June 04th, 2018

I cannot believe it is June already, where has the first half of this year gone?  I guess you have your summer holidays booked by now either here in the UK or abroad and maybe thinking about having to reveal more flesh than usual.  If this thought feels you with dread, then let me help rid you of those worries and put a more positive spin on it for you!

So, like you guys, I worry about what I will look like in my bikini and shorts (probably even more so as I feel the pressure constantly being a PT and exercise coach) and have been thinking about how I am going to feel more confident about revealing more flesh.  I thought I would share a few ideas and tips with you.

1. Hydrate. Get into a routine of drinking 2-3 litres of water per day.  This will really help to make you look more radiant, flush out any nasty toxins and assist in fat loss and helps to reduce the appearance of cellulite.  
2. The Holiday countdown. Work out how many weeks you have until you go away and have realistic goals in place - a weight loss of two to three pounds per week is sensible and achievable.  However, in my experience with clients, taking measurements and photographs each week will give you a more accurate account - measure chest (nipple line), waist (belly button), hips (widest part), thigh and upper arm (both belly of the muscle).
3. Clear out the rubbish. Clear out all your cupboards and fridges of manufactured food items such as chocolate, crisps, cakes, biscuits etc.  If it’s not there you cannot be tempted! This always works for me. Keep imagining how amazing you will feel having achieved your goal.
4. Get moving.  You will be surprised at what a difference you can make to your fitness or weight loss goals just by making extra time to walk the kids to school, walk to work or park further away from the station.  Not only will moving more make a difference physically, but also mentally.
5. Accountability. Make a pact with a friend to get healthier, eat better, start an exercise class or join a gym.  Even better if it is the friend/partner you are off on holiday with as you can encourage each other to keep going and enjoy the count down together.  You will not want to let them down and so more inclined to keep to any agreed sessions and more importantly you are more likely to WANT to train. Do not underestimate this as a source of motivation.
6. Alcohol.  Limit alcohol to planned occasions if you can until holiday.  Remember the body burns alcohol as energy first so all those extra nibbles that a few drinks cause you to consume will be stored as fat.  Not to mention the calories consumed the next day to assist your hangover!
7. Keep meals simple.  Stick to three meals a day and each meal consisting of a hand size portion (hand in a karate chop) of protein - (chicken, steak, turkey, eggs, fish), thumb size portion of good fats (avocado, almonds) and a fist size portion of carbohydrates (rice, sweet potato) and fill up on greens with every meal too.  
8. Gratitude Diary.  Every night I make sure that I write in my diary what or whom I am thankful for it allows me to process my day and helps me focus on being present which in turn makes me happy.   Gratitude has been known to improve sleep (good sleep aids fat loss), improves self esteem and reduces feelings of envy, making us feel good and in turn alleviates stress. What’s not to love about being grateful.
9. Choose your mindset.  Life is always going to throw us a curveball or two or three, but it’s how we deal with these problems that matters.  Be grateful, be kind and give yourself a break.
10. Be happy in the skin you are in.  We all want to be the best possible version of ourselves so strive for progress not perfection.  Remember we are all unique and magazines and TV will try to tell us what the perfect figure should look like but it is how you feel in your clothes and how you feel in yourself that matters.  I tell all of my clients to focus on being strong and the rest will follow. This is something that I am getting better and better at all the time, but it’s still a work in progress. Since I have had my children I am so grateful for my body and what amazing things it is capable of doing, it has carried me so far for forty years and given me two beautiful children.  It amazes me how some people do not mind spending hundreds and thousands of pounds on designer bags and clothes, but will not invest in their bodies. The body is the most valuable piece of equipment we will ever own so look after it.

I hope that this blog will help you all feel summer ready.  

Be Strong, be happy.  Happy Holidays!

Laura
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