Ever wondered how some people stay so motivated towards their health and fitness?

I asked five fabulous women involved in the fitness game, for the top five tips that they follow towards not only staying fit and healthy physically, but also keeping a healthy mindset which is just as important.

THE GYM OWNER

Julie Griffin, Canberra ACT

Exercise for a minimum of 30 minutes, 6 days per week with an activity that gets your heart rate up Choose an activity that you enjoy – walking, dance, tennis, gym, swimming, strength training, personal training with “everfitbylouise” Lou is my niece and I know she is very good at what she does and she puts 100% into each class she prepares, she’s passionate about what she does and if I was closer to her I'd be training with her! (she better print this!)

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day Your metabolism slows down while you sleep and does not increase until you eat something. Breakfast kick starts your metabolism for the day. If you are not a big breakfast eater start with something light such as fruit salad and yoghurt. Choose cereals that are low in sugars and high in grains. Choose wholemeal or multigrain bread rather than white bread, it will keep you full for longer and has more nutrients.

Having a well-balanced meal plan does not mean you can never eat chocolate, enjoy a serve of pasta or a glass of wine. It means eat anything in moderation. Our diet should consist or fruit & vegetable, wholegrains/cereals, dairy, lean meat or protein and water. It’s amazing what you can whip up with these key ingredients. Minimise use of salt, saturated fats and sugars. Take responsibility for your eating choices. Nobody is force feeding you so choose wisely. I don’t particularity like the word ‘diet” I tend to use the wording “lifestyle change” this way we don’t have to eliminate all the good things, moderation is good!

Feeling sluggish late in the afternoon? Instead of making another cup of coffee take yourself outside for 10 minutes of fresh air. Go for a walk around the block or sit quietly under a tree and breathe deeply. Fresh air will help you feel more alert Fresh air will give more oxygen to your body helping it work better.

Drink 1 ½ - 2 Litres Water Daily. In a nutshell, water helps to keep you hydrated which is important because every single cell in your body needs it in order to absorb nutrients and expel waste products… You will function better on a daily basis when you drink water.

THE GYM CO-ORDINATOR

Krystle Ford, Seymour VIC

Fill your day with positivity!

It will flow into your everyday life.

If you are strapped for time

A quick workout is better than no workout, work with your heart rate to gauge how hard you are working.

I love motivational quotes

My favourite is "The best person to compete against is yourself"

Challenge yourself

I use time/distance to challenge myself running or on the bike to improve my fitness.

Mix it up!

Keep your body guessing with a change in your workout so you avoid plateaus.

THE YOGA INSTRUCTOR

Maggie Turner-Miguel, Shepparton VIC

Exercise most days in whatever form

I vary it depending on what my body tells me when I fall out of bed – it doesn’t always have to be full on.

Notice the here and now

Trusting my intuition, I’ll hear that mental message – ‘stop! regroup’ – and then I take stock, slow my breath, reconnect – meditation in any form is positive.

Grow what veg I can from my home made soil

All kitchen refuse back into the ground, create worms, and magic happens – fresh produce with home grown chillies.

Movies

IN A CINEMA! OFTEN! Not at home with interruptions. LOTS of cinema, in the dark, preferably arthouse.

Drink wine with dinner

And some chocolate (except during Lent)

THE FITNESS MODEL

Emma Hughan, Geelong VIC

Focus on what you like!

If you like yoga, do yoga. Conversely, if you loathe brussels sprouts, don't include them in a meal plan to get healthy or lean - you won't stick to it! If you love red capsicum, eat that - focus on what you like!!

Positive thoughts promote positive outcomes!

Look at the part of you that you like most each morning - I used to hate my legs but I have always had strong shoulders. When having a bad day, it is easy to look in the mirror and instantly pick on the bits you don't like, when this happens, acknowledge it and then draw your attention to the good bits.

Nothing will get you better results than a healthy relationship with food

Food is fuel, treat your body with love and that means feeding it food that gives you energy, healthy skin, hair, nails and ensure that you ENJOY IT!! (See point 1)

Include the occasional treat with no guilt

If you consistently eat well 80% of the time and care for your body with exercise you like, these occasional treats will not derail you.

Sleep and unwind

Never under estimate the importance of 'rest time'. Cuddle your children on the couch, read a book, take a bath and enjoy 30 min of special relax time - all of the cooking, worries and cleaning will still be there for you in half an hour, I promise! And strive for 8hrs of sleep a night where possible.

THE PERSONAL TRAINER​

Carly Hogben, Shepparton VIC

Stay hydrated

I try and drink at least a litre of water a day, to make it easier I have a litre water bottle so that way I can keep track throughout the day. Drinking enough water has a whole heap of benefits including improving your complexion, promoting weight loss, flushing out toxins, boosting your immune system plus so much more.

Get active everyday

I try to do some form of exercise everyday and by that I don't mean I spend hours at the gym everyday. I like to go at least twice to lift weights, but I mainly do about 15 to 30 minutes interval training each morning. Sometimes it may be a walk to the park with my son or some yoga. Exercising puts me in a better mood for the rest of the day as it releases endorphins (which I call the happy hormone) Regular exercise also reduces stress, boosts self-esteem, strengthens your heart, lowers blood pressure,improves muscle tone and strength and helps reduce body fat. There are so many more benefits I could go on for days!

Stretch

I always spend at least 5 to 10 minutes stretching after each workout. Aside from feeling great, stretching also helps with reducing muscular soreness, reducing muscle tension, make your body feel more relaxed improves your flexibility, prevents muscle strains, repair muscles, prevents joint strains and promote circulation. Also, stretching can help reduce painful menstruation cramps.

Eat a healthy balanced diet

I don't follow any fad diets, I just try to eat good healthy food. You need to fuel your body with the right food to function at it's full potential and I think your diet should be more like a lifestyle. I find if I cut certain things from my diet I crave them, then binge! Good, healthy foods will increase your energy levels and your whole body will feel better for it!

Listen to you body

Very important! If your body aches, don't push it too hard. If you need a rest, then rest. Your body will let you know what it is and is not capable of. Sometimes a good sleep in can be more benefit than getting up early to do a workout if your body really needs it. You have to look after your body it's the only one you get!