The top 5 ways to kick start the New Year

The New Year is Coming

The top 5 ways to kick start the New Year

No matter how committed you are to a healthy lifestyle, the holiday season always provides plenty of challenges to sticking to your goals.

The holiday binge is often inevitable. Temptation is literally at your fingertips and even the strongest of us find it difficult to say “no thanks” to those tasty morsels taunting us on the dinner table.

If you have thrown caution to the wind and given into temptation, all it takes is some smart eating and a little extra exercise to get your healthy-self back on track. So here are five top tips for bouncing back after a holiday binge.

1. Don’t worry about it too much

The guilt that plagues us when we fall off the fitness wagon can be more worse than the actual overeating. Forget it, move on and just consider it a temporary setback. Don’t look at the scales and instead remember the great holiday memories or parties you have. And whatever you do, don’t starve yourself to get yourself back to where you were. This will only make your body store more fat and put on weight. Just regroup and refocus on a balanced, healthy routine.

2. Goal setting

Gain back control by writing down your plan of attack for the following days, weeks and months. Plan your meals and increase your exercise. When you have written down clear goals, your mind starts to focus more on how to achieve them. Even the smallest of actions lead to big results – so take it one step at a time.

3. Get moving

Exercise is often the first thing that falls to the wayside during the holiday season. Put aside time every day to exercise and after that first workout, you’ll start feeling more like your old self. Try booking in a class at your local gym or use a personal trainer if you need to be held accountable. Better yet, invite a friend along. Research shows that the key to sticking with fitness is all about starting slowly and doing it with friends.

4. Eat smart

What you eat always has a much bigger impact compared to how much you exercise. So plan your meals and stick with it. Start the day with a protein packed breakfast – add as many vegetables as you can. A good breakfast will keep you fuller for longer and help you eat less throughout the day. Eat clean and stay lean.

5. Hydrate

It’s important to drink lots of water throughout the day, every day. Water aids energy levels and brain function. Also, drinking water before meals (around two glasses) can help you feel fuller and eat less during meal time.