With everyone leading busy lives, the struggle to achieve a work-life balance gets more and more difficult. So how can busy, successful women also keep up exercise commitments and lead a healthy lifestyle? The key is BALANCE and ORGANISATION!
Keep an exercise diary to stay on track with your commitments and plan ahead for each week, that way you’ll be in the right frame of mind and prepared for your exercise session when the time comes.
On the days that you are exercising, planning your nutrition is also vital to ensure that you’re feeling on top form and ready to get the most from your workout.
Consider the following tips to help you stay on track with your nutrition, and help you avoid relying on convenience food that we know shouldn’t be a staple part of our diets:
1. Breakfast on the go…
if you find that mornings are a rush and you don’t have time to prepare anything fresh, you can still ensure you eat a healthy nutritious breakfast by taking 15 minutes the evening before to prepare your favorite early morning meal. Blend a smoothie with all your favorite fruits and natural yoghurt, it will taste great and provide a boost of vitamins and minerals to start the day the way you mean to go on.
2. Snack attack…
When hunger strikes mid-morning, reach for a high protein snack to keep your energy levels steady up until lunch. A handful of almonds and blueberries, or cottage cheese with apple on rice cakes are tasty snacks to try. Nuts and seeds can be bought in bulk at a number of health food shops, plan ahead so you don’t have to rely on the expensive varieties that supermarkets offer.
3. Pre-exercise snack…
This is the most important snack of the day when you are due to exercise. Make sure you have organized your pre-exercise snack that can be eaten 2-3 hours before your exercise session. Find out what snacks work best for you, I would recommend a wholegrain and protein snack such as cereal, granola, banana or yoghurt.
Good luck girls, striving for health and success is achievable!
Natalie Randell RNutr
nataliejmrandell@gmail.com