Healthful Summer
Oh yes! Bikini season is here. And what better way to start this blog (I must admit I am smiling like a lunatic as I'm typing this. Sorry for the side comment, I'm a first timer. anywhoo...) by listing out some great ways to get that #fitspiration body.
Just to get things straight. Whether you're in your 20s, whether you are middle-aged, in menopause, or a beginner, I'd like to just share that when I first started out, I found out that getting fit and more importantly staying in shape doesn’t simply mean working out in the gym four times a week and leaving it at that. I mean if you're someone who thinks twice about spending your time and money but still aiming to get that VS body, you have to know that the process is a combination of 80% good nutrition and 20% exercise. I know a lot of people who try get into shape believe that they will achieve results simply by working out more often than they usually do without changing any part of their eating habits or worst they just simply starve themselves by skipping meals.
Let's face it, The first step is usually the hardest. As the Sheryl Crow song goes... "the first cut is the deepest", and it is not a pretty picture but it doesn't mean it's impossible. After all, you must admit that most of you have tried doing some crunches or eating less rice and more veggies more than once. The trouble, of course, comes with sticking with it. We get distracted by other things going on in our lives, or we don't think we're seeing results quickly enough -- and then we give up and fall back to our old habits.
So how can you become faithful with the process? Here are some of the things that worked out for me. Who knows it might fit you and help making health and fitness a habit in your life.
1. Rank/list your motivators
Whether it's an upcoming beach trip or a reunion or you just want to start feeling good and looking good inside and out, list it out. It's very helpful if you actually have a big WHY before you start something out. And that goes with everything. If you have a "WHY", even if it gets tough and hard, you have something to hold on to and have something to keep you pushing for another day.
Post it in a wall, make it your wallpaper or something. Just put it somewhere where you can always see it. What you can see and believe, you can achieve!
Post it in a wall, make it your wallpaper or something. Just put it somewhere where you can always see it. What you can see and believe, you can achieve!
2. A balanced breakfast
Studies have shown that if you want to lose weight, you gotta give love to your morning breakfast. After 8 to 12 hours overnight without food, your body needs to refuel its glucose levels. I'm getting a bit scientifical here but basically that only means if you skip breakfast, your body will not have enough energy for the rest of the day. The next time you eat, your body will somehow hold onto the calories for the usage of energy instead of digesting it. Hello bloating. You have to know by now that the body is smarter than you think. Plus, when you skip meals, you'll tend to overeat.
A balanced breakfast (think a mix of healthy fat, lean protein with at least 5 grams, carbs) can help you feel fuller, making you less likely to binge eat.
You can try this easy and fast breakfast:
- 1 bowl of granola cereal, yogurt, one apple
- A meal replacement protein shake with oats and avocado
- Hard boiled egg, a loaf of wheat bread with peanut butter and banana
3. An easy workout every day. Do different types each week.
What's 10 minutes or 5 minutes of your time in a day? If by this time you're reading this, I'm guessing you already spent more than 5 minutes. So come on and break a sweat! You'll never get that 5 or 10 minutes back, so make it count.
I know you may have some things to do. It might be your job or you taking care of your kids or your significant other. That's okay! For me that's not really making an excuse. Even if it does seem so, I still think that it doesn’t mean lack of motivation—it just means we’re all different, with different priorities. So you can go ahead and still do the things that you have to do, BUT try to squeeze in some quick workouts. It may lessen your Facebook time but hey, you'll surely feel good afterwards. Try these fast but powerful workouts from XHIT where you can get exercises for core, legs and arms.
I know you may have some things to do. It might be your job or you taking care of your kids or your significant other. That's okay! For me that's not really making an excuse. Even if it does seem so, I still think that it doesn’t mean lack of motivation—it just means we’re all different, with different priorities. So you can go ahead and still do the things that you have to do, BUT try to squeeze in some quick workouts. It may lessen your Facebook time but hey, you'll surely feel good afterwards. Try these fast but powerful workouts from XHIT where you can get exercises for core, legs and arms.
4. Reward Meal
Let me tell you now that I'm a huge foodie! I do love burgers, pizza, tacos and well I'm from the Philippines where people eat rice all the time. But I'm also a firm believer of the rule that 90% of your time should be spent eating according to your meal plan and then 10% of it spent indulging on something else a.k.a Reward Meal (I like to call it Reward instead of "Cheat Meal"). This way you won't feel that you are depriving yourself with food or feel that you're on a diet. Because the truth is you are not! The process is called healthy eating.
When I was starting out, the first few days was a bit hard because I'm used to my former eating habits. So if ever that happens to you, don't fret. Nothing's wrong with you. Little by little you'll get a hang of it. You'll build discipline and soon enough find yourself saying "maybe not now" to a double patty burger and fries.
Posts
0 comments: