Editor’s Note: A few weeks ago we sat down with Coco Ho and asked her to share her thoughts on a wide variety of topics, one being health and nutrition, and recommendations she might have to stay in shape. Here’s what she had to say.
Fitness meets practical application. Coco cracks a big one off the top at Margaret River. Photo: ASP/Robertson
I feel like to be healthy, you need to start with things you like. You can’t just force yourself to do 10 pushups, 10 jumping jacks, etc., because you’re not going to love that. You start with finding active things you enjoy. I love tennis, and it started with that and then it turned into the idea that I needed to do something active. Then it evolved. So if I wasn’t surfing, I started to learn about myself and my body and how to use my assets–for example, I’m strong. Every girl starts to get concerned with their body, and then I learned to love being active. Here are seven tips I suggest for those looking to boost their health and fitness:
1. Find something you like to do. Then do it.
2. Know your assets. Work with them. If you have strong legs, run, and do things that you can utilize your assets and strengths.
3. Being healthy to me is not picking yourself apart and finding flaws. Everyone has flaws. It’s about not comparing yourself to others. It’s being happy with yourself which can be more difficult than it sounds.
4. Be confident. Be confident in what you do and what you say. That comes with the territory and understanding why people want to be around you. No one wants to be around people who are constantly complaining so I always try to be confident and optimistic.
5. My goal is to always do something active every day. If I don’t surf, I go for a run. If I don’t do that, I have this DVD called Turbo Jams that’s the most fun thing ever. It’s aerobics, and Dusty [Payne] and the boys laugh at me when I break it out in the hotel. But if I’m traveling, I’m going to do Turbo Jams. I love it.
6. Surrounding yourself with people who want to be healthy is essential. All my friends eat so well. They’re all so healthy and so on point that it encourages me to do the same, and not in a bad way. It’s feeding off each other. Surround yourself with positive, healthy people.
7. I eat everything. I’m a firm believer in the idea that you need to eat well to be healthy. If you’re not eating the right food, that’s not going to work. Some people think that if you eat less, you’ll look or feel better, but the more food you eat the more energy you’re going to have. Food is energy. I just can’t stand when people think that eating less is better for you. You can eat less, but you’re going to be tired. That’s my motto. Eat. Eat right. And you’ll have more energy.
