< Previous40 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY HAIR & BEAUTY © stock.adobe.com/anetlandaHAIR & BEAUTY S ocial media has proven a major hit for the beauty industry and image-conscious consumers, but it’s also led to a lot of toxic beauty standards that are reaching younger audiences. These can not only damage self- esteem but push people to take on unhealthy standards that lead to mental health issues and depression. According to a study by Dove, 66% of girls spend 1 hour + on social media every weekday, while 71% of them also said that spending less time on social media would make them feel happier as people. Worse yet, over 50% said that toxic beauty advice online had made them feel less pretty, while a shocking 90% said they followed the social media account of someone who makes them feel less beautiful. Given the obvious dangers of toxic beauty advice, we’ve decided to compile a few examples of what is being seen – but, in the interests of making the reading lighter, we’re going to highlight some of the more ridiculous and even amusing instances of it. This is not to lighten a very serious issue, but instead to point out the ridiculous and comical lengths some people are going to in order to look better online. In our humble opinions, a good way to fight toxic standards is to mock them. Fake bellybuttons This is a big rage in China as a way to make the legs look longer. In effect, a sticker or a tattoo is added above the naval to create what looks like a second bellybutton much higher than it would normally be. This is usually then exposed with a crop top and a waistline drawn higher to make it appear as though the person has very long legs and a smaller abdomen. Not only is this unrealistic and damaging, but it causes young women in China to walk around with their trousers and underwear yanked uncomfortably far up their bodies! Nose Slimmers / Shapers There are a lot of people who feel their nose is too big, the wrong shape or uneven. Naturally, there are as many companies who are quick to make money off these insecurities by creating vice-like objects that clamp to your nose and pinch inwards. Dubbed nose slimmers or nose shapers, these claim to help define and smoothen the shape of your nose by applying constant pressure. Not unlike if you pinched your nose with your Social media is rife with toxic beauty standards, and companies are quick to try and make money from insecurity. We highlight some examples of truly absurd products that people are using even now. Better to be aware than not. fingers. The theory seems akin to braces tightening teeth into an even shape, but the problem is that braces work by pulling on teeth, which are only secured to the jaw in one area. Simply pinching your nose for long periods of time won’t achieve anything other than making you feel uncomfortable. Blackhead vacuum You may not be able to close or shrink your pores but you can use a powerful vacuum to suck them clean. Or, you know, you could improve your diet to produce less sebum leading to blackheads, but that wouldn’t sell a product capable of leaving rashes, redness and leading to incredible pain. If you’ve ever caught your skin in a vacuum, imagine a much smaller opening pinching much more sensitive skin on your face and refusing to let go. Similarly, if you’ve ever felt how stubborn blackheads can be, imagine how much suction is required to tear them from your skin in one go! Bone Mashing This dangerous trend is more common among men but some women do it too. The idea is to achieve a chiselled jawline by – wait for it – using an actual chisel and hammer to smash your jawline into a better shape. If it sounds ridiculous, that’s because it is, but there are boys as young as 12 trying to achieve a jawline because they’ve seen it on TikTok or Youtube. This casual approach to what is essentially bone surgery can lead to serious medical problems. More recently, companies have released chewing gum that they claim can work and exercise jaw muscles to achieve the same, but dermatologists and doctors warn that at best it will just lead to over-worked jaw muscles that could lead to serious problems like your jaw popping out of shape. © stock.adobe.com/Light Impression42 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY HEALTH & FITNESS H IIT (High-Intensity Interval Training) continues to be a popular choice for many fitness enthusiasts. It’s a challenging workout that involves short bursts of intense exercise followed by brief rest periods. HIIT workouts are effective for burning fat and building muscle, and they can be done in a relatively short amount of time. Many gyms and fitness