Current champions and UEFA Champions League participants, Hibernians, are expected to strive to retain their number one spot in the First Division of the women’s league, whilst last season’s second place holders, Birkirkara FC, together with Raiders (Luxol), Pembroke Athleta, Kirkop United and Mgarr United will all be vying for that number one spot in the league.  With Hibernians having finished their experience in the UEFA Champions League Group 3 by earning a historical point, the Paolites shall be looking to keep up their good form within the local scene.

The second division, on the other hand, boasts another group of football teams with some new teams coming along the ranks. Hamrun Spartans, Swieqi United, Tarxien Rainbows and Sliema Wanderers need no introduction. With Hamrun Spartans finishing off 6 points less than  last season’s debutants Swieqi United, Swieqi will vie to earn that number one spot in the division this time round. This season, however, welcomes Kirkop B team along with Mosta and Gozo FC which will provide more competition and tough clashes for the teams in this section.

The U16 players also intend to impress in order to earn their spot with their respective senior teams and eventually, the national team. 12 teams will compete in this league , namely Hamrun Spartans, Raiders (Luxol), Mosta, Pembroke Athleta, Birkirkara, Zebbug Rangers, Gozo, Kirkop United, Hibernians, Tarxien Rainbows, Mgarr United and Kirkop United Team B.

Fresh faces, new coaches, new teams, experienced players and energetic youngsters – this could definitely be one of the best seasons in the local scene. So sit back, show your support and hold on, for we might be witnessing some great football this season.

The post Women’s Football — The local action about to kick off appeared first on The Third Eye.

The passion is also clearly seen in the players. The way they kiss the club’s crest after a goal, the way they fervently sing their national anthem, the way they cry after losing a cup final. Perhaps, one of the most striking moment during the ongoing 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup held in Canada was the moment Laura Bassett, England’s national team defender, clearance looped over the own keeper, gifting Japan the win in the 92^nd minute. The heartache was visible; an emotional rollercoaster. Sadly enough, this was followed by hurtful abuse on social media by so-called "fans’.

It is a dream for any footballer to participate in a sporting event of the same calibre as the FIFA World Cup.  One should respect these players who gave their all of crest on the front of the shirt. Irrelevant of how their experience in the World Cup ended, the Lionesses have inspired many aspiring young, female footballers, with over 2 million spectators watching the semi-finals despite the time difference.

While the players and the coaches are an integral part of the team, the fans are considered to be the "twelfth man’. Being a true fan is not about being a mere spectator but it is about being an actual participant. This means that supporting our local football clubs and men and women national teams is so significant. It is the chants, the banners and the fervent fans that motivate the team and maybe intimidate the opposition. It doesn’t involve sharing hateful messages on social media, or passing abusing comments in the stadium but supporting the players and the team when they need you the most.

The post The Beautiful Game and its Heartache appeared first on The Third Eye.

The spotlight was undoubtedly mostly on Muffat, aged 24. Muffat was born and raised in Nice and started swimming at the tender age of seven.

The French athlete appeared in the 2008 and 2012 Olympics. Her highest finish at the 2008 Beijing Olympics was fifth as a member of the women’s 4×200 freestyle relay. In the 2012 London Olympics, she came back even stronger, winning a gold medal in the women’s 400 freestyle, setting a new Olympic record in the process. She earned a silver medal in the women’s 200-meter freestyle, and a bronze medal as a competitor in the women’s 4×200 freestyle relay.

Muffat then retired abruptly at the young age of 24, in June 2014, due to the lengthy, tiring hours of training.

Our sincere condolences, from The Third Eye team and from the rest of the sporting world, go to the families involved.  French sport has lost a great champion.

The post France Mourns French Sports Stars appeared first on The Third Eye.

The practice of making resolutions itself dates back to ancient Babylonians, who made promises to their gods for the New Year, often having to do with concrete, easily achievable tasks like vowing to return borrowed farm equipment.

We often hear the words "New Year, new me’, but just because it sounds pretty it doesn’t mean its right. Nonetheless, many are those that during the last week of the year start thinking of their New Year’s resolutions. Some decide they need to exercise more, quit smoking, refrain from holding grudges, or to start studying early for the yearly exams and not cram everything in the last week.

In reality the statistics speak for themselves. The Journal of Clinical Psychology study reports that 54 percent give up on their resolutions within six months – and only 8 percent ultimately succeed by the end of the year. This is primarily because it is unrealistic to change overnight and have drastic changes implemented in your everyday life. Despite all these resolutions, on January the 1st, you would be the same person you were on December 31st.

