Day: 5 May 2019

“Proportionising (TM)”: 5 Tips To Dressing Slimmer For Any Guy

Now, we all know no body is a wrong body. Body positivity is hot, and knowing what you’ve got and flaunting it is the best way forward in any case. Still, if there is one thing big-mama Eureka O’Hara has taught us it is the importance of proportionising.

stokpic / Pixabay

So, if you’re looking to “Proportionise (TM)” properly for your body type then listen up, as here are five tips to a slimming style for any guy.

1 – There’s Truth To The Stripes

Okay, it’s something we have heard forever – like, I literally remember being a closeted tween and hearing Trinny & Susanna discussing this. Despite their sometimes bad hype, vertical stripes can still do a lot to slim down a figure and elongate the torso. (It’s pretty simple stuff when you think about it, really – anything you wear that will pull the eye up and down is going to make you look taller and slimmer compared to something that will force the eye side to side.) Even better, stripes are still in trend and you won’t struggle to find an option to suit any mood, season, or occasion. #trustthestripe

Topman – Fresh Prince Realness
Primark – Summer Ice Cream Man Chique
Zolando – Summer Buzz

2 – Focus On That Trou To Shoe Transition

It’s another simple one – I bet you can see where this list is going now – but just try to match the colour and tone of your footwear to your trousers as much as you can. Sure, this gets more difficult (if not impossible) as the warmer weather hits and the short shorts reemerge. So, just keep it in mind for when you do indeed have no choice but to wear trousers – or even for those days when there is just a bit of a cold snap in the air. Brilliant options here are Chelsea boots or hi-tops, basically, any footwear that can slide under the bottom of your trousers instead of leaving an unsightly slither of pale ankle in between the trou and the shoe. The “Science” here works in the same way as the striped shirts, and by creating a constant block of colour from the waist down your legs are elongated and as a result, also appear slimmed down to boot.

Converse – Keep it classic.
Dr.Martens – Stomp out the competition.
River Island – Smarten up like you’re made in Chelsea (Boots).

3 – Avoid

stokpic / Pixabay

The Oversized

Now, this is a bit of a difficult one, as I know how tempting it is to opt for the comfy, oversized, hide-all option that is an oversized Tee or Sweatshirt. But trust me, that Moomoo won’t do you no good, Mama. While it might seem counterintuitive when dealing with slimming down a larger framed physique you need to opt for the more fitted options – and this is the case whether choosing jeans, tees, sweatshirts or jackets. Just think – extra bulk will cause extra bulk, and that’s the last thing you want to do, right?

Go for Big and Tall sections if you struggle to find a decent fit, but stick with their versions of slim fits to taper everything in as much as possible.

Boohoo Men – Blessed With Good Jeans
Ralph Lauren – Classic Prep
Raging Bull – Who likes short shorts?

4 – Contrast Can be Kind

I know, I know, we were just talking about how working the matchy-matchy look can slim you out, but this is different, so give me a chance. Matching tops to bottoms, and trousers to shoes sure can work to slim out a figure, but if you’re wanting to push the boundaries and work on that adventurous nature of yours then there are always options. If you can opt for a light jacket or shirt be sure to leave it open with a contrasting colour or print layered beneath – imagine a black jacket with a white tee, it’s pretty simple (again) but that strip of white down the centre is really going to stretch out the torso and do all the work for you. (Just remember, don’t add bulk – stay fitted and light and all should be okay.)

Boohoo Mens – Pink and Pastel
TopMan – Simple Denim
H&M – First A Spark, Then A Blaze(r)

5 – Finally, The French Tuck, It’s Not For Everyone.

While Queer Eye may be an obvious fan favourite for all (and rightly so IMHO) the French Tuck is not. It’s as simple as that, really. It’s a style choice made in almost every episode that quite often makes me want to tear my own hair out. The thing is, yes The French Tuck is a great option to add borders and dimension to a look – and it can honestly completely transform the appearance of a plain white Tee. However, if you have even the slightest tummy this may not be the way forward for you. On a plumper torso, something like the French Tuck can just work to define the problem area even more. That being said don’t rule it out just yet, as obviously the great Tan France does know his stuff. Instead, try it out before you leave the house, then stop, stare in the mirror and really assess whether it works for you and your body type or not: it will work for some, but it’s definitely no magic fix-all. Take a look and trust your gut … You’ll know.

5th May 2019
CAR REVIEW | MG GS Exclusive DCT

★★★☆☆ | MG GS Exclusive DCT, MG’s Not So Sporting SUV

What Have We Got?

Here we have MG’s first SUV offering, the GS, with a 1.5 petrol engine mated to a 7 speed twin-clutch sportronic automatic gearbox. This top of the range MG GS ‘Exclusive’ DCT 5 seater comes in at a reasonable £21,095.

