Top ten health tips to lighten you up this summer

 

23 May 2002

 

Courtesyof Pete Cohen, co-founder of Lighten Up and GMTV's Inch Loss Island Motivator

 

Summer is here and it's time to put on that swimsuitagain. If you've not had the motivation to kick-start your 'get trim' programmeyet it's never too late. Pete Cohen, co-founder of Lighten Up supported by BUPAand motivational trainer on GMTV's Inch Loss Island series, has put togetherten top tips for healthier summer living.

 

Lighten Up focuses on motivational techniques, sensiblenutrition and exercise advice to become slimmer, fitter and healthier. Petepoints out that: "Staying trim depends on being active on a daily basis.Your body was designed to do one thing and one thing only and that's move - butnot any old movement. Dancing is just as good for you as an aerobics class anda brisk walk daily is probably better than a run twice a week. It's simply aquestion of asking yourself what you'd really enjoy doing and incorporatingthese kinds of activities into your everyday life."

 

Pete'sTop Ten Lighten Up Tips:

1. The good news is that with the hotter weather we'reless inclined to eat as much as our bodies are feeling warmer and thereforeless hungry. The colder months increase our appetite and our bodies tell us weneed more fuel. So hopefully you'll be less inclined to snack now it's summer

 

2. If you are a 'snacker' however summer foods such asfruits and salads are quicker to prepare than colder weather food - so pack abanana or rustle up a fruit salad for those mid-morning munchies.

 

3. Fruit smoothies are the new 'work-time' treat: you caneither try making one yourself at home - take a look at the recipe below - orpick up a fresh juice on the way into the office. They are delicious whenstraight from the fridge and loads better for you than a Caf Latte.

 

Smoothie Recipe: for the base you can use a fewtablespoons of live yoghurt, milk, Soya Milk, rice milk, or if you prefer, usefresh fruit juice such as apple, mango, pineapple, orange or cranberry and pourthis into a liquidiser. Add some fruit that's in season - such as strawberry,peach, nectarine, kiwi, pear, papaya, mango or anything else you fancy into thebase already in the liquidiser. For additional flavouring you could add atablespoon of any of the following: dried skimmed milk powder, coconut milkpowder, desiccated coconut, ground almonds, wheatgerm or flaxseed oil togetherwith one teaspoon of honey. Add them into the mixture according to your tasteand whizz up the ingredients, pour yourself a long drink into a large glass andenjoy!

 

4. Make sure you're drinking enough water. Often when wethink we're hungry, our bodies are actually just thirsty so drinking plenty ofwater will lessen any hunger pangs.

 

5. With longer day light hours we're all more likely tocatch a glimpse of blue sky at the end of the day. Make sure you wear trainersto and from the office that way you'll be more inclined to walk home than totake public transport.

 

6. Make it a rule to always walk up stairs, escalators,avoid lifts, get up to go and talk to a colleague rather than using the phoneand do your photocopies individually rather than saving up a pile. You'lleasily save the extra time that these activities take up because you'll beworking faster and more energetically when you are sitting down.

 

7. Take a break every hour if you sit at a desk. Youshouldn't be sitting and concentrating for longer than this. Of course ifyou're drinking more water you'll have to go to the loo more often

 

8. Get up an hour earlier in summer (you'll find it easieras the mornings are lighter) and take some exercise before you go to work - getas much of those extra hours of daylight as you can. It can be power walking orTai Chi if you don't fancy jogging.

 

9. Spend some time outdoors each evening after work. Joina club or class that involves being outside - or at least go to a pub with agarden that you can walk to.

 

10. Summer is the time for cycling and bikes arerelatively cheap. In the summer there are loads of cycling clubs that meet up inthe evenings and at weekends to do short easy rides. And they're better andcheaper than the average dating agency if your social life is lacking in otherdirections!

 

If you'd like to find out more about Lighten Up's uniquemotivational approach simply call 0845 603 3456 or visit www.lightenup.co.uk for details of acourse near you.