As the weather cools down, watch that your motivation doesn’t as well. We all know the shorter days and winter months can be a calorie catch-out. A minefield of weight gain traps. Rich winter foods, less daylight hours for outdoor activity, lazy Sundays in bed, cheese and wine by the fire. Sounds so tempting doesn’t it?

Well fast track to Summer, peeling off the trackies and squeezing into your summer wardrobe: will your thighs have an uncanny resemblance to the Tomme Crayeuse you devoured? Don’t let your waistline disappear under the doona of body fat, follow these simple tips and find the balance between staying fit and getting cozy.

Tip #1: Commit to an exact number of workouts each week. No exceptions (4 is ideal): If this means your laziness midweek lands you a weekend of activity, so be it. Personally I like to get it over and done with midweek so I can relax on the weekend.

Tip #2: Join an exercise group and pay upfront: 6 weeks of boxing classes, 12 week challenge in the gym, 10 personal training sessions. You will feel compelled to go and get support from your peers/trainer.

Tip #3: 6 weeks on, 1 week off: Give yourself a break every 6 weeks (even if you don’t feel like it) and book a massage. I bet you miss the workouts and come back rearing to go!

Tip #4: Soup, soup and more soup! Yes we all love comfort food in winter, so avoid the fatty pastas and have soup. Make it, buy it, freeze it. So long as it’s low fat and packed with veggies, you can eat it till your hearts content. Ps. absolutely no butter on your bread and no bread at night.

Tagged As: exercise, fitness, Motivation

Have you started an exercise program with the best of intentions only to lose motivation and quit? Why is it that some people can stick to their programs and some not? Are they freaks? Or maybe they live by the 6 golden rules of exercise. Follow these to ensure you stick to your workouts and take your body to an extraordinary level.

1. Keep it interesting: Mix up your activities. Choose ones that you like that can increase in intensity as you improve.
2. Make sure it’s convenient: Pick a time and a place that works for you. Read my other blog on the best time of day to exercise. Being close to home or work is best.
3. Exercise with a buddy/trainer: They lift you up when you’re feeling flat and create that social outlet that makes exercise so much more enjoyable. Plus it adds healthy competition.
4. Set realistic goals: And set short and medium goals, not just long term. Sometimes the best goals for working professionals are the number of sessions per week. Make this month’s goals to train 4 times per week for 4 weeks in a row.
5. Keep track of your physical activity: Measure it, weigh it, log it, compare it. Performance measurements are more important than body composition results in the beginning. If the performance improves, the body will follow.
6. Reward yourself: When you’ve achieved a goal, reward yourself! Sometimes the best reward is rest. Take a week off every 6-8 weeks (guilt free). Book yourself a massage, restaurant, splurge! And tell your loved ones about your achievement.

Tagged As: exercise, Motivation, workouts