J'AIME SEPTEMBER 2021

the categories from the Food
Pyramid in their recommended
percentages (fruits and
vegetables, grains and potatoes,
protein sources and beans, fats
and oils).
Simplicity really is key here,
but you can always swap basic
meals for more elaborate meals
if you have time on the day.
Make a shopping list! And stick
to it! This should be done after
you have meal-planned so you
know exactly what ingredients
you need. Armed with your list,
you are less likely to chuck extra
treats into your trolley as you
don’t need them. Don’t buy anything that is not on
your list (you can of course plan your 20 percent of
treats for the week so you’re not depriving yourself).
Supermarkets are full of products ready to ruin our
nutrition and they know how to stock them to claim
our attention and raise our temptation. If you are
not very good at controlling your temptations at
the supermarket, a good alternative is to order your
shopping online.
Food prep! This is one of my personal favourites.
After meal planning and doing the weekly shop on a
Saturday, the few hours I spend prepping my meals
on a Sunday undoubtedly help make my week run
much smoother in being able to work hard, spend
quality time with the family and also eat nutritiously
without getting stressed or without cooking feeling
like a chore. The beauty of food prep is that you
can do as little or as much as you like depending on
DON’T UNDERESTIMATE THE IMPORTANCE OF
POSTURE, SAYS RAUL
how much time and effort you wish to put in; some
people prefer to have everything cooked and ready
whereas others prefer to have the veggies chopped
and ingredients prepped ready to cook fresh.
Drink, drink and drink some more! Water that is!
The NHS recommends drinking six to eight glasses
of water a day (approximately two litres) to keep the
body well hydrated.
2. REST AND RECOVERY
It often feels like as the years pass by, life seems to get
busier and busier. Especially for those of us who are
always on the go, finding time for rest and recovery is
essential in maintaining the body in optimum health.
Though they are basic, a few things to remember to
try and nail are:
Sleep! Understandably not always possible due to
work, kids and a plethora of other reasons, but our
bodies really do need sound uninterrupted sleep
every night in order to function
right and feel fresh and focused.
Work-out recovery. Taking
enough recovery time between
workouts is essential to maximise
all the benefits of training.
Massage. Sport and relaxation
massages are great alludes to
regenerate our bodies. These can
also help us sleep better so are
especially great for those who are
in pursuit of a great night’s sleep!
EXERCISE IS ESSENTIAL FOR YOUR HEALTH AND
FITNESS GOALS
3. EXERCISE
If you are new to exercise, or
haven’t exercised in a while, check
in with your doctor first to ensure
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