Looking for a focused mind, a happy body and stable moods? The key is in these life-changing health principles. Use these to reset your body and take back responsibility over your health.
Health principles from a health and fitness coach
Food
Eating three, medium-sized meals and one snack a day is the recommended advice Woman & Home’s health and fitness expert Annie Deadman gives. Aim for clean and lean with starchy carbs on days you workout. Protein is not just important for your body, but keeping you satisfied too. And of course, try cook your meals from scratch as much as possible – that way you have more control over what you are feeding your body.
Fluids
Keeping hydrated throughout the day, every day, keeps your mind and body moving forward. Annie recommends drinking two to three litres of water per day. This can include decaf drinks, like your rooibos tea or hot lemon water.
Workouts
Among all the health principles this is perhaps the one that makes everyone groan. If you want to beat bloat, morning lethargy or lose fat the secret is all in movement. You should be working out four times a week in a way that brings you joy. Anything that raises your heart rate a little and makes you feel good afterwards will do! Make it social if you struggle to get going. Exercise is the way to support joints, make your bones stronger and improve your lung and heart capacity. It is well worth it!
Cut down on dairy and wheat
Annie includes this in her health principles based on gaining extra energy. Limiting your intake of often the most processed parts of our diet can leave you feeling more focused and less at the mercy of your hormones. Spending time without wheat, dairy and sugary products will give your gut a rest (and therefore your whole body). Battling to give them up? Sourdough bread, cheeses and yoghurts are the best ways to get your fix.
Alcohol
Annie notices how alcohol intake influences what we eat. If you want to reboot your body give up alcohol for at least 21 days. Otherwise Annie suggests one drink three times a week at the most, but keep it low in sugar!
Protein
When you ramp up your exercising, your muscles will need to be fed. Already working out but feeling down? This may be the health principle to pay more attention to. Try to eat protein in every meal and mix it up for variety. Strong, toned msucles support joints better and help keep out testosterone levels up. You can help raise your protein quota by mixing a scoop of protein powder into your pos-workout oats or shake.
Reduce sugar
When we eat carbohydrates, the body turns it into glucose. While we do use this for our muscles and brain, too much of it creates a surplus stored in our bodies as fat. Regular moving ensures it all gets used, but preventing a surplus is best.
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