The best and worst alcoholic beverages for your waistline

15 May 2020

The best and worst alcoholic beverages for your waistline

We find ourselves in challenging times, and it seems that many people are turning to beers, wine, and spirits for comfort. And nobody would blame them. However, if you're concerned about calories, you can make smarter choices whilst still enjoying a few cheeky drinks.

Here is our guide to how many calories are in your favourite alcoholic drinks.

White wine: 121 calories per glass... not too bad for a treat... but unfortunately that equates to 605 calories per bottle, so don't get too carried away!

Red wine: 125 calories per glass. Slightly more than the white, however keep in mind that red wine is full of antioxidants and a small amount (1 glass per day) may actually help to fight weight gain, as well as having many other health benefits.

Champagne: 96 calories per glass - the winner of the wines!

Beer: 208 calories per pint - alongside a high carb content, beer is not your beach bodies friend.

Cider: 210 calories per pint - unfortunately cider may also have to be reduced to an occasional treat.

Tequila: Those shots that seem like such a good idea at 1am are coming in at 104 calories - maybe we won't be so ready to agree next time.

Vodka and Gin: Vodka and gin are some of your best options, coming in at 55 calories each for a shot. However, add a sugary mixer and you'll only be adding more calories - a gin and tonic comes in at 120 calories. Mix with soda for no extra cals.

Alcohol doesn't have to be completely cut out to achieve your body goals, just be smart about what you sip!

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5 Top Tips for a Healthier Spring and Summer

13 May 2020

5 Top Tips for a Healthier Spring and Summer

It's been a strange spring, and summer probably won't be quite the same as usual either. But that's no excuse to neglect your health. In fact with many of us having extra time on our hands, and a deadly virus on the loose, it's the perfect opportunity in to invest in health and wellbeing.

1. Spring is the perfect time to cut down on drinking.

Winter consists of drinking at partys and celebrations galore, and once summer arrives we won't be able to resist a few cheeky glasses of rose in a beer garden (if we're allowed!), so now is the perfect time to give your liver a rest by taking an extra day per week off from drinking.

2. Go meat-free on Mondays!

Instead of your favourite meat products, fuel your body with fresh, in-season fruits, veggies, nuts, beans, seeds and legumes for just one day a week.

3. Add more fresh herbs into your diet. It's the perfect time as lots of herbs are currently in season, and they're great for gut health and boosting energy. Add them into your cooking, smoothies, salads, and wherever else you can!

4. Take supplements, probiotics and vitamins where needed to boost health. Vitamin C is always good. Hay fever sufferers may benefit from taking quercetin to alleviate symptoms, and fish oils to reduce inflammation.

5. Indulge in some tech-free time to reduce stress levels. Spend your lunch break taking a walk without your phone, or if you're at home all day then take a long stroll. Make the most of the nicer weather by spending your free time enjoying the outdoors instead of binging on netflix and buzzfeed.

Check our blog often for the latest spring trends in beauty, fashion, food, drinks and more!

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20 Foods to boost your immune system

20 Apr 2020

Foods to boost your immune system

food that boosts your immune system

With Coronavirus still casting its dark shadow over the world, we continue to try to protect ourselves by staying home where possible and social distancing. However, if you are unfortunate enough to contract the virus then you can improve your chance of a speedy recovery by keeping your immune system strong. So how do you do that? Well there are certain foods you can eat that will help to give your immune system the much-needed boost.

Here are 20 of the best foods to boost your immune system.

1. Blueberries

2. Dark chocolate

3. Turmeric

4. Oily fish such as salmon, tuna, or pilchards

5. Broccoli

6. Sweet potatoes

7. Spinach

8. Ginger

9. Garlic

10. Green tea

11. Sunflower seeds

12. Almonds

13. Oranges (and other citrus fruits)

14. Kiwis

15. Red bell pepper

16. Greek yoghurt

17. Papaya

18. Poultry

19. Shellfish

20. Carrots

In the near future we will be bringing you recipes, tips, and more to help you to stay healthy during this time. Keeping stress levels low, getting enough sleep, and regular exercise are also wonderful for a healthy immune system. Stay safe and sanitised, and keep an eye on the blog for more regular updates.

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4 Food Trends to Look our for in 2020

22 Jan 2020

4 Food Trends to Look our for in 2020

It's no secret that we love to stay ahead of the crowd in our salons. You're also probably aware that we love our food, so this is another area that we hate to fall behind in! We've scouted out the biggest food trends of 2020 - read on to find out what they are!

1. Eco-friendly dining

More and more restaurants are composting their leftovers and returning them to growers, in a bid to reduce waste to zero. Packaged foods are also getting an eco-friendly makeover with companies searching for alternative packaging options to reduce plastic use, and shops expected to encourage customers to bring their own vegetable bags.

