CHARLIZE THERON DEFS GRAVITY & 39 YEARS due to PILATES & YOGA

At 39 years-of-age beautiful actress Charlize Theron embraces ageing, due to disciplined eating, consistent exercise that includes Pilates & Yoga and a confidence boost that she says she lacked in her twenties. The stunning actress and model shared her anti-aging, weight loss and philosophical tips just last week to Vogue magazine. 

The blonde bombshell was more than happy to turn 39 without any fuss and/or tears. Charlize knows how to take good care of her 'ageing' body, by healthy eating and lots of exercise. Theron loves to do Pilates, Yoga and go hiking whenever her schedule allows. The very fit actress reveals that she has to work very hard to maintain her age-defying figure; "I’m sure there are women who never have to worry about what they eat, but I do. I exercise a lot, and I hike a lot."

The Academy Award winner is no stranger to gaining weight, as she famously put on 30 pounds (almost 14 kilograms) to play a bloated, alcoholic serial killer in the 2003 movie 'Monster'. This was not the first time that Charlize has had to gain and lose weight for film roles and says that she truly enjoys this challenge. 

"I’ve had to gain a lot of weight for movies, I’ve had to drop weight really fast for movies. I’ve had to learn accents or embody physical behaviors or twitches and things like that. That’s the challenge of the job. That’s why I like my job so much, because at the end of the day they’re fruits of labor that you don’t pick very easily. And I love that. I like hard work."

Theron has been able to lose all the weight she has had to gain for various movie roles, due to her dedication to exercise and strict healthy and wholesome eating. 

In regards to her mental state are she approaches the big 4-0, the South African beauty feels much wiser, more aware and much more confident than several years ago."It's ironic that we've built the beauty world around 20-year-olds, when they have no f--kin' concept about wisdom, what life is about, having a few relationships below [their] belt and feeling hardships."

The trim actress believes that women truly come into their own once they hit the late 30 mark and early forties. Theron then discussed a double standard; why women are viewed as less attractive as they age, whilst ageing men are considered more handsome. 

"People say women come into their prime in their 40s," said Charlize. "And then for some reason, our society just wants to go, 'It's like a dead flower.' It's like we wilt for some reason. And men are like fine wines — the older they get, the better they get. It's such a misconception, and it's such a lost opportunity because that's when I think women are really in the true moment of their sensuality."

Theron credits her mother for raising her with moral and ethical values, instead of superficial ones. Charlize believes that due to her humble upbringing she is not fixated with staying ageless and is instead focused on being the best mother she can be to her two-year adopted son and the best actress she can be. 

Want to try an exercise method that focuses on creating younger bodies, through leaning, strengthening and mental awareness of the body and mind? Come try Pilates at Premium Pilates Studio today! Call us on 0402 680 724, visit us online by clicking here or email us at inquiries@premiumpilatesstudio.com! 

images by http://www4.pictures.zimbio.com, http://i.perezhilton.com, http://images.teamsugar.com, http://cdn01.cdn.socialitelife.com. 

GLUTEN-FREE PASTA with PUMPKIN, ALMONDS & SPINACH

Not every healthy meal plan allows one to eat pasta, however I believe in moderation. Deprivation of all the foods you love often results in some pretty intense binging. Luckily, Michelle Bridges allows a few pasta recipes throughout her body transformation program. This recipe was kept quite simple to its original, however I used gluten-free pasta as I find it less heavy than regular pasta. No cheese was used in my dish as compared to the original (which allowed for 115g ricotta), which gave way to slightly more pasta per serve for the same calorie amount. Roasted sweet potato would also go wonderfully here in the place of pumpkin. I've made this dish three times in the last few weeks and the only problem I've encountered with it is that you want to eat more than your serve! 

Ingredients

• 300g peeled pumpkin, cut into 1-2cm cubes
• 5g (1 teaspoon) olive /rice bran oil
• 150g gluten-free pasta shells/spirals
• 30g almonds, chopped in half or flaked
• 2 large garlic cloves (10g), peeled & thinly sliced
• 50g baby spinach
• 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar 

Cooking 

1. Preheat a fan-forced oven to 210 degrees celsius. Line a large baking tray with baking paper. 

2. Toss the chopped pumpkin with 1/2 of the oil (1/2 teaspoon) and a pinch of sea salt & ground black pepper. Spread the pumpkin in a single layer on the prepared tray. Roast in the oven for 15 minutes or until the pumpkin is golden and soft. 

