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Many, many years ago there was something known as the 'Barbie Workout'. 

Yes it was exactly what you're thinking about and no, it was not as much fun as anyone had ever hoped. There was as much pink as you could imagine, but the the dance moves and leotards were enough for one generation.

Just when you thought the madness had stopped however, it appears to have resurfaced. According to Buzzfeed (who kindly GIFed the video so now it will most certainly live on forever), you can buy the video on Amazon. 

According to the video's official description, the 30 minute video pretty amazing:

"Barbie is now the star of a brand-new video! Barbie leads nine girls in over a dozen hot new dance workout routines—fun steps like The Barbie Basic, Hot Foot, Sidewalk Strut, Jammin' Jogger, Broadway Barbie… and more!"

Werk Erica gal! Those are some serious moves, and a nice sock/trainer combo also. Who are these nine girls you ask, well we don't know all of them (although we REALLY want to) but one of them is none other than Jennifer Love Hewitt:

*Fun Fact: Jennifer Love Hewitt was one of the dancing girls.

Considering Kim K's ill-fated workout DVD made something of a resurgence not too long ago, we're wondering iff we should be witnessing the next great big fitness trend? Maybe Barbie will be launching her own fitness app soon, we wait in hope.

 

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A lot of folk say that most of the time, they eat well enough and exercise with moderate enthusiasm. 

Still, keeping hunger at bay is a MAJOR pickle for most of us.

Whether it's that slump between breakfast and lunch; the nibble-heavy period between lunch and dinner, or pre-bedtime evening rumblings – there always seems to be a tempting snack lurking in the background.

But rather than reaching for a slice of toast, a bowl of cereal, or a bar of chocolate, there are instead certain foods that suppress your appetite… naturally. 

Basically, they're the foods that are a dieter's dream: here, SHEmazing! rounds up the six of the best, most readily available ones…

 

1) Apples

An apple a day keeps excess pounds away! And that's largely because of soluble fiber and ursolic acid, a natural compound that has been found to boost fat-burning and may promote lean muscle mass.

A medium apple has just 95 calories and 6g of fiber. Just be sure to eat the whole apple, as the ursolic acid as well as beneficial antioxidants are concentrated in the skin.

2) Eggs

Eating a breakfast that's rich in protein (20-30g) suppresses ghrelin, a hormone that stimulates your appetite, while elevating peptide YY and GLP-1, two hormones that enhance satiety, according to research.

Studies also suggests that eating eggs for breakfast encourages you to eat fewer calories throughout the day. In fact, an egg breakfast may help control hunger for a full 24 hours. 

3) Chickpeas

Chickpeas – not to mention beans, peas and lentils – contain lots of fiber; are excellent sources of slow-to-digest protein, and have a low glycemic index to keep blood sugar and carbohydrate cravings in check.

A recent report published in the journal Obesity indicated that people who ate about 155g of legumes felt 31 percent fuller than those who didn't.

Another study published recently reports that overweight people who ate a bean-rich diet could lose 4.5kg in 16 weeks.

4) Nuts

Yes, they're high in calories (about 170 calories per 30g serving), but nuts can still be very slimming. Studies show that nut lovers are thinner than those who avoid or rarely eat nuts. Why? Nuts keep you fuller longer; their calories aren't fully absorbed by the body, and they boost your metabolism.

In particular, opt for in-shell pistachios: fiddling around with the shells should help you consume around 40 percent fewer calories – and you'll have a visual reminder of just how many you've eaten.

5) Mangos

Fiber-packed mangos are definitely diet-friendly. The fruit contains numerous bioactive ingredients, including mangiferin, a compound that has been shown in preliminary research to help reduce body fat and control blood sugar levels.

Research published in the British Journal Of Nutrition also reports that mango added to the diets of rodents prevented weight gain and improved blood sugar and insulin levels when the animals were fed a high-fat diet.

6) Natural yoghurt 

Dairy's not really in vogue at the moment, but having full-fat, natural yoghurt (such as Greek style) every day might help you keep your weight in check: one study, in fact, suggests it makes you 20 percent less likely to become overweight and 38 percent less likely to become obese.

