated as a burden, a problem, and then like a pet that they decide to keep. Not once is the film focused on how she is feeling - it’s always about Zu or Ebo. The performance itself was so over exaggerated and it made me want to cry when I watched it because this is how the world sees us, and this movie will make it ten times worse. It’s stuff like this that made me think “I don’t want to be labelled as autistic because people will think I’m a certain way”, that made me wait so long before going to the GP to get a referral.

As I said, poor autistic representation aside, the movie is just so appallingly bad. It truly is one of the worst films I’ve watched. If you’re going to watch it, please don’t - or, if you want to because you want to see how bad it is/to raise awareness/critical posts, at least do it illegally. Do not give Sia your money.

#sia #music #music 2021 #music movie #autism #tw ableism #tw meltdown #tw blackface #anti sia #lol sia

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musiccosmosru · 6 years ago

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Struggling to lose those last few pounds before your holiday? Rick Hay, Healthista’s nutritional director provides a healthy eating plan plus seven healthy ways you can lose those last few pounds before jumping on that plane to paradise

Okay so before we do anything, let’s be clear on one thing. Your body is beach ready whenever you feel it’s beach ready. But if you have a number in mind that you want to see when you step on those scales or want those summer shorts to fit a little better, then we’re here with a plan that is nutritionist approved and safe.

We’re not claiming you can change the way you look in just one week, but if you want to lose pounds fast, you don’t always need to turn to a fad diet that will end in tears and tantrums. You can lose the pounds healthily.

If you’re off on holiday in just one week’s time and only a few pounds off your goal, don’t leave this page. If you’re off to a summer festival and wish those shorts were ever so slightly looser, then this is a read for you. Here are six healthy ways to lose weight in a week and detailed eating plan to help you get there.

1. Cut down on that cut of steak

In this day and age we are all aware of the importance of a plant-based diet. With vegetarian and vegan diets more popular than ever we know that it’s ideal to fill up our plates with as many plant based and colourful foods as we possibly can.

‘Plant based foods are nutrient dense, low in calories and high in both protein and fibre,’ says Hay. ‘These factors are all important and key to a healthy balanced diet.’

Although meat has many benefits and is a staple ingredient on most peoples plates, we shouldn’t be overdoing it. Too much meat can be hard on your digestive system, taking longer to pass through. According to Hay, if you limit or cut back on your meat intake (even if only slightly) you are more likely to lose those last few pounds.

Eating less meat and focusing on filling up our plates with more fruit and veggies, will also help with cleansing and regulating our blood sugar levels – ‘this means less cravings and snack attacks’ explains Hay.

An abundance of B vitamins are found in colourful vegetables so aim to eat a rainbow of brightly coloured one. B vitamins such as B7, are incredibly important for our macronutrient and carbohydrate metabolism and for energy production. ‘Essentially this means that these vitamins help keep the digestive system on track and fully functioning’ Hay explains. ‘A fully functioning digestion is integral to successful weight-loss.’

Plant-based food also provides us with a wide range of vitamins and minerals that support energy production, and we need energy for exercise in order to lose weight. So fill up on veggies to boost your energy and feel great.

2. Spice up your your food

Adding some spice to your cooking is a guaranteed and tasty way to help boost your metabolism – result.

Setting your metabolism into a high gear by eating spices and drinking herbal teas, will significantly help lessen bloating symptoms.

Thermogenic (fat burning) spices are used to aid fat metabolism and can be used together with herbal teas to help reduce fluid retention and bloating. Add chillis, turmeric, cumin and cardamon to your cooking to increase their thermogenic or fat-burning factor.

Read more: 6 healthy spices with proven body benefits

Sometimes it isn’t just the last few pounds that bother us, but the bloating that we just can’t get to the bottom of. Setting your metabolism into a high gear by eating spices named above and drinking herbal teas such as fennel, dandelion and ginger, will significantly help lessen bloating symptoms.

3. Prioritise healthy liver and gall bladder

It’s important to not just focus on one aspect of health. Health needs to be looked at and approached from all angles to benefit your overall health and well being.

Encouraging a healthy liver and a gall bladder may not seem top of the priorities list but is in fact so important for your health when trying to lose some weight.

Looking after your liver and gall bladder by including some bitter foods in your diet such as rocket, grapefruit or bitter salad greens will help to maintain healthy liver and gall bladder function and therefore a better fat metabolism. By having a half a grapefruit or bitter green leaf salad before eating, you encourage your body to release digestion-promoting enzymes that can help food break down.

