When you think of the sunny beaches and white-washed buildings of Santorini, the first thing that trots to mind is probably not an overweight tourist on a mule. However, up until recently, the Greek island’s “famed” donkeys were expected to take rides along the steep and narrow terrain, with ice-cream chomping visitors on their backs.

Activists have been raising concerns over the animals’ well-being for a while, and yesterday the Greek government passed a new law, putting a limit on how much the donkeys can carry.

As USA Today reported, “Tourists wishing to take a ride… must now weigh less than 220 pounds (100 kilograms), or one-fifth of the donkey’s body weight.” In addition, the animals “Should not be loaded with a weight excessive in size, age or physical condition,” said the Greek Ministry of Rural Development and Food.

 

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As part of the same new set of regulations, injured animals are no longer allowed to work, and adequate food and fresh drinking water will be more closely monitored. Whether this will be maintained or not remains to be seen—as overweight tourists are the only one’s who require a donkey to get around, you’ve got to wonder if this will put the mule service out of business?

I’m a cheeseburger away from 220 lbs. Wont be going to Greece anytime soon. Greece bans ‘overweight’ tourists from riding donkeys https://t.co/gLyVHi4Gxv via @CNNTravel

— SC SOONER (@pdbaker1) October 11, 2018

The post Greece Just Banned Overweight Tourists From One Of Its Most Famous Attractions appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Some say they increase your sex drive, others reckon they render you infertile. Some say they improve cardiovascular health, others worry they cause heart attacks. So what’s the truth about saunas? Are they as beneficial as their sweaty proponents believe?

In this article, we delve into their real health benefits and bust a few myths that have been flying around lately.

Saunas have been part of various cultures and societies for centuries. Now they are enjoyed by everyone from stressed-out execs, acupuncture gurus, elite athletes, and –of course – hairy old men. If you fall under one (or more) of those categories: here’s everything you need to justify binning your to-do list and getting your sweat on.

It Improves Exercise Recovery

If leg day has you stalling the car and crawling up stairs: saunas can help with that. In a Springerplus study, saunas were found to decrease “delayed onset muscle soreness” and improve exercise recovery. The research also suggests that infrared saunas may be particularly effective at penetrating the neuromuscular system to promote recovery. Go ahead: celebrate. Add that extra 10 kilos to your next leg press. Just remember that if you don’t properly rehydrate; all your hard work will be undone.

It Lowers Your Blood Pressure

Extensive population-based studies have shown that frequent sauna bathing improves the function of your inside layer of blood vessels, which in turn lowers your blood pressure. As reported by Science Daily, “The risk of developing elevated blood pressure was nearly 50% lower among men who had a sauna 4-7 times a week compared to men who had a sauna only once a week.” This means that if you are reasonably fit and healthy (and not pregnant), the physical stress of a sauna—as with most forms of mild duress—will make you stronger.

It Can Improve Your Cardio

Much like sex, regular sauna sessions won’t have you running a four-minute mile. However, one study, conducted in Finland (and which followed 2,315 men ages 42 to 60 over the course of 20 years) found that people who use a sauna may have a lower risk of dying from cardiovascular disease:

“After adjusting for cardiovascular risk factors, increased sauna use was linked with a reduced risk of fatal cardiovascular-related diseases.”

That said, saunas should not replace an exercise program to keep your heart and lungs healthy—the physiological response to an ordinary sauna session typically corresponds to a fairly relaxed physical activity such as walking.

It Could Make You Smarter – If You Go Regularly

Sure, saunas are relaxing. But can they really boost your memory? According to the latest research—maybe they can. In one study, men who spent time in a sauna multiple times per week had a 65% lower risk of developing dementia and Alzheimer’s than those who used them only once a week. This could be due to increased blood flow to the brain—but further research is needed before you go quoting it at your next dinner party.

It Gives You Better Skin (But Worse Eczema)

Although it is (sadly) a myth that sweating gets rid of toxins (true detoxification takes place in the liver and kidneys), sweating is good for your skin in other ways: “Saunas help improve your skin by opening up your pores and allowing built-up wastes to flush out as you sweat,” (LiveStrong).

