They don’t fit anymore. I’m sorry to be the one to break this to you but chances are that no, it wasn’t the tumble dryer that shrunk those jeans and yes, you can do something about it.
Everyone always talks about the impossible task of loosing weight once you get older and how the younger generation are so lucky to be able to shed the weight like a heavy fur coat.
While it is true that it does get increasingly difficult to lose a few extra pounds after a certain age, the idea that shedding them in your twenties or thirties is an easy feat just isn’t right!
Speaking from experience, people in their twenties are all too often young, broke and tend to have a skewed sense of prioritizing aspects in their lives-have a tenner to get you through the next week? Pints are only €3.60…
That’s why when talk of healthy meal plans and gym membership start flying around, most people brush it off, no one has the time or the money right? But what they don’t mention is that losing weight and becoming healthier doesn’t have to be an all or nothing deal.
When people start on their crash diets and start going to the gym every day for a month, they’re intense! You’re expected to change your entire lifestyle overnight with often very little transition, if any, and it won’t stick.
What happens to most people is that this all-or-nothing lifestyle becomes overwhelming and instead of having a middle-ground to fall back on, people revert to their original living habits.
What I’m going to try to do today is give a few small tips on I’ve picked up that can help make your everyday lifestyle lean a bit more to the healthier side of things. You’d be surprised how a few small changes can make such a difference in your overall health, energy and mind!
Changing a few small things bit by bit in your diet and in your exercise also gives you a way to build up good habits so that this new, hopefully happier and healthier you can become the you that you want to be.
Speaking of starting out small, you’ve heard this a thousand times in a thousand ways, but drink water! Exactly how much depends on your body mass and always listen to your body, but in general most aim for about two litres a day.
Your body needs water to function right, which means if you don’t drink enough in a day you’re going to feel run down and your other healthy habits won’t pay off! If you’re like me and find it hard to keep track of how much you’ve drank, invest in a reusable litre bottle, they’re perfect for making sure you drink enough and are great for the environment.
This next one may break some hearts, but the fizzy drinks must go. Not completely of course, I’m not a monster, having the odd can of coke won’t pack on ten stone, but they are packed full of sugar and drinking them daily it just plain horrible for you.
Try having an alternative like orange or fruit juice at home and don’t buy the drinks in the first place! You might think twice about how much you want that Fanta if you have to walk a half hour to get it. That also applies to any and all junk food, try buying sweet snacks like grapes, kiwis and granola. Whenever you start craving a Cadburys bar or an ice cream use them, or a bar of dark chocolate, to curb your sugar craving.
This also may seem like a weird tip, but make sure to eat before heading to the supermarket! A hungry shopper will crave anything and everything, which is dangerous when you get home with three different cheesecakes and not the kiwis you went in for…
As for exercise, no one expects you to become a bodybuilder.
You don’t need to invest in the Gym Shark leggings or start putting up posts with #gymlife in the captions, all you have to do is find what suits you!
Whether you’re a student or you’re working full time, there’s always opportunities for you to stay fit that won’t break the bank or make you get up at the crack of dawn.
Group classes are a good, social and often fun way of staying fit! If you look for them in your area there should be a variety of classes, each with their own difficulty, focus and style, there’s no harm in trying a few until you find the right fit. Getting a few of your friends to go with you can stop you from backing out of the classes and it’ll make working out that much more enjoyable.
If group classes are not for you, or if you don’t have the money, you can join a club, team or you can use the variety of online resources to make your own home workout.
There is an endless amount of free full workouts on YouTube that are built for you to follow along at home. The only downside to this is that at home, your couch is right beside you. If you fully commit to doing these videos instead of sitting down and letting it play through after doing a singular plank, they’ll be hugely beneficial, but it’s up to you!
Overall, your health and weight are in your own hands. It’s true that in certain cases weight can’t be controlled due to sickness or other health issues, and that’s fine too! But if you are the only one holding yourself back then just shake off whatever’s stopping you and go for it.
By Erin Carey
Life & Lemons 