2. More healthy fats

High-fat, low-carb diets such as keto and paleo are on the rise and that's set to continue throughout 2019. Health and fitness influencers are singing the praises of these diets, and we should expect to see more enticing food options available for those following high fat diet plans.

3. Plant-based foods

2019 saw the rise of flexitarianism, with any people reducing their meat intake or turning completely vegetarian or vegan. We'll see more of this in 2020, with mushrooms playing a leading role in plant-based foods.

4. Healthier alternatives to ice cream

Guilt-free ice cream alternatives have been around for a while, whether it's vegan options or low-sugar treats. This year we can expect to see an increase in these options, with novelty health flavours such as avocado, hummus, and tahini.

Whatever you;re eating this year, do check the Bliss blog regularly for restaurant recommendations, recipes and the latest food news.

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3 Delicious Autumn Stir-fry Recipes

16 Sep 2019

3 Delicious Autumn Stir-fry Recipes

As the seasons change, often so do our menus. Whilst summer saw BBQs and salads galore as we aimed to slim and trim for the perfect beach body, in autumn we love something a little more hearty and warming. Bliss believes that this doesn't have to mean eating unhealthily. For us, autumn recipes should include plenty of in-season veggies to warm us whilst keeping our waistlines happy. With that in mind, check out our favourite autumn recipes, all of which can be adapted for vegetarians.

1. Beef and Ginger Noodle Stir-Fry - serves 4

Ingredients

500g diced steak

2 tablespoons of peanut oil

400g singapore noodles

5cm piece of fresh ginger, peeled and chopped into matchsticks

2 red chillies, thinly sliced diaganolly

200g fresh shiitake mushrooms, halved

200g baby button mushrooms, halved

1 bunch of kale, leaves only, chopped

80g oyster sauce

Lime wedges to serve

Method

Cook noddles according to packet instructions. Meanwhile, heat a wok or frying pan over a high heat and add peanut oil. Add chilli and garlic and stir fry for one minute. Add the beef and stir-fry until browned. Add the shiitake mushrooms and cook for 2 mins. Add the baby button mushrooms and kale, and stir fry until vegetables are tender. Drain noodles and add them along with the oyster sauce. Stir-fry until heated through and serve with lime wedges.

For a vegetarian version, replace the beef with one diced red onion and one diced green pepper, to be added with the shiitake mushrooms.

2. Pumpkin and spinach stir fry - serves 4

Ingredients

200g brown rice

2 kaffir lime leaves

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 red onion, diced

1.5 tablespoons of grated fresh ginger

1 garlic clove, crushed or finely chopped

1kg of pumpkin or butternut squash, peeled, de-seeded and chopped into 2cm pieces.

100g baby spinach leaves

2 tablespoons of soy sauce

2 tablespoons oyster sauce

2 tablespoons honey

Method

Add the rice and lime leaves to a pan and cook according to packet instructions. Meanwhile, add the oil to a wok or frying pan over a medium-high heat. Add the onion, ginger and garlic and stir-fry for one minute. Add pumpkin and cook until tender (approx 7 minutes). Add the remaining ingredients and stir-fry until spinach wilts. Drain the rice and serve.

3. Fish & vegetable stir-fry - serves 4

Ingredients

200g brown rice

2 tablespoons of vegetable oil

350g of boneless, white fish fillets, diced

2 garlic cloves, crushed or finely chopped

1 small tin of sweetcorn

1 red bell pepper, diced

1 yellow bell pepper, diced

2 carrots, sliced

1 red onion, diced

1 tablespoon oyster sauce

1 tablespoon light soy sauce

1 teaspoon of sesame oil

Method

Cook rice according to packet instructions. Heat the oil in a wok or frying pan on medium-high heat. Add the garlic and stir-fry for one minute. Add fish and stir-fry until half-cooked. Add vegetables and continue to stir-fry until softened. Add the remaining ingredients and stir-fry until heated. Serve with the rice.

For a vegetarian version, fish can be easily replaced with 500g of pumpkin or butter nut squash, or baby button mushrooms, to be added with other veggies.

Do check back regularly for more healthy yet filling autumn recipes from Bliss.

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Bliss' Top Health & Beauty Tips for Autumn 2019

13 Sep 2019

Bliss' Top Health & Beauty Tips for Autumn 2019

autumn 2019 health and beauty tips

Summer may not technically be over yet, but the grey skies, shortening days, and cooler temperatures would have us believe otherwise. Whilst we can be lured into a minor depression as we mourn the end of summer, this is wasted time that could be spent on making the most of autumn. Keep your eye on the Bliss blog for the hottest autumn style updates, things to do and autumn recipes. This time of year can be ideal for changing up your health and beauty routine to make sure that you look and feel amazing as you cruise through towards party season. Here are our top health and beauty tips for autumn...