“Lotions, deodorants, and dead skin cells can clog your pores and lead to acne and painful cysts. The dry heat from a sauna helps your skin avoid infection from these built-up wastes.”

However, you have to weigh up these benefits against the drying out of your skin (which occurs if you don’t drink enough water once you get out), because (steam rooms and infrared saunas excepted) saunas dry the skin during use. This means that people with eczema may find saunas worsen their condition.

That said, some people have said saunas have actually cured their eczema, as well as other skin conditions like psoriasis. In any case, it’s very important to stay hydrated during and after your sauna.

It Can Alleviate Headaches & Colds

Unless you’re stuck in there with another spluttering optimist, research has suggested saunas alleviate conditions like headaches and flu. In which case—you become the inconsiderate one, as you cough over everyone in your attempt to get better. However doctors say that “sweating it out” makes serious colds worse, so give the sauna a miss if you have the flu; use it only for minor snivels (and be prepared for everyone to hate you).

It Can Ease Pain

Whether it’s the pain of existence or that weird throbbing in your left knee, saunas can help reduce muscle soreness, improve joint movement, and ease arthritis pain due to the increased blood circulation they provide.

• This Floating Sauna In Tasmania Ruined Me For Life
• Joe Rogan’s Sauna Experience Is A Lesson For Us All

The post The Health Benefits Of Saunas appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Nervous flyers of the world had cause to celebrate this morning as Virgin flight VA9900 departed Sydney with 65 special guests on board (including Richard Branson, media and VIPs) to test a world first program.

Like any flight, guests were treated to an unsolicited hot flannel across the face. Unlike any other flight, Smiling Mind, a meditation app, led a—you guessed it—guided meditation at 30,000 feet.

This marked the world’s first “meditation flight”, one-upping Qantas, who earlier this year introduced their own inflight meditation service.

“Integrating mindfulness into our everyday lives is just as important as eating well and exercising regularly, and I am so excited to see Virgin Australia deeply embedding mindfulness into the workplace and onboard flights,” Virgin Founder Sir Richard Branson said.

“Virgin Australia is very focused on supporting the mental health of its passengers and team members,” he continued, “And there are very few of us who haven’t been directly or indirectly impacted by anxiety.”

“We want to encourage more passengers to use their time flying with Virgin Australia to exercise their mind through meditations in the inflight entertainment system, and what better way to make this known than by holding the world’s first dedicated meditation flight.”

As reported by Travel Weekly, the airline has also announced a new way for nervous flyers, “To self-identify with the airline prior to travelling.” What does this mean for you? Well from early next year, you’ll be able to tell the airline you have “travel-related anxiety” before you fly (in the same way you can currently identify as vegetarian, and receive a different meal), “Leading to personalised communications in the lead up to their journey, and face-to-face interactions while onboard the aircraft,” (Travel Weekly).

Which is more dignified-telling the passenger next to you on the plane when you order a drink at 6:30 in the morning that you are, “on vacation” or “an extremely nervous flyer?” Asking for a friend…

— Amee Vanderpool (@girlsreallyrule) 21 July 2018

More info will be released in the coming months, but for know, this is what we know: the new partnership gives all Virgin Australia passengers access to Smiling Mind guided meditations via the Inflight Entertainment System—hopefully reducing the stress and anxiety of air travel.

Virgin is also supporting the mental health of its staff by making the meditation app available via its internal health and wellbeing platform, Better Me. So far so good. But there are two #dangerous possibilities.

One: what if the mindfulness program is great, and the staff are so blissed out they fail to perform their usual duties (or worse: sleep throughout the flight)? Or two: the app really doesn’t work that well, the staff remain stressed, and the company has spent a lot of money for nothing.

Of course there may be a middle ground—but where’s the fun in talking about that?

The post Australian Airline Launches World First Program For Nervous Flyers appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Good news, human being. Scientists have just discovered how to slow down the ageing process and it’s not just a ‘maybe’ this time.

According to the latest research published in Nature Medicine by the University of Minnesota Medical School, the natural progression of ageing caused by damaged cells could be reduced by consuming a product called Fisetin – a product that naturally occurs in fruits and vegetables.

