Before the festive season starts, and as we get closer to the holidays, here are ChristyAnn.Fit’s guidelines to lose weight, become leaner, and feel more comfortable in summer swimwear.
We all love the summer holidays, but looking good and feeling good are paramount to enjoying every moment of sunshine. Follow these tips and you will already be on the road to success:
1. Removing temptation from your lifestyle can help a lot. Researchers have concluded that the mind can only make a certain amount of conscious decisions each day. It takes self-control to walk past a tempting snack, but when your self-control “runs” out, temptation wins. Remove all unhealthy food from your kitchen and stock up on healthy options your body needs. I even limit most fruits because fruit is nature’s candy and adds to your calorie intake.
2. Visualise how you will cope when you are tempted. Yes, you will have to face unhealthy food at work or events you attend – so prepare your mind before you are tempted. Prepare yourself mentally to opt for the healthy option or perhaps even some refreshing water. Alternatively, eat before you leave home, as hunger can tempt you to “break the rules”.
3. Eat mindfully. Make your mealtimes an event, where you sit down to eat and appreciate your food. Sometimes we eat “on the go”, not realising how much we eat, and are not always fully satisfied afterwards. Remove electronic devices from your mealtimes, look at your food and enjoy the flavours. One is more likely to be satisfied quicker and eat less when practicing mindful eating.
Make your healthy food interesting by using a variety of different foods every day. I like to experiment with different flavours, textures, colours, herbs and spices. Besides, when a salad looks pretty, it’s just so much nicer to eat.
5. Smaller plates, taller glasses. When using a big plate, the temptation is to overeat. Similarly, if drinking something other than water, choose a tall, thin glass. Most people’s minds perceive that they are getting more out of tall, thin glass compared to a short, wider one.
6. Make healthy food your treat. Once you are in the habit of cutting out sugar etc, you’ll find healthier alternatives so much tastier. Choose a healthy snack you really like, and reward yourself with it.
7. Minimise alcohol to once or twice a week. I personally find that just one glass of wine makes me relax, but on the downside it obscures my ability to make healthier choices.
8. Presentation is key. Present your foods on pretty plates, put flowers on the table, use your favourite cutlery and crockery to make the eating experience most enjoyable.
9. Always keep healthy snacks handy. Keep nuts or biltong or a low-carb sugar-free bar in your handbag for when on the go – more convenient than stopping to buy something.
10. Know your trigger foods. Dodge trigger foods by being present in the moment and not on auto-pilot. Being conscious when making your choices helps to make healthier choices. For me, trigger foods can be sweet food, and once tasted, it’s harder to resist the temptation.
11. Drink more water. We often feel hungry, but in fact are thirsty, so drink a glass of water. Flavour your water with berries, mint, cucumber and lemon. And when eating out, try sparkling water for a change.
Remember to keep on moving – exercise and healthy eating cannot be separated if you want the best results. Follow my blog for more on “Believe, Move, Nourish”.
FOR MORE INFO:
Go to www.christyann.fit to read more about my affordable online body coaching and workouts. Also find my activewear range to feel comfortable in your skin while training.