A question I get asked almost daily on social media is ‘how do you get stay so fit during quarantine?

Thing is, i’m not on any diet… I actually don’t believe in diets. I don’t believe in restriction either. Honestly, you don’t need to be on any crazy ass low carb diet, intense exercise regime or anything of the sort. Over the years I’ve tried it all and ironically, you don’t need much to stay fit any healthy. Heres what I do, for lasting results that require minimum effort.

It’s actually easy to stay healthy – you just create a habit and make lifestyle changes. Now don’t get me wrong, i’m no saint – i’m a girl that LOVES her food – and eats all sorts. No food is off limits and I still east chocolate daily, plus my favorites like cheesy French fries as treats. I’m also not naturally thin – I have a curvy build and can gain weight easily. However…Theres no need to deprive yourself of life’s little pleasures! So yes, you can have your cake and eat it too – isn’t that what cake is for after all? By finding a healthy balance, you can have both

Eat Natural Foods

This might seem like a real no brainer but its going to be the number 1 asset in your fitness journey. I follow the 80-20 rule…which means I eat 80% natural, 20% ‘bad’ – ( no foods are bad I am just explaining it this way for description sake) Every day I’ll eat a mixed green salad, with healthy fats such as avocado, snacks include berries, almonds, flavored tuna, grilled chicken breast, broccoli, whole grains etc.

The majority of my food choices are nutrition based – and equally as delicious. Nearly all of your favorite yummy meals can be substituted for healthier versions – for example – If you love Orange Chicken, you can make a delicious Cauliflower Chicken recipe. If you love Rice dishes, try Cauliflower Rice!

Drink Enough Water

Girlllll…. water is major KEY to keeping you looking fit, slim and healthy. It has a myriad of health benefits, from appetite reduction, to glowing skin and increased energy. I generally drink 2-3 Litres a day ( that’s 8-10 glasses) Now while this may seem like a lot to a non water drinker – its really not. Once you get in on this habit, you will start to crave water more and more – it will become super easy for you.

TIP: buy bottled spring water if possible, tap water contains chemicals and should be avoided. It’s only ok if you filter it using a home system. But even them I still prefer mineral water from a spring. Add a slice of lemon, cucumber, pineapple or different fruits to make infusions – a great way to start and get you into this healthy habit!

Don’t be Afraid of Carbs & Fats

Honestly, I get so annoyed when I see people touting programs like the Atkins and Keto diet. Honestly, these are extreme diets and having tried them ALL – I have to say I disagree with the approach. The human body needs carbs and glucose to survive – this is a simple fact. A healthy diet is an all inclusive , natural one.

Carbs have been demonized in the past and it really messed people up – this type of restrictive approach is hard to stick with and often backfires – with the person binging and regaining weight.

A fit body requires a good balance of fats, carbs and protein. Fats were also demonized in the 90s and sparked the whole low fat trend…which again is just marketing banter to get people to buy low fat products. Fats are essential to health – so always make sure to include them in the form of avcadoes, nut butters, coconut oil etc.

You Need to Move it, Move it!

Ok so this one is obvious but one that many people miss – you need to move your body more! And i’m not just talking about exercise. The more you move on a daily basis can really effect how you burn calories overall. Clean the house, do your laundry, take the stairs, walk to the store, wash the car, walk the dog etc – all of these activities burn more calories than you think and will increase your total overall daily calorie burn.

Today’s lifestyles are often sedentary – we sit at office desks, on computers for hours – its not healthy. Get up, move more – this is actually a great way to drop a few pounds with relative ease.

Find a Workout Buddy

Some people love to work out, others not so much. If you are the latter, then consider a work out buddy. This is a great idea as it keeps you both motivated and accountable. No excuses, you are in this together. It’s also really fun to celebrate when you achieve your fitness goals. I often go to Yoga with my besties, walks with my boo or hit the gym with my sister. Having a work out buddy makes it so fun!

Don’t Overthink it

It’s important to keep this in mind. Just take one day at a time and don’t overthink it. Don’t berate yourself if you slip up either, just start again and remember you are doing the best you can. Building a dream body can take time, but once you develop good habits – it will all come to you with ease. Stay positive and try not to overthink it.

Do you best in the day that you have – we can’t live in the future – we only have today. So just do your best with THIS day…. and before you know it, boom… transformation.

Intermittent Fasting

Now this is a whole amazing topic on its own. Fasting is a scientifically proven way to lose fat and boost health benefits – fat loss, anti-aging, reduction of inflammation and so on. I’ll do a separate post on this but for now, let’s talk about the best fast to get started with. It’s simple – don’t eat late at night. Personally, I stop eating by 8.00pm, then go to bed at midnight and eat breakfast at 9 or 10am in the morning. This give my body a good 12-14 hours of fasted rest.

Intermittent Fasting is simply amazing and I find the smaller windows work best – The act of fasting allows your cellular debris to be cleaned up. Put simply, its best you don’t eat late at night.

I hope you guys found this article helpful, getting fit can can seem stressful, slow and annoying at best – but remember, you got this! You are beautiful at any size or shape, but its always good to eat healthy and feel fit. You got this, just take it one day at a time.

TS x