A healthy liver will also aid hormonal regulation. Stimulating liver function and digestion whilst providing nutrient dense recipes will not only keep you fuller for longer and stabilise blood sugar levels, but will also significantly help when it comes to those weight-loss goals.

4. Make healthy food swaps to stop bloating

Foods such as wheat, dairy and processed meats tend to cause that unwanted bloating feeling. These types of foods are harder to digest and ‘many people suffer from wheat and dairy intolerances which can throw digestion out of whack,’ explains Hay. This will lead to a compromised and sluggish system, making it harder to shift those pounds.

Try incorporating these four food swaps as much as possible to lessen that bloated feeling:

Swap pasta for courgetti

This swap provides you with more nutrient density and is also much lower in calories – a great choice for weight management. As a bonus you’ll be getting one of your five a day plus less wheat and more fibre to help with bloating.

Courgettes are an excellent source of vitamin C. Vitamin C is great for immunity and brilliant for skin texture and health. Courgettes provides a good source of lutein and zeaxanthin – these are two phytonutrients from the carotenoid family which can be beneficial for good eyesight. Our favourite spiraliser ever, the Uten Vegetable Spiralizer Slicer Hand Held Spiral Slicer Easy Clean Kitchen Tool for Potato,Carrot,Cucumber is only £6 and makes it super easy and takes up very little space too.

Swap rice for cauliflower rice

Cauliflower rice is another good low calorie option (around 25 calories per 100 compared to about 140 for cooked white rice) that also packs a nutritional punch.

By changing from rice to cauliflower rice, you are helping the body to detox. The humble cauliflower is rich in glucosinolates which helps to activate the detox process and help lessen bloating. Full of sulphur rich compounds, cauliflower is excellent for immunity too.

One cup of cauliflower rice will deliver a good dose of vitamin C and K with almost zero grams of fat, sodium or sugar – bonus.

To make cauliflower rice, grate, blend or food process the cauliflower and then shallow fry, steam or microwave for a couple of minutes.

Swap fries for roast sweet potato chips

A medium sized potato comes in at around 170 calories, whereas the same sized sweet potato is less calorific at 100 calories.

Not only does the sweet potato have fewer calories, it also has more fibre. This fibre helps with digestive function, meaning less bloating and a lower cholesterol.

Sweet Potatoes also have tonnes more vitamin A than white potatoes which have hardly any. In fact, sweet potatoes are one of the richest sources of beta carotene, which is needed to covert to vitamin A in the body. Vitamin A is also known to help boost thyroid function which if sluggish could hold back your weight loss results.

To make the most out of your sweet potato fries thinly slice the sweet potato into wedges about 2mm thick, leaving on the fibre-rich skin. Lightly drizzle with a little olive oil or and roast for 30 minutes or until crispy. Season and serve.

Swap refined sugar for honey or maple syrup

Refined sugar is pretty much empty calories where nutrition comes in. Honey and maple syrup however, still contain the sweetness but with strong nutritional profiles.

Honey has been used for it’s medicinal anti bacterial properties for generations. It contains key nutrients such as iron, calcium, potassium and magnesium. (Try Raw Health Organic honey, £5.69)

Maple syrup is antioxidant rich and has a lower GI than regular sugar, (54 vs 65 – honey comes in around 50) as well as having some digestive system benefits such as lessening bloating.

5. Take a herbal tea-break

Herbal teas have become increasingly popular, especially digestion helpful teas such as green and mint flavours. ‘Green and mint teas are great for digestion, so are fennel, ginger, turmeric and lemon balm flavours,’ says Hay. (Try Ginger Kick Tea, £2.39)

These teas will be a huge help for digestive function and fluid retention which are both important factors for weight loss. Herbal teas are also an easy and convenient option to gently stimulate the digestive process. Aim to drink one to two cups per day for best results.

Do you struggle to drink the suggested two to three litres of water a day? Most people do. By drinking herbal teas you are also upping your water intake without realising.

Read more: 8 ways a cup of tea CAN fix anything

6. Think, eat and live healthy protein

Throughout your day, each meal or snack should focus on protein. Protein keeps you fuller for longer, lessening cravings and regulating blood sugar levels.

Aim to fill a third of your plate with protein based foods, such as lean meat, fish such as salmon, tuna, prawns or white fish or veggie options such as chick peas, beans, lentils, tofu and tempeh and then, make sure the rest of the meal is as close to natural ingredients as possible.

