When life is so busy how do you keep your health in check?
This is for all of you who lead busy lifestyles:
Do you work long exhausting hours?
Do you often have lunch at your desk?
Do you travel a lot for business?
Do you regularly wine and dine with work colleagues and clients?
Do you often multi-task home and work life?
Yes – you know who you are!
We want to be in great shape and in good health, but how do we find the time? World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines recommend 150 minutes of moderate physical activity a week, but how do we fit it in when we're so busy?
Let's be honest, do some of you think that one personal training session a week is enough to achieve your goals? I'm going to argue a different approach. Have a look at the following link about Hayley Simmonds the bronze medal cyclist at the recent Commonwealth games.
She lost 7 stone (45kg) to get her in shape for her cycling discipline.
Most of us are not professional athletes who have the time to train and be 100% focused on eating good food. Can we be purist all the time? It's not that simple when life is full. However, Hayley makes a key point:
“Anyone can do it. It doesn’t matter if your goal is a 30-minute time trial, just little, regular goals”
'Just little regular goals...'
It doesn't matter whether you have a weight loss target; are looking to improve your general health and well-being or you're seeking a personal best for a sports goal.
While life is full, little and often is a better approach to keep us ticking over and this will sow the 'seeds that will grow later.' Developing better habits is about repetition and looking for the rewards at the end of each moment.
We can set small goals and repeat them diligently.
Replace every other glass of wine/beer with water (Something neutral that won't add to your already over-working liver and spare tyre)
Spend 5 minutes a day on mobility stretches or physio moves (to reduce back pain and prevent or recover from injury)
Snap your mind into gear, or set your phone alarm to prompt you (to get away from the desk at lunchtime and take a walk outside)
Arrive at and leave work earlier (so you can let go of the work stress and focus on your health and family)
Pick 3 simple strength exercises you can complete in 5-10 minutes (for when you haven’t got time for a long workout)
Replace those processed snacks with wholesome ‘real food’ (so your body can detox, balance hormones and help you lose weight)
Go to bed earlier (so you can relax and allow your body to lower cortisol and assist fat burning while you sleep)
Text or email your fitness & motivation coach to ask what you can do in the meantime...
Every little counts!