Researchers reckon the protein (a serving of plain Greek yoghurt has as much protein as four large eggs), calcium, and probiotics all play a role.

 

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A good cardio session goes a long way toward blasting unwanted fat, but it's not always appealing to hit the gym after a hard day at work.

If you find you relax more into exercise when you're in your own environment or outside with a friend, that doesn't mean you need to compromise on calorie-burning.

There are many different styles of exercise that can benefit your body without you ever having to step inside a gym.

Check out these activities… they'll burn more calories than you might think,

Running
It's no surprise that running is a great way to melt fat, as it exercises the legs, core and bum, all of which are huge calorie burners. Jogging outdoors on undulating terrain works your muscles far more than running on a treadmill, so get out and get active.

Skipping
Root your old jumping rope out of the attic and give this a go – it's a boxing training staple that burns around 340 calories in 30 minutes. Keep your feet slightly apart, stand up straight and ensure your jumps are low to the ground.

Dancing
Ok, slow-waltzing around your living room won't burn off much fat, but up the tempo and you'll get your lungs pumping soon enough. Choose a playlist of songs that's as long as an average workout, say 30 minutes, and get dancing. Slow things down at the end for a cool off.

Brisk walking
Walking burns around half as many calories as running, but get a brisk pace going (enough that you can't keep up a conversation) and you'll feel the results. Aim for short, quick steps and you should burn around 170 cals in 30 minutes.

Swimming
If you hate the gym but don't mind hitting the pool, then swimming should be your exercise of choice. Half an hour of front crawl burns around 250 – 300 calories, plus it's a low impact, total body workout. Win.

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If you have ever set an alarm in a bid to squeeze in a morning workout as a more healthy way to start our day, then you know how rough it can feel.

With winter closing in on us, sorry but someone had to say it, getting out of bed before the sun has risen can seem a very difficult task indeed. How tempting is it to just press the snooze button? Or better yet, just knock off you alarm altogether.

The people at Greatist wanted to end the fight between morning gym sessions and sleep once and for all. So they turned to some experts to help.

According to national Institutes of Health, adults should be getting seven to eight hours of sleep each night. Unfortunately most people don’t reach these levels of sleepy bliss.

Biologist Jason Edmonds says that working out while exhausted can feel harder and less productive. However, the early bird workouts do have benefits. Such as:

You’re more likely to go to gym in the morning before other social events pop up during the day.

Exercising releases endorphins. The feel good chemicals can help give you a boost and relieve stress for the remainder of the day.

You will sleep better. In one study, participants who exercised before 7 a.m. slept longer and had deeper sleep cycles than those who exercised as 1p.m or 7 p.m.

The takeaway from the investigation seems to be that if you’re constantly choosing between sleep and the gym then you need to readjust your schedule. One won’t work without the other, so if you really to get fit and stay healthy, the experts are suggests you find a balance.

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The Irish Blog Awards shortlist was announced recently and there a number of items which grabbed out attention very quickly.

This year the awards received a huge response with the number of nominations being up in the thousands. Judges will now be tasked with reading, reviewing and scoring all of the blogs which on the shortlist.

With close to 20 different categories, there is plenty to choose from. We are all about the bloggers here at SHEmazing and we’re always excited to find some new blogs to start obsessing over.

We put together a list of some of our favourites that cover everything from laugh-out-loud posts, serious (and realistic) fitness inspiration and more interesting takes on Irish life.
 

Health & Wellbeing:

The girls behind Kettlebelle.ie are committed to keeping it seriously real on their fitness journey. This is not the place to find a 'lose 5lbs before 5pm' type of post. Instead they write: "This is not a blog for elite athletes or bikini models (although we do look at photos and think one day that will be me!!) It is for us everyday girls that often need some help, tips, motivation or a swift kick up the arse to get ourselves on the road to being the HEALTHIEST, FITTEST, STRONGEST VERSION OF OURSELVES." You can find them on Instagram too and trust us, this is where some of the finest #fitspo is to be found.