3. Whilst the pumpkin is roasting, bring a small saucepan of water to the boil and add the pasta. Lower the heat slightly and cook, stirring occasionally, for 8 minutes or until the pasta is just tender (or al dente (slightly hard) if you prefer). Remove from the stove and drain the cooked pasta under cold running water. Reserve (keep) a few tablespoons of the pasta cooking water to use in step 5.  

4. Meanwhile, toast the almonds over low heat in a small frying pan for a few minutes until they become fragrant. Shake the pan frequently to allow all almonds to toast evenly. No oil is required. 

5. Once the pasta is cooked, use the same pan to add the remaining 1/2 teaspoon of oil and stir to coat over medium heat. Add the garlic and cook, stirring often, until just soft. Add the baby spinach and the reserved pasta water to the pan and cook, stirring, until the spinach is just wilted. 

6. Combine the pumpkin, the pasta, the almonds and the garlic & spinach in a large serving bowl. Drizzle balsamic vinegar on top and toss well. 

Serves / 2 

Total Preparation time / 15 minutes 

Total Cooking time / 25 minutes 

Approx. calories / 515 per serve 

x Emily 

MILA KUNIS PUTS HER VERY PREGNANT PILATES BUMP ON DISPLAY

Glowing mum-to-be Mila Kunis was spotted looking almost ready to give birth as she chatted on her mobile outside her Pilates class earlier this week. The famous actress has been frequenting the Hunt Pilates studio in California as of late, as she has been loving their prenatal classes. 

Kunis looked happy and relaxed as she sported a very big baby bump and a blue 'Dodger's shirt (see photo above). The stunning actress has been very silent regarding her due date with fiancee and actor Ashton Kutcher, however this latest photo suggests that the birth may be just around the corner! 

Kunis has always taken pride in her physical fitness and this has not changed throughout her pregnancy. The talented actress has been exercising daily and is dedicated to staying fit and healthy pre and post her first pregnancy. Besides attending regular prenatal Pilates classes, the sporty 31-year-old has also been participating in prenatal yoga classes. In addition Mila has added spinning classes to her pregnancy exercise regime, as it is a great no-impact aerobic exercise. 

Kunis has been very strict about her prenatal exercise, perhaps as she has been indulging her pregnancy cravings all around town! Mila & Ashton have been seen in Mexican restaurants, burger joints and pizza places for the past several months. Mila openly admits that she has been snacking on some unusual foods for her, care of her pregnancy cravings, including fish tacos, pickles and sauerkraut! 

Want to keep exercising throughout your pregnancy but cannot find a no-impact form of exercise that works for you? Come try our small reformer classes at Premium Pilates Studio today! Call 0402 680 724, email us at inquiries@premiumpilatesstudio.com or visit us online by clicking here. 

x Premium Pilates Studio 

Images & story by http://www.reveal.co.uk, http://www.examiner.com. 

ACTOR JOHN STAMOS TAKES 'SELFIES' of his PILATES ABS

Actor John Stamos loves his Pilates age-defying abs so much that he couldn't resist posting a picture of them on Sunday on his personal Instagram account. He captioned the first picture above as '"51 (years of age) no filters F' it!". 

At 51 years of age, Stamos's body is more toned and fit than almost 2 decades ago, when he played Uncle Jesse on the popular comedy sitcom Full House. His taut body has become something of a celebrity in itself, as there are over 1.7 million Google results dedicated to the phrase 'John Stamos doesn't age'. 

The secret to Stamos's chiseled physique was revealed in 2012, when he raved about starting regular Pilates classes. Despite initially being "the only guy in there (in the Pilates classes)" Stamos  continued with Pilates and two years on he is still loving this form of exercise. "They plot before I get there (to Pilates' class) 'how can we make John look ridiculous today?'...Because every exercise involves my legs up, like I'm in the stirrups or something...it looks like I'm getting a pap smear! I swear they do it to make me look silly, but it keeps me in shape". 