When snacking, ‘take care that your snack contains a protein component,’ suggests Hay. So if you’re having a banana, have some peanut butter with it, if you’re having an apple, have ten almonds alongside it to help keep you full between meals. (Try Meridian Coconut & Peanut Butter, £2.69)

‘Remember, eating more plant-based foods keeps our fibre levels up and that helps keep us regular,’ says explains Hay. This encourages blood sugar regulation (less cravings) and regularity. If your bowel transit is too long (he means if you go for longer than one day without doing a poo), this could hamper with your weight loss efforts, says Hay.

Fill up on green vegetables, pulses such as chick peas, lentils, beans and fruit such as pears, apples, berries and kiwi. If you’re struggling with the amount of solid fruit and veg, try veggie or fruit juices.

A healthy gut is paramount to having a balanced system – without it all body other systems can suffer.

Rick Hay’s healthy 7-day fast and safe weight loss plan

Some people tend to get so caught up in losing the weight, that once the weight has been lost they reward themselves a little too much and can find themselves back to square one.

This healthy seven day plan will not only help you to lose the last few pounds, but can also be repeated monthly to keep your weight-loss or management on track so you don’t find yourself having to start your weight-loss journey all over again.

‘This mostly plant based plan uses thermogenic spices, is high in fibre, stimulates digestive function to help bloating and is nutrient dense. This is what all healthy diets should incorporate,’ says Hay.

Hay adds, ‘this plan goes the extra mile by using botanicals to stimulate the liver and to reduce bloating, it promotes healthy elimination, reduces cravings and keeps you feeling fuller for longer.’ Not only does this plan focus on weight loss, but energy too. This plan will help to boost your energy levels and improve your mood naturally though eating whole and real foods.

The are two menus, one is for days one, three, five and seven and the other for days two, four and six to provide variety in your diet. Lunches and dinners can be interchanged and as mentioned previously, this plan can be repeated every month if desired.

Menu #1 Days one, three, five and seven

Kick starting your digestion will help the liver and gall bladder with fat metabolism, and also assisting with fluid retention.

This breakfast booster will also help to regulate your blood sugar levels and diminish those cravings. Add cinnamon if desired to further help reduce those nagging cravings.

Raspberry delight – two cups of raspberries, one cup of spinach, one teaspoon cacao, two teaspoons chia or linseeds, blend with 200mls of unsweetened hemp or almond milk. (Try Almond Breeze Unsweetened Almond Milk, £1.79) or try:

Banana blast – blend 250 mls of unsweetened rice, almond or coconut milk with one banana, a date, seven to eight almonds and a scoop of Healthista Lean VeganDiet Protein £24.95.

This shake is a meal replacement, it is high in protein and amino acids and will keep you full until lunch. The nuts and protein powder will provide the protein and the nuts will give you essential fatty acids to help with feelings of fullness.

Green tea or matcha green tea will stimulate fat burning and promote healthy circulation. Their bitter quality means that they are liver and gall bladder tonics. Matcha green tea and green tea will also help to stimulate digestion in general. Weight loss is more easily achieved if you have can stimulate sluggish digestion. (Try Pukka Mint Matcha Green tea, £2.99)

Eating every few hours will help to control portion size. Regular eating will also help to regulate blood sugar levels, helping to eliminate cravings.

Tomato Salad – 3 or 4 small tomatoes with a couple of handfuls of salad leaves of choice such as rocket, mixed leaves or spinach. Add olive oil, balsamic vinegar and fresh cracked black pepper.

Add small amount of grated cheese or vegan coconut cheese as a thin topping with some protein rich pine nuts. Serve with two rice, corn or crisp bread crackers. (Try Raw Health Supergreens Crisp Breads, £4.49)

The vinegar and black pepper aids fat metabolism, whilst the olive oil provides a good source of healthy omegas which also aids weight loss. The crackers or crisp breads provide carbs to provide energy. Or try,

Spinach and asparagus frittata – slice or spiralise two asparagus stalks and add them into a bowl of two cracked free-range eggs and mix. Fry this mixture gently in olive oil and add a sprinkle of parsley.

Asparagus is a diuretic as is the parsley. Both of these ingredients will help with fluid retention and puffiness. Spinach is super easy to digest and provides muscle relaxing magnesium benefits. Relaxation benefits lead to less stress leading to less of that nasty visceral fat, the overloaded and stressed adrenals will therefore get a break.

