Making the Fit-Switch

 SHANNAN PONTON 

Making There are too not many ‘good news’ stories to come out of a horrifi c virus the Covid Fit-Switch 2021 that has caused pain and misery around Words: SHANNAN PONTON the world, but being a Personal Trainer, luckily enough for me is one. So many carbs and so many people at home, with so much excess time on their hands has together, every day, and before you made for a prosperous return to work know it, your health, wellness and for me… post lock down. confi dence have started to slip. Feeling unwell, unhappy and We fi nd ourselves deciding whether to unmotivated is not an environment put off ‘kick starting’ your ‘new you’, or conducive to making positive changes. just continue to enjoy the moment and ‘I eat badly because I feel unwell, all the decadence that comes with it. I feel unwell because I eat badly,’ and the vicious cycle is created. Heaven knows that those little luxuries have become a habit way too easily and Much of what’s transpired since are way too hard to just give up. Like ‘Covid 2020’ has been out of our an extra wine, or beer, or two, every control but there are a few things you afternoon or little extra grazing on nuts, can, what you eat and how much you chips, dips and bickies or whatever it is move. Whether it’s at the gym, outdoors that has slipped into your daily grind? or at home, you can give yourself that push to ‘get going.’ day, you’ve started to reverse the It’s not just the food that has burgeoned cycle you’re living. With an increase but with so much time on our hands, Don’t let ‘the start be the thing that stops in movement comes opportunity somehow, we’ve managed to be way you!’ Make a decision and then stay true and motivation to improve what you too busy to move. to you. We all know that exercise and eat. Eat well, exercise regularly and good nutrition will improve your health, you will almost certainly feel better. Each one of those habits alone doesn’t fi tness, mobility and fl exibility but You’re forming new habits and replacing signify a catastrophe, but link them often overlooked though a vital part is the old with positive and empowering the benefi t to your mental health. new routines. Remember the slippery slope we just It’s the perfect equation; you spoke about? Eat bad, feel bad cycle? will be improving physically and You can exit that ride equally as easily. medically but more importantly giving yourself the opportunity to Just take that fi rst step. enhance your mental health. Start with something easily manageable. It’s time to start! Go and take that With a 20 minute walk but done every fi rst step. I Dare Ya! •

SHANNAN PONTON // HARDNUPPT@HOTMAIL.COM FB & INSTA @SHANNANPONTON // www.shannanponton.com.au