The winter season is finally making way for the spring and our poor neglected bodies are screaming for some love and attention. But hurrah! The Vitality Show 2010 came to town last weekend, so Wahanda made our way down to Earls Court 2 in London to check out the many treats the exhibition had in store.

The Vitality Show is the UK's largest health, beauty, wellness and fitness event that has literally everything the modern day woman needs, from inspiring new ideas to help you look and feel great to truly indulgent pampering deals all under one roof. With over 300 companies exhibiting this year there were plenty of opportunities to shop, pamper yourself silly and pick up helpful hints and tips from the very best therapists and celeb experts in the health and beauty industry. Whether it’s sprucing up lifeless locks, massaging your stresses away or treating your tired soles to a foot rub, the Vitality Show was also home to many experienced and friendly therapists who were on hand to work their magic.

Glamour kittens looking for inspiring ways to shake up their make up routine or take advantage of some fabulous discounts were spoilt for choice with the dozens of beauty stalls on display. There were certainly enough to tempt and excite the Wahanda team into having a look and a cheeky purchase from well known favourites including Nails Inc, Benefit Cosmetics and Bourjois Paris and up and coming boutique brands such as Jelly Pong Pong, who told us that their aim is to create deliciously tempting cosmetics to unleash your inner romantic daydreamer. Selling everything from blushers to lip gloss, their products have been featured in many prestigious magazines including Elle, Vogue, Glamour and Allure.

Dull, dry and neglected skin has been the bane of many of us thanks to the harsh winter weather. Wahanda certainly needed to get our skincare routine back on track and we found ourselves drawn to the stall of Lucy Russell Organics who told us that all their body lotions, toners and face creams are handmade by Lucy herself using only the highest quality ingredients. All their products are 98% organic, meaning even the most sensitive of skin can benefit from them. For those who didn’t know where to start in terms of skin care, the Skn bar’s therapists were on hand to offer skin consultations and individual advice on how to treat common skin conditions and prevent damage.

For those looking to get fit for the summer, centres such as Fitness First offered hints, tips and free weekend trials to give your fitness a kick start. The Zest Fitness Park also invited fitness instructors to showcase various motivating and fun exercises to inspire, excite and get you moving. Provided you didn’t mind being stared at by passers by, everyone was encouraged to take part in the classes which included yoga, Ultimate Bootcamp, Latin-Belly Dance, and the new fitness craze, hula hooping - where benefits include weight loss and strengthening the tummy muscles. Excellent for achieving a toned waist and stomach while having fun!

So, if you’re looking for new ways to help you look good and feel great from trying the latest fitness craze to picking up expert beauty tips, the Vitality Show is the place to be. With everything you need under one roof, you are guaranteed to leave the exhibition with new tips, products and ideas to help you on your way to a healthier, fitter and more happier you. The exhibition is now closed so if you missed out, do not fear; this annual wellness event will return next year.

The results of your workout could all hinge on the meal you have afterwards. According to a study by the University of Michigan, eating a big meal containing a small amount of carbohydrates after an aerobic workout greatly increases the health benefits of your session, more so than continuous hours or days of exercising or training.

The University of Michigan study found that subjects who ate low carb post-exercise meals which match normal calorie guidelines had significantly enhanced their insulin activity within their bodies, which made it easier for the body to take sugar from the blood stream and direct it to the muscles where it was stored and used as fuel rather than as fat. The study also found that increased insulin activity after one exercise session produced more long term benefits to the body within hours or a few days. Insulin resistance is considered to be the main cause of Type 2 diabetes and a contributing factor to heart disease.

The study also discovered another group of people taking part who ate low-calorie meals after a workout session did not find their insulin sensitivity any more increased than when they ate enough calories to equal the amount they lost whilst exercising. This suggests that you do not have to starve yourself after working out to feel and see the benefits.

"Differences in what you eat after exercise produce different effects on the body's metabolism," said the study's senior author, Jeffrey F. Horowitz of the University of Michigan.

"Many of the improvements in metabolic health associated with exercise stem largely from the most recent session of exercise, rather than from an increase in 'fitness' per se.

“But exercise doesn't occur in a vacuum, and it is very important to look at both the effects of exercise and what you're eating after exercise."

The study was published in the latest issue of the Journal of Applied Physiology.

