Heart Health - Betavivo cereal review and giveaway

It really is never too early to start thinking about looking after your heart.

New research suggests that making small lifestyle changes in your 30s, which include a healthy diet and keeping physically active, can help improve cholesterol levels and lower the risk of heart disease later on in life.

According to research published in the American Heart Association Journal, every decade an individual has high cholesterol increases their risk of heart disease by almost 40%! Wow, pretty sobering.

Dr. Charlotta Buch from Betavivo, the Swedish cholesterol lowering cereal said: “People in Sweden do start to think about their heart health quite early on, earlier than those in other countries. We maintain an active lifestyle and well balanced food culture; We like to walk, run, go for a cycle ride and eat food that’s traditional and natural, like lots of fresh fish, vegetables, berries and whole grains.”

In the UK heart disease accounts for almost 100,000 deaths every year, with coronary heart disease being the biggest single cause of death! Heart disease has been a huge problem in my family and I've lost some pretty special people for too early in their life so heart health is something that weighs heavy on my mind.

The research also highlights that even slightly high cholesterol levels in adults aged 35 to 55 who are otherwise healthy can have a long-term effect on heart health. What we’re doing in our 20s, 30s and 40s impacts on our blood vessels and is paving the way for disease later in life.

Eating a healthy diet, following the healthy eating guidelines and consuming foods proven to reduce cholesterol, such as avocado, nuts and Betavivo can help you stay heart-healthy. Betavivo is the new crispy oat heart cereal from Sweden.The all-natural cereal contains beta-glucan, a soluble fibre derived from oats, which is known for its heart health benefits and ability to maintain healthy blood sugar and cholesterol. Beta-glucan works by dissolving in the stomach to form a gel that binds bile acids. As the liver produces new bile acid it “draws” cholesterol from the blood and carries these out of the body.

One sachet of Betavivo provides 3g of beta-glucan, the daily amount required for the health benefits. This is three times the amount available in other sources such as a bowl of porridge.

One sachet a day mixed with some fresh fruit and a little yogurt makes a delicious breakfast and is a great start to the day. I've had it with some milk and fruit and sprinkled on top of yogurt and it's a tasty and filling breakfast. I loved seeing just a few ingredients on the back of the packed too, no funny stuff inside. 

If you would like to win a months supply of  Betavivo and see the health benefits for yourself then please leave your contact details in the comments below. A winner will be chosen on 24.3.15. Good luck!

Betavivo is available from Lloyds pharmacies, Holland & Barrett and Independent Pharmacies.

RRP: £14.99 for a box of 15 sachets

For more information visit: www.betavivo.co.uk

Perfect World - 'Heathier' Ice Cream

What if ice cream was good for you? That would be amazing wouldn't it?! Perfect World desserts taste and feel just like a premium ice cream but they have some health benefits too. All their flavours have no added sugar, so they are suitable for diabetics and anyone wanting to cut down on sugar. Good news for anyone who has vowed to avoid sugar this lent. 

They are also dairy and wheat free and low in salt. The  Taste of Carrot Cake flavour is also high in unsaturated ‘good' fats, high in vitamin A, a natural source of vitamin E, and a source of dietary fibre.  

Perfect World have created the UK’s very first non-dairy and no added sugar ice cream alternative uses a blend of nuts instead of dairy, providing all the creaminess of ice-cream yet from unsaturated fats. It’s designed to taste as good as real dairy ice cream but with fewer calories and none of the downsides often associated with dairy and added sugar. Perfect World also avoids adding sugar entirely, using a special blend of sweeteners from natural origins, including Stevia.

We loved the chocolate flavour, it felt really decadent but we didn't feel guilty or have a sugar slump after eating a couple of scoops. The strawberry flavour worked amazingly well served with some fresh fruit and was really creamy in texture. If you're following the Weight Watchers plan it has a ProPoints value of  only 3 per 100ml for Strawberry and 4 for the other flavours. Amazing, right?

The range includes four flavours to suit every kind of sweet tooth; Belgian Chocolate Brownie, Loads of Strawberry, Banana Walnut Chip and Taste of Carrot Cake. Perfect World Ice Cream is available in 120ml (£1.99) and 500ml (£5.49) sizes at Holland & Barrett stores across the UK and online at Ocado.

