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Carolyn Hansen
Northern Advocate columnist

Carolyn Hansen is co-owner of Anytime Fitness.

We are your advocate, Aotearoa. Uncovering stories that matter, asking hard-hitting questions of those in power, live-blogging sport events, monitoring the highs and lows of the NZX and providing Premium expert opinion and analysis. Bringing you distinctive, quality journalism and breaking news from across New Zealand and around the world. With specialists working together to create indepth reads, engaging video, and unmissable podcasts.

Check out Carolyn’s latest content
Carolyn Hansen: Natural ways to increase HGH for anti-aging benefits
Opinion

Carolyn Hansen: Natural ways to increase HGH for anti-aging benefits

06 Dec 04:00 PM
Premium
Balancing antioxidants and free radicals for healthier living - Carolyn Hansen
Northern Advocate

Balancing antioxidants and free radicals for healthier living - Carolyn Hansen

08 Nov 04:00 PM

OPINION: Managing stress with exercise and meditation practices is beneficial.

Carolyn Hansen: The rise of personalised fitness trends
Northern Advocate

Carolyn Hansen: The rise of personalised fitness trends

25 Oct 04:00 PM

OPINION: Fitness routines have gone virtual, offering immersive workout experiences.

Carolyn Hansen: Unlock happiness: The power of exercise and healthy eating
Northern Advocate

Carolyn Hansen: Unlock happiness: The power of exercise and healthy eating

11 Oct 04:00 PM

OPINION: We need to become aware of us – how we spend and use our energy each day.

Premium
Opinion: How exercise changes your brain
Northern Advocate

Opinion: How exercise changes your brain

27 Sep 05:00 PM

OPINION: Exercise influences our brain function and mental health.

Premium
Carolyn Hansen: Happiness in mind
Northern Advocate

Carolyn Hansen: Happiness in mind

06 Sep 05:00 PM

OPINION: It’s the lens through which your brain views the world that shapes your reality,

Premium
Carolyn Hansen: Can we have our cake and eat it too when it comes to being healthy
Northern Advocate

Carolyn Hansen: Can we have our cake and eat it too when it comes to being healthy

23 Aug 05:00 PM

OPINION: Denial does not work nor does extreme dieting.

Premium
Mindful eating: The art of presence while you eat
Northern Advocate

Mindful eating: The art of presence while you eat

02 Aug 05:00 PM

OPINION: Cooking at home is a family bonding experience.

Premium
Carolyn Hansen: Mitochondria – the powerhouse of our cells
Northern Advocate

Carolyn Hansen: Mitochondria – the powerhouse of our cells

12 Jul 05:00 PM

OPINION: Bad habits, unhealthy lifestyles decrease our energy levels and accelerate aging.

Premium
Don’t worry be happy, if you can - Carolyn Hansen
Northern Advocate

Don’t worry be happy, if you can - Carolyn Hansen

28 Jun 05:00 PM

OPINION: Increasing tensions, negative feelings and emotions are rising around the world.

Premium
Carolyn Hansen: Improve your health by removing toxins
Opinion

Carolyn Hansen: Improve your health by removing toxins

14 Jun 05:00 PM

OPINION: Toxicity is all around us but there are useful steps we can take to reduce it.

Carolyn Hansen: Lifestyle plays a big part in chronic disease risk
Northern Advocate

Carolyn Hansen: Lifestyle plays a big part in chronic disease risk

31 May 05:00 PM

OPINION: Chronic lifestyle diseases are incurable, but they are also preventable.

Carolyn Hansen: Your mind and your weight
Northern Advocate

Carolyn Hansen: Your mind and your weight

17 May 05:00 PM

Creating a healthy weight-loss mindset is key.

Premium
Opinion: Embracing the pain of change with a positive, healthy attitude is fitness for life
Northern Advocate

Opinion: Embracing the pain of change with a positive, healthy attitude is fitness for life

26 Apr 06:00 PM

Feeling discomfort through change indicates we are expanding our horizons.

Premium
Getting back into the kitchen - Carolyn Hansen
Northern Advocate

Getting back into the kitchen - Carolyn Hansen

12 Apr 06:00 PM

It's time to reverse the dangerous trend of unhealthy eating.

Premium
Carolyn Hansen: The attitude of gratitude
Northern Advocate

Carolyn Hansen: The attitude of gratitude

22 Mar 04:00 PM

Thankfulness, mindfulness and kindness are all related.

Premium
Carolyn Hansen: The power of the mind
Northern Advocate

Carolyn Hansen: The power of the mind

23 Feb 04:00 PM

Choice is where the real power lies.

Carolyn Hansen: Vegetables are health superstars
Opinion

Carolyn Hansen: Vegetables are health superstars

09 Feb 04:00 PM

Opinion: Raw vegetables are nutrient powerhouses.

