FREE GUIDE: Incontinence to Confidence

Lesson 15. My healthy morning routine

Do you ever wake up in the morning feeling sluggish, achy or with tight muscles? You can start your day right with this quick morning stretch routine — in just five minutes you’ll be feeling awake and ready to go!

  • Lessons 3 out of 5
  • Duration 70 mins
  • Difficulty Introductory
  • Assessment Online test

How to have a healthy mindset

Having a positive state of mind can improve your sense of wellbeing, and your ability to function confidently in everyday life, especially when a challenge arises. I find that if I have a positive mindset it also helps me to feel more motivated to exercise, and smash my workouts!

On this course, you’ll learn what a healthy diet really looks like from top professionals. You’ll get an extensive introduction to what a healthy diet looks like in practice, and learn how to practically implement this knowledge into your own cooking straight away.

Why do habits affect healthy eating?

Get an overview of how the digestive system actually functions, the biological factors that impact on our daily food consumption, and how a healthy gut can help the brain.

You’ll learn about the terminology behind nutrition, and understand the difference between calories and carbohydrates. Explore the importance of fibres, lipids, proteins, vegetables, and vitamins and in which foods to find these macro- and micro-nutrients.

What is the link between diet and health

You’ll have the chance to reflect upon the impact that healthy eating has on wellbeing, and explore aspects of gastro-philosophy alongside noted hospitality experts at the Swiss Education Group (SEG).

Finally, you’ll explore what mindful eating means, and how to employ different healthy cooking styles.

With access to recipes designed by professional chefs to help you design your own healthy cooking, you’ll learn how eating right can improve our skin and muscles.

By the time you’ve finished, you’ll be able to create a healthy eating plan, bringing your new knowledge into practice at work.

Find what works for you

  • Prepare most of your meals at home using whole or minimally processed foods. Choose from a variety of different proteins to keep things interesting. Using catchy names for each day can help you plan.
  • Make an eating plan each week – this is the key to fast, easy meal preparation. Check out our shopping tips here.
  • Choose recipes with plenty of vegetables and fruit. Your goal is to fill half your plate with vegetables and fruit at every meal. Choose brightly coloured fruits and vegetables each day, especially orange and dark green vegetables (click here for more information). Frozen or canned unsweetened fruits and vegetables are a perfect alternative to fresh produce.
  • Avoid sugary drinks and instead drink water. Lower-fat, unsweetened milk is also a good way to stay hydrated. Keep a reusable water bottle in your purse or car so you can fill up wherever you are going.
  • Eat smaller meals more often. Eat at least three meals a day with snacks in between. When you wait too long to eat you are more likely to make unhealthy food choices. Keep easy-to-eat snacks (like this) in your purse or bag for emergencies.

Top tips on how to have a healthy and positive mindset:

Try to eat at least two servings of fish each week, and choose plant-based foods more often.
Dairy products are a great source of protein. Choose lower fat, unflavoured options.
Fill a quarter of your plate with protein foods.

I hope these tips have helped shift you towards a more positive and healthy mindset!Remember, changes don’t happen overnight. I find it helps to think about this switch in mindset as adding something to your life, rather than having to remove things. Start small by replacing a bad habit for a healthier one — gradually you will learn to focus on prioritising the things that have the greatest positive impact on your health and wellbeing!

1. Accept yourself for who you are

It can be hard to have self-love when we are constantly comparing ourselves to others. While I encourage you to always strive to be better, to be healthier and to be happier, it helps to understand that you can only do it for you — and no one else. 

2. Make healthy food choices

This may seem like a cliche but it is so important. If you eat a diet of highly processed foods that have little nutritional benefit, you are doing your body an injustice. Good nutrition allows your body to function at its absolute best, making you feel good from the inside out.

Processed foods can be filled with nasty additives that can affect you in a negative way. If you are constantly feeling that you’re not functioning at your best, try to cut back on caffeine.

3. Surround yourself with positive people

Surrounding yourself with friends, family, and people who have a positive outlook will give you a greater sense of wellbeing. Take time out of your busy schedule to connect with your friends, try new things, and have fun! 

 If you’re struggling to find support within your own networks, try connecting with the Sweat Community in your area, via the Sweat Forum or on social media. Our incredible community is where you can find thousands of like-minded women from all over the world sharing their struggles and successes in becoming healthier, more confident versions of themselves. 

4. Appreciate the little things

Our lives can be so hectic, and many of us have to balance demands from different areas in our lives — work, friends and family. This can get overwhelming at times, making it easier to forget what is really important in life. Every week, set some time aside for you. Spend more time doing little things that make you happy — it could be having a cup of tea, listening to some music you love or reading your favourite book.

Making this a regular habit can help you to relax and appreciate the little things that make you happy. While your interests may change year to year, as long as you have something to look forward to, you will feel more positive! Remember, changes don’t happen overnight. I find it helps to think about this switch in mindset as adding something to your life.