However, the good news is that the same study found that people who make resolutions are 10 times more likely to change their behaviour than those who don’t. So, don’t sit back admiring people who made it. Get inspired from these people instead!

Of course, some may think that the New Year’s resolutions are about hope and a willingness to become better.  Well, here’s an idea. Instead of coming up with a never-ending list about things you want to change in the upcoming year why don’t you decide to implement small, realistic changes in your life? Small changes which, although they could still fail, wouldn’t make you feel so depressed when you realize that failure is bound to happen in any case.  Don’t beat yourself up, face your fears and just keep trying.

Keep it simple and get the most out of 2015!

So sit back and enjoy the ride, for 2015, may be yet another rollercoaster.

The post Let The New Chapter Begin! appeared first on The Third Eye.

1.   Don’t skip breakfast

Most students tend to skip this important meal of the day, either due to time constraints or due to a lack of appetite so early in the morning. However, skipping this meal can be costly. Of course, this does not mean that you should grab an English breakfast but opt for healthier options such as cereals, yogurts, dried fruit and whole wheat bread amongst others.

Studies have shown that breakfast skippers have poorer concentration, more fatigue and have less ideal body weights. In fact, ingesting something within an hour of waking up jumpstarts your metabolism and provides the fuel you need to get you through a busy day on campus.

2.   What to carry around

With unhealthy options exponentially rising and more students opting for junk food just because it’s cheaper, it is important to keep in mind that you are what you eat. If you realize that you are surrounded by unhealthy options try to prepare your lunch beforehand, like for example a salad.  Moreover, backpack food stash ideas include nuts, fruit, vegetables, rice cakes and high fibre cereal bars amongst others.

 3.   What is a healthy snack?

Most people are tired of eating salads every day. The trick is to mix it up. Plan your meals around colourful vegetables and fruits. Eating 5 fruits and vegetables a day will provide you with a whole lot of advantages.

4.   Late night snacking

If you’re up late studying and cramming up information for your upcoming exam, a nutritious energy-rich snack may be just what you need to perk you up.  Late night is a period of cravings for salty, sugary or high fat foods, which is food with a lot of calories but no nutritious value. Try to avoid these types of foods and select better choices such as whole wheat toast, or carrot sticks with hummus for example.

 5.   What to eat

Make sure that your meal is balanced and contains food from different food groups.  Carbohydrates, vitamins and fibre should also be included together with a good source of protein which should ideally be fish, poultry and lean cuts of meat.  For vegetarians? Good protein sources are more than just meat. These include foods such as nuts, tofu, quinoa and beans.

6.   How much should I eat?

This depends on your age, gender, body size and level of physical activity amongst others.  For example, a healthy male should ingest about 3000 calories whilst a less active male can ingest 2400 calories. By comparison, an active female can ingest 2400 calories whilst a less active female should ingest about 2000-2200 calories.

7.   It’s not just about the eating…

Drinking options affect your diet as well. Try to avoid sugary drinks and opt for water. 8 glasses of water are to be consumed daily, and this should be increased in cases of hot weather or if you are working out.  Alcohol also contains a lot of calories, so think twice.

8.   No radical changes

Healthy eating doesn’t just happen. Don’t make radical changes to your diet. You won’t keep it up in the long run. Instead, try to incorporate healthier food in your diet and cut down on unhealthier ones. If you have been skipping meals, arrange your schedule. If you are going out for dinner choose a salad, a wrap or grill rather than fried options.

University life and healthy eating can coexist, the answer lies in your will power and time management.

The post The Healthy Student Survival Guide appeared first on The Third Eye.

Coeliac disease is an autoimmune disorder and not an allergy or intolerance disorder, as believed by many. This occurs in people that ingest foods that contain gluten such as barley, rye and wheat amongst others.

When someone is a coeliac, the presence of gluten in their body will generate an immune response that damages the inside of the small intestine. The main role of the small intestine is to absorb the nutrients from food, but since in this case the small intestine is damaged, a person becomes malnourished regardless the quantity of food eaten.

The symptoms of coeliac disease include weight loss, bloating, changes in bowel movements, weakness and fatigue. Moreover, several complications may arise such as anaemia, osteoporosis, type 1 diabetes, multiple sclerosis and an increased risk of lymphoma if this condition is left untreated. To date, the only treatment available is a strict gluten-free diet.

In order to raise more awareness regarding this condition, The Third Eye has met up with Martha Carabott, student, coeliac and an active member of various coeliac organisations.

Having been diagnosed with coeliac disease fifteen years ago she learned she would need to make radical changes to her diet. She would have to eat a gluten-free diet and that would mean a lot of new sacrifices.

