With the festive season now coming to end, it’s time to get back in control of your life and focus on what you want to achieve in 2021.

Below are some simple tips you can follow to help get you get back on track and bounce back into the body that makes you happy. Why not start the New Year with a fitter, healthier you!

1. Throw out or donate all of your left over Christmas treats.

Go through your cupboard and either donate or throw out any leftover chocolates, sweets and naughty treats. I know it sounds a bit extreme, but getting back into shape requires some commitment to healthy eating and being tempted by a cupboard full of evil is not the best way to start.

2. Have an exercise program plan

Don’t just rely on random workouts here and there. Have a weekly plan of attack for what you should be doing each week.

You should have a mix of cardio and resistance workouts, roughly 2 resistance and 2 cardio workouts each week.

If you don’t know what to do, try doing an on-demand fitness program like Les Mills on Demand or Daily Burn. That way, you can workout in your home at any time that suits you.

3. Have a healthy eating plan in place

All the working out in the world will be completely wasted if you don’t have a healthy eating plan in place too. Write down your weekly meal plan and then do your grocery shopping with this specific plan in mind. Online shopping is a quicker easier way to shop if you have a plan in place. Don’t randomly shop and buy groceries as this often leads to unhealthy choices.

4. Set some realistic goals and timeframes

Getting great results is much more achievable when you have a realistic goal in mind. Maybe it’s a goal weight, an old pair of jeans you would like to fit into again or an upcoming wedding or event you want to look your best for. Make sure you also set yourself a realistic timeframe to achieve these goals.

A realistic and healthy time frame for really great and sustainable results is 12 weeks.

Write down your goals and put them up on the fridge, in your room and up at work as a constant reminder for what you’re trying to achieve. Also tell your family and friends about your goals. They will check in on how you’re going from time to time and keep you more accountable for these goals.

5. Do not jump on the scales every day!

The most important thing to keep in mind when trying to lose weight is that it doesn’t magically happen overnight – It takes time and commitment to a regular routine. Your body naturally fluctuates from day to day, so you shouldn’t be watching it every day. Save your weigh in’s for no more than 1 time a week as this gives your body time to start responding to your hard work. Or even better through out the scale if you can. If you need to monitor your progress, us your body’s measurements or the way your clothes fit as a better guide.

6. Stay consistent

There is no point working your butt off all week, only to let yourself go completely over the weekend. If you do this then all your hard work is offset with your naughty work and you end up not getting anywhere. You must stay consistent with your exercise and healthy eating routine to start seeing real results. It’s ok to have a naughty day here and there, but try to keep them to a minimum Always remember that it’s a balancing act and the number of good days must significantly outweigh the bad days most of the time.

7. Buy yourself some cool new workout clothes!

It feels so good to throw on some new workout clothes before you start a workout! It’s all about making yourself feel motivated to want to train and if throwing on some awesome new gear helps you with this, then go ahead and do it. I love bright coloured inspirational pieces that make me feel good when I wear them.

8. Enjoy what you do

If you want to make changes in your life that are sustainable, then you need to make sure you actually like what you are doing! If running on a treadmill isn’t your thing, then don’t do it! Cardio is not just running, it’s anything that gets your heart rate up over 30 mins or more to the point where you’re huffing and puffing (power walking, tennis, Zumba etc).

Make sure you also make changes to your diet that include food you like the taste of. You will be amazed at some of the healthy switches you can make that taste really good! Try switching butter for avocado and white rice for brown. I actually like the taste of these healthier options better since swapping.

How are you planning on improving ‘you’ this year? Tell us in the comments below.