Category: LIFESTYLE

How to eat and train like a professional rugby player

Rugby

Strength, agility, stamina, and power are few words that tend to float around in the ethos of Australian Rugby League. We’re in the midst of origin for 2021 and we’re seeing some of the greatest physical athletes at peak performance, putting on a show, so how exactly are they achieving such a sought-after physique? I’ll let you in on a few industry secrets. In a game of Rugby League muscle is essentially your armour. Out on the field it provides protection as much as it does help impact the opposing players. To get to such a stage, you have to workout in a particular way, one that’s going to stimulate growth in those major muscle groups. You really want a mix of compound weight movements and functional exercises that will prep you for movement required in each game. Here are my top five exercises to implement into your workout today: Deadlifts – Full body compound movement, improve the bodies posterior chain strength and power. Barbell squats – Great way to strengthen and gain power throughout your lower body and core. Standing medicine ball wall throws (side throws) – Great for overall core strength and power. Jammer press – My favorite exercise for rugby league it works the whole body. Landmine rotations – Another full body core exercise that will strengthen a variety of muscle groups required in rugby league. Onto the foodie side of things. Generally speaking, rugby players have large energy, fluid, and carbohydrate requirements, because of the level of exertion needed to both… Read More

Working from home? This is what you can claim this tax time

Man accounting numbers

Just when you thought it was all over, parts of Australia are back under work from home orders with snap lockdowns. It’s obvious working from home is becoming more commonplace, so for tax purposes it’s important to know what you can claim for. You can deduct the running expenses of your home office.From the electricity you use for heating, cooling, and lighting to the depreciation of office furnishing, you can deduct the office related portions of these, providing you aren’t being reimbursed or compensated by your employer. How much can you claim?This depends on how the type of records you’ve kept throughout the year or how much time you want to spend calculating every last cent. There are three different methods you can use:– The actual cost– The shortcut method– The fixed rate method When you’re using your own personal phone and computer for work-related purposes, to claim the actual costs, you’ll need to figure out the percentage you use for personal use compared to office-related expenses. It can get quite complex to calculate the actual cost, so the ATO has introduced a special shortcut method for the period between 1 March 2020 to 30 June 2021. This allows you to claim 80 cents for each hour you worked from home. It may not give you the best tax refund, but it’s the easiest and fastest way to work it out. All you need is to keep a record of your hours working from home and a 4-week diary journaling your normal pattern of work… Read More

Winter warmer wines to help you beat the cold this season

Red wine

When the chillier months roll around, enjoying a glass of wine is front of mind and synonymous with winter warmers. While a bottle of red is the most common go-to and a great match with many winter recipes, many richer white varieties can equally bring a warming delight on the dreariest of days. Whether you are indulging in Christmas in July festivities, a long overdue catch-up with your nearest and dearest, or a quiet night in the warmth of your own home, Brett Fullerton, Winemaker at Constellation Brands, has curated a list of top drops to add to your shopping basket this winter. YOUNG & CO THE JAM MCLAREN VALE SHIRAZ Boasting glorious flavour and attitude, this McLaren Vale Shiraz brings to life exactly what’s on the bottle. In this case, it’s the enticing flavour of blackberry and plum that sings across the palate for this wine. The Jam McLaren Vale Shiraz has lush flavours of blackberry and dark plum, accompanied by a playful hint of sweet oak and spice. It glistens in tones of deep ruby red and greets you with the scents of fruit mocha and spice. This wine is the perfect accompaniment to lamb shanks or a hearty vegetable stew. Available for $16 at Dan Murphy’s. KIM CRAWFORD NEW ZEALAND CHARDONNAY A perfect balance and full-bodied Chardonnay from both Marlborough and Hawke’s Day New Zealand, this is a succulent, well-rounded Chardonnay in a style uncluttered by oak. Hints of butterscotch and great length of flavour make it a delicious pairing with Camembert… Read More

Stake Australia: Investing in the US Stock Market? Some first steps from Stake Australia

