I am a slug! The alarm blazes for my ambitious 5am wakeup. I take one look, I don’t even snooze, 5am is reset to 7. Post holiday motivation can be low especially if I have taken a break from training or if I have been diabolical with my diet. The first few days I may feel bloated, dehydrated, lethargic and tired. Here’s how I get over the post holiday slump and get back to feeling energised and recharged.
- Set realistic goals. I always set myself up to succeed. Knowing my limitations and listening to my body is important. I plan out my week of training and diet and be kind to myself. First day back instead of setting the alarm at some ungodly hour I prioritise sleep and keep those unstressed holiday vibes going as long as I can. I get up and get back into my morning rituals, maybe a short walk to get the body moving again and ease back into my training the next day.
- Intermittent fasting. This is new to me, I had heard great things about it from friends, then I listened to a podcast and read a blog on @thibarmy.com and decided to give it a go. In a nutshell fasting reduces insulin levels, stimulates the breakdown of fat for energy (lipolysis), increases human growth hormone levels, enhances brain health and reduces inflammation. It is now one of my favourite ways to reset my body and remove toxins. I particularly love the improvement in cognitive function and memory, the increased energy and better mood. Plus it can be one of the fastest ways to get back on track. Post holiday I may do 3-5 days I.F and either do a 20 hour fast and 4 hour eating window between 4-8pm as that is when I would start to get hungry or just one big meal in the evening for 3-5 days.
- Gut cleanse. I am low key obsessed with the ATP science Gutright gut cleanse https://atpscience.com/product/gutright/ for the ultimate post holiday reboot. Gutright is a 10 day protocol. You take 3 scoops daily while following the Specific Carbohydrate diet and it modulates your microbiome symbiosis, essentially killing the bad bugs and increasing the good bugs. It reduces inflammation, improves micronutrient utilisation, improves performance and liver function, enhances mental acuity, reduces insulin resistance, increases metabolism and reduces fatigue. I love it as a quick and easy way to get myself back to feeling great and ready to get back into my regime.
- Get sweaty. Sometimes the best way to remove toxins, sluggishness and a crusty mood is simply to get a sweat on, do some exercise and get the endorphins flowing.