How is it almost September already- Time flies when you’re having fun. 

 This time of year things can be a little hectic- and this year probably more than most. Kids back to school, back to work – maybe even back in the office, back to training, back to your regular activities.

After a difficult year, hopefully you’re had a great summer full of fun with family and friends- too much food, too much wine and lots of laughter– it’s good for the soul! 

 Rather than beating yourself up for letting your training slip, your nutrition switch from salads to pizza and your water intake switching to wine, why not accept it was what was needed at the time. It happens to us all and sometimes it’s just needed to rest, relax and restore. With a new season change, we are more motivated now to take control of our health, to really focus on our training and food.  

‘Kick Start’ September is the perfect time to realign your habits with your goals, to check in with how you are getting on, to re-focus the mind and tune back into your health.  

 We can ask ourselves some simple questions and the answers will give us an indication of what we need to do or what we need to change. 

• Are you training enough? 
• Are you training too much? 
• Has your nutrition slipped? 
• Are you getting enough sleep? 
• Are you going to bed too late? 
• Are you getting your steps in?  
• Are you drinking enough water? 

Remember to keep it simple, focusing on just 3 simple things:

1. Set your training schedule – what’s the minimum number of times you will train a week? Commit to doing at least 2 or 3 sessions a week or 10-12 sessions a month. By targeting the minimum, rather than the maximum, helps set us up for success. We can set a daily or weekly step target to help improve our NEAT.  
2. Set your nutrition goals – easier said than done! If you track calories and this works for you then this is your go-to tool. If not, then the key is not to over complicate it. Start off simply with 3 meals a day and one snack – focus on protein intake at each meal. This takes time to get back into the habit of doing it right.Consistently good trumps sporadically perfect.
3. Bedtime – the most underrated and often overlooked aspect. Sleep has a direct impact on all aspects of our life – mood, food choices and energy- so it makes sense to prioritise it. Set yourself a bedtime and work backwards. Set yourself up for a good night’s sleep by limiting screen time before bed and limiting caffeine intake by 3/4pm. 

Remember, it is absolutely ok if things have slipped and it won’t take long to get yourself back on track. Why not use September as a way to ‘kick start’ your path to a healthier you again- But remember- Keep it simple! Oh and of course we are here to help if you have any questions or hit any speed bumps getting back on track…