When it starts to get cooler out a lot of us can get into our “bear zone”. You know, eating non stop, comfort foods, and wanting to burrow under a blanket and not come out until spring. Instead of slipping into that routine right away, why not kick off the fall with a month long makeover. It’s just a tiny bit of change at a time, so that you won’t want to throw yourself back under your blanket and watch Netflix.
Day 1
Try to mix more exotic fruits into your usual grocery shopping. Instead of bananas, grab some pomegranates. Or instead of oranges, some lychees. They are packed with antioxidants and vitamin C which can keep the winter colds and flu’s away.
Day 2
Try ditching the extra sugars in your coffee or tea. If you start by using a little bit less every day, by the end of the month you will hardly even want it in there. Plus, you reduce your daily calorie count and risk of diabetes.
Day 3
Cutting back on alcohol intake can lower chances of heart disease, stroke, and high blood pressure. The weekly maximum for women should be nine drinks, according to The Dietitians of Canada.
Day 4
Give eating more slowly a shot. It takes our brains twenty minutes to tell us if we are full or not. Try to not eat when you’re busy, sitting at your desk, or in a high pressure environment. Take your time, relax and enjoy your meal.
Day 5
Get a good eight hours of sleep to help lower your blood pressure and decrease stress. Getting enough sleep also helps you maintain a healthy weight. It’s called beauty sleep for a reason people.
Day 6
Opt for fibre filled fruits, rolled oats or whole grain bread for breakfast instead of something processed.
Day 7
Throw a simple exercise into your day like climbing the stairs instead of taking the elevator. It’s a simple trick to throw in a little cardio.
Day 8
Pack a lunch for work instead of ordering one or hitting a restaurant. You can save your body a lot of extra calories.
Day 9
Do some household organizing. Not only is decluttering your surroundings a great way to combat stress, but sixty minutes of cleaning can burn up to 200 calories!
Day 10
Try the phone trick. The next time someone calls to talk to you on the phone, get up and walk around your house while you talk. That way you can help improve your circulation and burn calories.
Day 11
Hide your remote control and make yourself get up. Even low activity like getting up to change the volume or channel can help to boost your metabolism.
Day 12
Never grocery shop on an empty stomach. Your brain is going to tell you that it wants everything. The next time you do your grocery shopping, try to have a healthy meal before hand to cut down the wants from the needs.
Day 13
When you’re out a restaurant, order an appetizer instead of an entree for your meal. An entree can pack in 1000 calories, where an appetizer is much less and will still be satisfying.
Day 14
When you’re out for a walk, add a little weight by filling a backpack and carrying it or adding ankle weights under your pants. This will quickly up your cardio results.
Day 15
Say no to dessert. By giving up the dessert at the end of a meal, you can easily save 280 calories which is ten to fifteen percent of your daily intake.
Day 16
Buy yourself a pedometer. I know, that doesn’t sound like a gift that I want either. However, trying to keep track of your steps is a great way to set a step goal. Try to take 10 000 steps per day.
Day 17
Kick all of the crap out of your fridge and restock it with veggies. Try to keep at least two different kinds cut and washed in the fridge at all times so that you can easily grab them for a quick snack.
Day 18
Give your sense of humor a workout. Laughing with friends and family can give a huge physical release, lower blood pressure and improve your outlook.
Day 19
If you like to snack before bed, then try to have it three hours before you usually go to sleep. You will end up storing those calories because you’re not being active while you’re sleeping.
Day 20
Set a date to quit smoking, or even to cut back until you can feel strong enough to kick it completely. I don’t think I even have to say why. It’s bad for you. Really, really fucking bad for you.
Day 21
If working out easily bores you, then try a workout program with a friend. If that’s not your thing then even try to wrangle one of them to be your gym buddy. Your workouts will be over before you know it.
Day 22
Try to only eat when your hungry. If you’re sitting around at night and start to feel snacks, drink a glass of water or pick up a magazine. This will help you decide whether you want that snack because you’re actually hungry or if you’re just bored.
Day 23
Next time you eat your lunch at work, take a smaller portion so that you can finish and fit in a small walk before your break is over. It can refresh your mind and give your body a boost.
Day 24
Cut the caffeine from your diet. Coffee, tea, soda and energy drinks act as a stimulant but can actually increase anxiety and stress. Plus, they can leave you dehydrated. Swap them out for some water with fruit or mint.
Day 25
Keep a journal. By tracking your meals, drinks and workouts, you can really start to see what type of lifestyle you’re living. It’s a great way to motivate yourself to make a healthier choice the next day.
Day 26
Try to drink at least eight glasses of water a day. Yes, you can even keep track of your water intake in your food journal (did ya like how I slipped that in there?). Water helps regulate your body temperature, helps your metabolism and helps your organs absorb nutrients. Pretty important.
Day 27
Get your hands on a jump rope. Jumping rope is a great way to throw yourself a break from walking or jogging, and you still burn up to 1000 calories an hour doing it.
Day 28
Try yoga. Yes, even if it’s not your “thing”. If you don’t think of it as being enough of a workout for you, then do it to allow your body to stretch and for your mind to relax.
Day 29
Don’t look for the closest parking spot you can squeal into. Try to park farther away while you’re out running errands as a sneaky way to slip some exercise into your day if you don’t have a lot of time.
Day 30
Switch your juice for fruit. Real fruit has a lot more vitamins and nutrients and way less sugar.
Day 31
Celebrate! No I don’t mean grab a pack of cigarettes and a hooker. I mean if you lost five pounds, treat yourself to something new to wear or go out and do something that you’ve been wanting to all month. You will feel great and you should be proud of what you’ve been able to accomplish!
Even if some of the instincts to eat unhealthy snacks are still there, remember to bend a bit. You have to allow yourself some cheat days or else you will be a bad bitch that no one wants to be around. I’m actually the worst person you will ever meet when I’m hungry. So just try to keep everything in moderation and get back on track the next day. Your body and health will both thank you.
Leave A Comment