Keeping It Up After Boot Camp

The Long Term Is Worth It

2010-06-21T02:57:00.000-07:00

This is the most important point out of everything here. You’ve spent so much time and effort getting down to your new figure that you don’t want to lose it the second you get home, and yo-yo dieting is not the way to go. Those who manage to stay trim for years are in it for the long term and focusing on realistic, achievable goals will help you get there. Small changes can make a big difference, so instead of doing anything too radical, slowly modify your lifestyle and make healthy eating and exercise a part of your every day routine. By doing this, what you’ve managed to accomplish at boot camp will stay with you for the rest of your life!

Nature Is Good

2010-06-21T02:55:00.000-07:00

The more natural and the less processed the foods you eat, the easier it will be to keep that weight off. Overweight people tend to eat refined food such as white bread, sweets and heavy carbohydrates such as crisps. Changing to a generally more natural diet, for example brown rice instead of white rice, can make a massive difference in the long run, not only ensuring that you’ll be staying slim but also keeping you healthy and fit. Learn more about boot camp!

Lay Off the Liquid Calories

2010-06-21T02:53:00.000-07:00

Drinking lots of water is always a good thing for losing weight as it’s flushing your system out and keeping you healthier than ever. But drinking lots of fizzy drinks, alcohol and juices means adding a lot of calories to your diet without the filling effect of food. Instead of drinking fruit juice, why not eat your fruit? Then you’ll be full and get the beneficial health effects. Make sure to replace the liquids you’re not drinking with plenty of water, and you’ll be achieving a great balance. Learn more about boot camp diets!

Hot It Up with Breakfast

2010-06-21T02:51:00.000-07:00

As they say, breakfast is the most important meal of the day, and this is doubly true if you’re hoping to keep off the pounds you’ve lost at boot camp. The best meal to have first thing in the morning is hot cooked cereal such as oatmeal or porridge. It has hardly any calories compared to dried cereal and will keep you filled up all morning, suppressing the mid-morning munchies. It tastes delicious, too! Add some berries or honey for a bit of flavour and that’s one satisfying meal.

Take Your Time When Eating

2010-06-21T02:50:00.001-07:00

When you’ve got a meal in front of you, don’t dive right in. Take your time, eat slowly, and maybe even put down your cutlery between mouthfuls to ensure that you’ve got a nice, comfortable pace. The reason this can help with keeping your weight down is because from the time you begin eating it takes the brain a good twenty minutes to start signalling feelings of fullness. If you’re a fast eater, you’ll often eat beyond your true level of fullness before the signal has had a chance to be emitted by your brain. The amount of calories consumed before you begin to feel full can vary a lot depending on how quickly you eat, so taking your time can make a big difference in the long run! Learn more about boot camp!

Indulge Every Now and Then

2010-06-21T02:47:00.000-07:00

Banning yourself from all treats whatsoever is de-motivating and just no fun. A treat every now and then as a reward for all your hard work acts as a reward and a motivator to continue doing well, and never treating yourself will usually lead to an early relapse- something you really want to avoid! Make sure the treats are small and not too frequent, and that you continue with your healthy eating and exercise at all other times. Then when you do get a treat, you’ll really be able to savour it. Learn more about boot camp!

Keep a Hold of Your Portion Size

2010-06-21T02:45:00.000-07:00

Eating healthily is no good if you’re still eating too much. Making sure that your portion size is within a reasonable amount is important in keeping the calorie count down and keeping that body nice and trim. There’s no shame in leaving some food on the plate, and at restaurants you can ask to take home the leftovers for another time so as not to waste any food. Once you’ve got in the habit of eating smaller portions, you’ll feel less hungry between meals and will also feel fuller more quickly. This creates a positive cycle, and the result is that you get to keep your fabulous new body! Learn more about how boot camp can help you!

Fruits and Veggies Are Your Friends

2010-06-21T02:43:00.000-07:00

Your five a day is always important in keeping good health, but if you’re looking to keep your new and improved figure after boot camp, they’re more important than ever. Fruits and vegetables are packed with beneficial fibres, antioxidants and vitamins. You don’t need to eat much of them to feel full fast, and as they’re low in calories you don’t have to worry too much about calorie counting with them. If the idea of lots of fruit and veg sounds very boring to you, spice things up a little! Add a low-calorie dressing or mix with other important food sorts to create a rounded meal. You’ll be surprised at the difference they make.

Keep your Nearest and Dearest Close at Hand

2010-06-21T02:40:00.000-07:00

This is an important one. You can only do so much yourself, but with friends and family spurring you on, you’ll be in for the long haul. Joining a weight loss or fitness group is also a good idea, as these are people in the same situation as you and who appreciate how you feel about the changes you’re making to your life, as well as offering support and motivation when you most need it. When you’re on a bit of a low, these are the people who will encourage you and keep you going so that you can achieve your dreams! Learn more about boot camp!

Going for the Goals

2010-06-21T02:38:00.000-07:00

Having weight loss goals is a great idea, and you’ll be set some targets to work towards when you’ve left boot camp. But this should not be the be-all and end-all of your lifestyle changes when it comes to continuing the work you’ve done at boot camp, as readjusting these goals when necessary is very important. The real goal is that eventually eating healthily and exercising regularly becomes your second nature and you do it without even thinking. This is the key to maintaining such a lifestyle for much longer periods of time, and can’t be achieved with a fad diet. Small but regular changes and reaching those goals will give you the motivation to continue and create the new you.

Your Own Personal Food Journal

2010-06-21T02:35:00.000-07:00

One of the things you’ll have learnt at boot camp is the art of healthy eating. Returning home to the temptations of the fridge and the supermarket doesn’t make things easy though, so a food journal is a great idea to keep those enticements at bay. In this food journal you should write about everything you’ve eaten and drank in that day, as well as their calorie values. Thus you can arrive at a daily total, and with this information you can reflect on what you’ve eaten and adjust appropriately. It means that you’ll be learning about which foods are better for you and which foods you should avoid, and by having it written down you can chart your progress and motivate yourself further.
After keeping a food journal for a few months, you’ll be in the habit of knowing what to eat and it’ll come naturally to you! You’ll be living a healthier, happier lifestyle with the body that you’ve always wanted.

Exercise is a Go-Go

2010-06-21T02:32:00.000-07:00

One thing that you will have been introduced to at boot camp will have been lots and lots of exercise. It may sound obvious, but ensuring that you’re still doing a fair bit of exercise throughout the week will keep your figure looking trim. Understandably you’ll be busy with your daily life, but there’s always time for doing a light workout, whether it be taking the stairs instead of using the lift, or walking to the shops instead of driving. There are so many benefits to added exercise, and soon you’ll be doing it without even realising!
To start off, once you’ve returned from your intensive boot camp, you should be aiming for thirty minute sessions, three times a week. As you become more experienced with this level of exercise, increase both the length and the number of times you’re exercising to maintain that toned up body. It’ll be worth it in the end!