Spring cleanse
Spring is here and now is the time to cleanse your lifestyle. A simple and gentle detox for the start of the season can bring you more energy, sharper mental ability, glowing skin, improved sleep and a general feeling of optimism and focus, according to life coach Gillian Skeer.
"Spring is the perfect time to emerge from the hibernation of winter and embrace a new sense of purpose," Ms Skeer says.
Look at spring as being the perfect time to embrace a new sense of purpose, Ms Skeer says. Decide what you want to achieve, how you can fulfil your goals and what you are passionate about.
"Rehashing past problems drains your energy and keeps you in a negative state," she warns. "Getting into a positive state of mind means making a conscious decision to be cheerful and optimistic.
"Keep your focus on the positives, on what you want and on moving forward and review how you are tracking on a regular basis so you don't fall back into old habits."
Naturopath Marnie Downer suggests using the onset of spring and the change of season to give your body a gentle detox.
"A detox can be as simple as cutting out a few key things to give your body a break so that it can repair and renew," she says.
"It can be one of the best ways to rapidly improve your health and to alleviate everything from headaches to mood swings, allergies, fatigue and PMS."
People who smoke, eat poorly, take medication regularly, are exposed to chemicals, stress or pollution will benefit from a simple spring detox, Ms Downer says.
A simple detox would involve cutting out sugar (other than that in fresh fruit), alcohol, caffeine, processed foods and dairy, she explains.
While doing a detox for two weeks is ideal, even just a mini detox over a weekend or for two days will be of benefit, she says. "During the first few days you may encounter headaches, lethargy, low mood and a general feeling of 'unwellness' due to withdrawal from stimulants but this is generally short-lived and most people report a lift in general wellbeing, energy level and mood after completing a program," she adds.
Personal trainer Shannon MacLachlin encourages her clients to use spring to refocus their goals and get in the best possible shape for the warmer weather.
"When my goal is to really get in shape for spring I make sure I take pictures of each meal I eat throughout the day and keep them in a folder on my computer," she says. "Food preparation is so important to lose that unwanted fat."
She also recommends taking pictures of yourself along the way to help you focus and appreciate how far you have come.
"Selfies are an amazing way to see week-to-week changes!"
Take your spring workouts to the next level by mixing up cardio with high-intensity interval training and Tabata.
"This style of cardio increases your anaerobic system, firing up the metabolism during and after workout and ultimately helps you burn more fat."