Banana and prunes – a few prunes or a glass of prune juice if you prefer, together with one banana.

If you’re constipated its harder to lose weight, the banana provides fibre and energy (both physically and mentally) it contains tryptophan to help boost serotonin levels. Or try,

Mixed nuts and seeds – this will provide protein to help keep you full and satisfied till dinner.

Cashew nut stir fry – lightly fry in olive oil two cups of mixed vegetables, such as courgette, mushrooms, carrots, green beans with one teaspoon of grated fresh ginger. Add in also a handful of cashew nuts when the vegetables are almost ready. For taste you can also add some basil and sesame seeds.

Serve with some rice noodles or brown rice as these are gentler on the stomach and a better alternative to white rice.

This plant-based dinner is high in fibre and full of nutrients to boost digestion and keep you full.

Fish, chicken, tofu or tempeh with salad – small piece of grilled fish, organic chicken, tofu or tempeh served with a bowl of green leaves and dressed with olive oil. You can add almond slivers or pine nuts, olives and some citrus fruits if desired, such as orange or grapefruit.

The greens will help to cleanse the colon. The olive oil and nuts will provide omega fatty acids that will also help to cleanse the intestine, whilst the fish, chicken, tofu or tempeh will provide the protein and help keep you full.

Chocolate – have two or three squares of dark chocolate or vegan chocolate for a bitter but tasty treat.

Dandelion tea – drink a cup of unsweetened dandelion tea with dessert. Dandelion tea is a great weight loss hack, it helps to reduce fluid retention whilst also acting as a liver cleanser.

The bitter qualities help to reduce cravings and will assist with skin conditions as it aids liver function.

Menu #2 Days two, four and six

This liver tonic will also help regulate blood sugar levels and diminish cravings. Add cinnamon if desired to further help reduce cravings.

Chai bowl – one cup of fresh or frozen mixed berries with a dollop of non sugary yoghurt – preferably organic. Add also, five or six almonds and one or two teaspoons of chia seeds to help with satiety and also hair, skin and nail health.

Berry boost smoothie – blend half a cup of blueberries and half a cup of raspberries (frozen or fresh) together with half a small beetroot, in 200mls of unsweetened coconut milk.

This shake is a meal replacement and is high in protein and amino acids. This smoothie will keep you fuller, is nutrient dense and rich in fibre to ensure balanced blood sugars. Energy levels should also boost which will help with any workouts you may be doing.

Green tea or matcha green tea will stimulate fat burning and promote healthy circulation. Their bitter quality means that they are liver and gall bladder tonics.

Matcha green tea and green tea will also help to stimulate digestion in general. Weight loss is more easily achieved if you have can stimulate sluggish digestion. (Try Pukka Ginseng Matcha Green tea, £2.99)

Watermelon is a natural diuretic and a good source of potassium which will balance sodium levels and decrease

Dress the courgetti with pine nuts, garlic and olive oil.

Banana and prunes – a few prunes or a glass of prune juice if you prefer, together with one banana.

If you’re constipated its harder to lose weight, the banana provides fibre and energy (both physically and mentally) it contains tryptophan to help boost serotonin levels.

Mixed nuts and seeds – this will provide protein to help keep you full and satisfied till dinner.

Vegetable and lentil soup – add a cup of lentils (sachet or canned) or beans to two cups of sliced/chopped green vegetables to 300 ml of water. Simmer slowly and add turmeric, chilli and ginger.

This dinner is easy to digest and the thermogenic herbs will speed up fat loss.

Fish, tofu or tempeh with steamed greens – lightly fry or grill 150g of a white fish, tofu or tempeh. Serve together with a cup or two of green steamed vegetables and season with thermogenic spices such as cayenne, chilli, garlic or black pepper to boost weight loss.

Dessert, stewed apple, peach or pear: stew one apple, peach or pear and add some fibre rich sultanas or raisins, add also a little cinnamon, chilli or cayenne to boost fat burning.

With dessert, a liver cleanse: cup of unsweetened dandelion tea. A great weight loss hack, dandelion tea reduces fluid retention whilst also acting as a liver cleanser. The bitter qualities help to reduce cravings.

A green ‘bedtime shot’ – Organic Spirulina powder, £10.95.

