With a bit of planning, losing weight, eating better, exercising more, overcoming weaknesses and reducing stress are all within reach!
Start by taking stock of your current health condition and consider what you hope to gain (or lose) over this summer.
Here are some tips and ideas, and how to make them a reality:
Weight loss
Many people kick-start the season with enthusiasm to lose weight. No harm there. The problem, however, is when dieters lose their motivation because they allow the scale to dictate their success.
The key to losing weight and staying on track is, instead, to set realistic goals and to measure other important numbers like centimetres lost and your body fat percentage.
Need some encouragement? Check out Health24’s guide on healthy weight loss, speak to an expert or visit our diet section.
Eating well
Recognise your diet pitfalls and launch a plan to overcome them.
If your food weaknesses include skipping meals at work, buying fast foods or indulging in vending machine snacks, then resolve to pack in a lunch bag of healthy eats to nibble on throughout the day.
This will not only save you money, but eating what you’ve brought with you, means you’re less likely to make unhealthy food choices at the McDonald’s next door.
Need help with planning a nutritious snack or meal? Read this article on healthy food choices and browse through the thousands of recipe ideas on Food24.
Start exercising
Most of us eager-beavers don’t need help getting started on an exercise programme. The zest and zeal are present and our potential to get fit seems promising. But, what usually happens after a month or so of being more active? We get bored or we stop seeing results and just like that, we lose motivation and quit.
If monotony is your quandary, then incorporate more activities for variety to your routine.
If you’ve stopped seeing results, then consider that you may have just hit a little plateau… and getting past it is simple!
For more motivation to get moving, visit Health24’s comprehensive fitness section.
Ditch bad habits
Smoking is the most preventable cause of premature death, yet millions of people still battle to give it up completely or fail in their attempts.
Remember, you have to WANT to quit. Doing it because your husband or partner or doctor or friend says you should is not reason or motivation enough. If you wish to banish the bad habit, then do it for yourself. For your own health.
Follow these simple strategies to help kill your craving... before it does the same to you!
Reducing stress
Managing stress is not an art or a skill. Ask any expert and they’re bound to tell you that it’s all about control. This can mean anything from taking charge of your time, your thoughts, your emotions and your surroundings; to the way in which you cope and deal with complex situations.
Start off by pinpointing all the stressors in your life – a difficult relationship, financial concerns, work issues etc. - and then find ways and solutions to make them more bearable.
Read this for more on stress and how to promote calm in your life.
What are your goals for this summer? Do you have a plan to reach them? Share your tips in the box below!