Journey to a Healthier You Review-Led Article

Reviewed by Sian Manning

I have recently, in the last year or so decided to make healthier choices, starting with eating better and losing weight, so when this review came up I was really interested in seeing what else I could do to be healthier.

Lumen

The Lumen (RRP from £249) is an incredible device that lets you know what your metabolism is doing. It aids you in your goals towards weight loss, gaining weight or maintaining,, by knowing more about how your body is working you can improve your metabolic flexibility and efficiency. This can lead to, natural weight loss, less snacking, boosted energy and moods, improved overall health and better weight management.

The Lumen is a small device that you blow into, this is synced with an app on your smart phone or device, from here you can see all of your stats and data and manage your readings. Based on your reading the app will calculate and personalise meal recommendations while giving real time metabolic insights and also tailoring an eating plan to you too.

The Lumen comes is a cute little black box and is supplied with a charging dock, charging cable, instructions and warranty information and a little travel pouch so that you know your device is safe when you are out and about.

To use the Lumen it is as simple as turning it on, opening the app and breathing in through the mouth piece and then out again, your data is then shown in real time in the app and your immediately know if you are in fat burn or carb burn mode.

I have been using the device for a couple of months now and with the help from the app and also the amazing facebook group that you also get access to I have learnt and understood a lot more about what I eat, how I exercise and how it affects my body and it’s ability to burn fat and carbs, by learning more about my metabolism I have managed to lose another 4lbs in a healthy and sustainable way.

For anyone looking for an extra helping hand on a fitness journey this is definitely something to look into and really does give much more of an insight than I was expecting.

Rating: 4.5/5

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Qappy Happiness and Wellbeing Box – Premium

This box is the sweetest most joyful box of happy relaxing post I have ever received. Inside this box is a whole range of the most relaxing and anxiety reducing activities for you to do in your own time.

The box is packed full of fun activities, in this one was a gorgeous zen garden, complete with everything you need – the tray, sand, a small rake, stones and a candle – soap carving, this includes an amazingly scented candle that filled the room with the most incredible fragrance as soon as I opened the box, also included is a gorgeous soap dish for your finished soap and the tool and stencil to carve with. The third full size activity is doodling so included is a lovely pack of pencils, a sharpener and some card to draw on too. There was also 2 little packets of treats in the box, some yummy chocolate drops and some delicious dried mango pieces so when you are feeling like you need a little snack while you are concentrating on yourself you can reach for something healthy instead of raiding the kitchen!

The Qappy box isn’t just about what is in the box, there is also a lot of online content that goes hand in hand with the activities included, from music to yoga and plenty of mindfulness.

The box really does give you everything you need to have some quality time to yourself and just sit and enjoy some activities that you may not have thought about trying before. A lovely set for just being by yourself, enjoying some me time and really relaxing and letting go of the day.

Rating: 5/5

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Drinkwell Red and White Selection of Wines

Now here was one that pretty much everyone I know was super happy for me to get to review, healthier wines and lots of them. I was sent a mixed case of 12, red and white, I am not a red drinker in general so I did have to ask for some help with these from friends and family – they just about managed to stretch themselves to do this for me though!

These wines were so incredibly well packaged, and eco packaged too which is so so nice to see, they were packaged with recycled cardboard, top and bottom and in a huge box so everything was able to go into the recycling bin. These wines can be purchased as a stand alone box or you can also get a wine subscription of 6 or 12 bottles every two months, free delivery and no obligation and free gifts too.

The wines are all low calorie so perfect for anyone watching their weight that also enjoys a glass of something that actually tastes nice and that you can sit and enjoy with friends without feeling guilty. I have been enjoying the whites of an evening with friends and for once I have actually read the back of the bottle and when drinking actually been able to pick up some of the flavours in the wines, although I must admit I do choose which one to drink based on the picture on the front!

The reds I have asked my Dad to very kindly help me with the chore of drinking these and letting me know what he thinks. He has really enjoyed them on the whole with only one that he hasn’t enjoyed so much, but I think that is pretty good going and we don’t all enjoy the same things. I for example much prefer a sweet – the sweeter the better, hence needing the healthy lifestyle help – so the drier whites aren’t to my taste.

In all though there is such a great selection of wines and you get to sample and decide which are your favourites and if you aren’t as fussy as me you will be onto a winner as they are all really lovely, good quality wines from around the world.

Rating: 4.5/5

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1 year annual plus membership Your Pilates Physio

This is an online pilates class (RRP £127.50), it is an amazing format for getting to a Pilates class from your own room in your own house and in your own time, for anyone that struggles because of other commitments – work, children, clubs etc.

The sign up process is easy and the navigation is also super easy so even with the most basic of computer knowledge you can access the classes with ease, great for a beginner or someone with plenty of computer knowledge alike.

When you first log in you get to work through the beginners classes, before moving on to the more complex ones. The classes are all a nice length and if you don’t want to be spending hours you really don’t have to be as they are bite size chunks of 30 minutes or so. The videos are all really easy to follow along with and really do start from a basic level so even someone with no level of fitness or experience can follow along and not have any issues – like me, this was something I have never done before so being able to start at the beginning with no pressure is brilliant.
You can either live stream the classes or watch them in your own time, great as a parent or if you are working as it is really nice to be able to fit them around your own schedule.

These classes have meant that I have been able to attend a fitness class from my own living room, as a single parent it is really hard for me to commit to a regular class in a gym, so being able to follow online really has been a game changer for me and I have been loving them and the me time it gives me and for the price I think it is great value, as for the amount of content you get it really is worth it. It also is a great alternative for anyone with anxiety as you can do these classes on your own and not feel that social pressure to be present, to be good at something and to attend when you are really feeling like you can’t, but you have to go because you have paid for it.

Rating: 5/5

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I have loved reviewing this little selection of health and wellbeing goodies, they have really added to my healthier lifestyle that I am aiming for and being able to try all of these things has been brilliant as some I had never heard of or thought about doing.

They have provided me with help losing weight, some much needed me time and also some treats that I wouldn’t have expected. For anyone looking to get healthier in mind and body, this really is a great selection of items and online classes and well worth a look.