The Mercury

Healthy habits to adopt according to a personal trainer

- VUYILE MADWANTSI vuyile.madwantsi@inl.co.za

WE NEED to understand that our actions, emotions and ways of thinking may be hurting us and/or those around us even though they seem normal to us.

We carry a crippling burden of expectatio­ns, real and made-up. Stress-related disorders of all kinds are on the rise alarmingly among people of all ages, starting with school-aged kids who are dealing with issues like obesity, depression, anxiety, attention deficit disorders and a variety of learning disabiliti­es.

As we push ourselves to go further and faster, we fail to recognise how much we are contributi­ng to our issues with physical, emotional and behavioura­l health.

As a result, we seek treatment through medication for the unintended consequenc­es.

We need to slow down, adopt healthy habits which will eventually turn into a lifestyle, says personal trainer Mandilakhe Mzamane.

You need to feel lighter in all aspects of your life, especially when it comes to your body. Feeling good is one way to go about life, he told IOL Lifestyle.

A lot of people skip breakfast. Why? All you need to start your day is in that meal, says the fitness junkie.

“Fuel your body the right way.” Eat breakfast

Breakfast is significan­t for many reasons. It speeds up your metabolism and prevents you from later overeating. Additional­ly, studies show children who eat breakfast perform better at tests and adults who eat a healthy breakfast perform

better at work.

Drink plenty of water

Staying hydrated the top of the list; it could also aid in weight loss.

Get out of your comfort zone

Learning new skills promotes brain health. Even better, enrol in a yoga class or Pilates; the advantages are incredible.

Get the 8 hours of recommende­d sleep

A good night’s sleep improves your mood, memory and focus. Outdoors

Being outside encourages you to move your body instead of sitting in front of the TV or computer.

Furthermor­e, a few minutes in the sun boosts vitamin D levels,

which is beneficial to your bones, heart and mood.

 ?? ?? WE NEED to slow down, adopt healthy habits which will eventually turn into a lifestyle. | Freepik
WE NEED to slow down, adopt healthy habits which will eventually turn into a lifestyle. | Freepik
 ?? ?? CHOOSE nature over the streets. | Freepik
CHOOSE nature over the streets. | Freepik

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