Hay reccomends that ‘if you feel you’ve been overdoing it or feel the need for more energy, this green shot is rich in iron and magnesium, helping to cleanse and detox the body – it’s organic too.’ The cleansing nature will help you to detox gently, it’s full of magnesium to aid the nervous system which will assist in your weight loss.

This ‘green bedtime shot’ should be taken at night after dinner. One teaspoon will increase nutrient intake in particular, if you havn’t been getting your five a day and want to speed up the cleansing action a bit, then this bedtime shot is what you need.

Rick Hay is an Anti-Ageing and Fitness Nutritionist with many years clinical experience in nutrition, naturopathy, botanical medicine and iridology. He specializes in obesity treatment and weight management. He writes a regular Natural Health and Fitness Blog for Healthista. Find out more at rickhay.co.uk. Follow Rick on Twitter @rickhayuk

Rick Hays book the Anti Ageing Food and Fitness Plan is available to buy on Amazon.

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wayneooverton · 7 years ago

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Everything you need to know about road-tripping in the Lofoten Islands

Written by Lisa Michele Burns of The Wandering Lens

Norway’s majestic Lofoten Islands are one natural wonder you need to have on your bucket list. Rising up from the sea, the islands are like a coastal mountain range with peaks towering over 1000m high offering spectacular views for those willing to climb to the top.

One of the best ways to explore the Lofoten Islands is on a road trip, meaning you can stop the car whenever you see somewhere scenic which is more than likely around every corner. If Google maps is telling you it will take 30minutes to get from A to B, trust me, it will take more like 3 hours once you factor in photo stops!

Falling in love with Northern Norway

Having visited in March during some very heavy winter snow storms, I created a guide to The Best Photography Locations in the Lofoten Islands. Below I’m going to share some tips on when to visit, how to hire a car and what are some must see locations to visit on your road trip.

When to visit the Lofoten Islands?

With dramatic scenery and landscapes, the islands are beautiful year-round however different seasons offer varied colours, challenges and risks.

Winter brings with it the magic of the northern lights and snow-covered mountains which is what a lot of people travel to see. Once the skies are dark enough at night you’ll have a chance of witnessing aurora dancing above the beaches and fjords in an incredible display of natural beauty. Visitors can expect to encounter the northern lights when the skies are clear anytime from September through until March.

The downside of winter is the wild weather and when I say wild, I mean wild, can’t go outside kind of weather. With winds roaring in from the Arctic Sea and snow storms rolling through regularly throughout the winter months, it can be a tricky thing to time your visit just right for a gap in the weather. That said, those storms bring with them crazy scenes that in my opinion add to the rugged attraction of the Lofoten Islands.

Summer on the other hand is known for it’s calm, clear days where popular activities include kayaking, surfing and hiking. The midnight sun means you’re treated to 24hours of daylight throughout June and July, giving you plenty of time to get outdoors and explore the many hiking trails on offer.

The off seasons of Autumn and Spring offer a little bit of everything. You can expect some snow sprinkled on the mountain peaks, storms sweeping through the fjords and clear sunny days. It’s more of a mixed bag from March to May and September to November but can also result in cheaper accommodation and flights.

I’ll be hosting a photography and travel blogging tour in the month of October this year so will be hoping for some sprinkles of snow, dancing aurora and sunshine for reflection photos!

What to See

Almost all of the must-see locations in the Lofoten Islands are natural ones. There’s so many beaches, coves, fjords and mountains to explore that I highly suggest you simply drive and see what you find along the way.

To get you started though, here are some of my tips for the places you can’t miss on your trip.

Hamnoy

I’ll start with the most iconic scene in the islands, that of the red rorbuers (fishing huts) visible from the Hamnoy Bridge. As soon as you start driving over the bridge you’ll see the scene appear before your eyes, it’s really hard to miss!

Be sure to spend some time here at different times of the day, in particular sunrise or sunset when the cabins are lit beautifully by the warm light and you’ll hopefully have some colours in the sky above Festhelltinden Mountain.

Nusfjord

This little fishing village is a total delight and somewhere you need to visit. It’s located in a narrow fjord with brightly coloured red and yellow buildings making up what’s a very photogenic village.

The drive to Nusfjord is worth the journey in itself with the road weaving beneath huge rocky mountains past lakes and there’s plenty of spots to stop along the way.

During winter the small road out can be a little tricky if there’s snow and ice covering the road so be sure to check the road conditions and drive slowly!

