September 2018 - London Drugs Blog

7 Ways to Make Your Home Workout Suck Less

Remember: Always talk to your doctor before beginning any exercise program. Consult with your healthcare professional to design an exercise routine that’s right for you. If you experience any pain or difficulty with exercise, stop and consult your healthcare provider.

Working out at home has obvious advantages. You can listen to whatever music you like, the equipment isn’t covered in other people’s germs, and there are no lineups for the showers. But there are obstacles, too: distractions from the kids, the phone, the dog, the Internet, and/or the dirty kitchen counters can all seem unavoidable when it’s time to work out. We get it—that’s why we’ve got some real tips for real people who want to get fit but would rather not schlep to the gym.

1. Schedule it in

You schedule important phone calls, appointments and events, right? Well, good health is also important, and sometimes the only way you can ensure that you’ll work out is if you block it off in your calendar. If you use a calendar app, set a reminder or two ahead of time to get yourself psyched up. Make an appointment with yourself and commit to feeling good.

If you honestly just can’t fit a workout into your already over-scheduled life, you may have some extra time that you forgot about…in the morning. Experts say that people’s motivation and drive is at a maximum in the morning, and willpower wanes as the day wears on. And that’s not the only reason to become an early fitness bird—if you wait until later in the day, it’s a lot more likely that things will pop up and get in the way of working out. Yes, watching one more episode on Netflix after the kids go to bed is relaxing, but hitting that morning workout the next day instead will have longer-lasting benefits.

Still don’t think you have time to workout at home? Sneak it in while you’re cleaning the house!

2. Perfect your space

You don’t need a ton of space to get a good workout; you only really need an area about the size of a yoga mat. Working out indoors can get warm, so make your space near a window for a cool breeze, or add a fan in the corner. Make sure there’s a music source nearby with a good Bluetooth speaker to keep you pumped up. Don’t forget to sweep or vacuum the floor—nobody wants to do push-ups over dog hair and toast crumbs.

3. Get the gear

Loads of fancy equipment isn’t required to get fit at home. In fact, bodyweight-only workouts like yoga and pilates are a great way to stay fit. All you really need is a yoga mat to give you some comfort and stability on the floor. If you do want a few props to take your workout up a notch, you don’t need a whole gym’s worth of stuff. Some dumbbells, resistance bands, a skipping rope or a couple of kettlebells should do the trick, depending on your fitness goals.

4. Get dressed

It may sound shallow, but having the right outfit can make a big difference with your fitness motivation. Sure, you can work out in your stained sweatpants and an old Fun Run t-shirt from 2006, but they may not be your best choice. Technical apparel that fits right, wicks away sweat and looks good will help you feel great while working out.

Most importantly, make sure you have a pair of supportive shoes that you can wear indoors. Shoes designed for running are a good choice if you’re going to be dabbling in different kinds of workouts. Take the time get professionally fitted for your foot type and size. Your feet and joints will thank you.

5. Find a coach

You’re probably not going to hire an actual trainer for working out at home (but kudos to you if you do!), so an outside source for motivation, goals and workout ideas can really come in handy.

Say hello to your new workout buddy—YouTube. There are literally thousands and thousands of workout videos and channels on YouTube dedicated to helping you get fit. Whether you’re into yoga, pilates, Zumba, bellydancing, high-intensity interval training, hip-hop tabata, cardio or Prancercise, there’s something out there for you. Just be sure to check out the video first before you dive in—it may not be right for you. Recommendations from your fittest friends is a good place to start.

If you’d rather not dive into the wilds of YouTube, there is also a huge selection of great workout apps for your mobile device. Not only will you get tips for exercises and routines, some apps can also track your progress and even remind you when to workout. There are a lot to choose from, free and paid, so here are a few popular suggestions to get you started.

Fitness DVDs are also helpful to have in your fitness arsenal. Having your own DVD library can save you the trouble of searching the internet or fiddling with your device—just pop your favourite into the DVD player or laptop, and you’re good to go. If you’re not ready to commit, you can also check out the selection at your local library.

Pets also make great home fitness coaches.

6. Start slow…but keep going

If you’re a beginner or coming back after a long break, aim for 30 minutes of cardiovascular exercise (something that elevates your heart rate and breathing) at least three times a week, and 20 to 30 minutes of strength training (resistance exercises with weights, bodyweight or bands) three times a week. Don’t worry, that’s not six separate workouts per week; you can combine strength and cardio in to one workout session if you like. Be sure your strength workout covers all major muscle groups: upper body, lower body, abdominals and back.

