Take some inspiration from the Olympic athletes and revamp your diet
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Have you been indulging in a little too much winter comfort food over the past few months? When the weather's cold it's tempting to stop exercising and eat more, but this may not be the best for your mental health - or your waistline! Although watching the Olympic Games unfold will require a little bit of couch time, why not also use this sporting event as inspiration to get moving and slim down in time for summer? There's nothing like watching professional athletes battle for gold to inspire you to go for a morning jog or an evening gym session. Every time your muscles feel a little sore or you want to stop, just try to imagine that the cameras are on you and the glory of your country is at stake! Okay, that may be beyond anyone's imagination as they jog along suburban streets in a pair of old trainers, but you get the point. In all seriousness, the Olympic Games are a better excuse than any to improve your diet and up the ante on your fitness regime. Here are a few easy ways you can make some small changes - think of it as an Olympic detox! Cut back on sugar One simple thing you can do to improve your diet and slim down for summer is cut back on your sugar intake. It's easy to let a high amount of sweet treats creep into your diet every day, but if this energy is not burned off by exercise it can turn into fat. Why not try using a healthy sugar instead? Stevia and Xylitol are two natural sweeteners that make great alternatives. They are both low in calories, have delicious sweet flavours and include no aspartame! Eat more fruits and vegetables During the Olympic Games, try your best to eat the recommended amounts of fruits and vegetables each day - that's five servings of veggies and two of fruit! AusVeg communications officer Hugh Gurney says this is a great way to boost your health and wellbeing. "The London Games is a showcase of peak human performance and Australians should consider what steps they can take to improve their own health. Incorporating more vegetables into their everyday diet is an easy way for Australians to do this," he said in a statement on Friday (July 27). Hit the gym Last but not least, it would be wrong to take inspiration from athletes without adding exercise into your daily routine! Whether you go for a walk, a short jog or run a long distance, try to incorporate at least 30 minutes of physical activity into your day. Health insurance company AIA Australia says this is a good way to prevent the development of health problems. "We can't all be Olympic athletes but just 30 minutes of moderate exercise every day is enough to improve your health, help you lose weight and reduce the risk of developing diseases like Type 2 diabetes and heart attacks," AIA chief medical officer Dr Pramodh Nathaniel said (July 26).
