Slim Down This Autumn

The transition between summer and autumn is often the most difficult as during summer we have plenty of opportunities to get active and eat light. As we move into autumn and days start to get shorter, colder, and gloomier, it is easy to adopt bad habits that could be detrimental to your waistline such as sitting on the sofa and indulging in comfort food. However, there are some tricks and tips that can be learnt to help you maintain or kickstart your health journey during autumn.

• Cue up the slow cooker
• Get an early night’s sleep
• Work out at home
• Reach for healthier snacks
• Increase daily servings of vegetables
• Eat smaller portions more regularly
• Swap sugary beverages to herbal/green teas

Reach for healthier snacks

Many of us are guilty of turning to the sugary snacks once it is colder outside and summer is officially over. However, there are some great alternatives you can try to curb those sugar cravings such as;

• Fruit
• Vegetable sticks and hummus
• Dark chocolate
• Yoghurt
• Dates
• Protein powder and acidophilus yogurt
• Protein smoothies

Get an early night’s sleep

Aside from healthy eating and exercise, sleep is extremely beneficial for both your physical and mental health. A good night’s sleep can even help you lose weight as sleep deprivation increases levels of ghrelin and decreases levels of leptin. Ghrelin is a hormone that makes us feel hungry while leptin makes us feel full. This may cause us to feel hungry and overeat.

Cue up the slow cooker

Whereas in summer you may opt for a quick and easy salad, in autumn you may find yourself craving something heartier. For those with a busy lifestyle, a slow cooker can make things far easier. Simply put your lean protein and vegetables in the slow cooker before you go to work, and it will be cooked and tender by the time you get home.

Eat smaller portions more regularly

Small meals satisfy cravings, stabilise blood sugar and provide your body with more energy throughout the day. When you eat larger meals once or twice a day your body stores food as fat. Frequent mini-meals can aid a more efficient metabolism. Check out our meals under 500 calories recommended by our Head of Nutrition, Brooke Norton.

Work out at home

At this time of year, it is understandable that the idea of going outside for a run or even making your way to the gym isn’t as appealing. So, opt-in for a home workout instead and burn just as many calories from the comfort of your home. This way you don’t let the winter weather derail your health and fitness goals plus you can choose when you workout to fit around your schedule.

To kick-start your Autumn slim down book your free 3D body scan with Du Val Health today - this technology will give an accurate reading of your body and allow us to tailor a health and fitness programme specific to your body and goals. Find out more here