Premium
Carolyn Hansen: Sweet tooth might be the missing piece to losing weight
Northern Advocate

Carolyn Hansen: Sweet tooth might be the missing piece to losing weight

26 Jan 04:00 PM

Sugar addiction is nothing to joke about.

Premium
The benefits of getting back into the kitchen
Northern Advocate

The benefits of getting back into the kitchen

08 Dec 04:00 PM

OPINION: We've traded in our health and well-being for the convenience of eating out.

Carolyn Hansen: Living the best life possible
Northern Advocate

Carolyn Hansen: Living the best life possible

24 Nov 04:00 PM

The human body has always trended toward being lean and healthy.

Premium
Carolyn Hansen:  Health in mind
Northern Advocate

Carolyn Hansen: Health in mind

10 Nov 04:00 PM

When we're healthy mentally, we're able to realise our full potential.

Premium
Carolyn Hansen: Living better for longer
Northern Advocate

Carolyn Hansen: Living better for longer

27 Oct 04:00 PM

OPINION: Extra quality years can be had just by turning on self-healing processes.

Premium
Carolyn Hansen: Use it or lose it
Opinion

Carolyn Hansen: Use it or lose it

13 Oct 04:00 PM

OPINION: We have become physically lazy and mentally slothful.

Premium
Carolyn Hansen: How to cope with our busy modern lifestyles
Northern Advocate

Carolyn Hansen: How to cope with our busy modern lifestyles

29 Sep 04:00 PM

Overworked and under-rested people need time out to tap into nurturing self-care.

Premium
Comment: Be good to yourself
Northern Advocate

Comment: Be good to yourself

08 Sep 05:00 PM

Place positive, uplifting messages, around the home and even workplace.

Premium
Strengthening your core
Northern Advocate

Strengthening your core

01 Sep 05:00 PM

A strong flexible core is much more than six-pack abs.

Premium
Carolyn Hansen: If your attitude towards exercise is bad, are you willing to change it?
Opinion

Carolyn Hansen: If your attitude towards exercise is bad, are you willing to change it?

25 Aug 05:00 PM

OPINION: We all have the opportunity to keep ourselves healthy and well.

Premium
Living your best life possible
Northern Advocate

Living your best life possible

18 Aug 05:00 PM

OPINION: The first step towards loving life is to love our bodies.

Premium
Carolyn Hansen: How to choose a gym
Northern Advocate

Carolyn Hansen: How to choose a gym

11 Aug 05:00 PM

The reasons for picking a certain gym are personal.

Premium
Carolyn Hansen: Winning the mind game
Northern Advocate

Carolyn Hansen: Winning the mind game

04 Aug 05:00 PM

To get your mind to assist you to reach your goals, stay focused on the solution.

Premium
Carolyn Hansen: The anti-aging lifestyle, what is it and are you living it?
Northern Advocate

Carolyn Hansen: The anti-aging lifestyle, what is it and are you living it?

28 Jul 05:00 PM

In the minds of some, old age itself has become a disease to be cured.

Premium
Carolyn Hansen: Be your own best friend
Northern Advocate

Carolyn Hansen: Be your own best friend

21 Jul 05:00 PM

It’s not always easy to get this healthy lifestyle thing down.

Premium
Comment: Powered by self-love
Northern Advocate

Comment: Powered by self-love

14 Jul 05:00 PM

Opinion: If it’s positive change we are after, we must begin and end with love.

Premium
Carolyn Hansen: Does the all-or-nothing approach work?
Opinion

Carolyn Hansen: Does the all-or-nothing approach work?

07 Jul 05:00 PM

Stick to proven methods of healthy eating and fitness that are sustainable.

Premium
Carolyn Hansen: It’s all in our state of mind
Northern Advocate

Carolyn Hansen: It’s all in our state of mind

30 Jun 05:00 PM

With the right attitude and action steps, we can develop a growth mindset.

Premium
Strength training for real life function
Northern Advocate

Strength training for real life function

23 Jun 05:00 PM

One of the most basic measures of physical fitness is your functional fitness.

Premium
Healthy eating is  all in the planning
Northern Advocate

Healthy eating is all in the planning

16 Jun 05:00 PM

Never grocery shop without a list.

Premium
Comment: Eating clean to lose weight
Northern Advocate

Comment: Eating clean to lose weight

09 Jun 05:00 PM

Basic rules for using food as your weapon.

Premium
Comment: The importance of vigorous physical activity
Northern Advocate

Comment: The importance of vigorous physical activity

02 Jun 05:00 PM

A challenging exercise session is the perfect panacea to tiredness, fatigue or stress.

