Welcome back! The summer holidays are great, however, they also become a long period of indulging too much alcohol, large restaurant portions and being sleep deprived from jet lag or parties. Add not enough exercise into the mix, many people return to work feeling worse than before.

So, what’s the best way of getting back into shape again? I have written my top 5 steps to getting you feeling rejuvenated again.  

1. Start TODAY!

Don’t wait for the new week or even the new season to get back into your routine. Firstly, start by writing your weeks meals down. Then check what you need to buy, write a list, and buy only those items. By not having temptations in the house, this really helps you to not divert back into those summer habits! Once you get the momentum going, these simple actions will help you to feel fit and healthy once again.

2. Hydrate!

Replace your 5 o’clock G&T’s with a large glass of water. By rehydrating your system, this will help the body to function properly. There’s no need for special cleanses or detox diets, your kidneys, liver, and skin are very efficient at flushing out waste products from good water intake.

3. Sleep!

The first day back is always the hardest! Try to revert back to your working sleep pattern – your body prefers a regular rhythm. So, therefore, to ensure optimal sleep occurs each night, you should be waking up and going to sleep at roughly the same time each day. Too little sleep can actually be affecting your metabolism, which can result in weight gain. For this reason, sorting out your sleep pattern is really important to help you to get back on track.

4. Eat Fibre Rich Foods.

Throughout the holidays, it can be hard to follow your usual eating routine, especially when traveling. So, if you were eating lots of processed foods, it is crucial that you get your digestive system back on track. It is also a good idea to take a break from takeaways and dining out. When making your own meals, you know what ingredients are being used and can avoid the excess sugar and salt found in many restaurant meals.

5. Exercise Plan.

In order to shift those extra lbs gained over the summer holidays, it is important to schedule your workouts. Add your workouts into your diary and prioritise them. Creating an exercise plan can be as simple as taking a 30-minute walk in your lunch break, instead of a cup of coffee and a slice of cake. You can also schedule short workouts, runs, bike rides, and swims etc throughout your week to help you to stay physically active. If you are lacking in motivation, or simply do not know where to start, why not have a Personal Trainer come to you.

And… finally, remember not to be too hard on yourself. It takes time to get back into your healthy daily routine, but once you get there, you’ll start to feel amazing again!