Placenta facial treatments, fish pedicures, syrup diets, Leech Therapy...celebrities really do go to extreme lengths to keep their bodies and faces paparazzi friendly, especially during Oscar season where it is almost compulsory that celebrities strut down that red carpet looking nothing less than perfect.

But so many of them get it horribly wrong, and one mistake will plague an actress throughout her career, so it’s imperative to get it right the first time. If only the following celebs had read my top tips to getting it right on the red carpet...

Hair

At the Golden Globes 2009, Drew Barrymore graced the red carpet with her effortless beauty and grown up glamour in a blue John Galliano for Dior dress...and then we caught sight of her hair. Sporting a blonde, Marilyn Monroe inspired hair-do; Ms. Barrymore clearly forgot the golden rule - if you’re going blonde but are naturally dark haired, your roots will show you up as the non-blonde you are, so RETOUCH. An easy mistake to make if in a hurry, but it is an avoidable one.

Missy suggests: Unless you are waiting for your permanent hair dye to grow out, keep an eagle eye out on those pesky re-growths, and ensure you book yourself for top up treatments every six weeks depending on the difference between your natural colour your dyed colour.

Tanning

The palest beauty yearns for bronzed skin, and thanks to the revolution of spray tanning this dream can become a reality within a matter of minutes. But there is a difference between looking healthy, and looking like you’ve been tango’ed. Cameron Diaz did herself no favours when she arrived at the 2007 Oscars looking noticeably brighter shade of orange suggesting that she had been a bit too carefree with that can of spray tan...

Missy suggests: When breaking out the bottle of St. Tropez aim for sun kissed, not oompa lompa.

Makeup

When Beyonce Knowles looks good, she looks fabulous. When she gets it wrong, it’s painful. We know that these days Beyonce rarely gets it wrong, but a few years ago at an awards ceremony, her makeup was very sore on the eyes. Young Beyonce clearly chose a foundation that was fifteen shades LIGHTER than her skin tone, making her look older and more drag queen-ish.

Missy suggests: Never assume when it comes to choosing the correct foundation colour – be sure to go to a well known make up counter and have the assistants test a few out on your skin to see which matches your colour better. Remember, the foundation is meant to effortlessly blend in with your natural colour to give you a clear complexion, not make you look as though you changed race.

Body

Walking down the red carpet at the 2008 MTV Video Music Awards was Lindsay Lohan in a very tight dress that was clearly one size too small for her (as if that was possible!) which showed off every unflattering lump and bump her body had to offer.

Missy suggests: If you need to lose a couple of inches to fit perfectly into that designer dress then don’t panic! Rather than live on a lettuce leaf can book yourself in for a weight loss body wrap - the perfect ultra fast solution for a bloated body. Your body is covered in clay and wrapped tightly so the clay detoxifies tones and tightens your body, with an immediate loss of up to six inches from your problem areas.

Maintenance

Julia Roberts gave new meaning to the phrase ‘letting your hair down’ at the 1999 premiere of Notting Hill by “forgetting” to shave her underarms and then “accidentally” lifting her arms up for the world to see. A faux pas she has yet to live down.

Missy suggests: Beautiful underarms are essential if you plan to wear a sleeveless dress. To avoid unsightly shaving bumps, irritation and razor cuts, have your underarm hair waxed to give you a clean and smooth appearance which will last for weeks.

Feet

Why make all the effort in getting that gorgeous dress only to ruin it by wearing a pair of trainers? Lily Allen was guilty of this crime on one red carpet too many when she came onto the scene, and thankfully, she saw sense and got those heels on pronto!

Missy suggests: If the thought of spending all night in a pair of six inch heels makes your feet weep then why don’t think about having Botox...for the feet? Instead of buying gel filled pads you can now have Botox injected into the soles of your feet to plump them out and alleviate discomfort.

If you, like thousands of others, are struggling or have already abandoned the ‘get healthy for 2010’ resolution, then fear not. There are now more organisations out there that have made it their mission to get your fitness back on the straight and narrow, including the RAF whose top fitness experts have compiled a guide designed to get you ‘fit for life’ this year.

Based on training techniques used by RAF personnel, their fitness guide is not designed to be a quick fix or another diet fad, but is intended to be a long-term solution to fitness and wellness making you embrace daily exercise as an integral part of life without a gym membership.