Fitbug Orb review

Fitness trackers are all the rage at the moment, lots of my friends have them and they are a firm favourite amongst fitness bloggers. Fitbug got in contact about reviewing their Fitbug Orb, I was very intrigued to see how it could change my approach to fitness and if it would be easy to fit into my daily life. Fitness trackers range hugely in price from the MovBand at £27.99 (this is a basic one and only measures steps) and they can be over £100 for the more fancy models. The Fitbug Orb comes in at £49.95.

The main benefit that comes from wearing one of these trackers is the motivation it gives you. Tracking your steps each day is a great way to understand how active you are and how you can work on moving more. I found that trying to reach my initial target of 10,000 steps a day was really motivational, I wanted to exceed my target each day and see how many calories I could burn just by taking the stairs and adding a brisk 20 minute walk to my daily activity.

How easy is the set up? 
The Orb is really easy to set up. You register your Orb on the website using the number on the back of the box and then link it to the Fitbug app using bluetooth. If you want to link your Orb to your computer directly you can buy a dongle. There's only one button on the Orb which sends information to the app when you press it, you can't go too wrong with just one button. All super easy.

Wearing my Orb 
The Orb can be worn around your wrist like a watch, clip it on to your clothes or wear it on a lanyard. I wore mine on the clip which I clipped to my bra and it stayed in place all day. When I wanted to track my sleep activity I wore it on my wrist.

Tracking with the Orb
I've used my orb for just over a week and I've not really had any problems. I couldn't get it to track my sleep for the first few days but after reading the FAQ on the website I figured it out. I've tracked my steps and aerobic activity everyday and have been pleasantly surprised. Despite having a job where I sit down for most of the day I get a lot of steps in walking to the bus stop, going to yoga and doing some shelving in the library. I think the step tracking seems pretty accurate, I wore my Orb with a pedometer for one day and got similar readings. I didn't track my calorie intake with the Orb because I follow a mixture of the Weight Watchers and 5:2 diet plan so didn't want to track my food twice but this feature would be really useful for someone trying to monitor there activity and calorie intake.

Overall thoughts on the Orb
I think the Orb is a good price, it's cheaper than some competitors and great if you are new to fitness tracking and want to give it a try without investing too much money. I liked the emails I got, giving my tips each day and giving my new goals to work towards. I also liked that I could wear this under my clothes where nobody could see it. Some trackers that you wear on the wrist really aren't that dainty so I liked that this could be hidden away.
You can't log food or exercise from within the app which might be a negative for some but I just added any non-step activity on the website at the end of my day. There's no need for re-charging with batteries lasting for up to six months, I know you have to charge some other brands by USB which I know I would forget to do some days. 

Studies have shown that in the first four weeks of membership the most inactive Fitbug members increase their daily activity by an average of 265 per cent. Data shows this improvement is maintained over 12 months, indicating that the improvements are long lasting. I think this would be a great little device for someone just starting to get into the world of fitness. It definitely motivates you to get more active. Seeing your stats everyday and seeing if you could beat them is a definite incentive.

 Have you tried the Fitbug Orb or any other fitness trackers?

Dear Kate...

The Dear Kate website made me chuckle when it stated 'Laugh til you pee your pants. And strut your stuff safely...we've got your butt covered.' 1 in 4 women experience light bladder leakage on a regular basis and 60% of women experience overflow during that time of the month every month. We never talk about this despite so many of us ladies experiencing it and I love that Dear Kate can mention it openly and even make us laugh about it.

Dear Kate offers pretty underwear in a range of styles from simple lace to bold colours, all featuring absorbent and stain-resistant linings. They are designed to offer extra protection when a woman might need it during menstruation, exercise or after having a baby.

I tried out the Amelia Hipster Mini from the Queen collection and was really pleased with the fit and femininity of the briefs considering they are very functional and designed to help with leakage. After measuring my hips I went for the 1X, which is an American 16-18. I would say that they are very true to size and wont dig in so there's no need to size up. They came in a cute box which is a nice touch and I tend to keep them in there after washing so I don't have to wade through 40 pairs of black knickers to find them.