Stop skin from drying out

As the weather begins to turn colder, our skin can have a nasty tendency to dry out. Unfortunately we can also neglect it as the time for bare arms and legs has come to an end. Be sure to exfoliate several times per week, and invest in a high-quality moisturiser to use after showers. Hands, feet and lips can be particularly dry at this time of year so make sure to carry hand cream and lip balm at all times, and use a foot cream on a weekly basis.

Eat plenty of in-season veggies

As the season changes, so must our diets. Knowing that we won't on the beach for another year can lead many of us to overeating in the cooler months, but it is possible to still be healthy. There are plenty of delicious, healthy veggies in season in autumn to provide us with an array of health benefits - load up on pumpkin, beetroot, sweet potato and apples for a healthy dose of Vitamins A and C, as well as a plethora of antioxidants and nutrients to make you look and feel 1 million percent. We'll be sharing some of our favourite autumn recipes with you over the coming weeks - watch this space!

Hair Care

In summer, our hair takes a beating from sun, chlorine & salt water. In winter, it can be easily damaged by the weather, as well as constant styling for Christmas and New Years celebrations. Use the time in between to repair and protect, starting with a trim of these damaged ends. Invest in a deep conditioner to protect your hair from the winter damage it will soon face.

Boost your immune system

You probably know all too well that winter is prime time for colds, flu and other illnesses to affect us. Give your immune system an autumn boost so that it's in tip top condition to fight disease by winter. Some simple, natural ways to do this include drinking plenty of water, getting enough sleep, managing stress properly, drinking less alcohol, eating plenty of fresh fruit, veg and seeds, and particularly garlic.

We'll be providing you with regular updates and tips to make the most of autumn over the coming weeks, so do check back regularly.

Branch Phone numbers

Bliss Bespoke Day Spa
0113 2304305
Bliss Baby-Butcher Hill

0113 2752675

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Easy, healthy stir fry recipe

26 Jun 2019

Easy, healthy stir fry recipe

Healthy eating doesn't have to be boring with Bliss. We're here to bring you delicious, healthy, and easy healthy recipes to help you achieve your dream beach body. Not only is this one-pan wonder tasty and full of nutritional value, it's super easy to adapt it to suit your preferences, by swapping out the meat and veg for your favourites.

Easy stir-fry recipe

Ingredients - serves 4

3 Tbsp of reduced salt soy sauce

2 Tbsp of oyster sauce

1 teaspoon of honey

1 teaspoon of brown sugar

2 cloves of garlic, finely chopped

1 teaspoon of grated ginger or ginger powder

A pinch of Chinese 5 spice

Peanut oil or sesame oil to cook

2 Chicken breast fillets, chopped into strips

2 carrots, sliced

1 brown onion, chopped into strips

1 red bell pepper, chopped into strips

200g button mushrooms, chopped into slices

100g of beansprouts

Rice or noodles to serve

Method

In a large bowl, combine soy sauce, oyster sauce, honey, brown sugar, garlic, ginger, and Chinese 5 spice. Add the chicken, cover, and leave to marinate in the fridge for at least 10 minutes.

Heat about 1 Tbsp of oil in a wok or frying pan. Use tongs to remove the chicken from the marinade and add to the pan. Do not dispose of the marinade. Cook the chicken until sealed.

Add the carrots and stir-fry for a few minutes until they begin to soften. Add the onion and continue to stir-fry for another 2 minutes. Add bell pepper and mushrooms and stir-fry for another 2 minutes.

Add the marinade to the pan and stir through. Simmer for around five minutes, stirring constantly. Add beansprouts and stir through immediately before serving with your choice of cooked rice or noodles.

Check out some of our other favourite healthy recipes.

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Lose Weight With Tasty, Nutritious Green Smoothies

24 Jun 2019

Lose Weight With Tasty, Nutritious Green Smoothies

We realise a green smoothie can look a little unappealing. However, with the right fruits, correct veggies, and perfect proportions, they can be delicious! Not to mention you will be full up of goodness and healthy ingredients.

The amount of vitamins you’ll get depends on which ingredients you use, but most fruits and vegetables are high in vitamins A and C. Many people struggle to eat the recommended amount of fruit and vegetables, and green smoothies are a way of easily adding more fruit and veg into your diet. Furthermore, green smoothies will give you energy and help to keep you full without consuming too many calories. Therefore, as well as keeping you healthy, they may assist with weight loss. They are also better for you than green juices as juices lack the fibre that smoothies retain. On top of this, making your own green smoothies is cheaper and healthier than buying them at juice bars.

There are ways to make your green smoothies taste delicious, rather than just tasting of vegetables. First, ensure that you have the correct fruit: veg ratio; the usual ratio is 60:40 but you may wish to start off with a ratio of 70:30. It's best to use sweet fruits such as pineapple or strawberries, as you will then be able to enjoy the smoothie without adding any sort of sweetener. Some greens also have a stronger taste than others, for example the taste of spinach is easily masked by the fruit,r your first few smoothies, as they are likely to contain ingredien but other greens such as kale have stronger tastes. You should still include kale but in smaller quantities. Using ‘creamy’ fruits will make a big difference to the texture of your smoothie, so try to include something creamy like banana, peach, pear or avocado.

