ARE you struggling with your New Year’s resolution to get fit and healthy during these weeks of tight restrictions?

A Flintshire slimming club leader has shared her top tips for a healthy lockdown which will help you both physically and mentally.

Bonnie Campbell, who is a Slimming World consultant at Farfield Hall in Connah’s Quay, said: “Everyone’s circumstances will be different, yet there are some tips that will apply to most of us during these challenging times, especially when it comes to staying fit and healthy – which is more important than ever.”

Here are five tips to stay on your best form…

Fall in love with food:

It’s so easy to get stuck in a bit of a rut when it comes to cooking.

Do you find yourself making the same handful of meals on repeat every week? If so, you could take this time to try something new.

It doesn’t have to be too complicated or time consuming – just something that makes you feel excited about cooking again. Or maybe it’s finally finding something to do with that ingredient that’s been lurking at the back of your store-cupboard for a while – that tin of chickpeas could make a delicious homemade hummus or that bag of quinoa could be your new salad superstar!

Many people have found solace in baking, too – and there’s no need to miss out on that because you’re following Slimming World!

Stay in touch:

It’s easy to feel isolated during lockdown – as well as missing family and friends, just missing your normal day-to-day routine can have a big impact on the way you feel and, as a result, your eating and activity habits.

Staying connected is now more important than ever – and not just for your weight loss.

Sometimes you just need a laugh with your mates to lift your spirits. Video calls are, of course, hugely popular during lockdown – things like scheduling a date with your mates and coming together online to replace that monthly night out or booking a family quiz night and testing your loved ones’ general knowledge.

Don’t forget to make some healthy snacks to nibble while you’re catching up too.

Take control:

It might seem silly to suggest taking time out when many of us are spending more time at home than ever, but it’s still important to practice a little self-care.

There’s a lot happening in the world that we can’t control and that can start to impact our motivation to stay in control of our eating and activity habits, but actually looking after ourselves is something we can control.

So as well as staying on track with any healthy eating plans or keeping up with your regular activity, it’s important to schedule in some ‘me’ time too.

Run a hot bubble bath and give yourself a pamper, pop on your favourite podcast or settle down with a book or magazine.

Get active:

Your usual gym might be closed but there are still plenty of ways to get active in lockdown, if you’d like to. Remember exercise isn’t just good for your body – it’s a great mood-booster too. There are loads of online classes you can try out – from HIIT to salsa-cize.

Current guidelines also suggest we can get out limitlessly in our local area to be physically active, so fit in a daily walk if you can, or set yourself a challenge like completing Couch to 5K.

Of course, activity doesn’t have to mean running or aerobics though – it can be something as simple as weeding in the garden or getting some DIY and cleaning done. Anything that raises your heart rate counts.

Soothe your mind:

In these challenging times, people will be feeling more worried and anxious than usual, and these feelings could have an impact on us making healthy choices and see us turn to food for comfort. If current events on the news are a trigger for you, try to limit your exposure.

Make your own playlists rather than listening to the radio, scroll through just one social media channel, and enjoy a Netflix fix rather than watch live TV.

Let those around you know if it makes you feel uncomfortable to talk about current affairs, too. Focusing on the present moment – mindfulness – to calm your mind in times of uncertainty can be really helpful.

Colouring books, jigsaws and word puzzles are useful activities for this. Also, there are apps that guide you through techniques to help ease anxiety or panic. Follow your ordinary routine as much as possible, and keep a sense of normality, whether that’s packing up your lunch the night before, dressing in work clothes if you’re working from home, taking a nice hot shower or doing your hair and make-up.

If you would like to join Bonnie's Slimming World group, contact her on 07456 862372. Groups run on Zoom every Tuesday morning and evening sessions are available.