And your mother’s plight to get you to down greens all those years ago? Looks like she was right all along.

“These results suggest that we can extend the period of health, termed health span, even towards the end of life,”

The science behind this astonishing find is rather interesting. When humans age they accumulate damaged cells. Once these cells reach a certain level of damage, they enter a damage phase of their own called cellular senescence. These ageing cells then release inflammatory factors that tell the immune system to clear those damaged cells.

In a younger body the immune system is healthier, thus making it able to clear damaged cells more efficiently. As you age though, this clearing process is less effective and the damaged cells begin to accumulate in the body. This in turn creates low level inflammation which releases enzymes that degrade the human tissue.

Researchers Paul Robbins and Laura Niedernhofer along with Mayo Clinic investigators James Kirkland and Tamara Tchkonia, found that natural fruits and vegetable which contain Fisetin would reduce the level of these damaged cells in the human body.

Their test subjects were older mice heading towards the end of their lives. These mice were treated with the Fisetin compound to determine if there was any improvement in health and lifespan.

“These results suggest that we can extend the period of health, termed health span, even towards the end of life,” said Robbins.

“But there are still many questions to address, including the right dosage, for example.”

RELATED: These Are The Simplest Ways You Can Prevent Signs Of Ageing

Whilst the findings were first revealed earlier this year, its significance was muted due to the fact that researchers couldn’t figure out how the drug affected different tissue types and different cells in an ageing body. Until now.

The team at the University of Minnesota came up with a new procedure and can now say this:

“In addition to showing that the drug works, this is the first demonstration that shows the effects of the drug on specific subsets of these damaged cells within a given tissue.”

The post Scientists Have Discovered The Cheapest Way To Slow Ageing appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

It’s Wednesday and you’re stressed. It’s Friday and you can’t switch off. It’s Sunday and you can already feel Monday’s smirk. It’s a great reminder, but surely every day should be World Mental Health Day?

Whether you have clinical issues, or are just burning the candle at both ends to deal with the ever growing pile in your inbox, looking after your mental health is key to a successful life. First of all, because maintaining your equilibrium is going to make you more likely to achieve your goals, and secondly: once you achieve success you want to actually be able to enjoy it. In light of that we thought we’d give you some tips, from mental health and business professionals.

Value Yourself

According to the University of Michigan health service, the most important thing to do (and perhaps the hardest) is, “To treat yourself with kindness, and avoid self-criticism.” In practical terms, this means making time for your favourite hobbies and people, trying new activities, and maintaining your skills. “Do a daily crossword puzzle, plant a garden, take dance lessons, learn to play an instrument or become fluent in another language,” the health service suggests as examples.

“Leave your phone at the door when you arrive home, leave it at home when you are heading to the beach, or give yourself a half day on Fridays.” Stevan Premutico, tech entrepreneur and founder of Dimmi, told us implementing boundaries can be a useful way to respect your mental health.

We’d suggest something more fun, like downhill mountain biking, doing flaming shots of tequila or skiing off a cliff in the French Alps (yes, it’s a thing). Either way: work out who you are. If you’re an introvert you’ll need to dedicate yourself some “me time” each week. If you’re more outgoing you might want to catch up with friends instead.

Get Some Exercise

Researchers have found that exercise teaches you to keep your cool under pressure, helps you feel more creative, improves your ability to learn new skills (you’ll never have to Google “How to open a pdf” again) and provides an endorphin boost that demonstrably relieves stress. It doesn’t have to be a special forces workout, but could be as simple as a half hour jog—or even better, a 15 minute run (the higher intensity the better).

“If you want to dance with the devil as far as opening yourself up for stress, anxiety and no sleep, it’s essential to have personal outlets to zap the stress,” entrepreneur Patrick Kidd told us, in an exclusive interview.

Just, whatever you do, avoid “fitness snacking” unless you have a shower (and forgiving colleagues) at work. You should also, flaming tequila aside, take care of your body by limiting the amount of drugs (yes that includes coffee) and alcohol (put that whisky on ice—or rather, don’t) you consume, and by drinking plenty of water.

