1st February. Let's commit to a month of health and fitness!

I am always glad to see January over. January for me is usually a dreary month. Christmas is over, the days are still long, summer seems an age away. Resolutions which we made, may be broken.... which often results in being a bit fed up with ourselves ...

However, don't fear, February is here :) Yippeee, time for a fresh start again !!!

So, don't look back, start looking forward and think of the months ahead!
At the moment we can look on ourselves as caterpillars, all covered up in layers, clothes or otherwise!
When summer comes, if we put our minds to it now, we will emerge as butterflies!

The days are getting longer, the lovely bright colours are coming into the clothes shops, we might be starting to think about summer holidays... Which leads me onto summer bodies !
Did you ever think about the fact that summer bodies are actually made in winter and spring !
Once Summer arrives, it will be a bit too late to try and lose that stone before we start putting on the summer clothes. So, why not give yourself a great chance to get slim and lose a few lbs.

Why not start now?

There are only 28 (27 now), days in this month, why not commit to being as healthy as you can for the month?
Here are some things you could try:

• Exercise 20 times this month.
• Limit processed food and try to eat foods with one ingredient. E.g. Meat, fruit, veg, brown rice, sweet potato, fish etc.
• Drink 2-3 litres water every day.
• Limit tea / coffee to 2-3 per day. Drink herbal teas or water instead.
• Sleep 7-8 hours every night.
• Learn to relax and de-stress for 30 minutes every evening before bed.
• Use mindful eating. Be aware of every single thing that you consume.
• Stop eating when you are full, and step away from the kitchen table.
• It takes 20 minutes for your brain to register you stomach is full, be aware of this !
• Use smaller plates when eating.
• Try and rope in a friend to commit to your new health kick for February.
• Weigh yourself every Monday morning. However, if you do not like what you see on the scales, don't let this dictate your efforts! It is only a number, and if you are eating sensibly and exercising, the scales will eventually move! Just sometimes it might take a few weeks to start moving! Don't lose heart whatever you do!

Finally, remember weight loss and health are largely dictated by your head. Once you get your head in the right place, and decide to be healthy, then you are more than half way there!  

Best of luck!!