summertime - and the living is easy...

By Fiona Kirk

There’s talk of Summer 2008 being a ‘scorcher’ in the UK – fantastic news!   Jumpers, coats, wraps, jackets and boots will be cast to the back of the wardrobe and you’ll just sling on one of those ‘oh so current’ little floral dresses, a pair of wedges and float off to work looking carefree and confident or don a pair of fab little shorts, a skimpy top and a pair of flip flops and join your pals for an impromptu barbecue. 

All you have to do is run through the vital checklist made at the end of last summer (when things hadn’t gone just as well as they might!) and you’re sorted.  The list may look something like this:-
 

1. lose weight
2. get fit
3. drink more water (and less alcohol!)
4. quit smoking
5. moisturise regularly
6. get more sleep … etc. 

So, how did it go?  Do you look and feel great, have you got loads of energy and can’t wait to get out there and get the max out of all those sunny days and balmy evenings?  Or did it all go a bit ‘pear-shaped’ and you now have a sneaking suspicion you may have left it all too late?

Absolutely not!  It is never too late – BUT – you have to commit to a couple of things.  First of all, ‘Get Focussed’ and secondly ‘Do It Today’.

FOCUS on feeling better and having more energy
DON’T FOCUS on losing weight

FOCUS on getting leaner and fitter
DON’T FOCUS on getting thinner
 
FOCUS on eating for pleasure
DON’T FOCUS on depriving yourself

FOCUS on introducing some new habits
DON’T FOCUS on ‘binning’ old habits

Energy Dips

I think it’s really important to ascertain when your ‘energy dips’ occur in the day.  For many people, its mid-morning and mid-afternoon but they can occur just as easily early evening or even first thing in the morning.  This is to a large extent dependent on what and when you eat, which in turn is governed by your lifestyle and workload.  Note down when these ‘dips’ occur over the next couple of days, then you can take steps to ensure you’re ahead of the game.  If for example, you tend to come in from work and ‘could kill’ for a drink and a bowl of Kettle Chips or a cup of tea and a biscuit, don’t immediately think ‘oh no I can’t’ which creates feelings of deprivation and frustration.  Instead, have a large glass of water plus an oatcake with peanut butter or hummus, or a piece of fruit, or a cup of clear soup or a small salad and do something physical like emptying the dishwasher, putting on the washing, taking the dog for a walk or one of the multitude of domestic tasks that have to be dealt with.  Now ask yourself whether you still really want the drink and the Kettle Chips or the cup of tea and the biscuit. The answer may be a resounding ‘yes’ but chances are that it’s a lot easier to say ‘no’ than it was half an hour ago.

All in the timing

The trick is to pin-point the timing of your ‘energy dips’, then ensure that you have a few snacks in your handbag, desk, glove compartment, fridge to keep you focussed.  Try some or all of the following:-

Ryvita, oatcakes, rice cakes or crispbreads spread with peanut or other nut butter or mashed banana, chopped raw vegetables with hummus, tzatziki or salsa, a hard-boiled egg, a fruit smoothie, vegetable juice, low salt popcorn or pretzels, natural yoghurt with a drizzle of honey or sliced fruit, piece of hard cheese + grapes, mixed nuts, seeds and dried fruit, fresh fruit + nuts, an avocado, cottage cheese + pear (much more delicious than it sounds!), a cup of clear soup, a mini pitta pocket with salad + sardines, a few olives and almonds.

I recommend you set your mobile phone to go off every three hours and as well as having one of the above or a more substantial snack/light meal, drink something (water, tea, fruit juice) and take some sort of exercise (walk round the garden or park a couple of times, run up and down the stairs, walk round the room whilst on the phone, do some skipping with the kids, jog on the spot whilst watching TV). 

Highs and lows

The theory is that by following this route you won’t be plagued by the blood sugar highs and lows that can catapult you into reaching for the comfort foods and drinks that are so often responsible for increasing your consumption of overly sugary, salty and fatty foods.  Just thinking about drinking something refreshing and clean every 3 hours helps to keep you hydrated and by doing something physical, you are increasing the amount of exercise you do in a day without having to work to a regime which can be so hard to fit into your already busy life.  But, please do not be tempted to stuff yourself at any one sitting – remember, it is only another 3 hours before you will have an opportunity to start all over again!  Please try it, I think you may just find it easier than you think!