No matter what type of exercise you do, start slowly and gradually increase your workout time and intensity. Doing too much to start can lead to soreness, fatigue and even injury, and you likely won’t continue.

7. Find your thing

One of the best ways to kill motivation is with boredom. Working out doesn’t have to be a chore! If you’ve chosen a workout routine that you dread everyday, it’s time to switch it up. Pilates got you yawning? Try a spicy Zumba workout. Tired of being trapped inside? Go for a walk/run! HIIT too bouncy? Pop in a yoga video. Luckily, there are almost as many ways to stay fit as there are types of people who want to get fit.

Do you have any tips for real people who are trying to stay motivated to work out? Post them in the comments!

Enter for a Chance to Win an Avene Ultimate Skin Defense Prize Pack!

Contest Rules

Avene Prize Pack– Official Rules

To enter: To enter, LIKE this post & comment with your favourite fall beauty tip!
No purchase necessary. Limit one (1) entry per social network per contest. Limit one (1) prize may be won per household. Entries must be received no later than 11:59 pm Pacific Time on October 2, 2018. London Drugs is not responsible for entries that become lost or misdirected.
Contest is open to all residents of British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba who, as of the date the prize draw is made: (i) have not won a London Drugs contest since October 2, 2017; (ii) have reached the age of majority in the province in which they reside as at September 28, 2018 (iii) are not employees of London Drugs, their respective advertising and promotional agencies, the independent judging organization (if any), or any family member living with any such employee.
The winners will be randomly chosen on the day the contest ends (see dates below) in Vancouver, British Columbia, from all eligible entries received per contest. To win, selected entrants must have correctly answered the skill-testing mathematical question on the entry for on the online entry form and must sign London Drug’s declaration and release confirming compliance with the contest rules and acceptance of the prize(s) as awarded, releasing London Drugs from liability in association with the contest and prize and consenting to the use of their name, photograph, voice and statements for promotional and publicity purposes.
There will be 1 (one) prize awarded to one winner: receiving ONE Avene Ultimate Skin Defense Prize Pack. The Prize has an estimated retail value of $150. Prize(s) must be accepted as awarded, are non-transferable and no substitutions are permitted. London Drugs reserves the right to substitute a prize of equal or greater value should any prize become unavailable for any reason. Prize will be awarded at the closest London Drugs location to the winner.Contests dates: September 28, 2018 –October 2, 2018Draw Date: 12:00 PM Pacific Time Thursday, October 4
Selected entrants will be contacted by email, or social network they were drawn from. No correspondence will be entered into except with selected entrants. If the winner does not respond then she/he will be notified for the second time, 3 (three) days after the first notification. If the winner still does not respond within 3 days of the second notification, a new winner will be chosen in the same manner until a winner is successfully contacted.
The chances of winning a prize will depend on the number of eligible entries received. Decisions of the judges in respect of all aspects of this contest including, but not limited to, eligibility of entries and correctness of answers given to the skill-testing question, are final.
London Drugs, their respective advertising and promotional agencies, the independent judging organization, and their respective agents are not liable to an entrant in any manner relating to the contest or the awarding and use of the prize(s).
This contest is subject to all federal, provincial, and municipal laws and regulations. By entering the entrant consents to the collection of all personal information included on their entry and agrees to the use and disclosure of such information by and between London Drugs and their agents. The winner(s) also agrees to the collection, use and disclosure of their name, entry, photographs, voice and statements for London Drugs’ publicity purposes without further compensation. All personal information collected from entrants will be used only for the purposes of administering the contest and for marketing and promotional purposes as contemplated by these rules; under no circumstances will any personal information be sold or rented to third parties. All personal information collected by London Drugs will be kept in accordance with the privacy policy of London Drugs, which can be viewed at londondrugs.com, and in accordance with all applicable privacy laws.
The right is reserved by London Drugs to terminate this contest, in whole or in part, and/or modify, amend or suspend the contest, and/or these rules in any way, should any cause beyond the reasonable control of London Drugs or its agents affect the proper administration thereof.