John saids that he doesn't mind the crazy exercises, as the results he receives from Pilates is worth all the ridiculous poses. "The good thing is, I have a beautiful woman's body now...I have a great ass now." And amazing abs for a 51 year old! 

Intrigued to see what all this Pilates fuss is about and why male celebrities keep coming out of the woodwork raving about this exercise method? Come try Reformer or Floor Pilates with Premium Pilates Studio today! The co-owner of the studio, Chris, will put you men through your paces and show you why Pilates is as tough a workout as everyone says! Call us today on 0402 680 724, email us at inquiries@premiumpilatesstudio.com or click HERE to visit us online! 

Images from http://images.lifeandstylemag.com, people magazine.com, http://celebzter.com. 

SWEET POTATO CHIPS with LIME

I’ve made sweet potato chips numerous times since I first started cooking. The problem is that I usually make way too many and then proceed to eat the equivalent of 4 servings. This recipe serves 2 as a side dish and is approximately 188 calories per serve. These delicious chips accompanied tomorrow’s recipe, Kale & Quinoa Mix up. I’ve never made sweet potato chips with lime rind before, instead opting to use spices such as ground coriander, cumin, chilli, lemon pepper, etc…I was pleasantly surprised by how well the tangy lime flavour complimented the sweetness of the potato. My poor sweet potato chips look a tad deflated, as they were cooked about 4 hours prior to this photo being taken, however I urge you not to judge a book by its cover, or in this case, a side dish by someone’s tardy photography.

Ingredients

• 600g sweet potato, peeled and cut into 1cm-thick chip shapes
• 1 free range eggwhite (33g)
• 1 tablespoon lime rind, finely grated
• pinch of sea salt & ground black pepper

Cooking 

1. Preheat a fan force oven to 200 degrees celsius. Line a large baking tray with baking paper. 

2. In a large bowl, toss the potato, egg white, lime rind and salt & pepper until well combined. 

3. Place the chips in a single layer on the prepared tray. Bake in the oven for 35-40 minutes or until the chips are golden. 

Serves / 2 as a side 

Total Preparation time / 15-20 minutes 

Total Cooking time / 35-40 minutes 

Calories per serve / 188 calories approx. 

x Emily 

GREEN TEA HAWAII - the LOW DOWN and WHY PREMIUM PILATES LOVES IT!

It's hard to not become totally and completely lost with all the new energy & weight-loss drinks on the market right now. What's deemed as healthy and good for you one day may be criticised tomorrow. The instructors at Premium Pilates Studio work hard at staying healthy and fit; we eat wholesome foods, we exercise a lot (namely Pilates, big surprise there!) and we drink Green Tea Hawaii. We are not here to force products on you, we just want to tell you why we endorse this product and why it works for us. 

So what exactly is Green Tea Hawaii? You may have seen our display in the studio near the front desk or have glimpsed the instructors and several clients sipping from water bottles with bright coloured liquids in them. Green Tea Hawaii is a highly concentrated form of green tea and noni fruit. One serving of Green Tea Hawaii (a single sachet mixed with water) contains as many as antioxidants as 45 cups of regular green tea and a daily serving of noni juice! It sounds a little too good to be true, doesn't it? Lets delve deeper: 

What exactly is in Green tea and in Green Tea Hawaii: 

Green tea is made from the leaves and leaf buds of the Camelia sinensis plants that have undergone marginal oxidation during processing. The leaves are steamed promptly after being picked so that the EGCG compound in green tea is not destroyed. This compound is what provides green tea with its rich source of antioxidants. Studies have revealed that EGCG is approximately 100 times more powerful that Vitamin C and 25 times more potent that Vitamin E in antioxidant power. 

Green tea first came into existence in China and is the most popular and widely consumed beverage in the world after water. Over the past several years green tea has undergone numerous scientific studies to determine its extensive health benefits, which will be discussed shortly. 

Green Tea Hawaii also contains Noni fruit which comes from a small, tropical evergreen tree. This fruit is grown abundantly in Polynesia and is conventionally used to treat several maladies and conditions. Noni fruit has been proven to lower cholesterol as well as lower blood pressure. In addition, studies have shown that noni contains antioxidant, immune-boosting and tumour-fighting properties. 

