Saturday 28 May 2016

24 Hours


We all know that there are 24 hours in a day. This day belongs to you. You own this day and this day is, for the most part, in your control. Most of us have to go to work/school or look after the children/dog/house, but an 8-hour shift takes just 33% of your day. Of course sleeping, eating and travelling are essential and they will consume your time! Now with the 30% (approx.) remaining you have the following options:
  • Stay the same: Do nothing to improve yourself, your life, your job, your posture. Your teeth won’t become more or less stained, your intelligence will not expand nor diminish, you will not become more or less stressed. You will be the same person you were when you woke up.
  • Get worse: Do things in your day to make your life worse; be late for work after missing your alarm, spend money that you don’t have and skip the rent, be rude to the people you love or become more sedentary and unfit. Go to bed a worse version of yourself.
  • Get better: Use some of your left over day to progress yourself. Floss, move more, work harder, get stronger, learn a language, stress less, sort out any debts or expand your mind. Go to bed a better version of yourself.
1 hour is only 4% of your day and 40 minutes is obviously even less, so if you cannot afford to give up less than 4% of your day to better yourself and give yourself the respect you deserve, you need to plan better, prepare better and manage your time better.
During my weight loss experience I wanted to make sure I went to bed knowing that I had done everything I could that day to ensure I woke up fitter, healthier and happier than when I went to bed the night before.
Whatever your goal, even if it is not fitness based, you have to remember that ‘Rome was not built in a day but days were spent building Rome.’
Emma McMahon
Fitness Instructor and Personal Trainer

Making the right choices on the High Street


We have all been there, rushing into town with no breakfast thinking we can survive until lunch. Then it hits you. The cake shops are glowing and calling your name, you can feel yourself gravitating towards the donuts and almond croissants, convincing yourself…"that’s breakfast food right?".

This is a guide on how to make the best choices on the high street:

  • First and foremost try not to get caught out hungry; always line your bag with healthy goodies like nuts, seeds and fruit (but don’t forget about them!).
  • The next best bet is the green grocers! You could pick up an apple, banana and satsuma (for less than £1), so if your trip is short this could keep you going until lunch.
  • If you are going to go for a full-on brunch there are a surprisingly wide range of things that will not tip you over your calorie limit or force you to starve for the rest of the day. 
My four recommended choices are:

  • Soup (no bread, but wholegrain if you do). Do check the ingredients as some of them are made with cream - avoid cream of mushroom etc.
  • Eggs benedict; toasted muffin, poached eggs and rocket, or eggs royal (with smoked salmon) but I swap the hollandaise for extra rocket!
  • Coffee shop salad… Coffee shops have now started making elaborate salads with roasted squash, lingonberries and African rain water (kidding). They usually have a good choice of salads with less dressing or sauce and something to have next to it like fish or meat. Just watch out for added dressings and keep portions under control.
  • If you have no time for stopping, a sandwich does not have to be the end of the world. Again just make sure it is not filled with sauces, and that it does contain a good bit of protein like fish, meat or egg. Make sure you pick wholemeal and go for bread or wraps over a baguette.

Well, these are some ideas should you find yourself in this situation, although my best piece of advice from my own weight loss journey is, ‘’don’t let yourself get hungry’’ as this is when you’re more likely to make the wrong food choices.

Emma McMahon