“The most difficult part of being ceoliac is when I get hungry and I’m at work, abroad or out and I realize that you can’t eat anything. For this reason I always prepare my meals beforehand or plan where I am going to go eat out”.  She recalls that this experience was the toughest when she was still a child as she was still getting accustomed to living on a gluten- free diet.

However, she insisted that for her living as a coeliac is no longer a challenge but part of her lifestyle. One should not think of this condition as being a limitation but more of a way of living.

Martha Carabott also explained that the general public is becoming increasingly more aware of this condition. “Many people know that coeliacs cannot eat bread and pasta amongst others, however only a handful know that even contamination of food containing gluten may trigger the autoimmune disorder in coeliacs”. In fact, a person who requires a gluten-free diet will become an excellent gluten detective, scrutinising every label and questioning every person who prepares their meals.

Martha is also an active member of three major organisations that address the needs and expectations of people that suffer from this condition.

“I am a member of the committee of Coeliac Association Malta, a Maltese delegate in Coeliac youths of Europe and also a member of the youth group of the European Patient’s Forum.  The aim of the Coeliac Association Malta is to offer help and support for all the Maltese celiacs whilst providing them with gluten-free recipes as well as organising social events for Maltese coeliacs to meet up”.  

The other two European based groups offer similar support but are more focused on youngsters. A summer camp is organised every year by the Coeliac Youths of Europe, with the upcoming one to be based in Malta in 2015.  The project of this year is a gluten-free cookbook with every European country preparing a set menu with foods related to their native country. Eventually, this cookbook will be uploaded online for the general public to view.

On the other hand, members of the European Patient’s Forum meet twice a year to discuss upcoming projects. This forum however is not solely based on coeliac disease but focuses on a wide array of conditions that affect youngsters with the main aim being to improve their quality of life.

Her advice to others who have recently been diagnosed with coeliac disease was simple.

“Don’t let it define your life. Instead incorporate it”, she said with a smile on her face.

The twenty year old also insisted that it is of prime importance to get tested immediately if the symptoms of coeliac disease arise. This condition should not take over your whole life but it is imperative to keep it in perspective. Indeed coeliac disease is a steep, overwhelming learning curve that is manageable once you learn all you need to know about it.

For more information visit:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/CeliacYouthOfEurope/?fref=ts

http://www.cyeweb.eu/

The post Life as a Coeliac | Raising Awareness appeared first on The Third Eye.

Exercise is extremely important for every age group.  One should aim to work out at least thirty minutes a day at moderate intensity for five days a week. This helps to increase cardiovascular fitness as well as help in stress and anxiety management and concentration whilst increasing learning abilities.  Exercise itself releases chemicals known as endorphins, the "feel good hormone’, which basically decreases depression whilst suppressing your appetite.

Physical activity also helps to prevent and reduce the risk of non-communicable diseases such as Diabetes, hypertension, various forms of cancer and obesity. Another benefit is that physical activity boosts energy as it enables more oxygen and nutrients to be delivered to our cardiovascular system, enabling it to work more efficiently.

Whilst waking up early to go the gym may seem very daunting, you will realize that exercising will actually help you sleep better. Finding a slot in your busy schedule is the key. Whether it’s early in the morning, between lectures or right after university, a work out regime helps boost your morale and confidence.

An active person should aim to combine exercise together with a balanced diet and plenty of hydration and rest. One should carry out an activity that is enjoyed by the individual. Whilst some may consider going to the gym as being boring, one can opt for other sports and activities such as swimming, zumba, yoga, Pilates, Tai Chi and many more.  If you are not the "sporty’ type of person you can always opt to walk or bike instead of using your car.

Even though eating a slice of pizza from the canteen may seem to be more fulfilling during your day, it won’t be satisfying in the long run. So put on your training gear, buckle up your trainers, head for a run and never look back.

The post Incorporating Exercise Into University Life appeared first on The Third Eye.

The Lifecycle challenge will consist of ten consecutive days of cycling with the challenge starting in Fukuoka, northern shore of the island of Kyushu, Japan and finishing in Tokyo, the capital city. The Maltese cyclists will cover a distance of approximately 2000km a day.

The main aim is to collect money for the Renal Unit at Mater Dei hospital and also for the Transplant Support Group. The Renal Unit caters for patients suffering for renal failure and who require treatment by means of a Dialysis Machine which basically mimics the normal function of the kidney.

To donate for this good cause visit www.lifecyclechallenge.com 

The post The Start of an Adventure | Lifecycle Malta appeared first on The Third Eye.