Green Tea Hawaii does contain a marginal amount of sweeteners. Certain flavours of Green Tea Hawaii contain xylitol, which is a natural sugar found and extracted from birch trees, corn fibre, plums and raspberries. It has a low GI and contains half the energy of sucrose. Being a natural sweetener xylitol contains its own health benefits, including the prevention of tooth decay and the invigoration of growth of probiotic bacteria in the small intestine. Certain flavours of Green Tea Hawaii contain sucralose, which is 600 times sweeter than sugar but only contains one fifth of the energy of sugar. Sucralose has a very low GI which makes its a very suitable weight-loss & health drink for diabetics. 

The breakdown of what each sachet / a single serving contains: 

• 45 cups of Green Tea (450mg of antioxidants)
• only 60mg of caffeine (approx 1/3 of the caffeine in coffee)
• less than 1/2 a gram of sugar
•  daily serving of Noni
• Gluten-free and
• Aspartame free

Health Benefits: 

There are over 200 health benefits of Green Tea and Green Tea Hawaii! Below I have listed the benefits that I believe most appeal to us at the studio who consume this product on a consistent basis: 

• Increased metabolism
• Burns fat for weight loss
• Boosts the immune system
• Decreases the appetite by 20%
• Reduces muscle damage
• Increases (healthy) energy
• Reduces stress & anxiety
• Lowers bad cholesterol
• Lowers high blood pressure 
• Stabilises low blood pressure
• Regulates blood sugar
• Decreases inflammation
• Is safe for diabetics
• Regulates blood sugar 
• Assists in fighting cancer cells
• Improved skin, nail and hair health 

and so many more! 

Why Green Tea Hawaii is in a powered form:

Recent studies have shown that the absorption rate of drinking instant powdered supplements far out performs the equivalent in a pill form of the exact same supplement. This is due to the bio-availability of the supplement through water.

Why is Green Tea Hawaii not bottled? Here's why: every antioxidant, mineral and/or mineral has a shelf-life. This means that once a supplement is absorbed into water it's potency and health benefits start to lessen almost instantly. The vast majority of antioxidants will began to deteriorate within three hours of hitting water, which therefore diminishes the performance of the supplement. Therefore, powered drinks were chosen as the Green Tea Hawaii medium due to the improved absorption rates over pills and being more powerful than bottled drinks. Making Green Tea Hawaii in a powered form allows for a higher quality product that is fresher and more effective than other similar products on the market today. 

The instructors and their story with Green Tea Hawaii: 

Jocelyn discovered Green Tea Hawaii whilst she was holidaying in Hawaii a few years back. She admits that she used to be a 'diet coke addict' and was initially skeptical about Green Tea Hawaii. However, after learning the product inside and out and seeing how the drink transformed her body, she was hooked! She is now a dedicated seller for Green Tea Hawaii and you can visit her website by clicking here. She is rarely spotted instructing without green tea in her hands! Best of all, Jocelyn hasn't touched nasty diet coke since she discovered Green Tea Hawaii! 

Emily first tried Green Tea Hawaii two years ago, when Jocelyn explained to her why she loved and believed in the drink. Emily immediately noticed increased energy as well as improvement to her skin health and weight loss around her stomach. She also drinks Green Tea Hawaii whenever she has a sugar craving (which is often!) and finds that this drink subsides her cravings as well as her appetite for sweet things. Emily used to consume around 3 cups of coffee a day but now only has 1 or 2 a week, as she believes that Green Tea Hawaii gives her more energy and greater benefits! Emily also has a very healthy immune system, as she has not been sick since drinking Green Tea Hawaii regularly!  

Chris got hooked on Green Tea Hawaii when Emily did and often likes to mix 2 sachets together after a tough Pilates or bike riding workout. He has noticed weight loss around his stomach as well as increased energy. Chris also swears by Green Tea Hawaii for assistance with those terrible symptoms one feels after a casual night out drinking! 

Jess loves Green Tea Hawaii and grabs a sachet whenever she feels a little devoid of energy. She loves the taste of the flavours and the boost the drink gives her! 