I've worn these whilst doing the 30 Day Shred and at the gym and they can hold up to one teaspoon of liquid or three if you get the full lining. There were no embarrassing wet patches in sight. Stress incontinence (gross, I know) can occur during exercise and I think these briefs would be great for anyone attempting a long distance run. The Sports range would be even more ideal for this function but they are only currently sold in regular sizing with no plus size option available yet.

This is what my pair look like:

Pretty good, right? That time of the month can be pretty crappy. You feel bloated and a bit sorry for yourself. With these the lace waistband is a pretty detail and the shape is much nicer than my 3 in a pack, M&S briefs I normally go for when I'm not feeling my best.Wearing these meant that I didn't have to worry about any embarrassing accidents and I felt much more confident.

Do you think about your underwear when working out? I know I always wear a sports bra but I had never paid much attention to my briefs before trying these ones.

If you want to get your own pair the code "WhereAreMyKnees" will get new customers 25% off until April 30th.

teapigs matcha green tea

Ever since teapigs sent me a sample tin of their matcha green tea, I've been walking around singing “matcha, matcha tea” to the tune of Matcho Man (I know!). But this tea has seriously put a spring in my step, which is a good sign.

Matcha tea has been drunk in Japan for pretty much ever – Buddhist monks use it to keep them alert and awake for a hard day's meditating. It is made from green tea leaves, grown undercover for the last two weeks of their cultivation, which causes excess production of chlorophyll (the stuff that makes plants green). These leaves are then carefully ground down to form a fine powder.

In recent years matcha has become more popular in the UK, popping up in cafes, health food shops, smoothie bars and all sorts of weird and wonderful recipes. teapigs boast of the many health benefits of their matcha – as well as its high antioxidant levels and energy boosting caffeine, this miraculous green powder apparently contains the right stuff to help you lose weight and have healthy skin while you do it.

All of the science aside, you've got to like the taste of the stuff, right? teapigs kindly sent me an electric whisk and some handy serving suggestions along with my tea powder. I decided to try a milky matcha latte first – easy to make by heating some milk in a saucepan and then whisking in ½ a teaspoon of match green tea powder and a little bit of sugar to taste. You do have to whisk quite well to get everything to mix together so you're not left with clumps, but the milk whisk made this easier. This was a really nice warming drink, sweet – if slightly 'green' tasting. A note here: make sure it's only a ½ teaspoon of the powder you use – I accidentally put a full, heaped spoon in on my first attempt and it was so chlorophyll-y that it was like eating a bouquet of flowers.

For my second drink I decided to try a teapigs favourite – matcha tea shot. I whisked a ½ teaspoon of the powder in to a pudding shot glass (technical term for you there!) of good quality apple juice. This one I really liked. It was a quick drink, really smooth and tasty – the balance between the sharp tea and sweet apple worked really well. It was like drinking a shot of really good iced tea – but with the added smugness of knowing it was good for me. I had this instead of my usual morning coffee a few times, and while I don't know if it made me any 'brighter', I certainly didn't suffer from swapping out my usual caffine fix.

Am I a full on convert to matcha tea? Not yet, but I'm very happy to incorporate it in to my morning drink routine, for a bit of variation. And with spring and summer just around the corner I could see me replacing hot coffee with a sweet and refreshing matcha apple shot more often. Plus, I've already amassed a long list of matcha recipes to try (but as most of them are cakes/involve chocolate, I might not mention them here!)

This post was written by Maggie and you can check out here blog here.

Nākd survey - Diet saboteurs

We are a big fan of Nākd bars here at Where Are My Knees and Rosie has reviewed them in an earlier post.
I'm a fan of the flavoured raisins and love that their products are made from all natural ingredients like fruit and nuts, and they're also wheat, dairy and gluten free. They feel like such a treat and are absolutely delicious but you don't feel as guilty after scoffing a bag of these as you would if you had eaten a bag of M&Ms. 

New research released by Nākd Wholefoods has found just how irritating we find our friends when they diet, with 1/3 of us deliberately avoiding those we know to be dieting and over a quarter (26%) even trying to sabotage their friends’ bids to lose weight.