Does being reasonable mean cheap, and does cheap make it cheerful?

Driving

The 166PS 1.5 petrol turbo (the only engine available) does ok, just as long as you don’t rev it too high. It doesn’t encourage high revving. And you shouldn’t have to with maximum torque of 250NM from 1600-4300rpm. That’s a nice spread of power over a relatively wide range. Credit then to the linear surge of power from the turbo.

What isn’t so good then is the twin clutch gearbox. There are 3 main problems. Firstly, throttle pedal travel is quite short so it makes it jerky to inputs. Secondly, in auto mode, the box likes to change quite high up at around 3000rpm. Thirdly, its kick down changes are met with a surge of around 700 revs and then a kick down. It doesn’t blend very well if you are feeling enthusiastic.

That does, however, all change when you select ‘sport’ with the gearstick and use the steering wheel paddles. Up and down changes are immediate and it’s very easy to enjoy the way it drives.

Inside

Developed in 2015 and launched in the UK in 2017, it is showing its age in this fast paced market sector. However, it’s not at a total loss, certainly not at this price. The first thing to hit you are the 23 buttons under the 8” infotainment screen that deal with heating and ventilation, volume and home screen.

That’s quite a lot, but it is easy to navigate. What isn’t is the air distribution. Press for screen and it goes into full blast for no reason other than that is how it is designed. In this ‘Exclusive’ trim it also comes with DAB, satnav and all the other things you expect including mirror link for your phone.

The seats are comfortable if a little too wide and unsupportive in fast corners. The inside is quite nicely put together. It is all a bit cheap with hard plastics throughout but it is also quite sturdy in construction so you shouldn’t be finding anything falling off.

Living With It

Despite its relatively compact dimensions, it really is large on the inside. Rear leg room is overly generous even with a tall driver. Boot space does however slightly suffer. The price you pay for that passenger leg room! Loading the boot is also rather easy and worry free thanks mainly to the unpainted load lip.

The ride is a little choppy and it likes to roll in the corners. The steering isn’t as communicative as you would hope for but there is plenty of grip and it hangs on well. It just feels a little unconnected.

The Verdict

You get a lot for your money with the MG GS and it’s quite easy on the eye. I like its looks. There is an abundance of space for 5.

One of my biggest bugbears is poorly painted door shuts. Not so with the MG GS. It is surprisingly well painted and put together very well. At this price, the competition needs to take note.

Would I have one? If I was on a 20-minute dealer test drive, no. You need time to understand that gearbox. After a week, yes I would. It’s cheap and now I’ve mastered it, it is rather cheerful.

Love

Price

Fit and finish

Looks

Loathe

Wind noise

Engine trashy at high revs

Jerky in auto

The Lowdown

Car – MG GS Exclusive DCT

Price – £ (as tested)

MPG – 45.5 mpg (combined)

Power – 166PS at 5600rpm

0-62mph – 9.9 seconds

Top Speed – 112 mph

Co2 – 141 (g/km)

5th May 2019
RESTAURANT REVIEW | The Halal Guys, London

★★★★ | The Halal Guys, London

The restaurants in and around Leicester Square are there mostly to feed people on the way to the theatre, movies, clubs, or whatever. But there is a new guy in town that will make your journey on to somewhere else quicker, friendlier, faster and more delicious.

The Halal Guys have arrived. Taking up a spot at 14 Irving Street (the street which shoots off Leicester Square that leads to Charing Cross and to the National Portrait Gallery) is where the yellow and multi-colored The Halal Guys is located. You can’t miss it – it sits next to the usual dull and unexciting restaurants that pollute this street. The Halal Guys bring something new to this area – it’s original and tasty and great value for your money – and you can be in and out in 30 minutes.

It’s simple how it works. Just chose whether you want a gyro sandwich or platter (choices of chicken, beef gyro, combo Chicken & gyro – or the vegetarian – falafel). Me and a friend were on our way to the theatre and dropped in, and we both had to have the Combo platter – how could you not! It looked like it had the best of everything – and it did! A ‘special’ yellow rice came with the dish, along with the assorted salad condiments, and the icing on the cake was the choice of sauces – we both had a bit of hummus, baba ghanoush and BBQ sauces, with plenty of pita bread. We also nipped a side of fries (purely just for sampling purposes!) and luckily found a table to eat. It all looked so much and too much and very good, however, after eating we both agreed that it was delicious! It gives a new name for fast food – but this is not fast food – The Halal Guys are street food – street food served quick, street food served very tasty, and street food that I want to definitely go back and try again.

It’s a very simple process, and you can add unlimited beverages, and Baklava for dessert.

