It’s mid January.
So, what are you following to rid yourself of the extra pounds, the little wobble, the dull skin and lacklustre, low energy you are seem to have gained following the fun and excess of the festive period?
Let me guess – the 90 day cleanse, 30 days to healthy living, lean in 15, 10 day sugar detox, 5 day juice detox, 3 day water only fast or even the 3-2-1? Are you Palo, Keto, South Beach, Mediterranean, Atkins, gluten free, vegan, vegetarian, pescatarian, 5:2, zero carb, good fat…. Are you doing Davina or Darcey to work up a sweat?
Are you energised yet? Or just overwhelmed and a little confused? How long did you last, if you started on January 2nd? Or did you just read the blurb and hide back under your duvet with a sigh because you just didn’t know what to have for breakfast, couldn’t find the DVD player and on opening the curtains it is cold, wet and raining and just not enticing to get outside even to walk the dog!?
…. and…breathe.
It’s going to be ok. Just go for the KISS! Keep it simple, stupid!
You know you don’t need a new book, a DVD or diet or exercise regime. Because you know what you need to do already to live a healthy life, be your ideal weight, have bags of energy and be happy:
- Hydrate. That means drink more water than you do already. You may be mistaking hunger for thirst. Even if you aren’t, drinking a good pint of water before food can slow down your eating and even give you the sensation of feeling full, so you eat less. Drink less cordial, soda, fewer fizzy drinks and alcoholic beverages and switch caffeinated drinks for herbal teas as much as you can. I cannot tell you how much unrequired sugar you will be eliminating by doing just this one thing. In fact, if you only do one thing, do this!
- Eat well, eat whole foods. That means more foods cooked from scratch, at home and less processed food than you do already. By cooking foods from their original picked or plucked state, you can control the additives, sugars and salts that end up in the meal. It is totally personal preference, only you know how your body reacts, but eating less dairy, less red meat and less gluten can have significant positive effects on some bodies. Have fun experimenting or just keep it simple.
- Stay active. That means move around more. Aim for 150 minutes a week of getting out of breath. It really doesn’t matter how you do it, but as long as you are having fun, then you are more likely to keep doing it. You don’t have to sign up for a marathon and freak yourself out; go outside and chase your children, your dog, your cat, the leaves if you have none of the aforementioned. Invite a friend or friends over to ‘play’ if you prefer to exercise in a group.
- Sleep well. That means just what it says. Get rid of distractions – ie. Screens, tablets and phones out of the bedroom (get an old fashioned alarm clock) and read before you turn the light off, rather than watch TV. Trust me, there is science behind it. If you can’t get rid of your children (My youngest woke every 2 hours for an hour until he was 5), then take it in turns to wear the ear plugs, the eye mask…move out!
- Time & patience. That means not expecting a miraculous weight loss in one week, or being able to run a 10K next month if you have been leading the life of a couch potato this winter. Diets don’t work, unless you stick to them forever. But do you really want to count calories for the rest or your life? Do you really never want to have hot buttery toast, drink a glass of champagne or slurp spaghetti again? What does it say to your child if you turn down every birthday cake you ever make them? If you can live healthily for 80% of the time (90% if you are really going for it) and have a little patience in reaching your own personal weight / health goals, you will end up smiling for a very long time.
I am guessing I haven’t told you anything that you didn’t already know, right?
So whatever you decide, or whatever you have been doing – shredding, detoxing, cleansing, fasting or blitzing .. how about considering living?
PS. I am writing this, under my duvet, still in my pj’s. Sometimes, I need to write to listen and head my own advice!
Recommendations:
– Jamie Oliver’s 5 ingredients for KISS-ing in the kitchen
– Madeleine Shaw’s Get the Glow for experimenting in the kitchen
– Calm app and the series on ‘deep sleep release’ for a really lovely way to fall asleep
Coming soon:
– How to curb cravings.
– How to look forward to the year ahead.
– Money Money Money!
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email: ali@heal-yourself-happy.com
blog: heal-yourself-happy.com