Their stats found that people are most annoyed by those that:

- Talk about their diet too much (26%)

- Make them as non-dieters feel bad about themselves for not dieting (20%)

- Are grumpy and miserable (25%)

- Refuse to socialise (11%)

- Ban treats such as birthday cake (13%)

And that sabotage attempts include:

- Inviting the dieter out for dinner or a drink (19%)

- Deliberately tempting them with unhealthy treats (16%)

- Talking them into giving up their diet (7%)

'Oh, go on, try this cake...': One in four will sabotage a friend's diet because restricting food makes people so utterly boring

• Some 25% of us deliberately avoid friends who are dieting
• Say dieting friends aren't fun and make them feel bad about themselves
• One in six try and tempt friend with unhealthy treats so they break diet
• A fifth deliberately ask a dieting friend for dinner or drinks
• Men are more likely than women to try and sabotage a friend's diet
  
  
  
  1. They feel guilty. You're losing weight and getting in shape. They're not. Tempting you to "fall off the fitness wagon" means you’re "normal" again, and they can feel good about themselves.
  2. They don’t understand. They’ve never had a weight problem and just don’t realize how hard you’ve worked to get where you are. They think it’s "silly" for you to worry about what you eat.
  3. They miss the old you. That is, the cookies you brought to work, the after-work "happy hours" spent in the company of high-fat potato skins, the luscious desserts you used to indulge in. Maybe you’re spending more time in the gym and have less free time for them. Maybe they’re afraid to lose you?

Don’t overreact, but don’t give up either! Try these strategies to stop your food foes:

Don’t assume the worst. Unless sabotage is blatantly deliberate, give saboteurs the benefit of the doubt when it comes to their motives. If a boyfriend gives you chocolates this Valentines day its because he wants to show you that he cares and not because he wants to fatten you up.

Set up your own support system.  If your friends aren't being supportive join a group or chat to like minded peopled online. I would never have lost 6 stone without this blog.

Ask for help.  Be fair with those who share your home. They may be willing to make compromises, at least for shorter periods of time, about what foods are kept and cooked in the house. Colleagues might agree not to bring in cake and biscuits every day.

Be an adult. Remember that what you put in your mouth is your responsibility.

New Covent Garden Skinny Soup

Team Where Are My Knees love eating soup for lunch and Sarah has already posted about why it's so great. You really can't beat some warming and filling soup for lunch on cold winter days and there isn't always time to make your own. Luckily Covent Garden have launched a new range of ‘Skinny’ soups that are tasty and convenient.
The range includes four new flavours including Tomato and Vegetables with Green Lentils, Goan Spiced Chicken and Lentils, Quinoa and Turtle Bean with Chilli and Lime, plus Souper Greens Italian Pesto soups which are all less than 2% fat and contain up to two portions of vegetables per serving.

I recently sampled the Souper Greens Italian Pesto which is a blend of peas, leeks, courgettes, spinach, broccoli and green beans. With less than 150 calories per portion and no added sugar, these soups are perfect for the health-conscious and definitely a great choice if you’re looking for a quick meal that’s healthy too. I also sampled the Tomato & Vegetable soup pictured below and it was really rather filling.

You can pick up New Covent Garden Skinny Soups in supermarkets now.

Are you a soup fan? If you've posted a great soup recipe I would love to see them so leave a comment with a link and I will check them out.

Shock Absorber Sports Bra Review

We do love a good sports bra here at Team WAMK, we are all very aware of the importance of adequate support during any exercise.  Hopefully none of you let your babies swing wild whilst exercising!  If you do please do yourself a favour and get yourself a sports bra, you will thank us for it when gravity kicks in.  Shock Absorber sent us two of their sports bras to review, the zipped plunge sports bra and the Active D+ flexiwire sports bra, we put them through their paces and here are our thoughts.

Zipped Plunge Sports Bra - size range: 32-38 B-DD.
Stockists: www.shockabsorber.co.uk

Sarah tested this one and loved it.  It is really easy to get on and off due to the zip front, there is nothing worse than trying to pull a sports bra over your head when you are all sweaty.  I have had to wrestle out of my old one far too many times, almost as exhausting as the actual work out!  It felt really supportive on - in fact my 34C's didn't move a centimetre whilst running, rowing or boxing.  It was really comfortable too, there are no fastenings on the back so it is perfect for mat work.

The zip doesn't come in contact with the skin, there is a tab of fabric to prevent any potential rubbing and there is a hook which you do up first to make zipping that zip up much easier.