Premium Pilates studio believes in Green Tea Hawaii so much that they give out complimentary samples in each Introductory pack! Come try some Green Tea Hawaii today, by either stopping by the studio, grabbing one before or after a workout or by visiting http://www.alohahealth.com.au. Green Tea Hawaii can be purchased at Premium Pilates Studio for $2 per single sachet or $70 for a box of 60 (thats just $1.17 a single sachet!). And the more green tea boxes you buy the cheaper the single sachet price becomes! There are several flavours to satisfy all tastebuds, including Original, Passionfruit, Orange & Guava, Raspberry Lemonade, Pineapple Strawberry & Mocha. 

x Premium Pilates Studio 

TOP FIVE CELEBRITIES WHO LOVE PILATES

1. Jennifer Aniston

This girl-next-door American actress has a killer body for her 43 years. Aniston's trim and toned physique is due to a combination of Pilates, yoga, spinning and running. The beautiful actress likes to exercise at least five and sometimes six days a week. Jennifer started Pilates in an attempt to cure her chronic back pain, pinched nerve and severe hip pain. After just a few sessions Aniston was a Pilates convert! She now no longer experiences any joint pain due to her improved core strength. In addition, Jennifer says that Pilates makes her feel healthier and taller! 

2. Kate Winslet 

The 38-year-old actress's tough weight battles have been a focus of the media for several years. In 2009 Winslet revealed that the secret to her toned curves was '20 minutes or more of daily Pilates workouts'. The mother of three states that she has now 'reached her ultimate figure'. 

3. Kate Hudson 

Another Kate! 35-year-old Hudson has been doing Pilates since she was 19 and cannot rave about it enough. 'I think that was the foundation for everything that I have done....I like Pilates because it kind of strengthens from the inside out. It's very specific and I feel the strongest when I'm doing it because it really centres on your core.' Kate loves Pilates so much that last year she made her very own Pilates dvd! 

4. Orlando Bloom

A man! Pilates is not an exercise exclusive to women to many years, as men have started to discover the amazing health and fitness benefits that this form of exercise brings with it. After a three-story fall at age 21, doctors told Bloom that he would never walk again. Pilates assisted greatly in his recovery and 18 months later he was able to get back to his career and start filming again. Years on and Orlando's lower back is still doing well, thanks to consistent Pilates workouts that focus on strengthening his core. 

5. David Beckham 

Another man! The former England soccer star initially got into Pilates to assist with injury prevention and to improve his sporting career. Beckham was first introduced to Pilates whilst on loan in Milan, as Pilates is compulsory for all the Italian soccer players to enhance their flexibility and balance. David was immediately impressed by how quickly his body fat decreased when doing Pilates regularly. 'I do an hour of Pilates a day. It is fantastic and fitness-wise I am the best I have been for a long time...I am in the best shape in years', says Beckham. 

See why these five celebrities can't get enough of this exercise regime by trying out Pilates with Premium Pilates Studio today!! Visit us online at premiumpilatesstudio.com, call us on 0402 680 724 or email us at inquiries@premiumpilatesstudio.com! 

From the Premium Pilates Team 

Images from http://bonjourfrenchie.blogspot.com.au, examiner.com, pilatesblog.com. 

95 CALORIE ANZAC BISCUITS (POST ANZAC DAY)

Who doesn’t love a good anzac biscuit? Especially one that you can eat without feeling guilty whilst following a healthy eating plan! These anzac biscuits are super cute and very moreish. Be mindful that they are 95 calories each, so only 1 per day as a treat. 

After giving away all of my Mini Cacao Fudge Treats that I made last week, I decided that it was time for another treat. Michelle Bridges recipe for these biscuits calls for ¼ cup brown sugar, however if you use granulated stevia you save a massive amount of calories overall. I always like to bake with gluten-free flours, however you can use plain flour if it is more accessible to you as it contains the same amount of calories. I added more cinnamon than Michelle, as I love this spice and like to really taste it in desserts. I replaced golden syrup with honey as honey is slightly lighter in calories and I am not a big fan of golden syrup, even though theres a very neglected bottle of it in my pantry that desparetly needs to be used! No doubt I'll be sharing these bad boys around so I can clear my kitchen of sweets and be able to make another treat recipe next week! 

