I don’t know about you, but I will be glad to see the last of my children’s Easter eggs vanish from my pantry.  Although I am fairly strict on rationing how much my children consume, it takes every ounce of my will power to stop myself from demolishing the whole lot after I have tucked them into bed each night.

Having been the (very grateful at the time, but somewhat remorseful now) recipient of an Easter egg bigger than my own head…and may  I add, I have a very generously sized head…I have noticed a little difficulty of late squeezing into my jeans.  (Particularly my bargain skinny jeans…not a flaming chance!)

Please tell me I’m not alone.  You’re feeling the post-Easter butt-blues too, right?

Luckily, the lovely Lisa Allan from FitPeople is on hand to offer some fabulous tips on getting back on track.

 Image: Ambro / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

So you overindulged over Easter? Perhaps you missed out on your usual exercise routine also?

Never fear, this is not the end of the world! Nor does it spell disaster for your fitness or your waistline.

Here are a few suggestions to help you get back on track:

If the temptation of leftover chocolate is too much, you can always put it out of sight, in a high cupboard, pack it into the freezer or even throw it out! I have been known to chuck half a choc honeycomb cheesecake (my favourite!) because I could see myself eating the whole thing! This may seem wasteful, but if I ever have to throw food away, I tell myself it wouldn’t have been wasted if it had been eaten. But when it comes to chocolate, the only place it will end up is on your waist! Other alternatives might be to take the leftovers into work, or share with the neighbours, or hand out to the kids and their friends. But in all honesty, if you know you cannot resist….get rid of it!

Why not give yourself a couple of cleansing days where you just eat fruit and vegetables. Even a day on this and you will feel refreshed and lighter after all the sugar and carbs you consumed over Easter. Of course, a day or two at most is all I recommend for such a technique. Your body requires a balanced diet consisting of lean proteins, low fat dairy, wholegrains and cereals, as well as fruit and veg.

Drink lots of water and try some green tea. Green tea is light and fresh: it is one of nature’s BEST fat metabolisers. Regular (daily) green tea is a great substitute for coffee or traditional black tea, and with fat burning qualities out of this world, you would be crazy not to get into the habit of drinking a cup or two each day.

Why not utilise the cooler weather to get out into the garden, take the kids for a walk to the park, or play a ball game with them? You will feel great being outdoors, and you will be burning off some of the Easter excess. The kids will love that you are spending time with them too. If you have teenagers, and you enjoy the gym, most gyms allow kids over 14 years of age to utilise their facilities under your supervision. Weights are not accessible until they are 16 (legally gyms are not allowed to let kids under 16 use the weights) but there are plenty of things to do at the gym other than weights. It could be a fantastic opportunity to start some new family traditions; and if you are not a gym person, you could always use the guise of giving the kids the exposure to gyms as your sneaky way in to this way of life!

Another hint is to not weigh yourself too often. Monthly? No more than fortnightly. Body weight can fluctuate by up to a couple of kilos over the space of a 24 hour period. Weighing yourself daily can lead to misleading (and depressing!) numbers. So hide the scales for now. Instead, go by how you feel and how your clothes fit. Truly, I NEVER weigh myself  I just do not want to know!

It is never too late to swap unhealthy for healthy, sedentary for active…. If you fall off the wagon, or have a few days like Easter or Christmas where you enjoy the finer things life has to offer, don’t feel guilty! Life is for living and loving! Simply reset your focus, and make a promise to yourself and your family to be as healthy and happy as you can be!  And the next time you are on holidays, or have social engagements that lead you astray from your resolve, remember that there is always tomorrow!

The trick is to not let the naughty meals and days outweigh the more sensible alternatives! It is ok to have a yummy meal, or a piece of cake or an Easter egg, or to have a day or two, or even a week or two where you don’t do too much exercise.  Just make these occasions ‘sometimes occasions’, not a way of daily life. You will feel better, look better and maybe even live longer if you look after yourself now with a healthy lifestyle.  Trust me. Give yourself 4 weeks. Once you have this first 4 weeks under your belt, focus on the next four weeks. Before you know it, you will be into a new way of life that is habit!

So Easter is over for another year! We loved the hot cross buns, the chocolate eggs and a little bit of extra lounging.  We loved the family time, and spending time and maybe a few glasses of wine with friends. This is living, it is what life is all about! Enjoy!

Give, live, love…

Lisa xo