Laurann O'Reilly: Here are my ten top tips for boosting your motivation this February

Many of us may have started January with exciting new year resolutions and great intentions of cleaning up our diets, getting fit and healthy, with a few even doing “dry January” by staying off the alcohol.

Let me say well done to those who have made progress and continue to do so and for those who may have struggled all it not lost.

We can maybe think of February as the new January!

Here, nutritionist Laurann O’Reilly and owner of Nutrition by Laurann, guides us through her top tips for boosting your motivation for getting fit and healthy this February.

Remember That The Days Are Getting Longer: After the long winter, spring has finally sprung and with that comes longer days, giving us more daylight and opportunities to get outside and exercise in the fresh air.
It also helps to boost the mood too which is another huge benefit.

Think of The Feel-Good Chemicals: Whilst motivation may be low, exercise provides us with amazing feel-good chemicals called ‘endorphins’ which help to lift our mood as well as improving our thinking and concentration.
Now that’s a great post workout reward!

Do What You Can: If you’re new to exercise why not start with a short brisk walk which can be built up to a longer walk and then with some incline.
If your fitness levels are quite good why not join a cycling, running or hillwalking group for some outdoor activities. Alternatively, you can go for a swim or join a fitness class.

Tip: Joining a club or fitness class is not only a great way of scheduling exercise into your life but it also has the added bonus of meeting great people with similar health goals

Know That Now Is The Time: Often our motivation can get thrown off whilst we wait for “the right time” to begin healthy eating or to begin getting fit, however the truth is that there is no right time.
Instead, you may find that the sooner you begin and get into the habit and routine of healthy eating and regular physical activity, the more it fits into your life.

Get Organised: When it comes to healthy eating this is the key and it comes down to having a variety of healthy snacks and ingredients to make healthy recipes.
This is also where meal planning comes into play again.
Remember if we have our healthy meals and snacks prepared in advance it really does help us to stay on track (avoiding the temptation of take-aways or convenience foods), especially if we have a quick and healthy meal ready to heat up after a busy day or when we’ve done exercise.

Tip: Download my Free Meal Planner Guide here: https://nutritionbylaurann.ie/
your-meal-planning-guide/

Try Some New Healthy Recipes: Eating healthy doesn’t need to be boring, in fact trying new recipes can be exciting and it’s also really rewarding to create your own nutritious and delicious meals.
Why not try my easy Healthy Chocolate Mousse recipe (see right)

Buddy Up: If you find it hard to motivate yourself why not get friends on board to go walking or exercising with.
This can be particularly beneficial if you work from home a lot as it helps to get you out of the house, away from technology and some friendly catch ups too.

Set Realistic Goals: From a fitness level it could be getting out for a 30-minute walk three-four days per week or it could be running 5-10 kilometres, you could even sign up for a fitness event for an extra push and to give you something to work towards. In terms of your diet, it could be reducing your sugar, processed foods and or alcohol intake and even in doing those small changes, you may see a huge positive impact on your health.
Please feel free to contact me if you need any assistance in achieving your dietary goals.

Think About The End Goal: I really believe that mindset is everything when it comes to making positive changes to your health.
When motivation is lacking, it can help to think about the benefits, which could include feeling healthier, stronger, having more energy and feeling more confident. You can make your own list of benefits too.

Have Fun: When it comes to getting fit and healthy, it’s important to find something that you enjoy as you’re more likely to keep it up. Whilst some may love to run others may prefer to dance, so this may involve trying different sports, classes or activities and find the right one for you.

Easy Recipe To Try
Healthy Chocolate Mousse

Ingredients

1 ½ Cups Plain Greek Yogurt (I recommend using 2% Fat as it’s needed for creaminess, it also helps us to absorb our fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E & K)
1 Cup Raw Cocoa Nibs (I like the Nua Naturals brand)
⅓ Cup Cocoa Powder (Again, I like the Nua Naturals brand for this also)
1 Tablespoon Honey/Maple Syrup (for a little sweetness)

Directions

To Melt the chocolate chips in the microwave:
Place chocolate chips in an oven safe bowl.
Microwave in 30 second increments to ensure the chocolate does not burn.
(For Example: Microwave for 30 seconds, stir the chocolate and then place back into the microwave.)
Repeat this until the chocolate is completely melted.
Allow the chocolate to cool down a little before making the mousse.
Add Greek yogurt, melted chocolate and cacao powder to a large mixing bowl and whisk manually or using an electric whisk until the mixture until combined and creamy.
Cover and place the mousse into the fridge for a couple of hours or overnight.
It will get thicker as it sits in the fridge.
Scoop it into individual cups with a spoon or ice-cream scoop.
Add toppings of your choice, such as grated dark chocolate, chopped berries, fruit or nuts.