At Pedals & Pedometer Steps we support a feel good approach to walking for weight loss. Knowing that a holiday and lots of chocolate are on the menu how to get the best on both fronts?
Planning!
Are you up for it? My planning started before today but it’s not too late. Decide how to fit both activity and moderate Easter indulgences into the weekend. The ideal starting point: you’ve been eating less and walking, shopping, cleaning house a lot, in anticipation of events to come. Clothes are looser as a result.
To come out of it better off than today, use the Pedometer Steps way. Some tips for a Happy Easter!
- Easter eggs- plan to give away most of them! Keep only dark chocolate eggs and plain bars. Avoid the filled, milk chocolate and elaborate. Make yourself new friends at work or church by ‘donating’ them to morning tea, or give to your grandkids, but preferably people outside your house.
- At your home, if you have visitors over Easter, plan to substantially change the emphasis. Make alternate gifts or treasure hunts for the children- perhaps bunny rabbits stuffed toys.
- Think differently about the food. In most families there are many ’special’ needs. While it is difficult to anticipate every dietary need, it is possible to make some foods optional. For instance, have fruit for the table after the meal, not cheese and biscuits.
- Pretend this Easter is one which you want to be a celebration and at the same time be appropriate for a health check up the next day! I am doing this- the amount of food to be eaten by anyone is up to them, it is self selection or buffet style. My brother had a work health check the day after a visit once and it was amazing the changes that could be made without lessening the enjoyment.
- Provide activity options other than television and eating or drinking. It becomes easy to eat less, and be less affected by what you eat when there is the Wii or walking, and cleaning up the kitchen to do.
If any of this is unattractive for your idea of Easter then start preparing now for next Easter. A major part of the ‘battle’ is your thoughts. Decide that you want to change the way you enjoy Easter. Wear your pedometer, count pedometer steps, find ways to add more steps into your day, walk somewhere you wouldn’t normally if you can, etc. Create Easter your way. Change your idea of what is fun.
Hoping for a healthy, happy Easter & good news after,
Pedals & Pedometer Steps