studios offer HIIT classes, and there are also many online resources and apps that provide guided HIIT workouts. Another trend that’s gaining popularity is functional fitness. This type of training focuses on movements that mimic everyday activities, such as lifting groceries or carrying a child. Functional fitness exercises work multiple muscle groups at once, which can help improve overall strength and balance. Many fitness studios and gyms now offer functional fitness classes, and there are also many online resources available. Some common functional fitness movements include squats, lunges, push- ups, and pulling motions. The workouts often involve the use of weights, resistance bands, and other equipment that can be adjusted to accommodate different fitness levels. Functional fitness workouts are suitable for people of all ages and fitness levels, and they can be modified to address specific health concerns or injuries. With regular practice, functional fitness can improve balance, coordination, and cardiovascular health, among other benefits. Group fitness classes are also a great way to stay motivated and engaged with your workout routine. Group fitness classes provide a sense of community and accountability, which can help you stay on track with your fitness goals. Many people begin fitness routines in the late summer to prepare for Christmas events and holidays, and often find that the encouragement of others enables them to strive beyond their original goals. Gentle encouragement can inspire a deeper passion in fitness, so even working out with a good friend will help you to push further than you thought possible. Stepping up As the second half of the year rolls in, many start to look at their overall health and how to attain a healthier body index. 44 Á © stock.adobe.com/Syda ProductionsWe accept both insured and self funding patients across the following specialties: • Breast Surgery • Cardiology • Cosmetic Surgery • Diagnostics • Dermatology • Endocrinology • ENT • Gastroenterology • General Surgery • Gynaecology • Neurology • Ophthalmology • Orthopaedic Surgery • Physiotherapy • Pain Management • Rheumatology • Urology • Vascular Surgery Spreading the cost of treatment* 10 month interest credit free and longer term payment plans available to suit you. Receive fast access to healthcare at your local private hospital For more information on the services provided or to book an appointment, visit us online or call us today: 01522 254453 www.circlehealthgroup.co.uk/lincoln 28856 2732 MKT ADV / 02.2024 *Terms & conditions apply44 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY HEALTH & FITNESS Outdoor fitness activities are also popular while the weather remains warm (when it isn’t raining). With warmer weather and longer days, it’s the perfect time to take your workout outside. Activities like hiking, cycling, kayaking, or open water swimming can be great for both your physical and mental health. Outdoor workouts can also provide a change of scenery and a break from the monotony of indoor workouts. Combining this with group fitness classes, such as outdoor yoga, park runs, or even football will keep you engaged with fitness culture whilst enjoying the beauty of summer approaching autumn. Technology is also playing a significant role in the fitness industry. Wearable fitness trackers, such as smartwatches or fitness bands, are becoming increasingly popular. These devices can track your steps, monitor your heart rate, and provide data on your workouts. Many fitness apps also integrate with wearable devices, allowing you to track your progress and set goals. Virtual training sessions are also growing in popularity, allowing you to work with a personal trainer or attend fitness classes from the comfort of your own home. One emerging trend in the fitness industry is mindfulness. Many fitness professionals are incorporating mindfulness techniques, such as meditation or breathing exercises, into their classes and training sessions. Mindfulness can help reduce stress and anxiety, improve focus and mental clarity, and enhance overall well-being. If classes aren’t for you, there are some easy techniques to try at home. If you start feeling anxious, body scans can be done. This is mentally scanning the body from head to toe, noticing any areas of tension or discomfort. This can be followed by breathing exercises which can be done by focusing on deep, slow breathing to calm the mind and body. Practicing meditation can help with this. Try sitting in a quiet place and focusing on the present moment, often with the help of guided imagery or visualization. Meditation is a skill that, when