Stake investing Sydney

The 21st century is all about challenger fintechs and app-based share trading for everyone. From Australia to the USA and everywhere in-between, investing and day trading are big business for individuals and the companies like Stake that give them unfettered access to investing in Wall Street. Read more about Stake here, but if you’ve downloaded the app, then here’s some ideas on how to make your first move from the expert themselves. What’s the first step? The S&P500, a basket of America’s 500 biggest companies, has averaged a return of 9% across history. $1000 invested into the S&P500 with $1000 added annually would be worth $150,000 after 30 years. The stock market is one of the greatest wealth-generating engines in the world. You can be part of it. Some investors prefer to actively pick companies they think will grow and increase in price. Are you particularly interested in cars or renewables? Maybe you believe in Tesla. Notice that one of your favourite online brands is always selling out? Maybe it’s worth looking at the stock. Over time, you’ll develop strategies as you gain experience and come across different resources. Remember though, time in the market will always beat timing the market. How many options are out there? Stake has over 6,000 US-listed stocks and ETFs available to investors. From the giants of today like Apple and Amazon, to the game changers of tomorrow like Tesla, investors can find all the companies they know and love on the Stake platform. Some of the most popular stocks… Read More

How to cope with stress according to the health experts

Man happy smiling sunglasses

Stress is a normal reaction that many people will experience either physically or emotionally at many points in their life. The human body is actually designed to experience stress and react to it. It can actually be positive in terms of keeping us alert and motivated, however too much stress can become toxic to the body and it may disrupt sleep, cause gut issues and with gut issues come a reduces mood and mindset. So what are some of the things that we can do to cope with the stress in our lives? We consulted the experts and this is what they had to say. Identify what is stressing you out Often when we are over stressed, we are also overwhelmed and this can make to harder for us to get our thoughts in order, which is not helpful when it comes to identifying the source of the problem and coming up with a solution.  Ben Lucas, the founder of Flow Athletic says “While I am a big fan of writing up lists as it is, when I get overly stressed, such as last year when Covid-19 resulted in my business being shut down for a few months, I like to write down what the stressors are, and what I can do about them.” “I find that when things are in front of me I can start to think more logically about them and put a plan into place, it is very helpful.” Make sure you are eating well Luke McLeod the founder of Soul Alive has found that a healthy… Read More

Ways that travelling can empower you

Female woman holiday trip travel photo

Did you know that traveling is more spectacular when playing casino games at top online casinos? Try it and enjoy but this piece is not only centred around that. There are many reasons why people travel and there are many advantages that people get from playing traveling. Yes, it might be a business trip or and mere visit to a resort location. Maybe, you are visiting your pal, all these are different traveling plans that are made by people on a regular basis. There are many good vibes that come with traveling. Impacts are visible when you return from a trip that you have gained one or two. Below we list some of the benefits of traveling. Travelling Can Increase your Confidence Did you know that a personal vacation or a journey as an individual is the best individual therapy? By making a good trip, you are eradicating that annoying dependency syndrome. You have the ability to take charge of your life, making an effort of boosting your confidence just like you would at a big win online casino. Low self-esteem, an enemy of confidence is ridden off by taking part in traveling. You Can Widen Your Circle By traveling, you can actually make a lot of friends. Your image is rebranded when you take up a journey down the most fantastic destinations with your friends you can actually take up quality time to know them, share with them their past experiences and get learn what has been happening in their lives also. Travelling Can… Read More

Winter Village in Parramatta: book your igloo

Winter VIllage

This June to September, don your best winter wear and head to the Prince Alfred Square for a winter wonderland, complete with an ice skating rink, igloo village, daily snow showers and food and drink pop ups serving the ultimate cosy comfort food. Imagine what they did with winter igloos at The Winery in Surry Hills, only more wintry looking! The Winter Village has partnered with City of Parramatta’s popular Winterlight for its 10th year running, to transform Prince Alfred Square in Parramatta into a winter wonderland, complete with an ice skating rink, igloo village, daily snow showers and food and drink pop ups serving the ultimate cosy comfort food. After a blockbuster 2019 debut, in Federation Square, Melbourne, The Winter Village will finally bring its greatest hits along with new additions to Parramatta, including a new Brunch & Skate package on weekends, ice skating and daily snow showers. Read more and book at the Winter Village website

