How to realistically get fit

Sorry to mention Christmas but the decorations are in the shops – which means we can officially say the countdown is on. The festive season means lots of parties, meet ups and the chance to look your winter best. You’ve still lots of time to get in shape and shed a few pounds but the trouble is often our best intentions sometimes don’t convert into real action. Derval O’Rourke has plenty of good advice.

1 Simple but constant

Something is always better than nothing. When it comes to fitness, start small. Just aim for 15 or 20 minutes. That could be a quick walk, a short circuit course in your house or just getting out during your lunch hour at work. The problem for a lot of people is they can overthink things. Often their intentions are far bigger than what is needed and a simple action can then seem insurmountable. So just get off the couch, throw on the trainers and often once you get going, this will give you the impetus to go for another walk, or perhaps a light jog. Starting is often the hardest part.

2 Be realistic about food planning

When it comes to your diet, again be realistic. If you are a busy parent with small kids, it is going to be a lot of effort to put yourself on a strict restrictive diet while also cooking a different meal for the rest of the family. For example, there is no food I eat that I don’t try to also encourage my daughter to enjoy. Be realistic about what is possible and make decisions based on your social environment.

3 Get cooking

When you have adjusted your food plan to fit your circumstances, then it’s time for action and prep is your friend. I often have the same cycle of healthy recipes which means roughly, I use the same ingredients. This makes life easier, not just in the kitchen but when you are doing your food shop. It saves on buying random stuff that goes off in the fridge. There really shouldn’t be that many nights in the week when you wonder what you’re having for dinner. Often I’ll know on a Tuesday that we are having a salmon bake with veggies. It’s practical, it’s quick and easy and it’s healthy. This will make your food prep easier and more enjoyable.

4 Be your own trainer

A lot of people pay for coaches or classes but the truth is; nobody knows you the way you do. So trust yourself about what you can realistically achieve. Often, I will sit down and make a plan about what I can achieve fitness wise for the next three months. I know myself when my busy times will be and likewise, when my calmer times will be when I have more energy. Then either stick to the plan yourself, knowing you have made it out to suit your own schedule. Or, if you are working with a trainer, give them that information. Make it clear what you can and can’t achieve and then you’ll both be singing off the same hymn sheet.

5 Take responsibility

By being your own trainer, you are taking responsibility. This is a massive part of becoming healthier. There is no one that can do this except you. Don’t give the responsibility of your health to anyone else. For example, if you know you are going to have a busy day tomorrow and you are going to be eating on the run, don’t give the power of nourishing your body to someone else. Make some healthy snacks the night before or some extra dinner that you can have for lunch. Yes, it may require more planning, organising, and yes, ultimately more responsibility but it will be worth it. Taking responsibility may also require making decisions, for example, getting out for a walk rather than watching Netflix. It’s prioritising this journey over other stuff you might like to do but all these small decisions add up to making a big difference.

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