Best Blog Post Nominee:

 

A photo posted by Dublin Girlo (@dublin_girlo) on

Dublin Girlo already has us laughing on a daily basis with her accounts of just what it takes to the sassiest stun-hun Dublin's southside has ever seen. Her blog post 'The 5 stages of getting over an arsehole' is no different. A highlight: "You and your girlos plaster every night out all over every social media site there is. You upload a selfie every day of you looking hunreal. Your clothes are stunning, you’ve probably dyed your hair (He obviously didn’t love you because of the colour of your hair)." Have a read of the whole post here. Be warned, it is fairly NSFW.

Food Blog:

The Little Green Spoon is hard to not read without feeling hungry. Seriously. If you can get to the 'Sweet Treats' section without raiding your presses then we salute you because we tend to only make it as far as the homepage before needing some snacks. There are countless recipes on this site to keep you occupied well through the winter. You can find some here.

Lifestyle:

With All the Finesse of a Badger is the place to go if you're feeling a little disillusioned with our modern society. Alvy is a writer who "dabbled in a bit of everything" and was recently at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Her retelling of 'the most impressively disastrous job interview there ever was' still has us laughing at our desks. You can find it, and more here. 

Travel:

Eat Sleep Chic is more than just a fashion and beauty blog. If you're looking for some weekend activity inspiration then look no further because this where all the best picks are going to be. We had no idea what Football golf was until we saw read this blog, and now we honestly can't to get out and try it. Oh, and another thing we love about this blog: all of the food! So much foodie goodness for your entertainment. 

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Ah yoga. The practice is supposed to allow to relax and refocus. Well, that is what is supposed to happen. A lot of the time though, we find ourselves feeling a little less zen and a touch more flustered.

Most of the die-hard yogis will never admit it, but there are plenty of borderline mortifying things that are bound to happen whenever you take to the mat. Such as…

You try to imagine how flattering those yoga pants are when your being a ‘warrior’:

Which leads to you then having a creep on the other ladies/men in your class:

‘Stretching up to the sky like a proud tree’ can lead to the realisation that you may have forgotten to shave your underarm area:

You feel a bit courageous and hold a tricky pose for an extended period:

Then realise no one is supposed to bend this way and fall out it:

But you quickly brush it off as a ‘recovery stretch’. Smooth:

The underwear situation can be a bit… unpleasant:

Your yoga teacher might go a little too far with the metaphors, for example:

You will discover the joy this is Shavasana, basically adult-napping:

 

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Not many people can turn a sidewalk into a catwalk, but Hailey Baldwin did. 

The model was spotted taking part in a photo shoot for Express Exp Core Performance Activewear in New York on Wednesday. 

The mega-hot 19 year-old was looking rather good for someone who was meant to have just come out of the gym as she pranced around the streets of the Big Apple. 

Sporting a tiny workout top and skintight leggings, Hailey showed off her ripped six-pack, and very plump derriere – no doubt the result of much hard work in the gym. 

Hailey is the youngest daughter of Stephen Baldwin, who is Hollywood actor Alec Baldwin's brother. Stephen is known as the black sheep of the family due to his support of Republican politicians. 

The teenager has become best friends with fellow models Kendall Jenner and Gigi Hadid. She even travelled to Mexico last month to celebrate Kylie Jenner's birthday, where she was spotted partying on a yacht and hanging out by the beach alongside the infamous Jenner clan. 

 

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Running, swimming, cycling… the outdoors life has definitely paid off for Pippa Middleton.

Kate's sister was pictured on holiday on the Carribean island of St Barts this week with some friends and family, looking downright incredible in a tiny red bikini as she relaxed on the water. 

Standing on a pontoon with her mother Carole, brother James and rumoured ex James Matthews, there was no doubt 31-year-old Pippa was looking in the best shape of her life. 

Those abs!

Of course, Pippa's always had an enviable body – back in 2011 she almost stole the show from her big sister as she dressed all in white to act as maid of honour at the Royal Wedding, wearing a figure-hugging gown designed by Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen.

The dress had a plunging neckline and the same button and lace trim details as Kate's own creation, also designed by Sarah Burton.

And while we have seen Pippa don a bikini before – like this white one for the family's annual holiday to Mustique a few years back, for example – she's looking more toned than ever thanks to the gruelling fitness regime she kicked off last year.

