Avoid the Heathrow injection

As scary as it sounds, it doesn’t involve anything sharp. 💉

“Heathrow injection” was coined by Australian and New Zealand expats to describe rapid weight gain when settling in London. This is largely attributed to a busy schedule and over reliance on convenience food. I’m looking at you, £3 meal deal.

Pints in the pub, full English breakfast, fish and chips with mushy peas and Sunday roasts are all enticing British icons, but you don’t need to try them all in one week!

Striking a balance is key. Small, simple changes can lead to a healthy and sustainable lifestyle (and weight).

Walk or cycle

You’ve no doubt heard about London’s iconic Tube network and red double decker buses, but did you know TfL manages the Capital’s cycle hire scheme? You can hire a Santander Cycle from as little as £2. 🚲

As quick as the Tube might go, did you know some station changes are quicker to walk? For example, it can take up to 15min to change from the Northern line at Leicester Square to the Piccadilly line at Covent Garden while walking it is just 3min!

Check out some of these walking routes next time you’re exploring Central London.

If walking or cycling isn’t feasible for all of your journey, consider getting off a stop or two early. You might discover a new store or cafe along the way! 🚶🚴

Shop the High Street

With online shopping overtaking in-store purchases, fears over the “death of the High Street” are growing.

Often it feels like an early Christmas when a parcel arrives with your name on it, but there’s something magical about turning the fabric of a new scarf over in your hands in-store that online shopping can’t recreate.

So next time you feel like browsing online, step out instead and explore your area and support local businesses. It’s the perfect excuse to get some fresh air and hit your daily step target. 👟

Meal prep

With pizza and burger chains, cheap meal deals and an active social life beckoning, it’s no wonder we opt for convenience over cooking and grocery shopping. 🥦

This unhealthy habit can rack up pounds (both £ and extra padding) fast. Aside from high cost of living in London, fast food, pub meals and microwave meals are large in portion size and generally full of hidden nasties like sugary sauces and saturated fats.

Cooking is a great way to save time and money. You could get your weekly groceries and meal prep done on a Sunday afternoon, for example. It also puts you back in control of portion sizes and what healthy contents go into a meal. ⚖️

Salads, wraps, rice paper rolls, pasta and sandwiches all travel well and are quick and easy to make. I use Cancer Council’s Healthy Lunch Box for inspiration!

Join a fitness group

From CrossFit to circus, salsa to SUP and more, there’s fun fitness activities happening in every corner of London. 💪

Gym prices are notoriously high, and class passes can be even more expensive. Check your company benefits scheme if you’re eligible for discounts. You might be lucky enough to have an onsite gym!

Meetup and Facebook groups are a great way of finding local groups for running, tennis, football, yoga and more! They’re often cheap if not free, and a great way of meeting people.

Up your Insta game

London is easily one of the most “Instagrammable” cities in the world. 🤳

From heritage monuments like Tower Bridge and Big Ben to stylish cafes and street art, a photo hotspot is likely just around the corner.

Popular instaworthy locations include Neal’s Yard, Brixton Market, Leadenhall Market, Sky Garden, Brick Lane, Hampstead Village, Portobello Road Market, Kew Gardens and more.

Visit London’s feed is a great source of inspiration!

Curb liquid calories

London boasts cosy traditional pubs, but there’s a reason a pint or two leaves you feeling full. 🍻

Many alcoholic beverages are calorific and loaded with sugar. Try substituting your next colourful cocktail for gin and slimline tonic, a glass of Prosecco, red wine or a dry white.

Non-alcoholic drinks can be just as bad like bubble tea, frappucinos and soft drinks. The English got it right with a cuppa tea.

---

Have you experienced Heathrow injection? Share your advice for managing an active, healthy lifestyle in London in the comments! 👇

---

Latest in London