Hands up who feels a bit heavier and not as fit since Christmas? Pretty much everyone, right?
First of all, there’s no need to feel guilty or punish yourself for it. You worked hard all year so if you enjoy a few treats and some extra drinks over one or two weeks in December, it’s well deserved and shouldn’t be viewed as something you’ve done wrong.
Second, it’s really easy to get back on track and into a healthy (or healthier) routine with a few simple steps.
We chatted to instructor and keen foodie Libby Horsley to find out her top tips. The good news is you don’t have to go on extreme detoxes or live on salad for January!
- Even if you've had a blow-out Christmas and eaten and drunk more than you needed, don't beat yourself up. It's a time to be enjoyed and embraced. Just press reset, make some small changes and you'll be back on track in no time.
- Set a few small goals for January. I try to target three portions of fruit or veg with every meal. Crowding in the good stuff naturally reduces less healthy stuff.
- Find other ways to get vegetables into your diet if you don’t enjoy them. Roast them in a lovely oil or whizz them up into delicious soups.
- It’s all about the prep. Limiting yourself all day and feeling miserable will only result in pigging out in the evening. Make sure you plan your day and work out in advance what’s for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
- Ease back into a regime. If you haven’t done any exercise for a month or two, it’s going to be very tough to suddenly start going numerous times a week. Your body will be shocked, especially if you are trying to eat more healthily at the same time. Be realistic and work your way back sensibly, maybe starting with targeting two workouts a week for the first couple of weeks and increasing from there.
- Find a buddy who also wants to get back into a healthier mindset and help each other along. Set dates to meet at the studio or the gym – it’ll make you less likely to cancel. And swap healthy recipe ideas and tips.
- Make sure you drink loads of water, especially if you’re working out.
Libby’s Healthy Snack Ideas
My energy ball is my favourite go-to snack. It’s simple to make. Just grab a load of nuts, coconut oil and a binding agent like honey or a nut butter. These are your basic ingredients, then you can add other stuff such as seeds, dried fruits like dates or cacao powder.
If you’re trying to kick the sweet stuff, you might be better off going for more savoury snacks. Try carrot sticks with homemade hummus or make tortilla chips using pitta breads or wraps – you can season them with Cajun spice or paprika.
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