The holidays are officially over, and chances are the silly season has left you feeling a little worse for wear. All those parties and weekends away, and the break from work and regular life routines, have had most of us enjoying a good few weeks of overindulgence.
Then, reality sets in. As much fun as those cheeseboards, afternoon drinks, and skipped workouts might have been, you’re left feeling sluggish and unmotivated. Getting back to work and your usual day-to-day routines can come as a bit of a shock.
What you need is a little reset. We hate the term ‘detox’ – it makes us think of fad diets and extreme restrictions, which tend to do more harm than good. So, skip the leek soup diet and instead try out a few of our #positivelysimple tips to improve digestion, boost your metabolism, and give you more energy to go out there and get moving again!
Start your day with hot water and lemon
An oldie but a goodie. Before you hit the coffee, start your day with a glass of hot water and lemon. It will help to flush out toxins from your body, and also leads to healthier digestion, increased nutrient absorption, reduces bloating, and encourages a steadier insulin level throughout the day (aka: less risk of sugar cravings!)
Get moving every day – even if it’s just a walk
Ok ok – so you’ve probably already set some bold New Year’s exercise resolutions, right? Maybe even signed up for a boot camp? Yeah, us too. But for those of us that struggle to stick with crazy workout schedules, we recommend instead simply making a commitment to incorporate more movement into your every day. Even 20mins of walking will make a huge difference to your metabolism and energy levels. Try walking to the next subway station, or if it’s too cold out, try one of the great at-home yoga apps to get a quick stretch and strengthening session in at the start of the day. Or, if you’re really short on time, try our short and sweet workout circuit.
Cut down on alcohol.
If you’ve been enjoying more than your regular tipple these holidays, it’s probably time to reign it in – too much alcohol on a regular basis can lead to a host of health problems, not to mention making other healthy habits much harder to stick to. So, why not try replacing a few of those mulled wines with a chia mocha? It might feel like the party is over, but your body will thank you for it.
Good bacteria
A healthy digestive tract is essential to clearing out toxins, ensuring your body is absorbing as many nutrients as possible from the good food you are eating, and keeping your immune levels at tip-top condition. Healthy bacteria from probiotics and fermented foods can work miracles for your digestive tract. Increasing your intake of natural yogurt, fermented foods like kombucha or sauerkraut, or even taking a probiotic supplement, will have you enjoying more energy, less bloating, and clearer skin in no time.
Increase your fiber
Again, this is about helping your digestion move effectively to process foods and eliminate toxins. Increasing your intake of both soluble and insoluble fiber will clean out your digestive tract, promoting a slower conversion of carbohydrates to sugar, and will keep you feeling fuller for longer. One tablespoon of chia provides 6g of fiber, so adding chia to your daily diet is an easy way to up your fiber intake. Need a little inspo? This chia, walnut and spinach pesto is a great fibre-boosting lunch or dinner option.
