Worryingly, recent data published by the NHS reveals that up to 50% of overweight / obese individuals are not currently undertaking any form of exercise to help lose weight.
We get it! Most people, at some stage, are time poor / tired / lack motivation and hitting those training sessions three times a week seems like a far-off dream! Times of stress can also cause you to make poor dietary choices, so below we’ve outlined our top 5 simple steps, that anyone can implement, to help you thrive daily.
- Walk up the stairs / escalators
‘Standing to the right’ is for days gone by. Get those legs moving and get walking, there’s really no excuse. We’re not saying that walking up the escalators is going to miraculously turn you into Blake Lively or Ryan Reynolds, but it’s going to get you burning calories that you otherwise wouldn’t be burning. Walking up the stairs is also a great little wake up to the cardiovascular system, get that blood pumping before turning up to your morning meeting and you’ll be firing on all cylinders.
- Get up from your desk
We all do it. We get stuck working on a project (because we’re all such high achievers) and before we know it an hour or two has disappeared from the day.
There are some great apps out there which vibrate and remind you to get up and stretch your legs or, if you’re not a tech fan then just set a reminder on your computer telling you to get up and move about every 20 – 30 minutes.
Walk (or lunge) to the printer, go and make a herbal tea, top up your water or pop outside for 5 seconds of fresh air.
Whatever it is, moving on a regular basis will help get your lymphatic system flowing and help your body remove toxins, as well as just relieve any aches, pains and stiff joints.
- Mix up your commute
Regular Tube or Bus go-er? Too far to walk or cycle to work? How about mixing it up a couple of times a week.
Especially now summer’s here, hop off your ride a stop (or two) early and have an extra walk. On average, a slow 15-minute walk, may burn up to 36 calories. So, adding an extra half an hour walk into your working day is certainly no bad thing.
- Get out at lunch
Many Londoner’s never explore the area they work in, which is a shame as, even in central London, there are pockets of peace and quite tucked away in garden squares. Not only can getting out and about during your lunch hour add up to some good miles over the week, it gets you away from your desk and allows you to focus on what you’re eating.
Remember, when you’re not paying attention to what you’re eating it is very easy to overeat as well as decrease your nutrient absorption rate if you’re in a stressed state.
If it’s raining, take some time away from your desk, prepare your food in the office kitchen, sit away from your desk or carry out some deep breathing prior to eating to engage your gut-brain axis.
- Eat the good stuff first
This might sound a little strange as you might think that most health professionals would want you to steer clear from that biscuit, slice of cake or bag of crisps, but we find that deprivation can cause all sorts of crazy cravings and cause some individuals to binge on ‘forbidden’ foods as soon as they get the chance.
Our advice? Eat all the good stuff first. Eat your 5 portions of veg (and 2 fruit) during the day, drink your 2 litres of water, eat your well-balanced nutritionally meal before you reach for that square [not bar] of chocolate.
Often, you’ll find that practising a little bit of self-discipline and eating well leaves little room for the, much craved, ‘bad’ stuff.
If you’re not sure if what you’re eating is right, or you feel like you could use a helping hand to achieve your health and fitness goals, get in touch today and see how we can help!
About us:
Hub Health is an integrated health & fitness clinic in the heart of Clapham, located next to Clapham Common underground station, on Venn Street. Offering osteopathy, personal training, sports massage and acupuncture, we’ve got your health and fitness needs covered. Hub is easily accessible for patients coming from; Clapham, Battersea, Balham, Tooting, Brixton, Wandsworth, Putney and Stockwell.
Hub Health is an integrated health & fitness clinic in the heart of Clapham, located next to Clapham Common underground station, on Venn Street. Offering osteopathy, personal training, sports massage and acupuncture, we’ve got your health and fitness needs covered. Hub is easily accessible for patients coming from; Clapham, Battersea, Balham, Tooting, Brixton, Wandsworth, Putney and Stockwell.
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