Spring often brings with it a desire to exercise more and eat more healthily. Longer days, more daylight, and fresh colors give us energy and put us in a good mood. Small, consistent steps create new habits: regular exercise, balanced meals, and more mindful eating. This makes it easier to get off to a fresh start.
What exactly is your goal? To get fitter and healthier? Just to lose a few pounds?
Everything is connected: a combination of conscious nutrition and physical activity leads to the best results in the long term.
Here's how to get started with “Fit for Spring”!
Before exercising, you should fuel your body with energy. Ideally, you should eat a meal containing carbohydrates and some protein one to three hours beforehand, for example oatmeal with low-fat quark or wholemeal bread with a source of protein.
Pasta works very well if you need a lot of carbohydrates.
Shortly before exercising, light snacks such as a banana or an energy bar are suitable.
Heavy, high-fat meals should be avoided.
After exercise, the focus is on recovery.
A combination of protein for muscle building and carbohydrates to replenish energy stores is ideal. Examples include yogurt with fruit or a balanced meal containing protein and carbohydrates.
Planning also helps when it comes to meals. If you usually eat a hot meal at lunchtime, you can prepare tasty packed lunches so that you're not tempted by the canteen or fast food outlets.
Good organization makes it easier to achieve your goals.
Constantly controlling what you eat can be frustrating. Turning down a spontaneous invitation to dinner so you don't overindulge? No way, because being spontaneous is a joy! So please don't live like a hermit just to avoid eating the wrong things. The occasional little “sin” is allowed and no reason to doubt yourself. It's perfectly normal that the the way to success isn't always straight, but zigzags along the way.
