This time next week I’ll be on a plane to Ibiza. I’m so excited; my bikinis are already bought and packed. I’ve been super motivated recently and find that my healthy eating and training gives me further energy and positivity, and it’s pretty addictive.
A client mentioned this week that she finds staying on track more difficult in the summer than around Christmas time. There are BBQs, picnics, post-work drinks in beer gardens and festivals. Staying motivated and on track when there are so many appealing distractions can be difficult. A lot of people I talk to work on getting themselves ready for a holiday, a wedding, a birthday and don’t maintain their healthy living after that until the next holiday, wedding or birthday comes along. Summer is the perfect time to get yourself into a great routine and stick to it!
A lot of people I talk to work on getting themselves ready for a holiday, a wedding, a birthday and don’t maintain their healthy living after that until the next holiday, wedding or birthday comes along. Summer is the perfect time to get yourself into a great routine and stick to it.
Here are some of the tips I give to clients:
Put gym time in your diary: Booking yourself into a class, physically writing it into your diary or typing into your schedule means you’re less likely to back out. You can pre-book classes in some gyms or even book personal training. I find that the girls who sign up to my six-week course rarely miss a class because they’ve already committed their time.
Even arranging a walk with friends is a good idea; if there are a few of you involved you are less likely to let each other down. The evenings are longer, and a walk before or after dinner is a lovely way to spend an hour. Exercising will help you sleep better too, which will improve your energy and mood. After working out, you are more inclined to continue eating healthily rather than reaching for bad food.
Avoid “quick fixes”: Many people I know fall into the same trap: they aren’t happy with their progress and try to lose weight as quickly as possible. If you are looking to shed a few pounds permanently, then a juice cleanse or crash diet is not the answer. These might help you to lose some water weight, but you will gain those pounds back post-detox when your body starts utilising real food again.
Advertised
Eat as healthily as possible: Food is fuel. If you are putting the right fuel into your body, you’ll get the best possible output. In this case, it’ll be more energy, a better mood and body fat reduction if that’s one of your goals. Enjoy your treats then get back on track. Stick to real, whole fresh food as often as possible.
- Reduce caffeine and alcohol as much as you can.
- Drink a minimum of two but ideally three litres of (mineral) water per day.
- Eat protein at every meal especially breakfast. Use eggs, fish, chicken, red meat, nuts or seeds. This will set you up for the morning and reduce sugar cravings.
- Eat as many non-starchy vegetables as you like e.g. broccoli, cauliflower, kale, cabbage, bok choi, spinach, artichokes, asparagus and so on.
- Increase healthy fats with each meal, e.g. extra virgin olive oil, organic cold pressed coconut oil, nuts, seeds, avocado, omega three fish oil in liquid form or taken as capsules.
- Snack on berry variations if you feel like something sweet
If you continue just half of the above points long term, it will assist in making a positive lasting change in how you look and feel.
Once you feel and see the benefits of a healthier life, it’s much easier to stay on track. But hey, it’s summer, and we deserve treats, and I for one will be getting a 99 ice cream this weekend - then I'll get back on track.
Until next time…
Fiona