Premium
Carolyn Hansen: Exercise for the ages
Northern Advocate

Carolyn Hansen: Exercise for the ages

26 May 05:00 PM

When your body is strong it becomes more disease resistant.

Premium
Carolyn Hansen: Beating the myth out of 'beating the bulge'
Northern Advocate

Carolyn Hansen: Beating the myth out of 'beating the bulge'

19 May 05:00 PM

Tight hip flexors can lead to a lot of issues - not just around our stomachs.

Premium
Carolyn Hansen: If you want a healthy body, it all starts with the mind
Opinion

Carolyn Hansen: If you want a healthy body, it all starts with the mind

12 May 05:00 PM

The lifestyle habits that matter most for a healthy body and healthy mind.

Premium
Carolyn Hansen: Fitness equates to success in all areas of life
Northern Advocate

Carolyn Hansen: Fitness equates to success in all areas of life

05 May 05:00 PM

Personal fitness is the greatest discipline on earth.

Premium
Carolyn Hansen: Is gardening the secret to a healthy life?
Northern Advocate

Carolyn Hansen: Is gardening the secret to a healthy life?

28 Apr 05:00 PM

It fills our hearts and minds with peace and our tummies with healthy nutrients.

Premium
Comment: Why not adopt the more flexible, lenient 80/20 rule for eating?
Opinion

Comment: Why not adopt the more flexible, lenient 80/20 rule for eating?

21 Apr 05:00 PM

Once the cravings take over, the diet tanks and the guilt sets in.

Premium
Comment:  Exercise connects our brains and hearts and helps silence our chattering mind
Northern Advocate

Comment: Exercise connects our brains and hearts and helps silence our chattering mind

14 Apr 05:00 PM

Numbers don’t lie and neither do scientific results.

Premium
Strength training exercise vital for strengthening immune system - Carolyn Hansen
Northern Advocate

Strength training exercise vital for strengthening immune system - Carolyn Hansen

07 Apr 05:00 PM

Regular strength training exercise provide long-term immune protection - Carolyn Hansen

Premium
Comment: Creative visualisation can help you achieve health and fitness goals
Opinion

Comment: Creative visualisation can help you achieve health and fitness goals

24 Mar 04:00 PM

You can never create the new in your life by clinging to old visions and beliefs.

Premium
Carolyn Hansen: What to to do about belly fat
Northern Advocate

Carolyn Hansen: What to to do about belly fat

17 Mar 04:00 PM

It is not inevitable, but a result of our lifestyles.

Premium
Carolyn Hansen: How to manage cravings and temptations
Northern Advocate

Carolyn Hansen: How to manage cravings and temptations

03 Mar 03:00 PM

If you do give in, pick yourself back up and get going again.

Premium
Negative thoughts and mental decline
Northern Advocate

Negative thoughts and mental decline

24 Feb 04:00 PM

Negativity breeds negativity and positivity breeds positivity.

Premium
Carolyn Hansen: How the western diet could be wreaking havoc on your body
Northern Advocate

Carolyn Hansen: How the western diet could be wreaking havoc on your body

17 Feb 04:00 PM

Opinion: While chronic inflammation isn't acute, it's still severely damaging.

Premium
Carolyn Hansen: Factors that influence our hunger
Northern Advocate

Carolyn Hansen: Factors that influence our hunger

10 Feb 04:00 PM

Our hunger level plays a huge role in our energy intake.

Premium
Carolyn Hansen: Paying attention to lifestyle behaviours is key to greater health
Northern Advocate

Carolyn Hansen: Paying attention to lifestyle behaviours is key to greater health

27 Jan 04:00 PM

Why the value you give to healthy eating and proper exercise is key in lifestyle changes.

Premium
Carolyn Hansen: Reaping the invisible benefits of exercise
Northern Advocate

Carolyn Hansen: Reaping the invisible benefits of exercise

20 Jan 04:00 PM

This is the point where it goes beyond 'something you do' to 'something you become'.

Premium
Carolyn Hansen: Super-seeds will boost your health
Northern Advocate

Carolyn Hansen: Super-seeds will boost your health

13 Jan 04:00 PM

These tiny but mighty warriors can boost your health.

Premium
Carolyn Hansen: Ride the momentum
Northern Advocate

Carolyn Hansen: Ride the momentum

06 Jan 04:00 PM

It’s harder to stop the train and start it again then it is to keep it rolling.

Premium
Carolyn Hansen: No one will ever care as much as you do about your own health
Northern Advocate

Carolyn Hansen: No one will ever care as much as you do about your own health

30 Dec 04:00 PM

It is far easier to keep good health than try and recover it after it is lost.

Premium
Carolyn Hansen: Like true beauty, fitness satisfaction radiates from inside
Northern Advocate

Carolyn Hansen: Like true beauty, fitness satisfaction radiates from inside

23 Dec 04:00 PM

The better you feel, the more you want to feel better.

