Want to get healthier after the festive season?
- Make your fitness a priority. People often say they want to be healthier but do not follow through with a plan and steps.
- Mentally prepare yourself. Set a goal and monitor yourself weekly on progress If you are in a good “head space” the battle is half won.
- If you have the means for a personal trainer arrive ready and willing to actively participate in sessions. Private training is expensive so get the value out of your session. Think of it this way… it is 45minutes or 1hour out of your day that you can work on your OWN individual needs… don`t spend it on convincing your trainer that you really do not need to do crunches It’s a waste of money and valuable time.
- Schedule your workouts. Studies show that exercisers are more likely to stick to their goals if they write them down. Think of them as non-negotiable appointments!
- Whenever possible, walk rather than drive, take the stairs rather than the elevator.
- Don’t go for the burn. A study at Maastricht University in the Netherlands showed that those who engage in moderate physical activity, such as walking and biking, burned more calories over the course of the day than those who went for vigorous workouts.
- Resolve to eat more fish. Trade chicken for fish that’s rich in heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids, such as salmon, tuna, or mackerel, two nights a week. Researchers found that eating just one to two servings of fatty fish weekly can reduce the risk of dying from heart disease by 36 percent.
- Have your cake, but just one small piece – NOT ONE HUGE SLICE.
- Think ahead. Know when setbacks are likely to occur, so prepare for them.
- Do not skip meals. Sustain your blood sugar levels by having small snacks which include protein, good fats and complex carbohydrates such as wholegrain food and low GI products. This helps to provide a steady flow of energy levels and also slows the absorption of nutrients.
- Set up a sleeping schedule. Get into a steady pattern and try to stick to it. This helps to decrease the level of stress hormones in the body which can lead to weight gain.
