It’s hot out there Gold Coasters.
It’s hot out there Gold Coasters.
If you’ve set foot outside the house, turned on the TV or generally just been alive in the last few weeks, you’ll know that Australia is currently experiencing one of the hottest, driest summers on record.
The sun is absolutely unrelenting and spending time in its presence is obviously unavoidable. Which can lead to a myriad of issues, one of which we are here to discuss with you today.
Dehydration. No doubt you’ve experienced it at some point in your life (one too many tequilas the night before perhaps) so you’ll know, tequila jokes aside, that it’s very serious.
At the severe end of the scale it can cause fever, delirium and unconsciousness and that ain’t cool Gold Coasters.
With no end to this heat in sight, we’ve compiled a few simple tips to help you avoid dehydration and some of them are even quite fun.
1. Eat foods with high water content like watermelon (love you), vegetables and other tasty fruits.
2. Limit drinks like caffeine and alcohol and if you are drinking these (everyone), make sure you’re also drinking water in between.
3.Stay in the shade wherever possible. Obvs.
4. Drink LOTS of water. They say three litres per day so go with that but of course if you’re exercising or out in the sun for long periods of time, drink more than that.
Now if all else fails and you do feel yourself becoming dry in the mouth, with a headache, dizziness or increased thirst, we have a fun option to help you out.
Hydralyte have just released a sweet new flavour in their Effervescent Electrolyte Tablet range and that flavour is called Go Troppo.
Which is not only very summer appropriate but also very indicative of what could happen should you not be adequately hydrated. Convenient.
If you’re keen to try the newbie out, you can find it in your local Chempro Chemist store and we highly recommend having some on hand just in case the heat overwhelms you unexpectedly.
Bonus: it’s delicious.
So there you have it Gold Coasters, prevention and cure. Stay safe out there.
Love you summer but you hot.
STORY SPONSORED BY CHEMPRO CHEMISTS
Words by Kirra Smith
Oh summer on the Gold Coast how we love you so. Balmy afternoon BBQs, bikinis all day (covered by a rashie, see below), frosty cold beverages, what’s not to love? Nothing is what.
As you’ve no doubt noticed, the sweltering season has well and truly arrived and in celebration of that happy time, and the fact that we’ve got a few things to say (as always) here we are gathered together again.
So, while summer is the very best time one can possibly have on the Gold Coast, it does come with a few potential risks but never fear, we’ve got you covered with a few tips and tricks to ensure you beat the heat and come out the other side in style.
In no particular order, here are said tips and tricks.
WEAR SUNSCREEN
Yes caps lock because, important. Seems like a no brainer but it is in fact a decision requiring a brain. Not only do you need sunscreen whilst spending long summer days on the beach (about which we will nag you below), you must also wear sunscreen on regular days. Even if you’ll only be outside for a minute and even if you’re wearing makeup and even if you don’t really like the smell of sunscreen. We care not. Go for SPF50+ and get the very best quality brand you can find.
USE FAKE TAN
Do not, under any circumstances sunbake under the intense Aussie sun for a period of time that is longer than two seconds just to get a tan. Not cool. Buy yourself a sweet umbrella, practice putting that guy up in your backyard before you venture out in public (trust us) and, after swimming, apply fake tan so it seems as though you’ve spent an entire day soaking up sun beams but you have in fact, not. There are so many brands of fake tan these days that look absolutely stunning and you may choose your own adventure on that one but DON’T SUNBAKE. Sorry, passionate.
STAY HYDRATED
They say you should drink eight glasses of water per day but in summer up that to at least 12. We made that up but it seems legit because summer is a very hot time which means you sweat more, which means you lose liquid, which means you need to drink more water, geddit? Also, buy a reusable drink bottle and carry it around with you everywhere you go. That way, there can be no excuse to not be hydrated and you don’t need to spend heaps of cashola on drinks every day. You may also sip Hydralyte if, for some silly reason, you ignored our warnings and got yourself some sunstroke.
COVER UP
We know, it’s the Gold Coast, nobody covers up in summer (ever) but those people aren’t smart like you and they don’t know how important it is to beat the sun at its own game. Which is burning people. But we won’t let that happen will we? Get yourself a hat, one of those cool Cancer Council rashies with the hilarious Christmas patterns on it (they’re cool we promise) and you’re good to go. To the beach that is, maybe not out for brunch. Your call though.
