Body

Bounce Into Spring

Winter can be a danger zone for many of us. Finding it hard to burn off those winter blues seems to be a common problem! We’ve come up with some helpful pointers to help you bounce back into spring:

If you’re into running try and hit the track first thing in the morning. This will help wake up your metabolism. If you’re not really a morning person, try laying out your running gear the night before to make it a bit easier. You can always sleep in it to save some time – I’m sure it’s been done before!
Start to keep an exercise diary – this will help you keep on track and record milestones, such as weight loss and best running/walking times. Make an exercise schedule for yourself and mark your ‘exercise days’ in your dairy. Give yourself personal goals to achieve as well, and offer yourself incentives at the end of each month – a new pair of running shoes perhaps? You’ll deserve it!
Speaking of new running shoes, a new season is always a great reason to buy a new workout outfit. Show it off next time you exercise and feel confident about yourself, and your new exercise gear!
Add some variety into your workout regime. By having a couple of different routines you can give muscles time to recover and avoid boredom. Why not make the most of the spring weather by trying to do as much of your exercise as possible outside
Having an exercise buddy can keep you active when motivation is low. Grab a friend and put together a schedule. You will find achieving your goals together twice as rewarding, not to mention the time you’ll save on catching up with all the gossip!

Spring is here, but it’s still a little chilly out there and it wouldn’t be fair to leave the men out in the cold. Here are some quick tips – just for the males:

Be careful of overtraining – if you’re struggling and aching for over two weeks you know you’re overdoing it
Weight sessions are most effective in the evenings when muscles are warmer. Hit the weights after work for maximum effect
Rock climbing is a great way to tone and strengthen those muscles. Find an indoor rock climbing centre near you, get harnessed up and work your way to the top. Make a goal for yourself and see how much further you can climb each week
A balanced diet of everything in moderation – remember to not overdo the supplements

Most of us make sure our cars are properly fuelled, serviced and maintained. However while we can find time to keep our cars in order many of us fail to make the time to look after our most important vehicle, our bodies, to the same high standard.

While all of us are busy, we need to make sure we make the time to look after ourselves on the inside and the outside.

As part of a healthy diet, Vaalia Yoghurts can help to keep you healthy on the inside, to help you get into the active culture.

How to Keep Your Body Healthy

Healthy living is not about looking great in the latest designer fashions. It means ensuring that you eat a healthy balanced diet, exercise regularly and get enough sleep. A healthy lifestyle can vastly improve your overall health and well-being and may increase your lifespan. So make sure you take the time to look after yourself.

If you put rubbish in…

Most of us are guilty of making unhealthy food choices at some time or another. But it is important not to beat yourself up if you enjoy the occasional Tim Tam or slice of pizza. What is important though is balance. A balanced diet that includes all of the essential food groups and nutrients is vital to the health and well being of your body. Try to include healthy treats and snacks such as Vaalia yoghurt, dried fruit, nuts or rice crackers as part of your eating plan most of the time instead of chocolate or chips

Get in the groove

If you are not the type of person who enjoys pumping iron in the gym why not try a dance class? Salsa, ballroom, belly dancing and other dance classes are widely available, or for the more adventurous, exotic dancing classes with your girlfirends are all the rage.

Places to go

Why not try walking to work or to the shops regularly? This is a good way to fit exercise into a busy schedule as it gets you to where you need to go at the same time. If you live too far away from work or the shops, why not try taking public transport and getting off a few stops earlier or parking further away from the entrance in the carpark. Every little bit helps!

Get moving

Many of us spend most of our work day sitting in front of a computer. Make sure you take the time to regularly get up and move. Do some stretches or walk around to get your circulation going and ease muscle tension. You’ll be surprised how much easier it is to concentrate afterwards.

Out of the office

With the introduction of computers, email, mobile phones and more recently blackberries, everyone thought that they would be working less. Instead of just making life easier, these devices mean that we are always contactable and are working more hours than ever before. So maintain your work/life balance and make sure that when you go home at night, on the weekends or during holidays, that you leave work behind and resist the temptation to check emails and voice messages.

Breathe in

Yoga, pilates, Tai Chi and other such disciplines not only exercise you body, but also relax your mind. Take a class in your local area and watch as your muscle tone, flexibility and sense of calm improve.

Drink up

make sure you drink at least eight glasses of water a day, and more in warmer weather or when exercising. This is good for your body on both the inside and the outside, and also means that you only eat when you are really hungry, not just when you feel thirsty.

The Food Coach

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