Do not overdo any diet or exercise plan. Have a balance.
How to not overdo your diet and exercise plan
Summer is around the corner, and no doubt you will want to flaunt your bod at its very best at braais and visits to the beach. And by now you probably realise that a great physique takes hard work, time and dedication. But how much, exactly?
Health and fitness publications, lifestyle bloggers and testimonials from athletes would have you believe that there is naught but one way to achieve a body that turns heads, and that requires sticking to a rigorous plan.
The problem is, this is not realistic for the rest of us.
The question is, how do we find the balance that we need here? Read on to find out.
Don’t have a plan
The first issue to take into account is that we can’t account for how we spend much of our time. Working out an exercise regimen and diet plan is all well and good, but fitting it into your hectic life is one.
The solution? Take it week-by-week. Planning out your week every Sunday means you can delegate which hours every day you will have available for exercise, and how much. And don’t forget that your body needs some days to rest too!
Cooking up a bunch of pre-prepared healthy meals on Sunday is, in itself, a bit of a commitment, but if you can pull it off you will save yourself a lot of time and effort in the week ahead.
Foresee disasters
If something comes up, it comes up. Work, family, school – you get the picture.
The trick here is to make the most of the time you have available. Identify a few quick workouts that guarantee top results. Yes, they will definitely be hard and intense, but nothing good ever comes easy.
Designate weekends for cheating
Most of us have five days a week that require routine. It is during these days that you should enforce your strict diet and workout plan.
Don’t go overboard on the weekends, though! You can take it easy, but try to get enough sleep and don’t over-indulge on unhealthy snacks and foods. There loads of recipes out there that are delicious, indulgent and nutritious, so you have no excuse.
Why not go the extra mile and become a weekend warrior? Spending your Saturday or Sunday mountain biking, trail running, surfing or doing whichever recreational workout you prefer is fn and good for you too.
Balance doesn’t mean perfection
Don’t be too hard on yourself; setting unrealistic standards means you will most likely feel like a failure when you can’t reach them, and give up altogether. The secret to a healthy, happy life is smart compromise.