No word of a lie, I hate the sodding gym.

I hate the mirrors and how they always catch you looking like you’re constipated. I hate running on a treadmill with my iPod bouncing away while hearing sweaty men’s loud grunts penetrate my favourite song. Speaking of which, I hate getting sweaty. Women do not “glow” any more than men do, and feeling strands of my hair stick to my face like a starfish does not make me feel sexy in the slightest. I also hate how hungry I get after lifting or pushing awkward machinery and looking at my callous-ridden hands as I shovel down some powdered creatine dust blend. 2 hours of sweat, blisters and contortion all for the sake of making my arse look like a peach – really?

What a f***ing liberty!

Time goes far too quickly these days, so the last thing I want to do is waste mine is yanking on miserable looking equipment and forever bathing in Epsom salts to help soothe my aching limbs.

Now, I’m not going to stretch the truth by telling you that sitting on your arse all day will leave you looking like Danielle Peazer. That would just be silly. But, what I am going to share with you is how to stay slim, trim and healthy, while opening up your time so that it can be better spent doing things you love with those you love, all without EVER having to go to a gym!!

Amazing, right?!

Well, I think so anyway.

So, let’s begin with a nice brew. Because everyone likes a good cuppa, don’t they? However, most of us tend to stick with the basic English Breakfast tea, swimming in milk and dancing with 2 teaspoons of sugar. And who could blame us? Even I’m a stickler for a sweet tea! But if you want to start shaping up, then it’s time to start flexing your tastebuds.

Green Tea may not be your first choice of drink, but when you realise that those who drink it burn, on average, an extra 200 calories a day, then you’ll swiftly be swayed to give it a try! It’s packed with antioxidants, good at keeping your breath fresh and is virtually calorie-free. So in contrast to its tooth-staining counterpart, it makes a much better benching-buddy. (To fully benefit from this glorious tea, drink around 2-3 cups a day)

Eating clean is also a big help. Bearing in mind, we’re all different body shapes, so none of us should feel the pressure to compare ourselves with others or feel inadequate, despite what is perceived as conventionally desirable. All that matters is that you’re doing the best for your body, and by making healthy choices you are doing just that. Healthy diets aren’t about sacrifices. They’re about better moderation and realising that going hungry is not the way to lose weight. However, while you may still want to indulge in your favourite treat from time-to-time, it’s worth knowing that certain foods are more nutritious than others and that those foods are also lighter in calories, fat, sugar etc., Therefore, incorporating these little swaps in your diet will make a big difference to your waistline, even without exercise!

Nevertheless, it goes without saying that physical activity is still very important. After all, it’s not just about keeping our bum’s looking peachy, it’s about keeping our heart’s healthy, too. However, this doesn’t need to be achieved solely by hitting the gym! Detoxing our life of stress and excess weight can be more happily gained by spending time with nature. Less than half an hour in the great outdoors is all you need to help brush away those cobwebs. Plus, it’s totally and completely, 100% FREE!! No membership required. So take a walk, go for a jog, or cycle with a friend, and just see how quickly it benefits both your body and your soul.

Ultimately, the world around us already has everything we need to stay fit and healthy. From what grows beneath the ground to what shoots up from the surface, it’s full of wonder. The only thing we need to do is to learn how to see it. And once you do that, you’ll never look back.

For further insight on beneficial foods, activities, matchmade teas and so much more, click on the hyperlinked words or head straight to my Portfolio of Life page ψ