What health habits do local celebs swear by? Health and wellness entrepreneur and TV personality, Stacey Holland chats to us about how she stays in shape and gears up for summer.
ALSO SEE: Tips to boost your health and live your best life, right now!
Just start moving
We all go on a bit of a go-slow in the winter months, which is fine because that’s the time of year when our bodies need to rest and reboot. Now, however, it’s time to get active. Start slow – take the stairs instead of the lift, park a bit further from the shop entrance, invest in a Fitbit and start working towards your 10 000 steps a day. Just get those muscles moving and slowly but surely you’ll build up a solid base fitness to be able to push yourself a little further each day.
Challenge yourself – do something different
If you’ve always done weight training, try Pilates, if you’re a runner, go for a electrical muscle stimulation (EMS) training session at a place like Bodytec. Our bodies quickly get used to a certain way of working out, and it’s important to mix things up to keep pushing yourself. I love functional training classes like CrossFit but, if that’s a bit much, go to a Zumba or salsa class. If you’ve never done it before, now’s the time to try it.
Fall in love with green veggies
It’s what our moms and grans have been saying for decades, and it’s true! Green vegetables have a host of health benefits and, with the vegan and vegetarian diets gaining traction, there are loads of recipes to try so your veggies don’t have to be boring. If you’re not great in the kitchen, try a vegan restaurant or order a vegetarian option at your favourite restaurant. The more veggies you eat, the more you’ll start to crave them – who would have thought?
ALSO SEE: Should you go vegan?
Think about what you put on your body as well as what you put in it
We’ve heard that 60% of the things we put on our skin end up in our bloodstream. Whether or not that’s 100% true doesn’t mean we shouldn’t be more conscious of what make-up and creams we use. Are you fatigued? Do you have more bouts of depression or mood swings? It could have to do with what’s being absorbed into your skin. I’d suggest changing one thing at time;
- Find a non-toxic lipstick in your favourite colour. I love the eco luxe, Lula Fox brand.
- Switch to a natural, organic moisturiser. Dr. Hauschka’s skincare products are amazing.
- Try eco-friendly hair products – I use Africa Organics shampoo and conditioner. Every little bit helps.
Don’t forget to hydrate
It’s still so true, no matter how many times you’ve heard it. There’s no more cold weather, so replace those cups of tea and coffee with refreshing glasses of water. The 2 litre mark is ideal for most people, but if it’s hot or you’re exercising, try to drink more.
Stacey’s show Real Health airs every Monday at 6pm on The Home Channel, DStv channel 176.
Interview by Features Editor, Stephanie van der Plank