The fabric is also moisture-wicking to maximise comfort during exercise.  Apart from providing good support I love the way it looks.  The racer back means I don't have to worry about straps falling down my narrow shoulders and the neon trim adds nice detail.  The zipped plunge sports bra does everything I could want from a sports bra, now to work on the flat tummy so I can wear it without needing a top covering it up!


Active D+ Flexiware Sports Bra - size range: 30-40 D-G, 32-38 GG-H.
Stockists: www.shockabsorber.co.uk

Sarah V tested this one. It's a much more traditional style, and I found it more snug than other sports bras I've worn. I don't think that's about fit, though, I think it's the style and it was still perfectly comfortable. In the past, even the best sports bra hasn't stopped my boobs moving around when jumping up and down at zumba, but this was so supportive. This bra is actually specifically designed for women with larger busts.

Like Sarah's bra, this is moisture-wicking and fully breathable. It's a great sports bra and one I'd certainly recommend.

Saints & Slimmers Review – diet meal delivery

Saints & Slimmers aim to help you to lose weight by supplying you with ready-prepared calorie-controlled meals (and meal replacements like bars and shakes). After a few months of only very loosely following the Weight Watchers plan after a big weight loss I was looking forward to trying out a more structured diet plan for a few days. I was provided with three days worth of food to trial which followed three different plans. 

I have never tried any plans like this before and I always aim to prepare my food myself although I occasionally have a ready meal if I'm in a hurry so I was a little worried about not being able to chose what I ate or if it would suit me. 

Saints & Slimmers Nutritionist Charlotte Mullins says “We recognise that one diet plan does not fit all so we have designed several different plans. We all gain weight differently and we are all different in our approach to weight loss, so it stands to reason that not every diet plan should be the same.”

“We offer sensible diets that provide healthy meals and tasty meal replacement products that are scientifically proven to help people lose weight. Key products contain active ingredients such as green tea extract and L-Carnitine and are enhanced with protein and fibre meaning followers stay satisfied and fuller for longer so no excessive food cravings which often see us heading for the biscuit tin.” 

So what did all of this mean for me and how did I get on with the plan? 

Day 1.  The VLCD   600 kcals a day (average 4lbs weight loss in a week)

Breakfast : Meal replacement product - 100% natural shake

Lunch : Meal replacement product - Chocolate Milkshake 

Evening : Meal replacement product - Soup

I was a little worried about day one because if i didn't like any of the products I wouldn't be able to replace them and I find it difficult to drink milkshakes if I don't like the flavour (banana, gross) but I didn't need to worry. I liked the shake I had in the morning which I added fresh milk to and the soup and other shake were both very palatable. I loved having extra time in the morning because I didn't need to make breakfast or prepare a packed lunch. I made sure I drank plenty of water and didn't feel hungry on day one at all.

Day 2.  The VLCD 800 kcals a day (average 3lbs weight loss in a week)

Breakfast : Muffin

Mid morning : Summer Berries Cereal snack bar 

Lunch : Meal replacement product - Sinless Meal bar Chocolate 

Evening : Meal Replacement Product - Strawberry heavenly Milkshake

I found day two a bit of a struggle. All the foods are high protein and fibre and very filling but I have an hour lunch break and found it a little odd to just eat a bar. The milk chocolate bar was so very filling but I found it a little hard to eat as the texture was unusual. I really wanted a huge milky coffee in the morning with my cereal bar and it was hard to say no to a Costa. I also met with friends after work this day and had to settle for a glass of water rather than a gin and tonic which was a little heartbreaking. Again, despite the amount of food appearing to be quite small I was full all day.

Day 3.  The Complete  1200 kcals a day (average 2lbs weight loss in a week)

Breakfast : Porridge 

Mid morning : Deluxe Chocolate 

Lunch : Meal replacement soup

Evening : Low calorie ready meal 

You can also add up to 200 kcals of vegetables / fruit and dairy to The 'Complete' plan.

Day three was by far the best day on the plan. I liked all of the foods on this day and the ready meal was a welcome break from sweet bars and shakes. I was also able to add fresh food this day and had a lovely fruit salad with my soup for lunch. I really didn't feel like I was eating diet food on day three and could easily follow this plan for three/four days a week and go for lower calorie options on the other days.