Premium
Carolyn Hansen: Try the 'addition' idea for your healthy eating plan
Northern Advocate

Carolyn Hansen: Try the 'addition' idea for your healthy eating plan

16 Dec 04:00 PM

Make a list of foods that can be added to your eating plan.

Premium
Carolyn Hansen: The benefits of morning exercise
Northern Advocate

Carolyn Hansen: The benefits of morning exercise

09 Dec 04:00 PM

If it works for Richard Branson, it can work for us too.

Premium
Carolyn Hansen: We need to challenge ourselves and our behaviour
Northern Advocate

Carolyn Hansen: We need to challenge ourselves and our behaviour

02 Dec 04:00 PM

How to shift negative thoughts to a positive mindset.

Premium
Healthy eating and diet will help you lose weight - Carolyn Hansen
Northern Advocate

Healthy eating and diet will help you lose weight - Carolyn Hansen

25 Nov 04:00 PM

Being deliberate with eating and diet will help you lose weight

Premium
Carolyn Hansen: How to embrace being happy
Northern Advocate

Carolyn Hansen: How to embrace being happy

18 Nov 04:00 PM

Happiness is the real key and contributing factor towards our success.

Premium
Managing your stress levels is vital
Northern Advocate

Managing your stress levels is vital

11 Nov 04:00 PM

Physical activity is what shapes and challenges our body to be stronger

Premium
Carolyn Hansen: Health and fitness myths that need busting
Northern Advocate

Carolyn Hansen: Health and fitness myths that need busting

28 Oct 04:00 PM

Be your own best friend and do the research.

Premium
Diligence is the essential key to success in any endeavour
Northern Advocate

Diligence is the essential key to success in any endeavour

21 Oct 04:00 PM

People are always looking for shortcuts, they want things to be easy.

Premium
You are the only one empowered to make choices for yourself
Northern Advocate

You are the only one empowered to make choices for yourself

14 Oct 04:00 PM

Wellness and good health are something you must practice daily.

Premium
Factors that influence our hunger
Northern Advocate

Factors that influence our hunger

07 Oct 04:00 PM

Exercise habits have a huge impact on our energy intake.

Premium
Carolyn Hansen: Health and the mind body connection
Northern Advocate

Carolyn Hansen: Health and the mind body connection

30 Sep 04:00 PM

With a little effort you can train your brain to think the thoughts you want to think

Premium
Carolyn Hansen: Happiness comes from within and exercise helps
Northern Advocate

Carolyn Hansen: Happiness comes from within and exercise helps

23 Sep 05:00 PM

Somehow, we must once again take pride in being in control of our own life.

Premium
The body regards dieting as starvation: How to lose weight healthily
Northern Advocate

The body regards dieting as starvation: How to lose weight healthily

16 Sep 05:00 PM

A low-energy state is not a happy place to be.

Premium
Dreams are easy, goals are the blueprint, actions seal the deal
Northern Advocate

Dreams are easy, goals are the blueprint, actions seal the deal

09 Sep 05:00 PM

If we want our dreams to become reality, we must first turn them into goals.

Premium
Five reasons that muscle matters … a lot
Northern Advocate

Five reasons that muscle matters … a lot

02 Sep 05:00 PM

The question remains. Why, when less calories are going in is weight not coming off?

Premium
Carolyn Hansen: Why do we empower procrastination?
Northern Advocate

Carolyn Hansen: Why do we empower procrastination?

26 Aug 05:00 PM

There is not a person alive who has not given into the bad habit of putting something off.

Premium
Opinion: What can't freeze time but we can slow down ageing
Northern Advocate

Opinion: What can't freeze time but we can slow down ageing

19 Aug 05:00 PM

Wellness is never about surviving, but about thriving.

Premium
Listen to your body, form healthy habits - and gain more than a decade of life
Northern Advocate

Listen to your body, form healthy habits - and gain more than a decade of life

12 Aug 05:00 PM

Carolyn Hansen says when it comes to health, proper exercise is a no-brainer.

Premium
Home gardening provides physical and mental rewards
Northern Advocate

Home gardening provides physical and mental rewards

05 Aug 05:00 PM

It fills our hearts and minds with peace and our tummies with healthy nutrients.

Premium
Carolyn Hansen: The magic of exercise
Northern Advocate

Carolyn Hansen: The magic of exercise

29 Jul 05:00 PM

Today is the first day of the rest of your life. Why not make it the best day?

Premium
How to deal with stress - the silent yet deadly enemy among us
Northern Advocate

How to deal with stress - the silent yet deadly enemy among us

22 Jul 05:00 PM

Carolyn Hansen says to think with your heart and love with your mind.

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