Yay - it’s only five months until summer! That means sunshine, barbies, beaches and swimsuit changing rooms.
If you’re anything like me, you’ll emerge from your winter hibernation to find you’ve somehow acquired a sizeable winter coat – which you can’t take off. Comfort eating and dark nights spent inside with the heater and DVDs take their toll on all of us.
But, with a little careful planning, however, you can keep your goddess-self looking just the way you want...
The trick is to set yourself some of your very own goddess goals. That doesn’t mean you have to soldier through with your normal routine regardless of how miserable the weather is. Change your health regime to take advantage of the weather and your natural hibernation instincts – no one wants to be pounding up and down an outdoor pool when there’s ice on the top!
Goals
First things first. What are your goals? Would you like to completely make over your body this winter or avoid gaining weight? Would you like to greet summer super-toned or just feeling fit and healthy? Set yourself realistic goals and dates by which you intend to achieve these goals. Focus your goals around your measurements rather than losing weight; weight can be very misleading as muscle weighs more than fat.
Measurements on the other hand give you a true indication of changes in your body shape. Take your measurements when you start your goals, and continue taking them once a month until you reach your end goal.
Another great way to track your progress is to book yourself in for a body composition test, which assesses the percentages of fat and muscle in your body. Have repeat tests halfway through your goals at your completion date, and then celebrate your achievement! Keep the focus on health, feeling fabulous and full of vitality. Also remember it’s normal to slip up, so don’t berate yourself, just get back to your goals next time.
Food
Winter can be miserable and it’s our right to eat yummy comfort foods to stave off the cold. However, all that filling pasta and pudding (not to mention burgers, chips, pies, chocolate…) can have an unwanted effect on how we look and feel. Try replacing your usual comfort foods with equally satisfying, but much healthier, choices like roast vegie salads or winter vegetable soups. Keeping your calorie intake at an even level all year around will help you avoid unwanted weight gain over winter.
Exercise
Winter calls for a brand new exercise routine to keep you motivated. Incorporate exercise that you can do indoors so there’s no ‘oh it’s raining’ or ‘it’s too cold’ excuses that you can fall back on. Exercise classes are super fun - how does dancing or kicking your way to fitness sound? Contours offer Fight-do, Ritmix, Spin, Pilates and heaps more classes, plus great programs like boot camp.
Contours health clubs are fully equipped with all the cardio and strength training equipment you need to reach your goddess goals for summer. Contours are nationwide and offer a warm, friendly environment with fantastic features like saunas, gorgeous bathrooms and changing rooms, all-female staff, personal training, child-minding, weight management programs and more. Isla Visit www.contours.co.nz for more information!
Yay - it’s only five months until summer! That means sunshine, barbies, beaches and swimsuit changing rooms.
But, with a little careful planning, however, you can keep your goddess-self looking just the way you want...
Food
Exercise
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