Overall, it's great resource for people who struggle for time to prepare foods and who have to find the time to eat on the go. It's easy enough to snack on a meal replacement bar at lunch or drink your milkshake on the way to work. I found the lack of fresh food a little odd and difficult to get used to but if you prefer to cook your own meal in the evening like I do you can, having two meal replacement bars/shakes for your other meals. I think this would suit me much better and would allow for things like cooking for friends and making sure I can sit down with my family and eat the same things as them. 

They also have a range of tools, advice and online support available to help with your weight loss. Saints & Slimmers allow you to access their tools, information and advice, and interact with their online community without any purchase required. If you do decide to purchase food from Saints & Slimmers you can just try a few days to see if you like it before you commit to a month. I think the price of the plan is reasonable for the products you receive and levels of support you can access. 

I was surprised that I got on with the plan so well and I lost 2lbs in the three days. I would seriously consider buying the Breakfast and Lunch plan for £2.14 per day and making my own evening meal.

Have you ever tried meal replacement products? What are your thoughts on these types of diet plans?

MovBand UK Activity Tracker Review

A couple of months ago, three of the Where Are My Knees team were sent Movband trackers and some Movband accessories for review.  The Movband is an activity tracker that tracks 'moves' - its own record of movement - and miles travelled, every day.  You wear it on your wrist like a watch and throughout the day you can watch your moves increase. Tracking moves is done via a 3D accelerometer that tracks all kinds of movement.  The miles are calculated via your age, which you enter when you set up the Movband (it assigns you an average stride and uses that to calculate the miles you've travelled).

The device is very simple - it charges via USB, you pop it on your wrist and away you go.  Every night at midnight the Moves reset themselves so you can use it as an activity tracker.  The miles don't reset themselves but you can do this manually.

The idea of the Movband of course is to give you motivation to get more active.  You can set yourself personal goals (there isn't an online tracker or a way to upload your movements but you can use whatever recording system suits you - I took photos on my phone of the screen before I went to bed) and then monitor how you get on on a daily basis.

The tracker itself, as I mentioned, fits into a watch style wristband (the tracker works like a watch too and tells the time as well as having a backlight for night time use).  Because the tracker fits snugly into the wristand and is removable it means you can buy different coloured wristbands.  There's also a sweatband available with a pocket for the tracker but I found this uncomfortable and I can't see why you'd use it rather than on the wrist strap.



That's the Movband in a nutshell.  It's very simple, with no bells and whistles, and if you're looking for a basic activity tracker and something to provide motivation to get you more active, then it's definitely a fun and useful accessory.  Personally I own a GPS watch and a Heart Rate Monitor watch which I use to track exercise and running.  Both of these show calories burned, workout times, heart rate and so on, and really the Movband is not comparable to these.  For a start it retails at only £27.99 (compared to the £100 and £65 of the other watches I own).  Clearly the Movband is aimed at a different market to other fitness watches and activity trackers.  From what I mentioned about interchangeable, different coloured straps, it might not surprise you that Movband do a lot of work with Primary Schools to encourage children to get more active. Having had an amazing childhood of running round our local 'patch', playing Man Hunt, riding bikes and climbing trees, it grieves me to think of so many children these days spending evenings and weekends playing XBox or sat on social networking sites, and so I fully support this cause and this is a really applaudable section of their work.  Some of the things they do with schools are to have competitions for children to reach 100 miles in a certain amount of time, or giving out coloured bands for achievements such as 25 miles. Clearly this initiative works well and I think it's something that the Movband really lends itself to. I've also read about exercise instructors getting class attendees to wear them to track activity throughout a class and get people to be more active and animated during a session.

I personally think that Movband is a specific type of tool for a specific need.  If you want a measurement each day that will inspire you to get more active, this is perfect.  What it isn't for, is people wanting to know a tangible translation of activity based on your personal statistics, such as calorie burn or something backed up from another source like GPS or a Heart Rate Monitor.  On the first day I tried it I wore it on my wrist whilst scheduling blog posts on a Sunday and before I'd even left my office chair I'd racked up quite a few moves just by doing lots of typing! There also isn't guidance on 'what good looks like' so it's difficult to know at the end of the day whether your Moves and Miles are something to show off or something to keep to yourself - unless you join a group your only comparison is against your own figures (which for some people is obviously fine.) My best day was 14,970 moves and 17.5 miles but I'm not sure how impressive this is. Also there isn't a way to upload your results to the computer and track your activity online - the US version of the Movband you can, but with the UK version you can't (I spent quite some time trying to get it to work before realising I was on the US site - a bit confusing!) I think this is a bit of a shame, especially as the US version is actually cheaper, at $29.99 (about £20).

