2016 - your year for SUCCESS

Tips and Tricks to keep you on track this year!

​A New Year is always coupled with fresh enthusiasm for moving towards health and fitness goals, and many people that I talk to around the Pilbara are expressing their excitement for an action packed 2016. Wether it be training for an event, such as the Red Dog Relay or the Chevron City to Surf, or simply kick starting a weight loss journey people are definitely focused!! ......

Now what we do know is, “New Years Resolutions” have a very low success rate, we’ve all been there! So why is it, that we can start out with such fiery enthusiasm that soon after dims into a distant memory? LIFE happens, our usual day-to-day routine kicks off in a flurry, and we haven’t factored in time for our new pursuits, or planned out ‘how’ we are going to achieve our desired success.  Lifestyle changes are born from habits, repeated each day and each week, until it becomes your new normal.
 
Here are a few techniques that can help you stick to your plan in 2016:

• Plan your menu on the same day each week
  

Purchase yourself a whiteboard or chalkboard and pop it up in the kitchen where everyone can see what the Menu of the week is (who ever is home first can even start getting the meal ready as they know what is being made. It takes a small amount of time initially, but I promise you will save valuable time throughout the week as the planning/shopping only needs to be done once AND quick trips to the supermarket, rather than wandering around without a plan.

• Diary in your fitness sessions
  

​when we write something down, we commit to it. It is rare that we simply don’t turn up to appointments we schedule into our diary, even the dentist, and not many of us really enjoy those visits! So do the same with your fitness sessions, schedule them in and stick to them.

• Online Shop

If you know temptation from the supermarket shelves can be your undoing, then avoid the place entirely. Woolworths has a fantastic order online and pick up service, you don’t have to step foot in the supermarket!
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• Prepare in advance

The trick really is to make healthy food convenient, meaning you have it right there easily available for when hunger strikes….it is human nature that if we get too hungry, we will grab whatever is easiest – its survival!! So don’t let yourself get to that point and you will have much more success. You can chop up veggie sticks and have them in the fridge, alongside a homemade or purchased healthy dip, you can have boiled eggs in the fridge waiting, portion out raw/mixed nuts into small containers in the pantry, make up bulk batches of salads that will last a few days and pre-cook and refrigerate things like chicken breast and sweet potato chunks to turn the salad into a meal! And when you have extra time you can bake/create other healthy snacks that can be stored in the freezer.

• Can the “cheat” day

I strongly dislike the term “cheat” day, it insinuates that you are doing something ‘wrong’, and by thinking that, subconsciously you will berate yourself with negative self talk, which is unhelpful on your journey. By enjoying foods on occasion that make your soul smile – you are not doing anything wrong at all. Firstly, it helps if you create healthy meals that you actually enjoy eating! Healthy food does not have to be just chicken and broccoli every day of the year, pack it full of flavour and you never feel like you are missing out. Otherwise, allow yourself a couple of meals per week with ‘relaxed rules’, enjoy it, savour it and skip beating yourself up over it – this is sustainable!