Okay we’re done but don’t forget how important it is to take extra care when out in the sun over summer. Your local Chempro has all your summer essential needs covered, including sunscreen, fake tan and Hydralyte, pop in and grab what you need so we don’t have to scold you if we see you out and about not heeding our advice.
Happy summer.
Words by Kirra Smith
SPONSORED BY CHEMPRO CHEMISTS
Now that all of the Christmas crazy is behind us, we finally have an opportunity to actually put our feet up and relax before it’s back to work time. Let’s not talk about work just yet though.
You know what the perfect way your to put feet up and relax is? A massage at the divine Azure Spa & Fitness and then two hours of poolside relaxation in a private poolside cabana.
Excitingly that is a thing you can (and should) treat yourself to after a very strenuous few days of eating and drinking all the things.
The Star Gold Coast is where it’s all happening and if you’ve ever had the pleasure of even laying eyes on their stunning pool you’ll know there’s an excellent time to be had.
The details are these: you (and a lucky pal or perhaps the love of your life) each get a 60 minute Effective Touch massage plus two hours of private cabana hire, a bottle of Chandon, bottles of FIJI Water and pool towels.
For just $450. WOW. Sign. Us. Up.
What is an Effective Touch Massage you ask?
It’s a gentle yet effective energy restoring massage bringing harmonious balance to the body and the mind. A range of massage techniques are used to eliminate energy disruptions and dissolve tension and tightness, with neck and eye pillows to encourage warmth and relaxation.
It’s perfect for times of stress and over-activity – which is always but particularly after the Christmas period right? Right.
If all of that sounds like exactly what you need right now, get booking. There are two time slots daily – 10am to 1pm and 1pm to 4pm – so you may experience extreme morning relaxation or extreme afternoon relaxation.
Tough choice hey.
For bookings call 07 5592 8501 or email [email protected].
Time to treat yourself friends, you deserve it.
So do we. Catch you poolside.
WHERE: Azure Spa & Fitness, The Star Gold Coast, Casino Drive, Broadbeach
STORY SPONSORED BY THE STAR GOLD COAST
No matter how you’re feeling right now or what you’re current situation is, there’s no doubt we can all use a little bit more health and happiness in our lives. So we’ve collected the five top tips to ensure your week is that little bit healthier from now on in. Take care of yourselves Gold Coasters.
Get up an hour earlier
It doesn’t seem like much but you’d be surprised how much you can fit into an hour. There’s nothing worse for your brain than waking up, going to work, going home, watching TV and going back to bed – where’s the relaxation? Instead of reaching straight for your phone the minute you wake up, roll straight out of bed and into some sort of exercise or stretching routine, play with the dog, cook yourself a healthy breakfast and ease into your day. You’ll soon see that starting your morning in a slower, more relaxed way sets the tone for the rest of your day.
Plan your meals
It sounds a little bit like something your Nanna would do but trust us, planning your meals will make life a million times simpler and healthier. Everyone knows what happens when you go to the supermarket after work, usually on an empty stomach and with very little willpower – you end up with an entrée of cheese and biccies followed by garlic bread and a big old bowl of spaghetti bolognaise. Delicious sure, but not so much on the healthy side. Planning allows you to choose healthy options, buy everything you need at once and not be tempted by the lure of excessive carbs.
Sleep enough
Ahh the ever elusive shut eye. It’s highly likely you aren’t getting enough of it what with work, exercising, eating and those all-important Netflix binges taking up so much of your time. Something’s gotta give though and usually that thing is your health, or your sanity. They say you need at least eight hours but in truth, you need as much as you need. If you’re tired, sleep more, it’s imperative to both your mental and physical health (and the people who have to put up with you). If you need a nap through the day, go for it, this is your permission slip.
Take time out
You’ve been hearing people bang on about the miraculous benefits of meditation for awhile now and those people aren’t lying. It is one of the best ways to calm your mind, find out the answers to life’s big questions and generally just take time out from the chaos of day to day life. Seems overwhelming though right? Sitting down in silence and trying not to think. It can be simple though, start with five minutes of deep breathing and don’t be discouraged if your mind wanders, just stay there and enjoy the serenity, before you know it you’ll crave that time out.
Move your body
Although it’s easier said than done to get up off the couch when it’s cold out, the benefits are about three million fold. Even if you just go for a short walk around the block or do some easy stretching, your body will absolutely thank you. There are plenty of online workouts and yoga classes to choose from too so you don’t need to spend money on exercising to see the benefits. Morning is probably the best time of day to move, it’ll make you feel good all day but anytime will do. You’ll be happy you did.
Words by Kirra Smith