If you want a way to track activity over a daily basis, don't fancy wearing a chest strap/HRM and just want something fun to keep you motivated, then the MovBand is for you.

You can buy Movband in their online shop, it retails at £27.99.

Panache sports bra review

Sports bras are important for women who exercise, no matter what bust size you are. With any bra you need support and comfort and with exercising you need it even more. I had been using the cheapest sports bra I could find that came in my size (which happened to be from M&S) it was adequate for a low impact gym workout but I wanted to start running outdoors and not just on the pavement so I was keen to try out the sports bra by Panache which offers a little more support.

Panache is a British brand that specialises in lingerie for bigger cup sizes, and they've recently applied their fuller bust fit to sports bras. It claims to reduce bounce by 83% which is great news for runners out there. I have already written about Panache bras on my other blog and I've been a long time fan of the brand so I had high hopes for this one.

Currently, most sports bras for larger cup sizes rely on compression to reduce bounce which results in that horrid uni-boob look  Panache bras support each breast separately with under wire and a moulded cup which gives a much more flattering shape under clothes. I found the bra very comfortable, the straps are padded and there is padding along the under wire so this sits nice under your bust rather than digging in. The are three hooks on the back which give a nice, firm support and the neckline isn't too high so doesn't show under my vests and t-shirts. I also wore this bra to a sleepover and kept it on all night (worry about falling out in my sleep, lame) and it felt like I didn't have a bra on.

I can't say if the bra reduced bounce by 83% but it's the best supporting bra I own and I may purchase this in another colour. This bra would be great for those who work out and do yoga with a little cropped top on because you could wear this on its own.

Panache provided the bra for review purposes but also sent a little running kit. I'm sporting the bumbag (I'm calling it that but apparently it's a running belt), pedometer and reflective arm band in the photos above. I've always just hit the pavement with my iPod and not much else. I'm a bit of a novice when it comes to running so it was great to get some kit that ensures I'm safe and hydrated when I'm out for a run.

What are you essential items for running? Have you tried the Panache sports bra?

Nutribox Review

I’m always looking for healthy things to snack on at my desk when the 3pm munchies kick in and so I was pleased to be sent a NutriBox to review – a bit more exciting than just fruit which is what I normally have!

The box comes through the post and you can get it delivered to work, and every box contains a different selection of gluten-free healthy treats. In my box were:

Choc-Free fruit & nut mix

Tropical mix

Hot cross bun mix

Apple & Pear Braw Bar

Miss Wallflower Candy Raw Food Cookies

Pulsin Energy Bomb

Cashew & Pecan Bounce Bar

Probiot Dark chocolate Ombar

Cranberry & Mandarin dark chocolate Ombar

There’s a huge selection of snacks in the box and I actually ended up sharing it with my team at work. I loved the fruit and nut mixes but actually had to avoid some of the snacks because they were surprisingly high in Weight Watchers points.

Now, obviously there are different kinds of healthy eating and you often can’t combine two diets together and expect results. Some healthy eating plans recommend snacking on nuts and houmous, others tell you to avoid them because of the fat content. I think this is the same situation, the NutriBox is great if you are trying to make healthier choices all round, but if you are part of a set diet plan it may not be for you. The same would also probably apply for similar snack boxes though.

So overall, I think the box is great with a huge selection of products but is not really suitable for someone on Weight Watchers but if you have a gluten allergy and are struggling to find snacks you can eat, this is a great bet.

The NutriBox costs from £9.71 per box and you can find out more info here.

myvitamins review

About six weeks ago the Where Are My Knees gang (as it was then) were contacted by myvitamins, a new website launched in the summer which offers vitamins and minerals online.  We were all really interested in finding out more and they prepared us each a different set of 'plans', with the four plans being Weight Loss, Immune Boosting, Detox and Relax and Rejunvenation.  Within the plans we all had four or five different vitamins/minerals to take regularly.  I chose relax and rejuvenation and received Acai Berries, Vitamin C, Omega 3, Complete Immune and Complete Sleep.

