Coach Wawa Najwa: Healthy Lifestyle During Pregnancy

On the 2nd trimester, I was still having the nausea but I didn’t want to take it too serious and skip the feeling. Eating after vomit is pretty hard for someone who has just lost their appetite. What I’d do is I’ll drink milk for the baby to consume just to make sure I don’t leave myself and the baby hungry after an empty stomach. Alhamdulillah, I don’t have any weird cravings.

My tips, along the pregnancy I really kept myself living a healthy lifestyle, just exactly how I’ve lived before my pregnancy. It helps a lot in terms of energy level, stamina and when it comes to delivering my baby it was easy and less tiring. I avoid pickles or junk food and fast food replacing them with more vegetables and fruits. For beverages, 99% of caffeine is cut off from my diet. The intake of milk, juices, plain water and soy protein is a must. Eating outside is not my

At the edge of pregnancy, the hunger of eating seafood was inevitable, knowing that too much seafood consumed isn’t healthy for the baby. One thing I would like to stress on. I rarely eat outside as I prefer to cook myself healthy meal and this has been going on before my pregnancy.

As a coach, do you still workout?

Yes, I still teach yoga, HIIT, Boxing, and PT for my clients. I’m quite active during pregnancy, some of my students even told me my energy level isn’t like pregnant woman at all. Lol.

 

Weight Loss – Tips for Dieters

Weight loss journey is more of a mental challenge. Being mentally prepared is key that will help you stick to your journey on the long run and adapt to a healthier lifestyle.

Here are some tips that you need to tap into to make your weight loss journey manageable:

  • Think of your self as a think healthy person. Skip all the negative thoughts about feeling that you don’t deserve to be in this journey or how will you achieve your goals.
  • Eat health food that will feed your body not the food that will feed the fat.
  • Avoid dinning outside at least the first two weeks of starting your journey. This will help you to tap into a healthier lifestyle.
  • Plan meals ahead of time. This will help you to avoid dinning outside and will get you prepared.
  • When eating, eat slow, as you are sitting down and chew your food well.

 

 

Healthy lifestyle : Tips for Busy Women

Busy with work, chores, family, cooking or studying? The list goes on and everyday, we struggle to find time to be THE superwoman who is fit and healthy-looking at all times. But everyday we go through battles –  being tired, having daily conversations with ourselves on delaying or postponing work, sometimes salah/solat, and working out. We allow ourselves to dwell into unhealthy meals, snacking and drinking sweetened beverages.

About a year ago, my weight reached 51 kg and body fat percentage was 33%. The past months, I manage to keep my weight at 45kg, BMI 19 and body fat percentage 25%. I eat the most, alert and fastest at work. Working out and eating healthy are routines in my life. I am not a health expert – just an average jane who wants to improve health condition and loves to share.

The battles between making emotional and logical choices are always there. While we know we need to make logical choices, we are all emotional vulnerable beings. One way to avoid emotional choices is to embed healthier choices in daily routines. Here are 8 simple steps to keep a healthy lifestyle, which I practise on a daily basis.

1. First of all, know current body condition

Know your current:

  • Weight
  • Body Mass Index. A normal BMI ranges from 18.5 – 25. If you don’t know your BMI, here’s the calculator
  • Body Fat Percentage. The acceptable rate is 20%-25%. Here is the calculator

Know your ideal numbers and set your targets. Working towards meeting your targets.

2. Find an activity you can do on a daily basis
Just like praying and eating, make working out your daily routine. Once it is a routine, you need to be able to perform the activity anytime, anywhere. Find an activity that you enjoy and that motivates you to be be good at. As for me, even though I love swimming, I choose to run on a daily basis because it is faster and easier to perform. I perform other types of activities if I have extra time.

Find activity that suits you

Find an activity that suits you and enjoyable

3. Find at least 40 mins/day to workout; 5 mins warm up, 30 mins workout, 5 mins cool down

You can find time to workout,

  • Before Fajr
  • After Fajr
  • Before Work – After Work before Sunsets
  • Before midnight

As for me, I plan to work out before shower or meal times ?. I cook or prepare meals while cooling down. It saves time.

Plan your day, make sure you workout in a safe environment if you are alone. If you cannot find a gym or unable to workout outdoor, tabata or yoga indoor instead. Make sure your family members know your whereabout when you workout outdoors.

Time is precious, so is your health

Time is precious, so is your health. Plan your time well.

4. Dress smartly, suit up in comfy activewear if you are NOT at work

Changing from office-wear to activewear can be time consuming. Therefore, always be in your activewear so that you can quickly run or work out when you have a 40 min window. ?‍ You spend lesser time changing clothes and more time sweating out. ?Make sure your running shoes or workout attire and gears are accessible at all times. ? Leave them in your car if needed.

5. Eat healthy
Fresh fruits, vegetables and nuts offer you vitamins, protein and minerals to provide good nutrition for your body. It helps reduce body fat level. When you train your body to eat healthy, it will naturally reject unhealthy food over time. Healthy, balanced meals may not look fancy, but they are easier and faster to prepare. Tastier too!
Tips to eat healthy:

  • Make and pack your own meal
  • Fill up your kitchen with fruits, vege and nuts, especially those you can eat raw like carrots, banana, apples & grapes
  • Baking or grilling brings out the flavour from meat, and they are healthier & easier to make
  • Pick healthy menu when dining out

    Fresh & Nutritious

    Make healthy choices : Fresh & Nutritious

If you are eating healthy, ignore what others have to say about it. What you consume affects your body, not theirs.

6. Get 6-7 hours of good rest or sleep everyday.

Studies show that exercise helps you sleep better. When you sleep, your heart & blood vessels get repaired & healed.  Hydrate your body well. Drink a glass of water before and after bedtime.

Nap if you have to

Take a nap if you have to make the numbers

7. Track your weight, Body Mass Index(BMI) & Body Fat Percentage & achieve your targets

Don’t let your measurements slip! Make it a daily check if you can, even though it is not recommended by medical practitioners. It is harmless. Do invest in a good weighing machine that tells your BMI, Body Fat percentage & muscle mass. Then you will know how to balance workout and food intake that help you keep a healthy weight, BMI & Body Fat. Workout & eat healthy daily and watch these indicators improve.

Weigh Daily

Weigh Daily and understand your body better

8. Tweak your activities & food intake accordingly to achieve your targets. REPEAT
It is a slower process, but sustainable as the routine would help you understand your body and achieve a healthy and active lifestyle.

Don’t forget to visit, update, talk to and get feedback from your doctors on regular basis on your overall fitness condition. They are the best in giving medical and health advises.

Have a healthy lifestyle and fight all the excuses that delay you from achieving ideal fitness level. I hope the above sharing helps. I am just another lady who wants to keep healthy. Good luck & enjoy your routine!

Stay Fit & Be Happy!

Stay Fit & Be Happy!