So we all know that sheer panic one feels when the days start getting ever so slightly warmer and the clothes we need to start wearing in our wardrobe start showing a little more skin…..it means….SUMMER IS COMING! I tell myself every year that I’m going to do things differently, get my summer body ready in winter blah blah and always seem to land up wishing I’d stuck to my plan a tad more ~ haha! But then I remind myself not to panic.
I’ve figured out that the best way to keep myself on track is by following a few simple steps so I thought I’d share them with you….
Set yourself a goal (a realistic one at that) to work towards. Go for an assessment at the gym so they can take your BMI and then once you have that you’ll know what you want to lose, tweak or maintain for that matter. Find yourself a training buddy, set your goals together and challenge each other. Those days when you don’t feel like getting out of bed become few and far between when you know there’s someone waiting for you at the gym to start their session. TRUTH!
Put together an eating plan for yourself or better yet get a trainer or dietician to do it for you. Eating is 80% of what you do so if it’s going to cost you just that little bit extra to get something that’s custom fit for you then I say you should do it! Guys, whatever you do, avoid the crazy fad diets because they really don’t work and all you end up feeling is deflated at the end of the day when the little bit of weight you’ve lost packs back on as soon as you go back to normal eating. A wise man once told me “Everything in moderation……including moderation” and I couldn’t agree more. Give yourself one cheat day a week, just so you don’t go crazy first of all, but this also resets your metabolism and shocks your body into overdrive to burn calories which then ticks over into your next 6 days of healthy eating and training. Try lay off the bad carbs like white bread, potatoes, white rice and pasta completely (except for those cheat days). You do actually need carbs in your diet though because they give your body energy to metabolise fat, so you should be sticking to things like brown rice & quinoa, sweet potato, beans, lentils and fruit (not too much fruit though) to get those carbs in that you need. What I always try to do is to eat them before 3pm so it gives my body the time to burn it off before I go to bed. It goes without saying but wherever you can ~ go organic, cut out refined sugar and eat as natural as possible.
Drink LOADS of water!! I can’t say this enough as it really does flush your system of any toxins and also works wonders for your skin. You’ve got to look after yourself from both the inside out and the outside in. Also make sure that you have really good vitamins and supplements to add to your diet because sometimes what we eat just isn’t enough. I personally use Biogen which is a South African wellness brand ~”local is lekker” ~ and it’s working wonders for me. They have a really wide range of products from anti-aging, herbal, vitamins, protein powders, nutrition solutions, weight management, performance products and so the list goes on. One of my absolute favourite combinations is their amazing pre-workout called Pre-Amped from their Black Series and the Arginine AKG from their Core Muscle Series that I just can’t train without now so it’s become my staple before every session and it gives me that extra boost whether I’m feeling tired or not.
Try exercise 5 days a week minimum…I know this sounds very hectic but there’s other things to do besides waiting in a queue just to sweat it out on a treadmill in an overly packed gym….MIX IT UP! When the sun is shining you should get yourself outside and go for a walk or a run, hike up the mountain or find a nice park and do some yoga ? Or if the weather is miserable & you don’t feel like leaving your nest then pump some music at home and get your sweat on ~ do some squats, lunges and sit ups or even dance your little heart out like no one is watching for half an hour….basically, there are no excuses not to get it done. Haha! Find what works for you. I’m absolutely obsessed with SWITCH at the moment which is a mixed class of resistance training, weight training and cardio all rolled into one and everyday is a different setup with a live DJ playing the best tunes which is a winning combination for me as I never get bored with it. www.switchplayground.com
My favourite of all as I’m sure it is for most of you…….go out and get yourself some new training kit. I find that it’s a really great way to motivate myself. If you’re looking for the best running/training gear then ASICS is by faaaaar the best in my book! They really know what they’re doing when it comes to comfort and technology and the bonus is that they look fab too! There’s also the treat of being able to shop looks straight from Instagram these days so if you find something you love you should spoil yourself…..just know your limits….credit card limits that is ?
Lastly, wake up in the morning with as much positivity as possible. Set your alarm to Boa Sorte (Good Luck) or a song you find equally inspiring/motivating to get you going. You’ll be surprised as to what a difference it makes to your day. Then on those days when you feel like all you want to do is stick your head under your pillow, which we all have so you’re not alone ~ remember that you’re stronger than you think you are so just get up, get out there and OWN IT!!
