Michelle Bridges shares her top 5 tips for getting back on track after that Christmas blowout.
There will always be times where you overindulge, especially over the Christmas period. Remember that this is 100% okay! The best thing to do is not to panic – even if you hop on the scales and it’s gone up, it’s not too late to turn it around, reset, and get back on track!
Follow these five easy steps and you’ll be on your way to achieving those goals again in no time.
Catch up on those Z’s!
You know what they say, there’s nothing better than a good night’s sleep. If you’ve been partying a little hard over the holidays, be kind to your body and ensure you get a few extra hours to recharge the batteries and get yourself back on track. If you find you start existing on a sleep deficit, it won’t just be the holidays that cause you to put on weight.
Be Gut Friendly and Hydrate!
If you’ve been consuming lots of sugars, alcohol and salty and starchy foods, it’s time to take care of your stomach with something gentle. Choose a probiotic rich food like yoghurt, along with some prebiotic dense foods like blueberries and dandelion to calm any gut inflammation.
It’s important to get that H2O in ya! Drinking soft drinks and eating sodium laden foods can leave you feeling fatigued – and not to mention cause havoc with your looks, leading to bloating and visible ageing. Ensure today that you get your two litres of water in – grab a bottle and make that your mission.
Pump Those Endorphins
This is ESPECIALLY important if overindulging has got you feeling the blues hard. I guarantee a solid hour of a cardio workout will have you feeling like you’re back on track. Whether you head to the gym or go for a run, do something to get the blood and sweat flowing, you’ll love yourself for it when you’re done. If you struggle initially, keep going. Even if you take a week off, you won’t lose all your strength and endurance.
Eat Well and Lay Off the Caffeine
Don’t shoot the messenger, but after a blow out, you may want to consider giving your body a break from coffee. Instead, try rooibos tea, which is caffeine free – it will help calm you down, and will help reduce stress hormones that trigger hunger and fat storage.
Be sure your plate is filled with lots of fruit, veggies and lean protein rich legumes. Avoid processed food and choose fibre dense foods. Just because you overindulged doesn’t mean that today is the day you start skipping meals or restricting yourself. Skipping meals will leave you feeling hungry and more likely to snack and binge later on. Follow the meals and snacks laid out in your plan and you’ll get back to having more energy and able to hit your health and fitness goals!
Calm Your Mind with Self Care
Meditation is a great way to re-centre your mind and reflect on where you want to be. If you haven’t meditated before, check out some guided meditation apps. After you’ve done this, think about your beauty routine. A great body exfoliant will leave your skin glowing and help combat cellulite. Finish with an all body moisturiser!
Remember, life is about balance – it’s not a short term sprint. Enjoy your holidays, and then get back in the saddle – you’ve got this!
You can start Michelle Bridges’ 12WBT on the first Monday of each month. The next round of 12WBT commences on 3 January, 2022. Head to www.12wbt.com to join.