We get it, it can sometimes seem like way too much effort to get a workout done or even just go for a walk around your estate. And what about one of those sure-lose-weight diets? Sure sounds like a terribly tedious task. But there’s no need to try trendy new workouts or fad diets in order to get healthy.
Every positive change in your life counts so take these baby steps to making your life a healthier one. In fact, some are so simple, even lazy girls can do it! Try these six easy tips and say hello to a healthier you.
It’s a common scenario to be stuck in the office or at meetings elsewhere through your lunch hour and not have time for a proper meal. So what do you do? Grab a quick, unhealthy meal or just skip lunch altogether. Neither of these options is good for you so don’t let this happen by making your own lunch (especially if you know you’ll be having a busy work week).
Don’t worry, you won’t have to slave in the kitchen every night, preparing the following day’s meal. Set aside a bit of time on Sunday evening and whip up a few meals or even sandwiches you can pack for the office during the week (freeze some if you have to). If you’re the lazy-but-super-organised-type, you can do the same for your dinners too.
You might not have the energy (or inclination) to fit a workout into your day but surely you can manage to sprinkle some super healthy foods onto what you already eat? For example, turmeric has great digestive and anti-inflammatory benefits while acai berries are extremely rich in omega-3s and antioxidants.
So sprinkle some turmeric over your roasted veggies and add acai berries to your fruit salad or breakfast yoghurt, for a quick and easy health boost.
We’re constantly told how important it is to stay hydrated at all times, especially in a tropical climate like ours. But drinking lots of water also has health benefits apart from hydration so carry a water bottle with you at all times. It helps to curb hunger pangs as you feel fuller after drinking (just make sure it’s good ole plain water and not soft drinks, coffee or alcohol).
Drink a pint of water before every meal so you won’t eat more than you should. This simple trick could lead to weight loss in the long term so bottoms up!
Just because you have a particular amount of food on your plate doesn’t mean you should finish it all. We don’t suggest you waste food but instead portion less of it on your plate. It takes about 20 minutes for our brain to register that we’re full so it’s very possible that many of us have been overeating more than we should.
Don’t stuff yourself until your stomach feels like it’s about to burst, just eat until you’re satisfied and no longer feel hungry. If you find it hard to control your food intake, buy smaller plates and bowls so that your portions will automatically be smaller.
This is the easiest way to improve your health and is the perfect health tip for lazy people. Ideally, we need between seven and nine hours of sleep in order to function well the next day so stay in bed and catch those zzzs.
To increase your chances of getting a good night’s sleep, don’t keep your phone next to you so you won’t be tempted to check social media in the middle of the night. Staring at your phone – or, more accurately, the light from your phone – will make going to sleep more difficult so try to make your bedroom a mobile-free zone if you can.
Who has the time to go to the supermarket to stock up on all those healthy fruits and vegetables, right? Take the easy way out and buy frozen fruits and vegetables instead – they keep for much longer than the fresh variety and are usually cheaper too. Studies have shown that frozen fruit and veg have higher antioxidant and nutrients than fresh ones so don’t look down on them just because they come from the freezer aisle.
What actually has a bigger effect on whether or not a dish is healthy depends on how you cook it. Frozen fruits and vegetables also lead to less food waste as you can just take out how much you need and keep the rest back in the freezer. Use frozen fruits to make smoothies or eat with your plain yoghurt and frozen veggies to cook a delicious stir-fry.
Text: Balvinder Sandhu/Herworld