Surround Yourself With Good People

“People with strong family or social connections are generally healthier than those who lack a support network,” reads the University of Michigan health service. Guess what? They’re right. So, “Make plans with supportive family members and friends, or seek out activities where you can meet new people, such as a club, class or support group.” You can thank the scientists later.

Take Three Day Weekends

If you’re under the pump at work and either can’t bring yourself to take a proper holiday, or simply don’t have enough leave accrued, this is the next best thing. In fact Stevan Premutico, founder of Dimmi, a restaurant booking app, credits it with enabling him to work for a decade—non stop—before selling his business to Tripadvisor.

“Having not taken a holiday for 10 years, this became my staple towards the end. It sounds so simple but it’s so powerful. A three day weekend away from the office to relax, recharge and re-inspire. Lots on reading, podcasts and thinking. I would do a lot of my bigger thinking here… for the biz, and for my life. It’s amazing what can happen when you just get away for a few days and let your heart and mind roam free.”

Get Help If You Need It

As we found in our collaboration with Queensland Health, there is no silver bullet when it comes to sorting stress and anxiety. So don’t be afraid to seek help and share the load with someone else. Whether you speak to your GP or contact beyondblue, it’s up to you.

“As with most major stresses that affect men in life, prevention is better than a cure.”

Simply telling your GP that you’re not feeling yourself is a good first step in addressing the problem. GPs are well trained in this area and will ensure they refer you to a suitable solution or specialist.

There are also a wealth of podcasts out there, like The Hilarious World Of Depression, where comedians share their stories of dealing with mental illness.

“It’s a great listen when you feel alone or ashamed, because a lot of the stories hit home and it’s encouraging to hear people talk openly about their struggles and how they managed to get to a better place,” (Reddit).

If you want to check out this podcast, or something similar, click here.

The post World Mental Health Day: 5 Habits You Need To Adopt For A Happier Life appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Drake’s stellar career has been built on his way with words, so it’s no surprise that his latest timepiece comes in the same esteem.

The American rapper was spotted in Vegas rocking the exclusive Richard Mille RM 69 Erotic Tourbillon (that’s it’s actual name) with a black tracksuit blazer from Drake’s own OVO Clothing label.

 

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The watch close up as posted on Drake’s Instagram.

 

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Even the watch is poetic.

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The eyebrow-raising watch was released by the Swiss luxury watchmaker in 2015 with a retail price of US$750,000. Only 30 examples were made as a tribute to the brand’s history of creativity.

As a tourbillon movement, the watch offers wearers a choice of intimate messages as the word bars rotate on the dial.

The top bar features changeable phrases like: “I want to”; “I need to”; “I long to”; “I lust to”; “I’d love to” and “Let me”

The middle bar joins it up with adjectives like: “explore”; “taste”; “kiss”; “arouse”; “devour”; and “caress”

And the bottom bar lights up the message with: “you tonight”; “your lips”; “your body”; “your nipples”; “your pussy”; and “you madly”

Get the combination right and it could read: “Let me devour your pussy”

Subtle. Surprisingly Drake only chose to post the most conservative of message combinations onto social media.

The Richard Mille’s staggering price tag comes from appointments such as a grade 5 titanium case and an oracle complication which mimics a Tibetan prayer wheel.

The question is, would you rock one if you had $750,00 to spend on a luxury watch?

The post Drake Shows Off His $750,000 Erotic Richard Mille Watch In Vegas appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

“Nothing is certain except death and taxes,” Benjamin Franklin famously said. Not to disparage ol’ Benny, who was obviously on to something, but those are far from the only certainties in life.

Denial is an option for lesser men but for you acceptance is the only answer. Accept life’s cruelest realities and you’ll be a better man for it.

You’re Going To Bald

There will come a day when it’s no longer possible to hide the fact that you’re going bald. Even a Trump-style combover won’t be an option (not that it ever really was, unless you’re worth several billion and no one was ever interested in your looks anyway). Instead, embrace the Statham. Shave it, grow a beard and move the fuck on. Or get a hair transplant like Elon Musk.