2018 Drugstore Beauty Favourites

Hundreds of new beauty products and lots of new beauty brands graced the shelves of London Drugs this year, and our Beauty Experts have tried them all! So we thought we’d pick their brains to find out which 2018 beauty launches really wowed – from the most innovative, to must-have essentials. In this video, LDBeauty Experts Sara and Britta are sharing their favourite skincare, makeup, nail polishes and beauty tools, so you know exactly what to try the next time you find yourself in our cosmetics department, or browsing online at www.londondrugs.com.

Products Featured:

La Roche Posay Serozinc
Makeup Revolution Liquid Highlighter in Starlight
Makeup Revolution Liquid Highlighter in Rose Gold
Prim + Proper Nail Lacquer in Bloody Freezing
Prim + Proper Nail Lacquer in Mount Logan Tippy Top Coat
Prim + Proper Nail Polish in Whistler Winter
Tropez Self Tan Express Face Sheet Mask
Neutrogena Light Therapy Acne Mask
Weleda Skin Food Original Ultra-Rich Cream
Derma E Essentials Microdermabrasion Scrub
Lavido Alert Eye Cream

Subscribe to London Drugs on YouTube and stay tuned for more beauty videos!

10 Trendy (and Easy!) Halloween Costumes for 2018

Halloween is coming, and you and your kid can be the talk of the block when you hit the streets on October 31st in any of these trendy Halloween costumes. From Fortnite to Black Panther, we’ve found some awesome (and relatively easy) costumes that are totally on-trend.

Fortnite

Every kid from here to Charlottetown is playing Fortnite, and at least half of them will be asking for a Fortnite costume for halloween. Yes, we know there are ton of characters from the game, but we found a great tutorial to help you put together some of your own skins IRL.

Fake News

Reading the news these days can be fairly unpleasant. At least we’ve got halloween to help inject some humour into the situation.

More creative costume ideas here.

Snapchat Filters

Your teen probably looks like a cute deer or a piece of toast on their social media channels, so they’ll love showing up at the halloween dance looking the same way! Barfing rainbows has never been so fun.

More costume ideas for teens here.

Young Han Solo

You can never miss with a classic Star Wars costume at halloween. With the release of the new Solo movie, the rakish hero is hip with the kids again, and luckily Han’s new threads not only look great but are simple to put together, too. DIY with a brown jacket, grey t-shirt, holster and boots, or grab the ready-made version here.

Unicorn Candy Milkshake

It’s the year of the milkshake, much to the delight of kids all over Canada. Help your kids celebrate by turning them into their favourite dessert drink! This costume is extra fun because the kids can help with the design and construction.

Find the recipe to whip up your homemade milkshake here.

Mr. Rogers

Bet you never thought Mr. Rogers would ever be cool again, but he certainly is this year with the release of the poignant and gently political documentary about Fred Roger’s legacy. A red cardigan, some loafers and a clip-on tie will transform you into everyone’s favourite neighbour. Add a hand puppet for extra authenticity.

Here are some more super easy last-minute costume ideas.

Avocado Toast

Your go-to snack can now be the hit of the halloween party. Maybe you’ll lock eyes with a cute bottle of hot sauce at the party for a match made in heaven.

Instructions on how to make it here.

Warrior from Black Panther

The costumes from this year’s breakout action blockbuster Black Panther were seriously jaw dropping, and you can capture that Dora Milaje warrior essence with a few simple accessories and a whole lot of fierce attitude.

More clever DIY costume ideas here.

Anything Riverdale

Everyone’s favourite new TV drama is full of fun characters to draw inspiration from, and besides a funny little felt crown, there’s a good chance you’ve already got what you need in your closet.

More Riverdale costume ideas here.

Baby DJ

Heading out trick or treating with a babe in arms? Get the littlest one in on the halloween action! DJs are the new rock stars, and with this fun creation your youngest can turn the party out. More DIY baby and toddler costume ideas here.

Have you got a great idea for this year’s Halloween costumes? Share them with us in the comments!

Procrastinators We’re Here for You! 7 Photo Gifts You Can Pick Up in 24 Hours

We’ve all been there. You meant to pick out a gift for that birthday party weeks ago, but somehow time got away from you. And now it’s down to the wire. You might think you’re stuck with getting them something generic: there’s no way I’ll be able to get them something special now! The good news is, there’s still time. You might be surprised to hear that there are lots of personalized gifting options available at our London Drugs Photolab that you can pick up within 24 hours or even same day.

To help you out, here’s our procrastinator cheat sheet for last-minute gifts: