How to Start Your Health and Fitness Journey
I have been on a health and fitness journey for around five years now, putting training and eating a balanced diet as a top priority every day.
Although now it is second nature for me to live this lifestyle, it wasn’t always like this. I remember some days after school I used to eat a big bowl of cereal, two pieces of toast and a block of chocolate. I would feel so guilty about overeating, that I would starve myself for days after. I had no concept of a balanced diet.
At the beginning of my modelling career, my booker at Chic Management told me that I didn’t look well. This was a real turning point for me, one that made me realise that to succeed in this industry I needed to look healthy, and have more energy.
After this meeting, it was like a weight was lifted off my shoulders. I looked at food as nourishment, rather than the enemy. I started to try other exercises apart from just cardio, and stopped focusing on being “thin”. I also started to experiment with healthy recipes, instead of eating the same low calorie meals all the time, and I wasn’t afraid of social arrangements that were centred around food.
My life improved tenfold when I started living a healthier and more balanced lifestyle. I wanted to share my top tips on getting started, because the struggle at the beginning is worth it for the lifetime of benefits.
Organisation is key
Having a fridge stocked up with healthy, nourishing food plays such a crucial role in staying healthy during the week. The feeling of coming home after a long day at work, eager to eat anything in sight is too familiar to us all. This makes it so important to have the right foods available so that we don’t order in, or binge on snacks. My favourite quick and easy dinners include stir-fries and nourish bowls.
A great tip is to cook in bulk, so that you can have leftovers ready for when you get home. I love cooking a big batch of my vegetarian green curry on a Sunday, so that we have leftovers during the week.
2. Find healthy alternatives to your favourite foods
Leading a balanced lifestyle means you still get to indulge, you aren’t restricting yourself from your favourite foods. However, if you crave certain unhealthy meals a little too often, you can experiment with making a healthier version.
For example, lettuce cups are a great alternative to taco shells and burger buns. I also love using legume pasta alternatives for my favourite Italian dishes; they sell them at most grocery stores. These healthier options will satisfy your cravings, and keep you on track for your health and fitness goals.
3. If you are brand new to training, start walking
Walking has so many benefits for your mind and body, and it’s free! This light form of exercise improves your mood, strengthens your bones and muscles, and is great for digestion. Even just 20 minutes of walking a day can really improve your health.
4. Experiment with different exercise classes
In the last five years, I have tried every exercise class under the sun. It took me a while to work out what training worked for me, both physically and mentally. The thing with exercise is that everyone is different, I recommend trying out a bunch of classes at different studios before you commit to a membership. Just because your friend loves to do spin classes four times a week, doesn’t mean you have to (that sounds like torture to me too!).
I really believe you will find a class that gets you excited and motivated. Training is a moment for you in this busy world we live in, so make it count and make sure you enjoy it.
5. Stop looking at the scales
This last tip is so important. We get so absorbed by a number, rather than how we are feeling. Personally, this was a really hard one to let go off. I remember my mum threw out the scales because I became so obsessed with weighing myself, and I am so thankful she did (even though at the time I was furious!).
When you eat the right foods and exercise regularly, you glow from within. Take notice of your energy levels, your productivity, and how you interact with the people in your life – these are much more important metrics than a number on a scale.
Deciding to start your fitness journey is for the long haul. It isn’t about restricting yourself from your favourite foods, and training hard-core every single day. Eating out with friends and having a few drinks is one of the greatest pleasures in life, so enjoy it! Find the balance that works for you, and you will see yourself become a happier, calmer and more productive person.