Spring is in the air - and a healthy you starts here!

Whether or not the sun is shining right now at your place, the fact is that winter really is over for another year and spring is in the air. Now is the time to shake off that winter melancholy and get focussed on a great big dose of healthy living!

If you’ve been hibernating over winter, eating lots of comfort food and generally not getting enough exercise then just follow these few simple tips that will help to whip you into shape so you can show off a fabulous summer body in just a few months from now. You’ll need to bring out those planning skills, make the time to make the change and throw in a good dollop of perseverance but if you stick with it, we know you’ll love the results.

Healthy eating

There’s a reason that most people in the health and fitness industry say that getting your body in great shape is all about what you put in your mouth, and it’s because all the exercise in the world isn’t going to combat an unhealthy diet. If you’ve been loading up on the old curry and rice or mac and cheese over winter, now’s the time to ditch the carbs and get focussed on protein and vegies.

That doesn’t mean your diet needs to be boring and uninteresting – there are loads of carb free or low carb alternatives out there if you’re willing to try something a little different. Try these healthy alternatives to the things you love...

If you love rice - try this instead:

Grated cauliflower (don’t knock it until you’ve tried it). Just microwave, steam or stir fry and use just the same way you would use rice
Quinoa – this great little grain from South America is available from the supermarket and contains 4.4 grams of protein per 100 grams. It’s definitely not carb free but a good option if you want some quality carbs to incorporate with lunch

If you love pasta - try this instead:

Zucchini noodles – just use a spiraliser to create healthy nutritious noodles that will go with anything. You don’t even need to cook them!
Soba noodles – these Japanese noodles are packed with a nutty flavour and contain 5 grams of protein per 100-gram serve. Just like quinoa they contain carbs so have them as a lunchtime option only

If you love sweets and chocolate - try this instead:

Chocolate protein balls – just whizz together 1 cup of raw almonds in the food processor until a creamy almond butter forms, add 1 cup of raisons and mix until smooth then add 50 grams of chocolate protein powder and a pinch of salt and blend until thoroughly combined. Form into 24 balls and roll in shredded coconut or chopped nuts and store in an airtight container

If you love ice cream - try this instead:

Frozen banana – blend 2 frozen bananas in a food processor for 3 to 5 minutes, stopping every now and then to scape down the sides. That’s it! For a creamier texture you could add a little coconut milk or try adding ¼ cup chopped fresh mint and ¼ cup chopped dark chocolate for a super-yum mint choc chip ice cream

For some more healthy spring recipes, check out cookieandkate.com and cookinglight.com.

Get moving

Regardless of whether or not you’ve been hitting the gym, pounding the pavement, or just doing a lot of not much at all over winter, now’s the time to change things around. If you haven’t been exercising much, try to get a power walk in 4 - 6 days a week, and you should aim for 5 kms each time you head out.

If the gym’s your thing but you follow the same routine every time you go, then try mixing things up to shock your body and start reaping some extra benefits. Give some new moves a go, or start incorporating some high intensity interval training to shred some of that winter flab.

No matter what exercise you enjoy, if you look out the window and the sun is shining then get out there and get moving! Try stand-up paddle boarding, kayaking, bush walking or cycling – all perfect spring activities that’ll put a smile on your face, some fresh air in your lungs and some oxygen in your bloodstream.

If you really want to give the new healthy you a kick start this spring, why not check out one of the many great health retreats that Australia has to offer. You’ll need to fork out a bit of cash but we can give you a hand with our flexible mini-loans that make it super easy to get some extra funds. Once your loan is approved, we can usually get a payment into your bank account within 24 hours - so you could be just a day away from booking your spring revival health retreat!