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Wellness

Weight loss do’s and don’ts for every body

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Weight loss do’s and don’ts for every body

By Hunter Irwin, Edited by Rachel Petersen

Losing weight can be a difficult and long process for just about everyone who undertakes it. Consider the fact that if weight loss were easy, it wouldn’t be a multibillion dollar industry made up of books, pills, subscription services and more. But not everyone’s weight loss journey should or will look the same. There are 7.7 billion people in this world and we all have different bodies. As a result, we need to sift through the mountains of information out there to find the do’s and don’ts of weight loss that will work for everyone.

Keep these weight loss tips in mind as you embark on your own journey to a healthier you.

Don’t go hungry

Depriving your body of the food it needs to survive doesn’t work. Your body will use the fat that you’re trying to lose to keep your body operating. You will not get the nutrients your body needs to keep going and you will see your energy decrease as a result.

Do eat healthy

Eating healthy is one of the most important factors when trying to lose weight. Instead of feeding your body junk food and other unhealthy or heavily processed foods, eat protein, vegetables, fruits, and grains. Keep your diet consistent and stick to a plan. Eating better will also leave you feeling and functioning better.

Don’t think short-term

There is no overnight solution to weight loss, period. Reframe your diet into a lifestyle change that you can stick to. Thinking of it this way will help with keeping the weight off in the long run and staying healthy throughout your life. Plan your new habits around long-term goals and mentally prepare yourself for changes.

Do drink water

We know that we need water to survive, but drinking the recommended amount is crucial when it comes to weight loss. Experts recommend between one and three litres of water per day to help with weight loss and your overall health.

Don’t overdo it

Exercise is a key component in weight loss but it is possible to exercise too much. When exercising, spread it out. Create a workout plan and a routine that you can follow but do not overdo it. Too much exercise can lead to injuries, exhaustion, energy imbalance and heart issues.

Do follow your plan and routine

Creating and following a diet plan as well as a workout routine is an absolute must. It will be easier for you to achieve success and reach your goals when you have a system you can stick to. A system will also allow you to focus your energy elsewhere as what you need to be doing is already mapped out. Stick to your plan and you’ll achieve your desired results.

Wellness

How to balance education and fitness effectively

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By Vendat Patel, Edited by Paula Lacsena

How many times have you heard the phrase “I don’t have time to work out because of school”? I bet more times than you can count. What if there was a way you could do both and excel?

Here are some tips to consider in order to exceed in education and fitness simultaneously:

1. Plan your sleep schedule appropriately

A lot of students tend to avoid working out due to a lack of time, but they can plan their sleep in a way that gives them more time for exercise and alternative activities. Waking up early (between 6 a.m. to 9 a.m.) gives you more time in your day, allowing you to focus on your daily tasks more productively.

2. Plan and prepare quick work outs

College and university students can use their time between classes more fruitfully by exercising, preparing quick work-outs that require little to no equipment to stay in shape. You can start by finding yourself a quiet place to plan and complete a cycle of body workouts.. To ensure that you don’t overexert yourself, you can start off with a low-intensity work out plan then gradually move your way up to moderately-higher intensities of a faster pace.

Here is an example of a workout cycle that can be done in under  30 minutes:

  •  10 Push-ups 
  •  15 crunches/sit-ups             
  •  10 Squats
  • 15 Lunges on each leg (30 Total)

3. Follow a consistent daily schedule

To maintain proper balance between school and exercise, it’s important that students commit to a daily schedule structured reasonably around their goals. Planning your day makes you accountable for accomplishing the goals you have set for the day, especially if you have a physical list you want to accomplish. To maximize your time, you can start by separating your school goals from your physical goals; that way you can set time aside to complete one goal and follow with another.  Prioritizing exercise for at least 30–45 minutes a day will enable you to maintain balance on top of school.

Trust me, your body will thank you!

Wellness

Making your New Year’s Resolutions

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Making your New Year’s Resolutions

For those of you who have been training, you will likely have started hearing in November about Reverse Resolutions where you are trying to accomplish a goal by New Years Day!    I encourage having continuous goals throughout the year.  However, stats show that the majority of Canadians will make at least one New Years Resolution.  The general outline goes as such:  55% are aiming to eat healthier, 50% resolved to exercise more, 38% wanted to lose weight.  On average less than 20% actually keep the resolutions.

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Choose an Obtainable Goal.  A model/celebrity/athlete is simply not realistic for the majority of people.  Resolving to include daily physical activity in our lives could be very realistic and obtainable.

Avoid Choosing a Repeat Fail.   A resolution that historically has not gone well for you should be analyzed and altered.  Often this will mean that you need to break it down into smaller shorter term goals- and take immediate action.

Create a Game Plan – Starting right now, write a comprehensive plan for the next week, each month.  You wouldn’t start a trip without knowing which direction to go, your personal plan will help you to succeed.  Write it down where you can see it regularly or set a reminder in your phone.

Reward yourself for your Accomplishments – Include a reward as  part of your plan.  A reward involving self-care is ideal.

Limit your Promises Trying to do too much at once can be overwhelming and set one up for frustration and discouragement.

Ask for Help –  You may need to set limits to the “help” that you get from friends, family, but have someone to be accountable to.  If you can include those around you in your goals.  Including a coworker in your goals to take a short walk with at lunch could mean packing a more health conscious lunch and getting in activity.

Get more Help-  Sometimes friends, or family are not objective enough.  Research studies show that assistance from a fitn3ess professional will greatly improve one’s success rate.