Back in June 2014 Pippa, her brother and a team of six others took on the Race for America, an eight day cycle for over 4,800 km across the US in aid of the Michael Matthews Foundation. Just weeks later, the same team headed to Istanbul to take on the Bosphorus Cross-Continental Race a 6.5km swim crossing two continents from Europe to Asia.

To round things off, just last month the Royal-in-law completed her first ever marathon… in temperatures of over 30C and at 1,600m above sea level in Kenya. "It was tough – tougher than anything I’d been faced with before and required every inch of my energy, stamina and stubbornness," Pippa told Hello! after finishing the 42km course.

While she definitely cuts no corners when it comes to her workouts, Pippa says she does allow herself the odd treat at mealtimes.

"I grew up with the belief that good health is about moderation in all things, so I'll be celebrating healthy living through exercise, a balanced diet, and a little of the naughty stuff sprinkled in — I'm talking chocolate, crisps, and the occasional glass of wine," she wrote in a column for Waitrose Weekend magazine last year.

Forget party planning… we reckon Pippa has a career in personal training ahead of her.

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Ever since her appearance stark naked in Robin Thicke's Blurred Lines video, Emily Ratajkowski has been the ultimate girl crush for women everywhere.

With her long, lean limbs and washboard abs, you'd be forgiven for thinking the 24-year-old model spends most of her day sweating up a storm in the gym. But in a new interview with the New York Times, Emily promises she's not really into fitness, and would choose a walk with friends over a gruelling gym session any day.

"I don’t have a trainer, and I don’t really go to the gym. I go on long walks and hikes with my girlfriends," the American beauty says. "That’s about it. I’m just not a crazy fitness person. I’m definitely an outlier in the industry."

Of course a body like that can't all be down to the genetic lottery, and Emily says she she loves the LA clean eating lifestyle that so many of the city's residents subscribe to. "For me, it’s about feeling good about what you eat. I do love turmeric and beet juices. It’s so LA, you can’t avoid it," she explains.

And her exercise routine isn't the only thing she keeps low-key, as Emily says she hates the overdone look when it comes to make-up. "I have really big features, so a little makeup goes a long way. I would hate to look like a clown," she tells the magazine.

While her work on Blurred Lines and a subsequent role as Ben Affleck's mistress in Gone Girl have catapulted Emily to mainstream fame, she has been working in the modelling industry for years. 

As well as catalogue work for Kohl's, Forever 21 and Nordstrom, Emily also did a number of nude photo shoots, most notably with photographer Tony Duran in 2011 and 2012.

At 5'7" and with curves that aren't often seen on the catwalk, the GQ cover girl says she is proud of being different. 

"I want to be a model that breaks down the traditional body boundaries. You don't have to be 5'9" and an A-cup to be a successful model, and that's nice," she said in a previous interview with Into The Gloss.

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Introducing a little bit more exercise into our lives can sometimes mean we end up a little short on time.

Stressing ourselves out running from place to place in a desperate bid to make it to the gym before they close can leave us feeling worse than when we spent all weekend on the couch with Netflix.

Rising at the crack of dawn to get to a Yoga class before the sun comes up is also not going to work for everyone. In efforts to help you decide whether a morning or evening workout is going to be better for you, we put together what makes morning and night workouts good for you.

Now all you have to do it decide if you want to set your alarm, or indulge in a mid-morning snooze.

Morning Workouts are better because:

The energy boost

Getting up early is hard, your bed is ultra-comfy, we understand. However, the exercise enduced endorphins from a morning workout can get you seriously pumped for your day ahead.

The routine

According to experts rising early for your workout will leave you more likely to stick with your fitness routine than if you choose the night time option.

You get it done

If you’re not altogether wild about actually exercising, then opting to hit the gym in the morning may be your best bet. That way it’s finished and out the way, so you’re less inclined to spend all day dreading it and end up not going.

Night workouts are loved because:

It relives stress

If you had a frustrating day, then something like kick boxing, or even some gentle yoga are going to help you work it out and get rid of all that negative energy after a long day.

You can work out for longer

In the morning you can end up rushing your trip to the gym or opting for a shorter run so you can get ready for any other plans you might have. At night you’ll have more free time, and if you wait until after peak hours the gym will generally be less crowded.