Rambergstranda Beach

If you’re heading to Lofoten for the coastal scenery, Rambergstranda Beach is perfection. Looking out over the bay of Jusnesvika, the beach offers a beautiful location to have a picnic and stare at the impressive coastline on display.

In winter it can be completely iced over so what looks like sand, may in fact be sand beneath a sheet of slippery ice. I tested it out, slipped and fell on it for you. You’re welcome!

Keep an eye out for a ruby red fishing hut that sits on the shores of the beach, it makes for a great photo opportunity.

Torsfjorden

You’ll no doubt pass Torsfjorden when driving around the islands and it’s well worth spending a bit of time to see it from all angles.

Torsfjorden is quite a large body of water that is almost completely surrounded by land, good news is that you can drive nearly all of the way around it. When on the E10 (the main route around the islands) near Ramberg, you’ll see a series of bridges that cross a wide fjord. Here you’ll find mountains reflecting in the calm, shallow fjord and boats passing beneath the bridges.

Those up for a hike to one of the most scenic points, Ryten Peak or Kvalvika Beach, will have to pass over the bridges and past Torsfjorden!

Sakrisoy

After seeing a number of villages with red rorbuers on the shoreline, it will come as a welcome surprise to see the yellow huts of Sakrisoy.

Bright and bold, they are a beautiful contrast to the surrounding sea and there’s also plenty of fish drying racks for those keen to take a closer look at this Norwegian tradition.

Car hire in the Lofoten Islands

Every good road trip needs to get off on the right foot with a good plan of action to hire a car.

When travelling to the Lofoten Islands you have two main choices for arriving. Plane or ferry, and your decision will result in which location you end up starting your road trip.Arriving by plane means you’ll land in Leknes or Svolvær, both toward the north of most popular locations. Leknes is located on Vestvågøy Island and is the closer of the two for accessing iconic locations such as Hamnoy and Reine.

Upon arrival you can opt to hire a car at either airport with big name rental companies like Avis, Hertz and Europcar available to use. Be sure to check the contracts for the inclusion of unlimited miles, that way you can explore every inch of the islands without worrying about going over the limit.

Arriving by ferry will provide two advantages, cheaper car rental and a great place to begin your trip. You can hire a car in Bodo then jump on a ferry with your car and arrive in Sørvågen. Located only 10 minutes from the most photographed location in the Lofoten Islands, Sørvågen is the perfect place to start your road trip and if the ferry arrival times are a little odd (sometimes they depart at 4am, or arrive at midnight) it means you’ll be super close to accommodation when you arrive or depart.

One of the major benefits of arriving by ferry is that you’ll get to witness the view of seeing the Lofoten Islands from the sea, a truly incredible sight! It can have one pretty major disadvantage though, if you’re prone to seasickness (like me, yuck!), the sea can get pretty rough and feel a little like you’re in a tumble dryer floating in the middle of nowhere. Sorry for the reality check, I had to say it, if anything don’t forget your seasick tablets!

Visit Torghatten website for ferry timetables and route information.

Where to stay

Having a base during your road trip is a great way to ensure you’ve got somewhere to chill if the weather isn’t playing in your favour. Surprisingly, a lot of the beautiful locations are within a 60minute drive of one another making it really easy to plan day excursions then return to the same home base.

If you’re someone who likes to see the same place change in varied light and weather conditions, basing yourself at Eliassen Rorbuer in Hamnoy could be a winning move. Here you’re in the most photogenic part of the Lofoten Islands and don’t even have to leave your cabin because the views are right out your window!

Otherwise, if surfing and hikes are more your thing, you can base yourself at Unstad Arctic Surf, known for wetsuit wearing adrenaline junkies who hit the swells whether it’s 20 or -2 degrees. There’s a great feeling of community in Unstad with the local café and hostel offering such a cool vibe, even the toilet is gnarly and decorated with surfing posters as music blares through speakers.

For a third option, you can check out Hattvika Lodge in Ballstad. This place is the definition of affordable luxury and is a series of renovated fishing huts located right on the waterfront. From the apartments you can watch fishing trawlers come and go from the sea, set out for a kayak adventure or the owner Kristian will even take you on a hike for incredible views overlooking the islands.

Have you been to the Lofoten Islands and have some tips to add? Share in the comments below!

For photography location guides to beautiful destinations around the world, check out The Wandering Lens where Lisa shares her professional photo tips too.

The post Everything you need to know about road-tripping in the Lofoten Islands appeared first on Young Adventuress.

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