If you have been toying with the idea of going on a learn-to-surf weekend, treating yourself to a spa weekend or taking up yoga then just do it! Summer is the perfect time to fulfill your health and fitness goals with warmer and finer weather, so there really is no excuse not to get into healthy, active living.
On yer bike with cycling exercise!
If you're constantly struggling to find time to exercise - ditch the car, train or bus ride to work for your bike! If you can do this, not only will you reduce your stress levels, you'll also increase your cardiovascular fitness, muscle strength and stamina. If you can't manage the bike ride to work, just riding around the park at weekends will make a difference.
Workout in the mornings
Getting your exercising over with early, means you can smugly get on with the rest of your day without worrying about when you are going to fit it in. Furthermore, exercising in the morning kick-starts your metabolism (the rate at which you burn calories) and the benefits can last for up to 15 hours after training.
Ditch the fad diet
Fad diets do not work! This is because they do not look at altering long term eating patterns. Many are also totally imbalanced and do not provide you with the range of nutrients you need. Foods such as red meat and dairy products should be included in a weight loss plan as they are such good sources of iron and calcium. The energy content of 1lb of fat in the body is 3,500 calories. So to lose 1lb per week you need to cut back by 500 calories per day. This may seem a large drop in the number of calories you consume per day. However, the best way to do it is to combine changing your eating habits AND increasing your activity. It is important to remember that there are no hard and fast rules about the speed at which you lose weight, in fact the more slowly you do it the better.
Act boldly!
If you have any fears, face them. Many people's biggest fear is fear itself and the remedy for that is boldness. When we are bold, we can unlock underused powers that we all posses, such as: stamina, commitment, energy, strength and creativity. Act boldly and feel amazing!
Improve your sex life
If your sex life is in a rut, talk to each other. Try and remember what turned you on in the first place and put the romance back into your relationship. Spend evenings together with no television, laugh together and break some of the comfortable routines (you know what they are!).
Laugh out loud
When you laugh side-splittingly hard, you feel amazing. Laughter really is a fantastic medicine. Dig out something that has made you laugh yourself silly in the past, it could be a book, DVD or a photograph reminding you of a funny story. It will make you feel amazing.
Set yourself fitness goals
Without goals, how will you ever achieve anything and consequently feel great? Start with setting three short-term goals. Make them specific and achievable. It could be running a local 5k race, doing a swimathon for charity or simply clearing out your spare room. If you achieve your short-term goals, you will feel great and more confident about setting longer-term ones such as running the Virgin Money London Marathon or changing your career in the next 12 months.
Achieve your summer fitness goals!
There is nothing more demoralising than setting goals and not achieving them. The goals you set must be realistic and specific, and make sure you write them down and record your progress. Further motivate yourself to achieve them by rewarding yourself with a prize when you achieve it.
Replace negative thoughts with positive ones
If you are always thinking negatively you will end up on a downward spiral. This is because thoughts are powerful things, and whatever you put your mind to will grow. If you feel frustrated or angry, think the most loving thought that you can - there won't be room for both thoughts. Fill your mind with positive thoughts and the world will become a positive place.
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