Summer is without a doubt my favourite time of year!  The weather is warming up, the days are getting longer and Christmas is almost upon us.  But just because we’re on summer holidays doesn’t mean our workouts need to take a break too! Here are a few  tips to kick start your Active Living journey this summer and discover how you can MOVE NOURISH and BELIEVE your way towards a fitter and healthier 2015.
Take your workout Outdoors
One of my favourite things about summer is changing up my workout and getting active outdoors. I find I’m far less likely to skip my workout and hit ‘snooze’ in the mornings when the sun is up at 5am and it’s warm outside. Here are some of my favourite ways to get my move on when summer comes around:
Walking
Whether it’s setting out on a weekend hike with my husband Bill, power walking along the Noosa headland with my girlfriends or taking my dog, Roger for a walk after work, walking is a great way to move my body and get my heart rate up whilst clearing my mind.
Bootcamp
I recently discovered how much I love bootcamp after attending a session in my local park with a friend. It was quite a change from my usual strength training and yoga routine with lots of sprints, squats and burpees, but I loved every minute of it – and it’s definitely a fun way to amp up your cardio!
Circuit Training
My husband Bill and I just started a new workout in the mornings, which we absolutely love! It involves 12 sets of high intensity moves such as jump lunges, sumo squats and push ups x 20 reps each with a sprint up the hill outside our house between each set. It’s all over in 30-45 minutes and we’re ready for a good stretch, breakfast then off to the office.
Eat seasonally:
When it comes to food, I buy locally and in-season as I find locally-grown foods are always fresher, taste better and most often less expensive! Summer in our house is all about fresh produce, and eating seasonally is the best way to get the nutrients you need on a daily basis. Some of my favourite things to pick up at the farmer’s markets right now are watermelon, berries and cherries, stone fruits (mango smoothies anyone?), broccoli, cauliflower, eggplant and tomatoes.
To take advantage of this produce, my Chilli and Garlic Prawn Skewers and Tamari, Lime and Sesame Beef with broccoli stir fry are on heavy rotation in the kitchen. For dessert, my Pear and Berry Crumble with Vanilla Labne is always a crowd pleaser, and my Passionfruit and Mango Yoghurt Pops are the perfect way to cool off at the end of a hot summer’s day!
You can find these recipes and many more in my new book, Nourish: The Fit Woman’s Cookbook, which shows how food can be easy to prepare, as well a nutritious and delicious all at the same time!
Celebrate Christmas the Lorna Jane way:
I love the tradition of Christmas and one of the best parts is enjoying all of the (not so healthy) foods my family have prepared every year for as long as I can remember. After all, Christmas is the one time of year you can eat whatever your heart desires without feeling guilty! The key for me is getting back to healthy eating when the holiday is over, and limiting my indulgences in the lead up to Christmas. My advise is to be prepared this festive season with healthy alternatives to traditional Christmas fare and celebrate the Lorna Jane way.
My Raw Christmas Pudding Cake Pops are the perfect after dinner treat or handmade gift when popped in a mason jar and tied with a ribbon. You can also make a big batch of these beauties and store them in the freezer to bring out at a moment’s notice when the festive season hits. I also love to serve a selection of my homemade dips with vegie sticks for pre dinner nibbles and always have a batch of my Tamari and Honey nut nibbles on hand for when unexpected visitors drop by.
Sticking to these healthier versions of your favourite Christmas treats will help keep those unwanted holiday kilos at bay, and might even show your friends and family how delicious healthy and nutritious food can be!