You Will Die…One Day

Not to be a downer or anything, but your hair’s limited time on this earth won’t be your only brush with impermanence. We all know cockroaches, Twinkies and Keith Richards will last well beyond the zombie apocalypse (Richards might already be a zombie), but as for you and I, mortality is a fact as inescapable as another Kardashian selfie.

Family Matters

Love them or hate them, you must accept the fact that they’re yours forever (yes, even that weird cousin you secretly hope was adopted). Think of your family like an incredibly cool but painful pair of shoes. Sure, it isn’t always comfortable, but comfort isn’t everything. Persevere and make the most of what time you have together.

Your Partner’s Fading Beauty

Your wife, your girlfriend, your boyfriend or whatever you have won’t stay young forever. They’ll get older, shit will start sagging, things will appear in places you didn’t know existed. It won’t always be pretty, but remember that the same thing is happening to you. If you need a reminder, see #1.

Your Social Status Will Drop

Getting all worked up about the amount of Instagram followers you have or why you’re just not popular is a waste of energy. Some of us were not put on this earth to be Neville Bartos – instead we’re here to have other powers. Like x-ray vision and double jointed thumbs. Care less about what others are doing. Knuckle the fuck down and focus on making your own life awesome.

You’re Not As Tall As You Think

My best friend is not a tall bloke, but he’s got more front than MYER and could hook any girl he wanted. It’s all down to personality and how you present yourself.

Just ask Tom Cruise or any of the other many vertically challenged men in Hollywood. Do away with those Cuban heels and get on with being a magnificent bastard.

Facing Your Greatest Fears

This just in: you’re not a special snowflake (no matter what your mother told you). Whether it’s flying, death or ducks, we all have irrational fears that stop us doing things. The sooner you stop beating yourself up about it, the better. Accept the fact that you’re just like everyone else and do your best to work around the problem.

You’ll Endure Numerous Failed Relationships

Even the best ones don’t always last forever. Rather than holding onto something that died 5 years ago, move on and find peace with your decision (or theirs). I’ll spare you any cliches about fish and seas, but you know the drill. Remember the happiness you had and the lessons you learned, and then it’s hard to consider any relationship a failure.

You Won’t Be The Best At Everything

Have trouble steering a ship? That’s ok. I struggle to reverse park with the radio on. Most people won’t even be the best at one thing in their life, so there’s no reason to get worked up over not being the best at everything. Even Albert Einstein couldn’t talk until he was four, never wore socks, married his cousin and allegedly couldn’t tie his own shoes.

You’ll Cop Criticism

Brace yourself. I’m about to drop a cold, hard truth bomb. Here goes: you won’t always be right. Sometimes you’ll be undeniably wrong. Sometimes you’ll do a sub-par job. Sometimes you’ll be a douchebag.

Accept any criticism that comes with grace. A true gentleman can hear it without getting defensive and own up to his mistakes.

The post Life Truths Every Man Must Learn To Accept & Get Over appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Pumping iron on the daily for the Gram in the hopes that your sexual attractiveness will peak? You’re better off letting mum set you up with Aunt Mavis’ second cousin.

The male body image game has seen a massive surge in recent times with the proliferation of social media apps like Instagram beaming chiselled abs, ripped chests and bulging quads to millions of impressionable young men around the world. Whilst the choice in physique isn’t an issue, Sydney personal trainer Nick Cheadle told news.com that underlying motive was.

“Women don’t particularly care for the shredded look,” says the fitness coach with over 700,000 followers.

“You get more compliments from mates and guys at the gym than from women.”

For guys who are trying to mimic the ripped physique of fitness models and gym influencers on social media, there arises an even greater question: If there was no Instagram, would they even bother with the gym?

Cheadle says that at the peak of his physique he didn’t experience any level of increased interest from women and even avoided showing off too much skin in front of them.

“When I first got into lifting, I thought it was the ‘secret’ to a successful life, popularity, women & what I thought happiness was,” he said in the Instagram post below.

“I don’t regret chasing the conditioning on the left even if that picture is edited AF (I originally posted it as a comparison photo edit vs no edit) because it taught me a lot, but there’s going to have to be a damn good reason for me to do that again in the future.”

