Pump it up
Your heel height, that is. Given that ballet pumps have been so prevalent this summer, you'd think our feet have all been enjoying a well-earned break from the podiatric torture of high heels - but according to registered osteopath Jim McAvoy, that's not the case. 'Ballet pumps increase stress on the achilles tendon and raise the risk of complaints such as plantar fasciitis,' McAvoy says. It's all to do with something called the 'heel height differential', which refers to the difference in height between the heel and forefoot. 'A small heel, of about an inch, is healthier for the foot than a completely flat shoe - or even going shoeless,' he adds. 'People think going barefoot is good for feet because it's "natural". But the human foot has not evolved to walk on hard, flat, man-made surfaces - it's anything but natural.' Time to invest in a new pair of trainers, perhaps.
All wired up
When I was 12, I saved up all my pocket money and bought an electrical toning machine that promised to rid me of flab. The only thing that ended up lighter was my purse. But now a neuroscientist at University College London, Professor Gerta Vrbova, has concluded that electrical muscle stimulation can achieve higher levels of muscle activity than any exercise regime - provided the device is physiosequential, offering varying frequencies and stimulation patterns. That's how I ended up covered in sticky pads again, attached to wires, plugged into the Ultratone Futura Pro. My eyebrows kept popping up, my waist was sucked in every 5-10 seconds, but I felt no less flabby around the middle after. The frown line between my eyebrows disappeared for an hour or two, though. Sessions are available nationwide (020-7935 0631, ultratone.co.uk
To crown it all
Swimming might be good for your body but it doesn't do wonders for your looks. Not only do you have to walk around with post-goggle panda eyes for hours, but you smell permanently of chlorine and your hair goes green and brittle, too. Not any more, though (well, not on the hair front, anyway). After giving up on all those high street anti-chlorine shampoos which seemed as harsh as paint stripper, I chanced upon GHD Purifying Shampoo. It promises to remove chlorine (and sea salt, for that matter) and prevent discoloration without stripping your hair of its body and natural oils, and it does just that. If you're feeling extravagant or are sick of people calling you Chlorine Maureen, you can use it on your body, too. It's available for £9.95 at GHD-approved salons or online at ghdhair.com. I'll get back to you on the panda eyes.
