Keeping up your motivation through the summer break can feel like hard work, but it doesn’t have to be! Here are some ways you can take control of your health and fitness to come out of your holidays feeling motivated for the year ahead.
Take the time to plan
You can’t ‘find’ time to exercise, you need to TAKE the time. Diary in your workouts and healthy meal preparation. If you don’t, you’ll surely find other things to fill your time! It doesn’t require hours in the gym. You have 24 hours in your day – doing something active every day for just 30-60 minutes will have a great impact on your health and wellness.
Your body needs it and loves it! It’s easy to miss your training and make poor food choices if you’re not careful in your planning.
Drink more water
We all know this; but how easy it is to forget when we’re busy! Make it a habit by reminding yourself of the benefits – it makes you feel fuller and less likely to overeat.
It will help you avoid dehydration headaches and stiff joints and has a host of other benefits – especially in the heat. Carry a water bottle everywhere and just get it down – no excuses!
Treat foods
If you indulge on something sweet, try to combine it with some protein or veges to help reduce cravings and sugar highs and lows.
If you know you have a social function or outing coming up, plan your week so you have a ‘light’ day the day before or after and add in an extra long workout to balance the calories.
Active socialising
Instead of meeting a friend to sit and have coffee, you could walk and talk, or play with the kids or dog on the beach.
Goals
Having them in your head is not enough – you are much more likely to succeed if you record them.
Ask yourself – Do my goals excite me? Do I believe I can achieve them and is there a date I want to achieve them?
Place them on the fridge door or bathroom mirror – wherever you will see them often, along with some of your favourite quotes .
Support
Make sure you tell a close friend or training partner what you want to achieve in 2013. If you don’t, you’re giving yourself an ‘out’. Sharing with someone can help motivate you when things get tough.
Image / FreeDigitalPhotos.net – marin