34 Jan/Feb 2018 oxygenmag.com.au
Thrive MIND & BODY
— a demanding job, school, family obligations — can still be
an obstacle to making time each day for your health. If you’re
clear mentally about why hitting the gym or taking the time to
prep meals is an important part of the life you want, you’ll make
strides.Carrying through
What are some actionable tricks for making sure fit habits come
out on top?
Sports nutritionist and strength and conditioning coach Sohee
Lee, who works full-time in her business, Sohee Fit, while also
studying a master's degree in the psychology of eating behaviour,
recommends that rather than trying to keep up with the latest fad
or copying your favourite fitness celebrity, pay attention to what
makes you feel your best.
“Different people have different food preferences as well as
unique dieting strategies that work best for them,” Lee explains.
“What I always say is ‘like the way you eat, like the way you
exercise’.”
Multiple studies have shown that adherence to a diet and
training regime is more important for long-term success than any
specific plan. This means that finding a routine you can maintain
easily and effectively will make it easier to prioritise.
The moral of the story: by tackling your mind and your daily
habits, ‘fit girl’ will be part of your DNA before you know it.I
f finding the time to maintain your fit-girl lifestyle is a
challenge, you’re not alone. After tending to families that need
you, careers and classes that are calling, and so much more,
what happens when you feel like there’s not a moment left for
training, food prepping or even getting enough sleep? Read on for
advice to help prioritise the fit stuff in your day-to-day routine.Tackle your mind
Dr Colleen Long, weight-loss psychologist and author of The
Psychology of Finally Being Full From Within (CreateSpace, 2017),
says that the first step is to understand why health and fitness is
a priority for you. “Oftentimes, we say something is a priority but
aren’t really solid as to all the ‘whys’,” Dr Long says. “Take a moment
to jot down in your phone’s notes section all the reasons you should
make this a priority.” Some examples might be to be a positive role
model for your kids or to feel better about your body.
Mums especially fall prey to thinking that they don’t have enough
hours in the day for ‘me’ time at the gym. Many already feel guilty
if they work outside the home, and adding in that time to exercise
makes the feeling even worse.
“You have to reframe how you see this,” Dr Long says. “This
exercise is the oxygen mask you need to be a better parent, a better
partner, to have more energy to keep up with your kids, and to
respond versus react to them.”
And even if you aren’t a mum, the pressure of everything elsePrioritise your health and fitness with these effective strategies.
By Nicole BowlingStrategies to
overcome
the G word
If you experience guilt when
you prioritise training over
other responsibilities, this food
for thought from psychologist
Dr Leon Seltzer might help to
change your perspective.
Concentrate on your
happiness. You can’t help
being the centre of your
universe, so you have a right to
focus major attention on what
helps you feel more fulfilled.
Are you realistic? Do you
expect more of yourself than
might be reasonable? If you
have perfectionist ideals, you
do yourself no favours.
Just say 'no'. Acknowledge
and honour your right to
protect your self-interests when
others are making requests
that overburden you. Are you
morally obliged to comply
with what others might want
from you? In most instances,
hopefully, you’ll realise you
aren’t.Making
‘me’ time