How to keep to your health goals as the temperature drops

Do you find sticking to those healthy habits become that little bit tougher during the colder months? Is hitting that snooze alarm and ditching your morning walk becoming the norm? Are you reaching for those carby comfort foods more? Never fear… we are here with our top tips on how to keep to those health goals as the temperature drops.

Up your vitamin C naturally

Vitamins are so widely discussed when it comes to keeping fighting fit during the winter months. Vitamin C in particular is often the star of the show. Of course, taking supplements can be great, but there are such a wide variety of delicious foods that are packed full of this powerful vitamin. Some of our favourites include oranges, kiwi fruit, broccoli, and capsicum. Oranges are widely considered the ‘vitamin C‘ go-to food packed with 52.3mg of vitamin C per 100g. But in fact, oranges contain one of the lower amounts. Broccoli contains 106mg of vitamin C per 100g, kiwi fruit 85mg per 100g, and red capsicum 172mg per 100g. It has long been thought that increasing your vitamin C levels works to prevent colds and flus. In fact, this hasn’t been particularly proven. Instead, it can possibly decrease the duration and the severity of symptoms. Vitamin C does also stimulate the activity of white blood cells, which works in the protection of the immune system.

Tea time

We don’t know about you, but tea is definitely consumed much more during the cooler months in the SuperFastDiet office. By the end of the day, everyone has to deliver their large collection of mugs from their desk to the kitchen and the words “does anyone want a tea?” is the most commonly used phrase. Teas are not only warm and delicious, but many are also great to help you boost your immunity. This includes turmeric tea, ginger tea, lemongrass tea, green tea and peppermint tea, just to name a few of our favourites! Teas are also a wonderful way to keep your water intake up. You may notice you are not drinking nearly as much water in winter due to your body losing less through sweat, and because simply sculling glasses of cold water can definitely be that bit trickier when the mercury drops, so make it a top priority to keep hydrated. Teas are such a great way to help do that. Extra bonus, tea is the ultimate fast day fix, too!

Winter warmers

Stews. Casseroles. Soups. Roasts. We are salivating at the thought! There are so many delightfully warm and filling meals that you can very easily keep on the lower calorie side that just scream winter. Whip out the slow cooker and fill it with beautiful nutritious vegetables, your favourite protein and plenty of delicious herbs and spices, saving you time and prepping plenty of delicious meals to be ready after a long day. Similarly, cook up beautiful, wholesome soups. Whether it is a hearty chicken and vegetable or a gorgeous pumpkin soup, pair it with a crusty roll and you are sorted. We have so many amazing options in our program recipe library! If you are stuck for time or a quick, affordable lunch, use one of our favourite low-calorie soup brands including Pitango, Darikay or Hart & Soul. These are great to keep stock of in the pantry. Hot chocolate is also a huge winter bonus! One of our favourites is Jarrah Hot Choc, the ultimate hug in a cup. Pair it with two marshmallows and a dash of milk for the perfect sweet-tooth satisfier under 100 calories.

Up your steps

Even though the cold is here, winter often brings beautiful sun-filled days. Get outside and warm yourself up by getting those steps up in the sun. It is the ultimate social way to exercise, and the perfect way to boost those Vitamin D levels, which can so easily drop in winter, being outside less. The sun may be gone by 5 pm, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t get that all-important fresh air. Get out in the morning, or take full advantage of your lunch break! Yes, it is chilly, but use that time to instead of scrolling through Facebook at your desk, walk around the block a few times. In fact, studies show that exercise improves the many crucial cognitive functions we use at work like attention, working memory and problem solving, and it instantly improves our mood. So, go on. Get the family outside and get those feet moving!

Keep your big why your priority

Consistency is key. To keep it short and sweet, keep on going! Use winter as your hibernation time to focus on your goals, so that by the time Spring comes along you emerge as the beautiful butterfly that you are and prove to yourself and everyone else that you can do it. Imagine the silly season and being at the point you have dreamed of for so long, healthier and happier! Create yourself a vision board, physically write down your goals and the habits you need to create to get there. Plus, always set yourself time to prep and plan your fast day meals to stay on track and to stay motivated.

For plenty of incredible recipes, meal plans, awesome tips and tricks, and constant support and motivation to help you along your health and weight loss journey, especially during the colder months, join the SuperSquad today. Click here to learn more, and take advantage of one of our best offers ever!