Corporal Simon Wray, Personal Training Instructor at RAF Cranwell and former Gladiator winner explains the reasons behind the ‘Fit for Life’ guide:

“There are hundreds of ‘experts’ this new year giving advice on how to get your body looking its best. The RAF ‘Fit for Life’ cuts through this confusing minefield and provides a no-nonsense, step-by-step guide to getting your exercise regime right. It can be tailored to your ability and can be followed anywhere, with no need for expensive gym memberships or costly new equipment.”

So, is it really that simple? According to the ‘Fit for Life’ guide, follow the RAF’s simple exercise tips below, and you can shape up in no time:

• Exercise for 30 minutes, three to five times and week - it is realistic amount to do and you are more likely to stick at it.
• Combine stomach exercises that work all groups with aerobic exercise to achieve that six pack or washboard stomach.
• Do exercises that will tone your whole body – don’t focus on one area.
• Warm up the muscles you are about to use before doing any exercise with dynamic stretching.
• Cool down the muscles you have used with static stretching holding each for 20 seconds.

For more information on the 'Fit for Life' guide, visit the RAF website.

Are you doing enough to lower your risk from cancer? According to World Cancer Research Fund we could be doing so much more; up to 80,000 people are diagnosed with cancer every year, and in most cases could have prevented the disease from developing if they had followed a lifelong healthy diet and exercise plan.

Studies have suggested that those with higher physical activity levels are less likely to develop the disease in later life than those who give exercise the cold shoulder.

According to the WCRF, the UK has the highest levels of preventable cancers than anywhere else, and people who exercise daily could significantly reduce their risk of developing the disease in later life – which is when we are most at risk.

Recent studies by the Harvard School of Public Health have also suggested that five or more hours of exercise a week helps cut the risk of cancer by 35%, and argue that any moderate activity including brisk walking five times a week could be significantly effective in preventing aggressive tumours from developing.

We might tend to dismiss cancer as a question of fate but thanks to our greater understanding of the disease, we are now more aware of how to check our bodies for the first signs of cancer as it has been proven that early detection and diagnoses makes it easier to treat with a better survival rate.

However, as the popular saying goes; prevention is better than cure, and even if a healthy lifestyle is not a guarantee against the disease, being physically active as well as eating healthily and maintaining a healthy weight could significantly reduce your risk of being diagnosed with cancer as well as enhance your wellbeing. Why not get started with a free session of something new to put a spring back in your step?

A new wave of parents are now introducing today’s youngsters to the ancient act of yoga in an attempt get them into the path of a healthier lifestyle. Many parents are concerned that in the modern age of multiple TV channels, computer games and the Internet, their children spend more time in front of a screen than running around outside. With an increase in school work, social pressures and lack of physical activity, kids are exhibiting signs of tension and stress, and yoga is the perfect solution.

Parents don’t even have to step out of their home to help their children get fit. Recent cartoons such as Waybuloo – currently shown on CBeebies – have been created to introduce yoga to pre-schoolers and encourage them and their parents to copy the postures performed by the characters. The new craze has also seen a huge number of parents taking children as young as two to the growing number of classes that now run in nurseries, schools and health clubs around the UK.

Many parents consider yoga a natural way for kids to exercise and something they can do together - kids are even joining in their parents’ yoga sessions at home. It relaxes, focuses and strengthens the mind and body, and studies show that yoga has proven to be an effective form of self-help therapy for children diagnosed with attention deficit disorder, and could also be effective in the fight against childhood obesity.

Benefits

Yoga may be seen as an exercise for adults but consistent practice can benefit children as well. Yoga’s ability to help relax the mind can develop self-confidence and calmness within children, helping them to deal with difficult emotions as they grow older. It also teaches kids how to live a healthier lifestyle from a young age by making them more aware of their bodies and encourages them to follow a healthy diet and keep active, preventing obesity and future health problems.

Other benefits include:

• Maintaining a child’s natural flexibility into adulthood
• Strengthening the immune system keeping common colds and flu at bay
• Yoga breathing techniques increases concentration and energy levels
• Helps to correct posture and strengthen the muscles whilst increasing stamina and keeping the lungs healthy

Physicians are even recommending yoga for special needs children as it helps serve as an outlet for their energy, and will improve their social skills for later life, as well as strengthen their bodies.

Many parents are realising that the benefits yoga provides for today’s kids are endless. Join in the trend and put that television to good use whether it’s for the yoga-endorsing Waybuloo cartoon or to use the Nintendo Wii’s yoga game together for a fun way to get fit and healthy.