practiced, can be discreetly applied during moments of stress to quietly calm you. LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY 45 HEALTH & FITNESS Engaging in mindful movement, such as yoga or walking, keeps you in tune with your body, making body scans much more effective as you are focused on sensations in the body. Finally, try gratitude journaling. This is taking time each day to reflect on and writing down things for which one is grateful, helping to cultivate a positive mindset. These techniques can help reduce stress, improve focus, and enhance overall well-being. Taking a little time to research how long it will take to reach your particular fitness goal will help to determine the best approach to take. For example, losing 1 pound a week is safe for weight loss and belly fat reduction. For this, 500 calories must be lost per day, meaning HIIT is likely to be the best method. Whilst functional fitness is worthwhile and trendy, do not forget to also prioritize self-care and mental wellbeing. Practicing mindfulness will remove negative self- talk, meaning that you are less likely to sabotage your goals and stay on track. Being mentally healthy remains vital for overall wellbeing as well as longevity. © stock.adobe.com/ JackF Is your reading vision starting to annoy you, but you want another option to wearing glasses? Presbyopia is the term for your eye losing the ability to change focus as the eye’s lens grows less flexible. Starting around age 40 and getting worse until your mid-60s. You’ll notice that close-up tasks are harder than they used to be. You might need to hold your book or phone out at arm’s length to see the words clearly. You may also have symptoms like headaches or sore, tired eyes. Can I correct this with contact lenses? Yes there are options for correction of presbyopia with contact lenses. The more difficult question is which contact lens option is best to correct your declining near vision. The challenge with contact lenses is when we correct your reading, it focuses your eyes up close, making your distance vision worse. What are my options? Multifocals - the most modern option, these lenses have multiple prescriptions in one lens. This allows you to see both far away and up close. In theory, these contacts are perfect, you put one in each eye, and you can see at all distances until you take them out, however the technology isn’t perfect for everyone so we recommend booking a trial to see if they work for you. Monovision - this is where you wear a lens for reading in one eye, and in the other eye, you wear a lens for distance (or no lens at all if you already see well at distance). This doesn’t require a special contact lens but does require us to work out your dominant eye and the optimal balance so again booking an appointment is recommended. At Holland & James we offer our patients a wide choice, from value lenses for short wear times to high-performance lenses for longer, more demanding days. We have a lens to suit every routine, lifestyle, budget, and most prescriptions. Charlie Holland and Neil James46 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY FOOD & DINING Al Fresco Scotch Pie You’ll need: * 600g (1lb) of mutton mince * 1/4 tsp ground mace * 1/4 tsp nutmeg * 5 tbsp gravy * Salt and pepper to season * 120g lard * 360g flour * 1 egg dough into four balls to go with the filling and roll each ball flat with a rolling pin until you have a circle of flat pastry about 7 inch in diameter. * Place a ball of meat on each circle and gather up the pastry around it into the shape of a pork pie. Then take the pastry set aside earlier and cut “lids” for the pies to the size required. You can use water to dampen the sides and pinch (or crimp) the pastry together between your fingers to seal the lid to the sides. * Wrap the greased baking paper around the edges of your pies and tie them with cooking string to ensure they keep their shape, then cut a small steam hole into the top of each pie to ensure the heat penetrates to the meat. Set on the baking tray. Brush your pies with a beaten egg yolk. It is a good idea to set the pies in the fridge for 30 minutes to cool and harden (for holding their shape) before transferring them to the oven to bake for 35-40 minutes, or until golden brown. © stock.adobe.com/JoannaTkaczuk Meaning “in the fresh air” al fresco dining is especially popular in summer months. Here are some quick and easy recipes you can take to eat outside. What to do: * Set and pre-heat oven to 200C (Gas Mark 6) then line a tray with baking paper. Cut strips of baking paper (about two inches wide) to later wrap around the pies to help them maintain their shape. * Mix mutton with mace, nutmeg and gravy into a bowl and season generously with salt and pepper. Help the gravy work into the meat by working it with clean hands, and then divide into four roughly even balls and set aside. * Prepare the pastry by heating 160ml of water, 1/2 tsp of salt into a saucepan until it is nearly boiling. At the same time put flour into a mixing bowl. Pour the hot (but not boiling) liquid into the bowl of flour and mix together with a spoon. You can then knead by hand once it has cooled enough not to burn. Work it into a smooth dough. * Cut off roughly a quarter of the pastry and set aside - this will be used later. Divide the remaining LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY 47 Smoked Mackerel on Rye Bread Serves: 2 Prep: 10 minutes You’ll need: * 5 radishes, sliced * 2 tbsp white wine vinegar * 1 tsp caster sugar * 2 tbsp sour cream * 1 tbsp horseradish cream or sauce * Salt and pepper * 2 slices rye bread, toasted * 1 large fillet peppered smoked mackerel, flaked Dill What to do: * Put the radishes in a bowl. Mix in the vinegar and sugar. Leave for 10 minutes. * Meanwhile, mix together the sour cream, horseradish and seasoning. Spread over the rye bread. *. Top with the flaked mackerel, the drained radishes and garnish with dill. Recipe courtesy www.loveradish.co.uk © stock.adobe.com/trendyrowdy More than just a hotel Located in the leafy victorian surroundings of Peoples Park in Grimsby, but only a short stroll from the centre of our busy town and historic docks, Millfields is perfectly placed for visitors to North East Lincolnshire. With 27 well appointed Bedrooms, a Restaurant with A la Carte menu and a Bar offering a range of Draught Beers, Wireless Internet Access and Free Onsite Car Parking, Millfields is the perfect place to stay all year round. More than just a hotel 53 Bargate, Grimsby, N. E. Lincs. DN34 5AD T: 01472 356068 E: info@millfieldshotel.co.uk W: www.millfieldshotel.co.uk with Pickled RadishTo promote your services call Angie Cooper on 01472 310302 or email: a.cooper@blmgroup.co.uk Click’em Inn Swinhope, Nr Binbrook, Market Rasen, LN8 6BS Tel: 01472 398253 Web: www.clickem-inn.co.uk The Click’em Inn is a family-owned freehouse, established for over 30 years in its current incarnation. Steeped in history, the inn is open 6 days a week, Tuesday- Sunday, offering a wide choice of drinks, including six real ales available at any time, with a regularly changing selection of personally recommended guest ales. The Kitchen is open Tuesday-Sunday for evening dining, plus lunchtimes Friday-Sunday. The menu varies from day-to-day with the chef’s specials, alongside regular meals. 48 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY FOOD & DINING Vegetarian Serves 8-10 Prep time: 30 minutes, plus chilling You’ll need: Ingredients for the coconut custard: * 1 x (400ml) can coconut milk * 3 egg yolks * 50g caster sugar * 1 heaped tbsp cornflour * A few drops of coconut flavouring (optional - if you like a very coconutty flavour) Ingredients: * 1 ginger cake (appx. 200g), cut into roughly 1cm slices * 2 cans (435g) Del Monte(r) Pineapple Slices in Juice * 2 limes, juice of 1 and zest of 2 * 300ml double cream * Toasted coconut flakes, to finish * 1 Strawberry to garnish © stock.adobe.com/HAMEEDA Pineapple, Lime and Coconut Trifle The Kings Head 11 Kingsway, Tealby, Market Rasen LN8 3YA Tel: 01673 838347 Web: www.thekingsheadtealby.co.uk The Kings Head Tealby, Market Rasen is the Oldest Thatched Pub in Lincolnshire circa 1367. Superb fresh home cooked food offering, fine (well kept) Real Ales and a relaxed enjoyable atmosphere. Come and relax with friends and family in our bar area or dine with us in our cosy lounge or beautiful restaurant areas. We also have an excellent large stunning beer garden for alfresco dining in the Summer months. Ocean Fish Bar 50 St. Peters Avenue, Cleethorpes DN35 8HP T: 01472 603590 E: oceanfishbar@btconnect.com W: oceanfishbar-cleethorpes.co.uk Established for over 17 years, Ocean Fish Bar is proud to be an independent, family run, fish & chip restaurant and takeaway. Our menu features a variety of dishes made with fresh, locally sourced ingredients. From traditional fish & chips to homemade hearty pie, there's something for everyone to enjoy. We also offer a selection of vegetarian and gluten-free options to accommodate all dietary needs. Our restaurant can seat up to 130 people, we have full disabled access and we have a fully licensed bar. What to do: * Start with the coconut custard, which needs time to cool. Put the coconut milk in a saucepan and heat gently, stirring, until completely smooth