You are actually ready

Muscle function and strength apparently peak in the evening hours, according to experts, so you might actually be able to work out a little harder as you’re physically more prepared to exercise.

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With summer – and all the food, fun and festivities that come with the season – now coming to a close, it might well be time to detox more than your body… but your Instagram feed too. 

We have come across some fitness stars that will fill your device with pictures of workouts in exotic places and food in glorious proportions.

You are about to get some serious #fitspo envy!

 

Deliciously Ella (@deliciouslyella)

Ella Woodward's nutritious breakfast bowls, snacks and deserts look so great as they fill up your feed and they are guilt free too which makes drooling over them that little bit easier. #guiltfree

 

Amanda Bisk (@amandabisk)

Former Aussie pole vaulter turned yoga instructor Amanda Bisk strikes mind-boggling poses against the most beautiful backdrops. From a backwards bridge to an inverted handstand this girl will give you serious fitness (and body) goals.

 

Caroline Trentini (@trentinireal)

This young mother and longtime Vogue model probably has the most enviable abs in the industry. If you want to see frequent kickboxing snaps and beach side gym sessions, this is the girl for you to follow.  

 

Green Kitchen Stories (@gkstories)

David Frenkiel from Green Kitchen Stories takes snacking to a whole new level. He shoots his produce in a high contrast style which makes them look even more delish. 

 

Valentina Zelyaeva (@valentinazelyaeva)

This Russian model turned wellness guru has a jaw-dropping feed. From meals in the Tuscan hills to her globe-trotting meditations, you will want to pack up your life and go traveling with her. Seriously jealous. 

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We're all guilty of it: we wake up full of good intentions. We weather breakfast and maybe even lunch admirably, but at some stage we reckon 'feck it! – the diet starts tomorrow," before diving head-first into a giant glass of wine or family-sized bag of Kettle Crisps.

Because it seems that everyone is always starting their healthy eating regimes and exercise schedules 'tomorrow,' – or indeed 'on Monday…' or on the 'first of the month'.

So what's difficult about starting right now? And what can we do to give ourselves a kick up the arse?

Here, SHEmazing! brings you the ultimate guide to getting motivated…

 

1) Ask yourself why

Are you losing weight simply because you feel you 'should'? A lack of goals or clear targets will allow you to put off the best intentions indefinitely.

So ask yourself why: to fit back into your jeans; to look your best at a wedding; to be able to run 5km without stopping. Keep these goals in mind at all times until healthy living becomes second nature.

And write it all down too – then store it on your phone and refer back regularly. 

2) Know your triggers 

A lot of time, we don't really the reasons that prompt us to overeat – leading to binges. So work out how you eat and why. Do you eat because you're bored, or emotional, or thirsty? Do you always crack at 6pm? Are you someone who needs to have a treat day – or are you better off sticking to a diet plan until you start to see results?

Everyone is different – and you're best placed to identify your own nutritional pitfalls. While you're at it, clear the kitchen out of the food that you know you'll lean on after a tough day.

3) Preparation is key

No matter how much background checks you carry out – you won't get very far if you're not organised. This might mean having a stash of almonds or carrot sticks in your handbag at all times, so when hungry strikes you can reach for something healthy.

It probably means planning the week's meals in advance on a Sunday evening – hitting the supermarket accordingly.

Check out menus before eating out too in order to work out your best bets. The same goes to exercise and the gym: schedule in your sessions and stick to them as you would a job interview or important appointment. 

4) Spread the word

You'll need support no matter what – so tell your friends and family of your plans to get healthy and lose any excess kilos. Explain to them that you really want to quit the yo-yo dieting cycle, and that you're fully committed to making this plan work once and for all.

Spell out why this is something that's important to you, and emphasise that their support could well mean the difference between success and failure. For your own sake too – knowing that others know will help you stay on track.

5) Get visual

Dig out a picture of you wearing your coveted size 12 jeans – or a snap of you in a bikini looking pretty great. Make copies and stick them around your house: the fridge; your wardrobe; the bathroom mirror.

Knowing that you were once fitter and healthier than you are now proves that you can be that way again. If you want, you can even stick up a snap of a celebrity body shape you really admire.

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