How to Increase your IQ

Hi Pretty Plonkers. Oh I know, its been a while since I've posted.  I've been soopa busy....no fekkin excuse though...


Wanna increase your IQ?  

Should you want to increase your IQ score on these scales, take a look at the following nine useful guidelines…

1.  Learn

Genetics aside, education, in particular formal scientific study such as mathematics and physics, is a big factor contributing to your IQ. Sciences increase your understanding of the world, which in turn improves comprehension, vocabulary, spatial and mathematical abilities, and logic.

Watch and observe things carefully, and with concentration, to open your mind to new ideas, human behaviour, beauty, etc.

2.  Do logic and lateral thinking puzzles

Logic and lateral thinking puzzles such as cryptic crosswords, chess and Sudoku help your brain think outside the box and solve problems in different ways. Try puzzles that involve memory, speed, or vocabulary. Turn off the TV and put your mind to work instead!

3.  Listen to classical music

The Mozart effect suggests that, by listening to classical music, a short-term improvement is induced on the performance of certain tasks. Gradually, this may have a somewhat long-term effect.

4.  Sleep

In order to store information into the long-term memory, and to help keep your brain and concentration in peak condition, you need to get enough sleep – around eight hours. It is a proven fact that sleeping longer stores more information into the long-term memory.

5.  Read!

Reading enhances the mind's ability to comprehend, as well as encourages you to think critically. Reading different genres is important. This might include well-researched articles, newspapers, current events magazines, and multi-content periodicals (such as the New Yorker). Make sure the material corresponds to your reading level.

Whilst reading, look up unfamiliar words in your dictionary, and try to remember the definition.

6.  Write

Write whenever possible. Send a note instead of an email, or write a draft of a paper (or an outline). It will increase visual and kinaesthetic stimulation.

Try writing with your non-dominant hand. There is a theory that writing with your non-dominant hand can lead to stimulation of the side of the brain opposite to that hand. Writing with your non-dominant hand can, in fact, lead to stimulation of the side of the brain that is opposite to that hand. Bear in mind that this is only a theory.

7.  Meditate

Meditation has been shown to improve blood flow to the brain, patience, concentration, and memory. Try different meditation techniques to find one that suits and benefits you.

8.  Exercise

You need to keep your body fit in order to keep your brain in peak condition. Studies show that breath correlates to attention span. Try swimming, running, or any other aerobic exercise. Get your heart racing and work up a sweat for at least 30 minutes a day.

9.  Eat healthily.
Eat a wholefood diet. Avoid processed and fast foods. Eat ‘brain foods’ such as whole grains, oily fish or flax, red or blue berries, nuts especially walnuts, cocoa, etc.

The Beautiful 1980s

I saw this video over at UnMom and it had me in stitches of laughter.  It reminded me of the early morning 1980's "Body Beat" execise show which was on "Good Morning South Africa" everyday. 

This video is also just as hysterical (but not meant to be) 

How irritating is this woman?  She looks like a piece of leather thats had one too many session on the sunbed with her sexy pageboy hairstyle and white footless tights!  Its just NASTY!





Then I came across this YouTube video of Amor Vittone (a local SA celebrity) on Body Beat way back when she was a nobody. She looks so enthusiatic!!  Go Amor!  Feel the burn

Aand then I found the vinyl LP record of "Body Beat" that I bought and actually worked out to.  I know I did buy the video at some stage but who know where it is now?  Remember the lead dude, Kevin who used to wear his short-shorts with the crowl jewels clearly on display?  Everyone was convinced he was as bent as a two-bob note.  He always had two hot chicks on either side of him in their soopa tight high-cut leotards and head-bands?  It was a sight to see and very hip and trend in the day...now its just ridiculously funny.

Looking for this Body Beat record, I came across some of the other LPs I had bought as a teenager!

Oh hell, the 80's....thats all I can say.