and amalgamated. Take off the heat. * Put the egg yolks, sugar and cornflour in a bowl and beat together thoroughly. Carefully pour the warm coconut milk onto the yolk mixture, stirring all the time. Then pour the whole lot back into the pan and put back over a medium heat. Heat the custard, stirring often so it doesn’t stick to the base of the pan, until it’s steaming hot, just beginning to bubble and noticeably thickened. * Pour into a clean bowl or jug, cover the surface directly with a piece of baking parchment to stop a skin from forming, and leave to cool completely. Once cool, put in the fridge. * Use the slices of ginger cake to line the base of a 2-2.5 litre trifle bowl. * Drain both cans of pineapple, keeping 6 tbsp juice from one of the cans. Mix this pineapple juice with the juice and grated zest of 1 lime. Trickle this over the ginger cake. * Set aside 2 pineapple slices for decoration, putting them in the fridge in a covered container. Arrange the remaining pineapple over the ginger cake. * If you want to use coconut flavouring, add a few drops to the coconut custard now. Spread the cooled coconut custard over the pineapple. Chill the trifle at this stage for an hour or up to 24 hours. * When ready to serve, whip the cream until it holds soft peaks and spoon onto the custard. Cut the remaining pineapple slices into small pieces and arrange on top of the cream. Top with coconut flakes and curls of lime zest and serve. Add a single strawberry for colour. Recipe courtesy of www.delmonte.comLINCOLNSHIRE TODAY 49 T he Red Lion in Caythorpe has long been a favourite of ours, as well as a repeated award winner in our annual dining awards. Now, former manager Becky Hall has taken over ownership of the Red Lion and we wanted to visit to see how the Red Lion fares with a new captain at the helm. On arrival, it was great to see the warm and welcoming atmosphere has been retained, with stylish décor and friendly staff. The restaurant was incredibly busy as well, which is always a good sign. Becky has brought in a new summer menu with some new exotic twists, putting to use her years of experience in the Red Lion prior to taking over. I started my meal with the panko fried Chinese chicken on kimchi slaw, a fusion of Asian flavours and tastes that carried a wonderful punch of flavour. It wasn’t something we’re used to seeing in British pubs but bringing in options like this from further afield really elevates the dining experience. My partner, ever the more traditional diner, went with “Just Jane” and green tomato chutney stuffed mushrooms with candied almonds, which he complimented as being incredibly rich and flavourful. We hold that the job of a starter isn’t just to cleanse the palate but to excite the diner by offering a taste of what’s to come, and the Red Lion certainly achieved that. For our mains, my partner chose the beer battered haddock fillet with twice cooked chips, a favourite restaurant and pub meal across not just the county but the country as a whole. Served with golden, crispy batter and chunky chips, the Red Lion does the dish justice, but I had my sights set on something more exotic. From Becky’s new specials board, I chose the Jamaican lamb and coconut curry served with rice and beans, and I have to say it was an incredible experience. The lamb was soft and tender, marinated in Jamaican spices rich and full of flavour. It really was incredibly morish, and I can’t advise enough for people to check the specials. The Red Lion serves all the meals you’d expect and more on their regular menu, but the specials really stand above. The meal was exceptional and reminded me of the warm sunshine and tropical holidays. Following up with dessert, I ordered a jam and coconut tart to maintain the tropical feel, and adored the mouth- wateringly sweet pudding, even if it was served in a very generous portion. My partner opted for the lemon posset, which he said was fresh and zingy, leaving tingles up and down his tastebuds. It’s great to see the Red Lion is not just sticking to its winning formula but also adding in wonderful extras on its exotic special menu. We’d expect no less from someone who has been working in the Red Lion for so long, and we look forward to seeing what Becky and the team can cook up in the future. The Red Lion can be found on the High St, Caythorpe, Grantham NG32 3DN. For more information, be it on the menu or how to book a table, you can call on 01400 272 632 or visit and book online at www.redlioncaythorpe.com Caythorpe The The Red Lion Under new ownership, the Red Lion in Caythorpe aims to continue its legacy while bringing in an exciting new summer menu. Next >