The New Year is the perfect opportunity for a fresh start, breaking old habits and creating new healthier ones. Whether you’re looking to lose the extra pounds you’ve gained over the festive period or looking to turn over a new leaf and you’re ready to make some healthy lifestyle changes, this guide will help you get started.
Healthy eating and keeping active are two of the most important commitments we can make to improve our health and are central to keeping us feeling and looking our best. Many of us make healthy resolutions every year (to eat better, exercise more, give up smoking, spend more time with the family etc.) but even with the best intentions so many fail to achieve what they set out to do. However it doesn’t have to be that way.
There really is no such thing as a “perfect plan” and rather than planning a complete lifestyle overhaul that involves drastic diets or spending hours in the gym each day – a plan which is bound to fail, the key to staying motivated and achieving your goals is to take small steps. Check out the section on setting SMART goals and how to track your progress.
To help you make better food choices, I’ve worked with the culinary team to develop a 6 week ‘Better Choice’ food offering that’s not only super healthy but also super tasty – even those not on a healthy kick will want to try them! Check out the ‘New Year, New You’ section in the chiller for some better hydration, snack and grab n’ go options.
Starting a new exercise plan can be daunting especially if you have been hibernating over the winter! Exercise doesn’t need to take up all your spare time, adults are recommended at least 30 minutes of moderate activity on 5 days of the week. As long as you’re raising your heart rate, these can be built up in smaller blocks of 10 minutes. If you’re looking for a fitness challenge check out our 6 week Beginners Couch to 5K or Get Fit in 4 Minutes High Intensity Workout plan. Stay on track by keeping a food and activity diary or if apps are your thing try out MyFitnessPal – free to download on iPhone, iPad and Android.
Make sure to read the tips section for ways to keep you motivated and try out some of the lifestyle hacks to make healthy eating and exercise even easier to fit into your lifestyle. Lastly, think of your ‘New Year, New You’ plan as a marathon rather than a sprint, achieving your health goals is about making small changes that build up to make the big difference.