We’ve all heard the phrase, “falling off the wagon” at some point or another...And after lockdown, you might be feeling a little less confident than before...
Well...We believe that if there were a room 101 for all of the terms that people throw around, then the word “wagon” would be one of the first to go.
When it comes to most people, the quest for getting healthy and fit can seem more like a time of sacrifice than something you're actually allowed to enjoy...And guess what, we're going to show you how!
Living on Carrots & Celery...
Let’s be honest; that sounds pretty awful, especially if you’re looking at investing in your health for the long term. A lot of people always seem to think that you need to go full ‘cold turkey’ when focusing on their health, but remember, we’re all human!
If I had to live on celery, carrots and water for the rest of my life, I’d be pretty miserable too.
But getting fit and losing weight, adding healthy habits to your lifestyle and strengthening your body and mind doesn’t mean you have to give up everything you love – in fact, far from it.
If you overindulged at a dinner, spent the weekend eating cakes and crumpets, or ordering pizza every night for the past 10 weeks of lockdown, that still doesn’t mean you’ve “fallen off the wagon”.
But What About The Weight Gain?
Let’s be realistic. Weeks of overeating and drinking and general indulgence don’t come without a price. Not only is your bank balance probably looking a little low, but your waistline will be feeling the effects as well.
But if you’re going to spend the next few days, weeks, or months worrying about and regretting those delicious seafood dinners and champagne cocktails by the pool then, what was the point in doing it in the first place?
Chances are, even with a pandemic on, you have been working pretty hard. So allowing yourself to enjoy a bar of chocolate, or a treat every now and then is not only something totally permissible, but it’s actually healthy. Because getting fit for life is a marathon, not a sprint. It’s mental as well as physical.
Dealing with The Negative Thoughts
Human beings are conditioned to focus on the negative. It’s not our fault. It’s a proven fact that we have greater sensitivity to negative events than to positive ones. While this negativity bias may be useful when it comes to brute survival, it can cause distress in our everyday lives...And no one needs that!
For example, if you drink your three litres of water a day, enjoy a regular workout, and are generally healthy all year round, then why are you going to let one meal or one weekend spoil all that?
Why focus on the negative, the weight you’ve gained, or the things out of your control, when you can look forward to the future and the next good thing you can do for your body!
So stop worrying about the calories or the dreaded metaphorical wagon, it doesn’t exist and you are doing fantastically just as you are!
