Issue link: http://digital.canadawide.com/i/252637
40 | 4 bcliving.ca D o you hate the sound of your alarm clock going o in the morning? Don't let Sophie Lui hear you complain – she wakes up at 2:30 and, like most of us, hits the snooze button several times. With such an early wake-up call, it's di cult for Lui to get to bed early enough for a full night's rest. "I usually don't get to bed before 9 p.m. Lately, I have been trying harder to go to sleep between 9:30 and 10 p.m., which gives me ve hours. Last night I didn't get home until 11 p.m. since I was dining out with some girlfriends; I can't do that often because it meant I got three hours of sleep before work." So how does Lui manage? Here are her tips for making it through the long winter days. Find the Time to Sleep "I get used to sleeping in di er- ent blocks of time throughout the day, napping from ve to 90 minutes to catch up, and mustering energy to be productive whenever needed," says Lui. "For example, I'm leaving the newsroom now, and going straight to the gym, running on adrenaline to get me there. And if I have a few minutes before [my personal training] appoint- ment, I nap in my car." Stay Active and Get Outdoors While some are driven indoors by shorter days and foul weather, Lui gets outside. "Lack of sunshine a ects me, but exercise really helps my state of mind. If I don't work out, I'm more irritable and less optimistic." Lui completed the Ride to Conquer Cancer and the Vancouver First Half ½ Marathon this year; she has done the Sun Run twice, and the Tough Mudder, a hardcore 18-kilometre obstacle course, three times in Seattle and Whistler. She also walks or runs the Seawall. "I don't run or cycle well, but I nd it motivating to have a goal to train for." And rain and snow don't keep her inside. "If you wear the proper gear, it's not di cult to cycle or run outdoors in winter. Once you're going, it gets easier, especially if you train with friends who motivate you along the way." Eat Well and Prep Meals in Advance Breakfast is an important meal to kick-start the day, but it can be a logistical nightmare for Lui with her early mornings. Her solution: she makes a smoothie the night before with banana, frozen mango, plain yogurt or almond milk, hemp or Vega protein powder, and ginger. Since she is usually cooking for one, Lui prefers no-fuss one-pot meals that include lots of vegetables. "I make up recipes; this week it was a pan of broccolini, chickpeas and Italian sausage, and I made enough for lots of leftovers. It takes ve min- utes to chop everything and throw it together." (See recipe on facing page.) Her weakness? "Any- thing that has pota- toes, including chips and French fries. It's comfort food. I try not to have them at home because I'll eat them all." health tness Say No to Hibernation Global BC Morning News anchor Sophie Lui knows better than most how hard it is to stay motivated during the cold season (you try waking up for work at 2:30 a.m.). Here, she shares her strategies on how to get enough sleep, keep active and eat well to stay healthy all winter long. by Carol Crenna 1 2 "Lack of sunshine a ects me, but exercise really helps my state of mind." –Sophie Lui 3 Stay Active and While some are driven indoors weather, Lui gets outside. "Lack of sunshine a ects me, but exercise really helps my state of mind. If I don't work out, I'm more irritable and less Lui completed the Ride to Conquer Cancer and the Marathon this year; she has Whistler. She also walks or run or cycle well, but I nd it motivating to have a goal to train And rain and snow don't keep her inside. "If you along the way." Her solution: she makes a smoothie the night before with banana, frozen mango, plain yogurt or almond milk, hemp or Vega protein powder, and ginger. Since she is usually cooking for one, Lui prefers no-fuss one-pot meals that include lots of vegetables. "I make up recipes; this week it was a pan of broccolini, chickpeas and Italian sausage, and I made enough for lots of leftovers. It takes ve min- together." (See recipe on facing page.) Her weakness? "Any- thing that has pota- toes, including chips and French fries. It's comfort food. I try not to have them at home because I'll eat them all." p40-41_Health-Sophie_Lui.indd 40 14-01-21 8:59 AM