gym

Wellness

Holiday Guide to Healthy Living

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Holiday Guide to Healthy Living

Even if you’ve been staying on track with your healthy eating goals all year, it’s a slippery slope after the Thanksgiving dinner, Halloween candy,  and eventually the December holiday parties.  It is of course no surprise that people tend to gain weight over the holidays.

desert_food

One way to start your day on a healthy note is by eating breakfast. Not just any breakfast but a large nutritious breakfast. It may sound counter intuitive since you’re planning on having a big meal later, but filling up on something healthy will prevent you from overindulging later on.

Your schedule might be filled up with parties and quality time with family but the best way to stay on top your fitness this holidays, is to make sure you reserve quality time for your work out during the holidays. Try to put in 20 mins of workout in the morning, that will help combat the feeling of sluggishness but instead energize you.

Additionally, do not show up hungry to a holiday party or dinner. The reason being, leaving your stomach empty till the dinner forces you to overindulge in unnecessary calories. Many people think they need to save their body for the party calories but this isn’t very helpful. In the same vein, consider pitching in for dinner parties to ensure a healthy option for you and other guests.  If you are hosting a holiday party, make sure to provide healthy alternatives. If you are attending another party, ask the host if they would like additional dishes and create a healthy version of a holiday dish.

christmas_fitness

Most importantly this holidays, know your triggers. During the holidays, there are plenty triggers that can easily lead you to a path of unhealthy decisions. If for example, alcohol is your trigger to bad decisions, be careful of the wine consumption. If sugar, or desserts are your triggers, maintain a one serve size. In summary, do everything in moderation to avoid a slippery slope of bad decisions.

Fitness, Wellness

Lets Talk Fitness Fears

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Lets Talk Fitness Fears

It’s no secret that the benefits of a healthy lifestyle extend far beyond mere physical fitness. You’ve probably red countless articles online on the benefits of exercise and fitness. But for some people knowing in your head that fitness is good and actually getting involved with it are two very different things.

Here are some common fitness fears and how you can overcome them.

maan-ropes

Lack of time

The number one reason people state for not living healthy and exercising, is lack of time. It is usually an excuse of being occupied with work or kids. However this excuse is not sufficient.

For starters, there are various ways in which stay at home parents could stay on top of their fitness routine. Fitness never has to be a major time commitment that most people imagine it to be. There are various opportunities to stay on top of your fitness – whether it’s going for a walk during your lunch break or twenty minutes in the gym instead of waiting in the train station.

Self Consciousness

A big and valid hurdle for some people to tackle before fitness is self consciousness or fear of looking stupid. If you struggle with low self esteem, social anxiety or body image issues then heading down to the gym or even just going for a run round your neighborhood can be an intimidating prospect. Remember that everyone has to start somewhere and everyone was new to fitness at some point. Do not worry about what other people think an instead focus on having a great time exercising.

Lack of patience

If you’re just starting out on a weight loss or fitness program it can easily seem like you have a real mountain to climb. You might feel like you are surrounded by people with ideal bodies and unable to see any way you can ever reach that level. However remember that no real change comes overnight, especially not a lasting change. There are no shortcuts in fitness, therefore must view your journey as a gradual process.

Fear of Failure

A similar fear to not thinking you can change is not thinking you can change enough or at all. You might have set yourself fitness goals and now find yourself reluctant to try and hit them for fear that you’ll fall short. Remember that goals and targets are motivation tools not measure of success or failure. The key is celebrating every success, however small.

Fear of Change

Most importantly, people sometimes aren’t fully committed to change. You might think that fitness is a good idea, but find yourself dreading the effort involved. However this is perfectly natural. But remember that starting out in your own little ways, will gradually bring changes that will make a big difference while paving the way for bigger improvements when you’re ready.

Having someone to help guide you along the way could be the difference between procrastination and progress!

Fitness

Guide to an Organized Gym Bag

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Guide to an Organized Gym Bag

A disorganized gym bag, can easily become an excuse to skip out on your workout routine. The thought of packing all you need for a gym session might be discouraging. So here is a guide to keep your gym bag free of clutter and easy to pack and unpack.

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We recommend the two bag approach – having two bags for the gym.

The first bag should contain established content that doesn’t change. Such as your toiletry bag, earphones and any other must need equipment you use like skipping rope. If you drive to the gym, keep this back in the trunk of your car, or if you go to the gym during lunch break, leave it at work. This way the bag is ready and prepared for when you need to go. In your toiletry bag, keep duplicates of products you use daily such as deodorant and moisturizer.

However, for make-up,stick to one set, without duplicating as makeup tends to have a shorter shelf life than toiletries.

The second, smaller, bag should contain everything that is for that one work out only. Items such as water bottle, sweat towel and shower towel,change of clothes and gym clothes. After workout, it is easy to take out clean clothes, have a well-deserved shower and put sweaty clothes back in the bag – ready to take home and get washed. The smaller bag could live in the larger bag if there is space.

To keep your bag clutter free – use the second bag to take home any empty items that you need to replace as a prompt to take a new one to the gym. For example, if your deodorant runs out, put the empty packaging in your second bag so when you get home you can grab a new one and replace it.

The beauty of this two bag approach is not lugging all your gym stuff around, and making unpacking at the end of the day unbearable. To help you shift your behavior, treat yourself to two bags that inspire you to hit the gym and work up a sweat.

Fitness

Common gym clothing Mistakes

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Wearing the right clothing, with the right gear as well as practicing good hygiene, makes a difference between a productive workout session and discomfort or misery.

Jewel provides fitness instruction to client

Wear Moisture-Wicking Clothing

When you’re working up a sweat at the gym, stay cool and comfortable in moisture-wicking clothes. That is fabrics made of polyester and Lycra blends. They cost more than your regular cotton t-shirt, but will last longer, dry faster and keep you comfortable throughout your workout.  Wear a performance t-shirt that is designed to draw sweat away from your body and to the outer surface.

Wear Proper Fitting Clothing

Workout clothing that is too big is functionally worse to wear to the gym. Clothes that are too loose can be bulky and constrict your movement or can get in the way in different positions. Clothing that is too tight can feel restrictive and binding.  Choose materials, such as a nylon-elastane mix, that gives you freedom during exercise and provides a very comfortable fit without being too tight.

No Cologne/Fragrance in the Gym

Fragrances tend to linger and carry in closed environments, such as the gym. Your perfume-marinated sweat can induce headaches around the gym. Ensure your workout clothes are washed daily.

No flip-flops at the Gym

The footwear you choose for a workout should provide proper support and protection to your feet. Wearing appropriate footwear actually reduces your risk of injury and improves your physical performance. Choose shoes that provide the support you need for the workout of your choice. Make sure they fit you properly.

No Jewelry at the Gym

Get in the habit of taking off your jewelry and storing them in the locker or leaving them at home before a gym session.  Not only is jewelry unnecessary at the gym, it is unsafe. Whether you’re wearing chains, watches, bracelets or ring, you risk injuring yourself and damaging jewelry by banging metal against metal or snagging it on a machine.

Worried about the precautions at the gyms? Hire a personal trainer to make the journey easier.