Recipe

Fruity spinach and kale smoothie

This is a good one for newbies as it just tastes of fruit! Kale is low in both calories and fat, but high in fibre, vitamins and antioxidants, making it a really healthy food which everyone should try to include in their diets and this is the perfect way to do just that.

Ingredients for 2 servings:

1 cup of spinach

1.5 cups of kale

10 strawberries

1 chopped mango

Juice of 1 orange

1/3 of a cup of greek yoghurt

1/4 of a cup of water

Peel, wash and chop all of your fruit and vegetables. Put it all into a blender- liquids first, followed by leaves, and finally add the fruit. Blend it up and it’s ready to drink!

If you're looking to lose weight fast this summer, it's the perfect time to think about 3D lipo. 3D liposuction is a weight management system - a non-invasive course of localised fat reduction which combines Ultrasound Cavitation with fat freezing to combat cellulite, tighten skin and drop pounds. This treatment is loved by celebs and Bliss offer the most competitive prices around. View prices here.

To book your slimming, trimming appointment or consultation call Bliss Spa on 0113 230 4305 now!

Remember, we're aiming for TOTAL body confidence this summer!

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Healthy Chow Mein Fakeaway Recipe

19 Jun 2019

Healthy Chow Mein Fakeaway Recipe

Bliss are here to make healthy eating enjoyable for you with easy, healthy, delicious recipes. Next time you're tempted to call your favourite Chinese takeaway, make this healthier yet equally tasty fakeaway option instead.

Ingredients - serves 4

Peanut or sesame oil

500g lean mince beef

2 carrots, sliced

1 brown onion, diced

1 red pepper, diced

2 cloves of garlic, diced

Teaspoon of grated or powdered ginger

Teaspoon of Chinese 5 spice

100g of button mushrooms, sliced

6 Tbsp of light soy sauce

4 Tbsp of oyster sauce

100g Vermicelli noodles

Method

Prepare noodles according to packet instructions, then set aside.

Heat oil in a wok or frying pan. Add mince and brown.

Add carrots and stir fry for five minutes or until they begin to soften. Add onion and stir fry for two minutes. Add pepper, garlic, ginger, and five spice. Combine ingredients and stir fry for 2-3 minutes. Add mushrooms and continue to stir-fry.

Once all veg in softened, add the soy sauce and oyster sauce, stir through, and simmer for around 5 minutes.

Add cooked noodles and mix everything together.

Serve and enjoy!

If you need a little help with your weightloss,

Book A Free Consultation now for our Genuine 3D Lipo Cut Priced Services ...
Call 0113 2304305 or email info@bli ssbeautyspa.com

Remember, the goal is TOTAL BODY CONFIDENCE this summer.

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No Guilt Cocktail Recipes

17 Jun 2019

No Guilt Cocktail Recipes

healthier cocktail recipes

In case you haven't heard, we're aiming for total body confidence for all this summer! BUT we love a nice afternoon cocktail in the sun. We think you should still be allowed a treat once in a while, so here's a secret for you: not all cocktails were created equal! Here are our favourite healthier guilt-free cocktail recipes to make at home...

Cucumber & Elderflower Spritz

Ingredients

1.5 shots of gin

0.5 shot of elderflower liqeur

Juice of half a lemon

5 slices of cucumber, chopped into quarters

Soda water to taste

Cucumber wheel to garnish

Add all ingredients except for soda to a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake and strain into a tall glass filled with ice. Top with soda to your preferred level. Garnish with cucumber wheel.

Skinny Grapefruit Margarita

Ingredients

1 shot of triple sec

1 shot of gold tequila

Juice of half a grapefruit

Juice of half a lime

Half a cup of sparkling water

Shake all ingredients in a shaker with ice. Strain into a short glass either neat or on the rocks as you prefer.

Strawberry Mojito

3 wedges of lime

1 teaspoon of stevia

8 mint leaves

4 strawberries, sliced

2 shots of white rum

soda water

crushed ice

Place lime wedges into a tall glass and muddle. If you don't have a muddler, squeeze them in instead. Add the stevia, mint and strawberries. Add the rum. Top with crushed ice, then fill the glass with soda. Garnish with a sprig of mint and a strawberry.

Cutting out alcohol? Check out our mocktail recipes...

Have you seen our healthy summer meal recipes yet?

If you need a little help with your weightloss,

Book A Free Consultation now for our Genuine 3D Lipo Cut Priced Services ...
Call 0113 2304305 or email info@bli ssbeautyspa.com

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