Meet Stake: new, local broker giving you access to Wall Street

Stake app 1

The 21st century is all about challenger fintechs and app-based share trading for everyone. From Australia to the USA and everywhere in-between, investing and day trading are big business for individuals and the companies like Stake that give them unfettered access to investing in Wall Street. It actually even comes from Australia, offering locals the chance to invest with the Wall Street bigwigs from all the way over here. Here are some first time tips! Following examples first forged by the likes of Trading 212 and eToro, Stake’s $0 philosophy offers first time investors and those who’re building a more robust portfolio a more-than-affordable opportunity into the world’s markets. And for those whose cuppa tea isn’t the USA, then never fear; they’re launching into the ASX super soon, too. Stake offers access to ETFs, indices, Silicon Valley, retail and so much more and even filters according to uppers, downers, popular choices and compiles it all into a genuinely cool and very now user interface that you’d seriously have to struggle at life in general to not figure out. Keep watch on THE F for further updates and tips in investing from the pros at Stake. Get the Stake iPhone app here and the Play Store here

Best snorkeling in the Caribbean

Caribbean beach

The crystal clear waters, gorgeous climate, and stunning coral reefs make snorkeling in the Caribbean a winning choice for a vacation. The sheer variety of locations, destinations, and marine environments means that snorkeling in the Caribbean is an endless adventure with something for everyone. Almost every corner of the Caribbean Sea from Cuba to Colombia, and beyond as far as Florida, has great snorkeling so wherever you end up you’ll find something beautiful to look at. But if you are planning Caribbean cruises in 2022 with the specific intention of discovering the best underwater life the region has to offer, here are a few of the top spots. Cuba Cuba is one of the most exciting destinations in the Caribbean, thanks to its vibrant culture, gorgeous architecture, and superb nightlife. It is also full of magnificent snorkeling spots. The Bay of Pigs, most famous for a failed US invasion attempt, is home to two fantastic options, Playa Larga and Caleta Buena. With beautiful azure water, stunning soft corals, and even some accessible underwater caves, this is a top spot for snorkelers. Cozumel Cozumel, the largest island in the Mexican Caribbean, is a popular cruise destination and an absolutely wonderful location for marine adventures. Part of the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef, the second-largest reef in the world, Cozumel boasts over 1,000 species of underwater creatures in the warm, clear waters surrounding the island. You can also discover an alternative snorkeling experience by taking a short boat ride to the mainland and exploring the ancient, mysterious sinkholes known… Read More

Here’s how to do intermittent fasting safely and sustainably

Lucky Kwong Chinese food

By Gabrielle Newman – The Fast 800 Science is evolving all the time, and it’s important to be aware of all the latest findings. It is also important to be discerning of these findings. There have been news headlines in recent years suggesting that intermittent fasting, in particular 16:8 time restricted eating, doesn’t work (fasting for 16 hours and eating all required calories in 8 hours). But – after reviewing the science – the reality is rather more complex.  For example, a study out of California, put a 16:8 time restricted eating plan to the test. Two groups of overweight and obese individuals were randomly allocated to a control group and an experiment group who was advised to consume all calories within an 8-hour window of time. The results – analysed across the 12-week period of the trial – suggested that there was very little difference between the two groups and in fact the experiment group seemed to have lost some muscle. However, the experimental group were given no advice around what to actually eat. Intermittent fasting has health benefits The Fast 800 recommends various forms intermittent fasting, not just for the weight loss potential but many health benefits. Intermittent fasting has been shown to: Burn fat – when you spend some time fasting, the glucose (primary energy) supply temporarily runs out, and your body has to switch to taking fat from your fat stores to burn as fuel.1 Reduce risk of Type 2 Diabetes – Excess fat impacts the function of the liver and pancreas,… Read More