 

 

 

 

 

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This issue which may surprise men also raises other concerns like a compromised sex life.

“The leaner you get, the less some things work for you,” Cheadle told the publication.

The Sydney personal trainer has been in the fitness industry for over a decade and says that he’s seen it all from the lows of extreme dieting and gym routines to the men who continually approach him asking for help to build muscle and drop fat as quickly as possible.

Cheadle reckons that this is a direct result of social media and heavy Photoshop editing which has reinforced unrealistic expectations onto today’s men.

“Things we see on social media are nothing more than a highlight reel,” he adds.

“Comparison can quite often be the thief of joy.”

His fitness advice for anyone is simple: stay away from diet fads and extreme gym workouts, and instead focus on your personal goals.

RELATED: Are Abs Really That Healthy When You Look Like You’re Dying Of Starvation

“If you’re happy to prioritise your training, your diet, your cardio & hitting your macros above EVERYTHING else in your life – then enjoy that – 5% body fat life. If that doesn’t sound like much fun, then aim for something in between & have a tonne of fun whilst doing so.”

• How The ‘Perfect’ Male Physique Has Changed
• What Plus Sized Male Models Wished Every Man Knew

The post Women Don’t Want Men Who Are ‘Shredded’, Here’s Why… appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Whether you own one or ten watches there comes a time when you’re bound to become a little bored with them.

In some collector’s case they simply sell the watch, buy another and life continues as per usual. However, if you’re like me and have limited time and money then having a plan to give your watch a new lease on life requires more creativity.

It’s called a new strap.  

Why It’s A Strapping Good Idea

Three years ago I purchased my IWC Big Pilot. After about 12 months of looking at the classic Santoni leather strap with the four metal circles it dawned on me that everyone had the same watch. It was time for a change.

Enter the IWC Big Pilot Top Gun strap (in black calfskin). Not a massive difference, but it gave the watch a sleeker sporty appearance rather than the classic aviation inspired leather strap. I instantly fell in love with the watch again. It felt and looked completely new. 

It’s totally psychological, but damn it, it worked.

Fast forward to last week and once again there’s opportunity to change. Why? Because Summer’s coming in Australia and we spend most of our time in the water. Why not make the most of the watch all year round and in almost any condition. 

This time I’m opting for a black IWC Aquatimer strap. The strap has a very light argyle texture to give it some life. 

Our point here is every time you change the strap it feels like a brand new watch. It looks different, feels different and to the novice will look different.

The most astute collectors will know you’ve given your watch a facelift others may think you’ve picked up the watch in Bali on a recent surfing trip… but f*** them.

Panerai have long been known for this. Buying a Panerai offered customers a choice of leather and rubber straps to change based on their mood or season. More recently Apple with their Apple Watch with their endless straps and bracelets. Think of this as the Nokia 3210 experience for the watch collector.

So what are your options when it comes to new straps?

Nato Straps

Nato straps have risen to popularity in recent years thanks to their simplicity and affordability. They’re available in both nylon and leather in a variety of colours and are pretty easy to change. These range from $15 all the way to $150.

Leather & Calfskin Straps

For more dressy occasions we would recommend calfskin and shell cordovan straps. They’re rich in colour and are the perfect way to give your watch a high end feel…even if it’s a cheap watch. Expect these to cost upwards of $175.

Rubber Straps

If you’re in the water a lot then we recommend rubber straps. They come in a variety of colours and are durable in all conditions. The only downside is they’re not exactly black tie appropriate, so you’ll need to change it occasionally depending on the event. Rubber is on the cheaper side at $50.

Vintage Straps

If you’re a fan of the old school then vintage leather and suede straps will be suitable for you. They give the watch a worn and well loved appearance without you having to go to war. These are about $100 and come in many variations. 

Crucial Tip: Our advice is to measure your current watch strap to ensure the any new strap fits correctly.

A Toolkit For Fitting Your New Strap

The post The Cheapest Way To Get The 'New Watch Feel' With Your Old Watch appeared first on DMARGE Australia.