Ingredients

•   1 1/2 cups rolled oats (150g)

•   1/2 cup gluten-free plain flour, plus extra (75g)

•   1/2 cup desiccated coconut (45g)

•   2 teaspoons ground cinnamon (8g)

•   1/4 cup granulated stevia 

•   1/4 cup honey (85g)

•   1/4 cup olive oil / rice bran oil (60g)

•   1 teaspoon bicarb of soda (5g)

Baking  

1. Preheat a fan forced oven to 180 degrees celsius. Line a large baking tray with baking paper. 

2. Combine the oats, flour, coconut, cinnamon and stevia in a large bowl and stir well. 

3. Pour the honey, oil and 1/4 cup water (60g) into a small saucepan and heat over low-medium heat, stirring until all ingredients are mixed. Stir in the bicarb of soda and once the mixture has foamed, remove from heat. 

4. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients bowl and stir until well combined. To shape the biscuits, make sure your hands are slightly wet (you will need to re-lubricate your hands a few times).   Roll heaped tablespoons of the mixture and place on the prepared tray 2cm apart. Press each ball lightly with a fork covered in flour, just to flatten the biscuits slightly. 

5. Bake in the oven for 10-12 minutes, or until biscuits are golden brown. Remove from the oven and leave to cool completely on the tray (during this cooling time the biscuits will harden slightly, so do not worry if they are a little soft when you remove the tray from the oven). 

Makes  / 20 

Each biscuit / 95 calories

Total Preparation time / 20 minutes 

Total Baking time / 10-12 minutes 

x Emily 

HOW PILATES BENEFITS RUNNERS

Pilates and running are not two words that you often hear together. Runners like to train by RUNNING, not by spending time lying on their backs or sides in a Pilates class. However, Joseph Pilates (the founder of the Pilates method) designed his exercises to improve and enhance overall fitness and strength for anyone and everyone. 

Runners need more than strong legs and healthy lungs to get the most out of each run. They need a strong abdomen (core) and powerful stabilising muscles (mid back, chest and gluts to name a few) to assist with their flexibility, balance, endurance and breathing. Below are a few of the many benefits of Pilates for runners: 

Stretching: Whilst all runners should stretch before and after they run, the reality is that they often do not. Many runners' training programs do not spend enough time or focus on stretching. No matter how strong you are, you need to regularly stretch your muscles so that they can recover after each run. The lengthening and elongating of muscles that stretching provides reduces the strain on ligaments and joints. If you do not stretch sufficiency, your performance will suffer at best and at worst you may very likely develop injuries. Stretching also leads to increased flexibility, which improves range of motion and prevents the likelihood of injury. 

Assist with breath: One of the fundamental principles of Pilates is breathing. Pilates will teach you to combine movement with breath and how to breathe most effectively when exercising. Engaging your pelvic floor and the transversus abdominis muscle (what we refer to as 'the core') assists the intercostal muscles that connect the ribs, which encourages a smoother breath that uses all available lung capacity. 

Increase core strength: We briefly touched on this in one of the paragraphs above, however it is such an important benefit that it must be mentioned twice. Pilates strengthens the deep abdominals and the pelvic floor and trains the body to constantly use these muscles. Engaging these core muscles will improve your running by making each and every movement more powerful, as it is coming from the centre (the 'powerhouse') of the body. 

Decrease muscle soreness: Running is a very high impact exercise. Each step puts pressure on the muscles from the legs up to the lower back and rib cage. Improving your core strength through Pilates will assist these areas to better handle and manage this impact. In addition, Pilates will refine and enhance body alignment, balance and posture, which will aid the runner in distributing the force of running through their muscles more effectively and efficiently (instead of purely letting the overactive muscles take all the force and impact). With this more effective distribution of the impact comes reduced muscle soreness post run. 

So how often do you need to do Pilates to experience these benefits and see results in your running? By adding just one Pilates class to your weekly exercise regime you will see a difference. Get out of your comfort zone and try something new today! Your body will thank you for it. 

Premium Pilates Studio loves to work their running clients hard! With our intimate reformer and matwork classes, we can tailor your workout to improve and enhance your running or whatever sport you may do! And if you are not sporty at all, Pilates is a fun way to start your exercise journey! Call us today on 0402 680 724 or visit us online at premiumpilatesstudio.com.  

x Emily 

Image by http://www.lifestyleboom.com.au/.