Mi Magazine 1 | Page 17

Fitness Q&A If you have any fitness/nutrition questions or issues you would like answered, please email [email protected] STEP 1 The 90/10 principle – 90% of your main diet should come from fresh, naturally low-fat, wholesome foods, whilst 10% can be those items that are considered “treats”. So savour a glass of wine, a dessert, or a chocolate bar, but avoid bingeing on these. Put it into perspective. If you have been enjoying a diet rich in vegetables, fruits, lean meats, fish, pulses and whole-grains, then that chocolate or indulgence will do you no harm at all. Of course Christmas Dinner isn’t always so balanced, but fill your plate with veggies, put only a few potatoes on that plate and pick the leaner parts of the turkey. STEP 2 Fully enjoy your food (not just that 10% indulgence!). Eat slowly and enjoy each mouthful. Just be mindful of when you are full. Over-eating regularly dulls the pleasure centres in the brain and you need to eat more and more to get your fix (not to mention the increasing waistline too). Really savour the flavours, pay attention to what you are putting in your mouth and realise when you have actually had enough (you can always go back to more if you need to). STEP 3 Plan your meals – ensure you have enough healthy food to hand to whip up a quick healthy snack, lunch or dinner. There is nothing more tempting to over-eat than having nothing easy to hand. There will probably be many leftovers (if you have followed the above 2 tips!) so have some delicious low-GI or granary bread to make some healthy turkey sandwiches, or use the leftover vegetables for a tasty bubble and squeak that can easily be re-heated. These tips work all year round, and there will be times when the balance shifts, but by planning ahead, enjoying your food properly and filling up on healthier choices, it will make it that much easier to control your weight. The perfect partner to these tips is also to move a little more – go for regular walks with a partner or friend, try a new sport, experiment with exercise classes, or clean the house from top to bottom to burn those extra unwanted calories. It will be the little things that eventually add up to success and can be done with just a little extra effort. After all, you are worth it! Remember, you control what goes into your body, it does not control you! Read more from Kim next month or join her for Personal Fitness or Pilates classes. www.incredible-me.co.uk www.mintmind.co.uk • 07921175440 • [email protected] 17