IT’S NEVER TOO LATE TO SHAPE UP
Is your little black dress a bit too snug? Fit in it before Christmas by performing the right exercises and making simple lifestyle changes
As the festive season approaches, businesses are aiming to reward their hard-working staff on what has been a difficult year.
The tightening up of finances has seen you searching for last year’s lovely party dress instead of opting for a new one.
As you try it on, one look at your hips says that there’s a fair chance it won’t fit quite the same as it did last year.
It isn’t just the stock market that’s been fluctuating; thanks to your over-indulgence in the sweet and alcohol department, your weight has been too.
You start to panic but then see a glossy magazine proclaiming the latest crash diet and must-have fashion accessories that will hide all your fat and help you lose 12lbs in seven days!
You think you’ve found a solution: no food for two weeks — just three shakes a day.
Recognising the insecurities of women at this time of year, marketers have developed no end of different products with extravagant claims. But buying fat-loss creams or performing two hours of training a week will not provide a miracle cure for the remaining 166 hours of inactivity. Especially if you’re eating processed food devoid of nutrients. These are just band-aid solutions.
You should look instead at what you are doing fundamentally wrong, instead of looking for quick-fix solutions.
Fat-loss pills, vibrating gizmos or five sessions with a trainer have as much hope of undoing 20 years of bad habits as you have of winning the lottery this week.
To make a difference, you need to start with the foundations. You need to reflect more and look at changing your lifestyle. If you are looking forward to your Christmas party, it is not too late to close the barn door as the horse has not fully bolted. You can start on your journey to health today.
Performing the right exercises will transform your body shape if you perform them to the right intensity.
Squats and lunges will keep your butt covered against gravity, and the removal of common allergens like dairy and wheat from your diet can eliminate the bloating experienced by those sensitive to these foods, while it can also reduce the size of your tummy.
ENERGY
These are simple lifestyle changes that can make a tremendous difference to your energy and your body shape.
THERE ARE SOME DOS AND DON’TS FOR THE CHRISTMAS PARTY DAY ITSELF.
- Training, more specifically weight training, on the day of the party can increase your metabolism and it will burn off the extra calories you might consume. It will also make your body feel tighter and more defined and this will increase your confidence when you slip on that little black dress.
- Starving on the day of the event to save calories is not an option. This will just slow down your metabolism and, when you do eat your dinner, your blood sugar will be low and you will eat too much, making you feel sluggish. The body will use whatever calories it needs and put the excess into storage.
So the goal is to eat small, nutritious meals leading up to the time of the party. If you opt for alcohol, don’t forget to alternate it with glasses of water and opt for wine over beer.
It’s a time for celebration, an end to a challenging year for most, so what better way to blow off a bit of steam and some calories than by hitting the dancefloor?
The more exuberant the dance moves the better, and don’t worry — chances are your friends or bosses won’t remember in the morning!