Many people have strong feelings about whether you should or shouldn't take vitamins and minerals to supplement your diet.  Personally I do - I believe that whilst most people can get all of the vitamins and minerals they need from eating a balanced, varied diet, this is not always easy, and for a lot of people, not achievable on an every day basis.  For example, I don't eat a great deal of meat so I know my iron intake is sometimes low, so when I'm going through a period where I'm feeling excessively tired I'll take an iron supplement to make me feel better.  Researchers are also finding that some vitamins and minerals that are protective against disease are difficult to obtain just by eating alone, so there is definitely some evidence that they can be beneficial for your health.  However, taking too many supplements can be bad for you, so it's important to read up on advice and speak to your GP if you're not sure.

Personally I tried all of the vitamins but spaced it out so I was taking one at a time so I could see any difference and be able to attribute it to which I was taking.  The first I tried (and my favourite of them) was Complete Sleep.  I took two of these before I went to bed on nights when I thought I might have difficulty sleeping or was particularly tired and wanted to guarantee a good sleep.  I definitely found they helped me sleep better and I woke feeling more refreshed in the morning.  The other four supplements I had were focused around support for your immune system, and then Omega 3 for eye brain and heart health.  It's difficult to say with certainty whether these had an impact on my general well-being but one thing I would say is that I often tend to get poorly on holiday, particularly immediately after a flight (all those germs flying around, yuck!) - before and during my holiday in Florida I started taking Complete Immune and I was absolutely fine throughout it and also haven't picked up the dreaded cold that seems to be going around my friendship group (touching lots of wood here) so there's a high possibility it has given my immune system a boost.

I (Gemma) was supplied with a mixture of tablets to help boost my immune system. Like Rosie I took Complete Immune and I think these are something I would continue to take. I work odd hours, I'm always going on weekends away and have little time to myself so an illness can really stop me in my tracks. I just don't have the time to come down with the flu so capsules that contain a mixture of vitamins and essential minerals are the perfect way for me to look after myself with minimum effort. I also took vitamin C and D capsules, I'm not sure these are entirely essential as I already eat a lot of foods that are high in vitamins and the Complete Immune tablets contain both of these. I really despise the taste of green tea but love all the benefits it can give so I was keen to try out the Green Tea Extract tablets. Studies have shown that it can boost your metabolism, lower cholesterol and much more. I haven't finished the course of these yet and wont see immediate results but I'm interested in seeing the long term benefits of taking green tea supplements.
You need to be careful when taking any supplements like these. I can't take them the same time of day that I take my acne tablets that are perscribed by my GP so make sure you read the labels carefully.

One thing we all agreed on (slightly superficial I know!) is that we loved the packaging and presentation of the products - they are much more appealing than the boring labelled pots you usually get.  Their website is also really easy to use, with free delivery and three for two across their whole range of products.  Personally I'll definitely be using them from now on to buy the vitamins I take regularly.

NeuroDrinks

NeuroDrinks sent Gem & Sarah one each of their range of herbal drinks to test.  We obviously cannot confirm their claims after one drink but can confirm that they are tasty!!  At only 37 calories per bottle they really did hit the spot without damaging the diet.  Don't know about you but we don't like wasting our calories on drinks unless they contain alcohol ;)

Each drink contains different key ingredients in order to provide targeted benefits.  The above image shows both the ingredients and each drinks benefits. None of the drinks state what flavour they are, they are all fruity and quite sweet.  Neurosport has that kinda salty taste standard hydration drinks have.  Neurosun is Sarah's least favourite, it evokes memories of suntan lotion and has a fruity/coconut taste to it.  Neurotrim tastes like lychees and is Sarah's favourite - glad it's the one that supports weight loss!

The berry flavour NeuroSonic is Gemma's favourite. Gemma is definitely not a morning person so she will be taking it to work on Monday mornings to boost her mental performance. Gemma wasn't so sure about the milky NeuroBliss which claims to enhance your mood. She's all for mood enhancement but this cloudy drink reminds her of fabric softener.

Would you like to try some NeuroDrinks? Yes? You're in luck because we have a case of 15 mixed bottles to give away. Just fill in the rafflecopter form below, there are lots of different ways to enter.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

I do hope Lady Gaga drinks them out of her tea cup...