From humble beginnings as a New York City hot dog cart to a world-renowned international restaurant chain, The Halal Guys story is the quintessential American Dream. The Halal Guys is defining a new, thriving segment for the restaurant industry: American Halal Food! The Halal Guys legend began in 1990, when the three founding partners opened up a hot dog cart on West 53rd & 6th Avenue in New York City. As the business grew, they recognized a huge demand from Muslim cab drivers looking for a halal food quick and cheap meal. That is when the famous platter of chicken and gyro over rice was born. And let’s not forget about the famous sauces! Fast-forward 25 years, five carts, two New York City restaurants, and millions of diverse customers served, The Halal Guys is growing yet again. Fans no longer have to be in NYC to experience The Halal Guys as they look to share American Halal Food all over the country and the world.

The Halal Guys are now expanding globally and can now be found, besides in their home base in NYC and all over America, but also in South Korea, The Philippines, and Indonesia. But London is lucky enough to have its first European shop – and I urge you to give it a try. The night my friend and I were there everyone looked so happy eating away, with the staff all very friendly and wanting to give you more sauce (I took more!). It’s perhaps one of the best places to eat at near Leicester Square, whether you are on your way somewhere or just want to have dinner before heading home – The Halal Guys will satisfy (and more) your hunger.

https://thehalalguys.com

5th May 2019
5 reasons why chocolate is actually good for you (yes actually!)
Scientific studies have actually proved that chocolate makes you feel good because it’s full of a mix of mood-elevating chemicals, including caffeine, theobromine, tyrosine and tryptophan. It’s important to use dark chocolate with a high cocoa solid content as it offers more health benefits than milk chocolate, it is also lower in fat and contains antioxidants.

AlexanderStein / Pixabay

Did you know that small amounts of dark chocolate can boost your health, from improving your mood to helping stop a cough?

With the help of Ceitanna Cooper, Registered Associate Nutritionist at AXA PPP healthcare, we’ve put together the top 5 health benefits of having chocolate (a few squares or a small bar) as part of a well-balanced diet:
1. It can cheer you up
The taste, smell and texture of chocolate stimulates feel-good areas of the brain. Chocolate also contains tryptophan, an essential amino acid that stimulates production of serotonin, the brain’s natural anti-depressant. Experts equate the feelings it induces to those we experience when we fall in love.
1. Helps heart health
Eating chocolate can lower blood pressure, thin the blood (reducing stroke risk) and have an anti-inflammatory effect. Ceitanna Cooper says this is due to chocolate’s high content of chemicals called flavonoids. “Flavonoids also seem to stimulate the body to make more nitric oxide, which helps to widen and relax blood vessels, which may help to lower blood pressure,” says Ceitanna.

congerdesign / Pixabay
1. Protects your arteries
Flavonoids in chocolate also help to stop LDL (bad) cholesterol from oxidising, helping to prevent the furring up of arteries. Flavonoids contain more than 50% of an unusual type of saturated fat called stearic acid, present in cocoa butter, that doesn’t’ raise bad cholesterol and may even increase levels of the protective good cholesterol.
1. Calms coughs
Chocolate also contains a chemical called theobromine, which has been shown to suppress coughing by acting on the vagus nerve, which carries messages from the central nervous system to the brain.
1. Brain benefits
A chemical called epicatechin – found in cocoa and green tea – may also help protect the brain against the formation of sticky proteins or amyloid plaques which develop in Alzheimer’s disease.

“We all know that too much sugary or fatty food can contribute to obesity and other health problems, but the good news for chocolate lovers is that small amounts can also have some health benefits. So there’s no need to feel guilty about indulging your cravings now and then, as long as it’s part of a well-balanced diet.”

What sort of chocolate is best?

Generally, the darker the chocolate (look for 70% and above cocoa), the higher the flavonoid content. Flavonoids are found in foods like broccoli, onions, fruit, as well as tea, and may help protect people against some types of cancer and heart disease.

Ceitanna Cooper says: “It’s most likely that you get more flavonoids in a dark chocolate that lists cocoa beans, cacao, chocolate liquor or cocoa mass on its ingredients list, so check the label. Milk chocolate tends to have very few flavonoids and white chocolate has none.”

Does chocolate make a good snack?

JillWellington / Pixabay

Surprisingly, dark chocolate is classified as ‘low GI’ food, which means a small bar makes a suitable snack between meals as it doesn’t cause a rapid rise in blood sugar levels after being eaten. This is because the fat that it contains slows down the absorption of the sugar.

The caffeine content of chocolate has also been shown to help boost concentration and energy temporarily. But if you’re curbing your caffeine intake then be sure to remember that chocolate counts as a caffeinated product!

Before you rush off to grab the nearest chocolate bar, it’s best if you regard it as a ‘treat’, rather than a health food. If you eat it in small amounts, alongside a healthy, balanced diet, it shouldn’t contribute to weight gain and it will certainly not do you any harm.

Want to find out more about the benefits of food? Visit AXA PPP healthcare’s diet and nutrition centre.
5th May 2019