Winter has a nasty knack for turning us into the worst version of ourselves. Yes, it’s this time of year that we tend to ditch the healthy diets in favour of comfort food, and swap regular exercise sessions for quality couch time. It’s not a good mix. Not good at all.
So, if you’re feeling a little heavier than usual, or a teeny tiny bit more sluggish than usual, we suggest you follow these four healthy tips. They’ll have you looking and feeling better just in time for spring…
Get healthy trick #1: eat clean food
This means eating a diet that is free of processed and synthetic foods, says Scott Gooding, MKR contestant and personal trainer. It also means filling your plate with organic and wholefoods where possible. Why? Eating nutrient-rich foods will not only leave you feeling healthier and allow your body to work more efficiently, but it’ll also mean you’re less likely to snack on unhealthy foods, which will help you lose weight as a result.
Get healthy trick #2: eliminate fructose
Sugar (particularly fructose) causes all sorts of trouble for the body, but the main issue you need to know is this: fructose inhibits our body’s own ability to know when it’s full. This leads to over eating and excess body fat, explains Scott. So, always check the ingredients list before purchasing packaged food, and if sugar or fructose is listed near the top, put it back on the shelf. Soft drinks, fruit juices and sauces are the worst culprits, but also watch your fruit intake, as although naturally forming, fructose is the main sugar found in fruit.
Get healthy trick #3: engage in exercise
Performing functional exercises – ones that mimic everyday movements and incorporate multiple joints – at least three times a week is ideal all over fat loss. And the more joints involved in your exercise movements, the more muscles you’ll use, expending more energy (read: calories!) as a result. Two fantastic examples of functional exercises are squats and lunges, as both of these recruit the largest muscle groups in the body to complete the action, says Scott.
Get healthy trick #4: exercise smartly, and be realistic
Want rock hard abs but you’re not getting great results from doing sit-ups? According to Scott, there is no such thing as the phenomenon of spot reducing weight loss. That’s no reason to give up or become less motivated, though. High intensity exercise is the most effective way to lose body weight all over (and those areas that tend to carry more!), and it promotes calorie burning post-workout, too. Just don’t expect weight loss to happen overnight. If you do, you’ll give up too soon. Take notice of the little changes to you see and feel each week, and you’ll definitely want to keep going.
And one final word of wisdom from Scott… Weight loss is not all about going to the gym – a fit and healthy body starts in the kitchen. Yes, by eating the right food (clean and nutrient-dense) as well as moving often, you’ll soon be a healthier, fitter version of your good self.
Have you become a little unhealthy this winter? Are you keen to get off the couch and move your body again? And will you be ditching the not-so-good foods from your diet?
Good tips , except I can’t help that I have a weakness for fructose