Thompson Twins, Human League, The Jam, Pop Shop compilation LPs, Stephan Tin-Tin Duffy.  I had tons more but if you're a child of the 80's you'll also have them ... Michael Jackson, Madonna and U2 ...

Couch Potato No More

What did I do without gym for almost 6 years?


I started going to gym when I was 16 years old. I started off doing aerobics and progressed into teaching the odd Calanetics class for a while. By the time I was 20 I had a solid six pack and a butt like a bullet. I enjoyed exercising probably because it was the closest thing to dance I could get.


When I was little it was a dream to be a dancer and ballerina but my folks didn't have the money to send me to lessons. I therefore went to my next door neighbour who got the privelidge that I never had. She went to ballet class twice a week after her classes I'd rush over there to learn what she'd been taught that day and squeeze my feet into her teeny weeny ballet slippers. I always wanted to dance but never got the chance...so aerobics and dance aerobics was my next best thing...


Well I carried on gyming and training at least 4 times a week and sometimes every single day. I did weight training, road cycling, aerobics, step and dance aerobics, power pump, body conditioning, kata box training and callantecis for another 10 years until I was 7 months pregnant with Megan. I would've carried on but I just got so fat when I was pregnant all I could manage was peddling the stationary bike towards the end.

My focus totally changed when I had Megan and I managed to go back for a couple of weeks when she was about 3 months old but my heart wanted to be home with her more than antyhing. So, I never went back to gym. Then Kaylin came along and I only considered going back to gym when she was 2½ years old and by then I was fat as a PIG. I'd put on so much weight!


So the perfect opportunity came last year when we moved offices and the Virgin Active was about 400m down the road. I now had no excuse! I could go to gym at lunch time and it wouldn't interfere with my time with my family.


I joined Virgin Meyersdal last year September and got back into my training and seriously stuck to a sensible eating plan. By the end of November I'd lost 10kg and I notice my blubbery body becoming stronger and firmer.





After shedding all the weight and being back into a good training programme, I wondered why I never did it before.


I wasn't ready.


I wanted to spending all my breathing hours with my little babies and not take any focus away from them and my hubby. It may have been a drastic decision and I'm sure a lot of mums would've said JUST MAKE THE TIME TO GO TO GYM.


I did - eventually and I can't tell you how glad I am to be back. Its awesome.


I now go at least 3 or 4 times a week.


I do a Body Conditioning class on a Monday which usually kills us after the weekend. We do loads of lunges, good for the bums, loads of push ups for biceps and triceps and about 20 minutes of abs. Its a great class and I'm usually VERY stiff the next day. Going up and down the stairs can be a lots of effort and quite painful.


Tuesday I go and do my own thing 25 minutes of cardio on the health walker and wave machine combined. I do a little arms and tons of abs. I concentrate on my innner and outer thighs (my problem areas).


Wednesday is a beautiful Pilates class with a mixed bunch of young and old, fat and thin, fit and not so fit. You don't feel pressured to suck in your tummy and look your best. You can actually relax and just work hard without worrying of what others are going to think of you.



I must say since I've started Pilates, my core stength has improved so much and my flexibiliy has surprised me. Pilates helps lengthen the muslces instead of build them. We use loads of equipment like the yoga balls, the Bosu, weight sticks, pilates circles and flexi-bands. I love these bits of equipment because its makes the class interesting. The ones who want to "slack off" in pilates can because is very easy to pretend you're doing the deep muscle tone exercises when you're actually not.



Thursday I do my own thing again and its usually quite empty, so I do lots of step machine and circuit, 250 various ab exercises and inner and outter thigh ags. Thank God for ipods! If I don't go on a Thursday, I'll go on a Friday but I do try and do either one.


Most people need a partner or constant motivation to get to gym but I actually really enjoy going. Yes, there are some days when I have to force myself to go (espeically in the colder rainy weather) but when I get there and get going I'm always so glad I did go because I feel so much better.


Must be those wicked feel-good endorphins. Yes, Chocolate does the same but you don't get the same physiological results, right?


Gotta Love those Endorphins...