Being active and healthy doesn’t have to be a drag. In fact, it can be quite simple if you follow these five easy steps. And the best part is, you don’t have to spend hours at the gym or deprive yourself of your favorite foods. So, without further ado, here are the five simple steps to being active and healthy.
1. Get Moving
The first step to being active and healthy is…well, to get moving! You don’t have to go out and run a marathon (unless that’s your thing), but you should try to get in 30 minutes of moderate exercise every day. Taking a brisk walk around your neighborhood or going for a light jog are great ways to get your heart pumping without putting too much strain on your body. And if you find yourself short on time, there are plenty of quick and easy workouts you can do at home with no equipment required.
2. Eat Real Food
When it comes to eating healthy, focus on consuming whole, unprocessed foods as much as possible. These include fruits, vegetables, lean protein sources, whole grains, and healthy fats. Not only are these foods more nutritious than their processed counterparts, but they’re also generally more filling, so you’ll be less likely to overeat or make unhealthy choices later in the day. And speaking of unhealthy choices…
3. Limit Your Intake of Unhealthy Foods and Beverages
We all have our weaknesses when it comes to food and drink, but it’s important to try to limit your intake of unhealthy items such as sweets, fried foods, sugary drinks, etc. If you find it difficult to completely cut these things out of your diet, aim for moderation instead of complete abstinence. For example, instead of having a slice of cake for dessert every night, allow yourself one cheat meal or treat per week. Or if you can’t kick your soda habit cold turkey, try diluting your soda with sparkling water or drinking seltzer water instead. Every little bit helps!
It’s no secret that regular exercise is good for your health. But with all the conflicting fitness advice out there, it can be hard to know where to start when it comes to creating a workout routine that works for you. Do you need to join a gym? Are home workouts just as effective? How many days per week should you be working out? And what type of exercises should you be doing?
Don’t worry, we’re here to help clear things up. In this blog post, we’ll give you some tips on how to create a fitness routine that fits your lifestyle and meets your fitness goals. Keep reading to learn more!
1. Set Some Goals
Before you start putting together your workout routine, it’s important to take a step back and think about what you’re hoping to achieve with your fitness journey. Do you want to lose weight? Tone up? Improve your cardiovascular health? Once you have a good idea of your goals, you can start putting together a plan to help you reach them.
2. Find an Activity You Enjoy
If you’re not enjoying your workout, chances are you won’t stick with it for very long. So, one of the key components of creating a successful fitness routine is finding an activity or activities that you actually enjoy doing. If you love being outdoors, try adding some walking or hiking into your routine. Or if you’re more of a social person, sign up for a group fitness class at your local gym. The options are endless, so take some time to explore until you find something that feels right for you.
Spring is in the air which means two things: warmer weather and swimsuit season. For many of us, that second one is enough to make us want to hide indoors until fall. But don’t despair! There are plenty of ways to make sure you stay motivated to reach your fitness goals. Here are five of our favorites.
1. Set a goal…and make it realistic
The first step to staying motivated is to have a goal to work towards. But beware, this isn’t a license to sign up for a marathon if you’ve never run before. Start small and build up gradually. And most importantly, make sure your goal is something you genuinely want to achieve. There’s nothing worse than hitting the gym day after day for a goal you’re not even sure you care about.
2. Find a workout buddy
Having someone to keep you accountable (and distracted from the fact that you’re working out) can be key to maintaining your motivation levels. If you don’t have a friend who’s interested in working out with you, there are plenty of fitness groups and classes you can join where you’ll meet like-minded people who will help keep you on track.
Let’s face it, we’re all busy. We’re juggling work, family, and social obligations. And in the midst of all that, we’re supposed to find time to stay healthy? It can be tough to make healthy choices when you’re always on the go. But don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. Here are 5 easy tips for staying healthy on the go.
1. Drink lots of water.
This one is a no-brainer. Staying hydrated is crucial for overall health and well-being. But it’s especially important when you’re on the go. When you’re constantly running around, you tend to sweat more and lose fluids more quickly. So make sure to drink plenty of water throughout the day to keep your body properly hydrated.
2. Eat regular meals.
It can be tempting to skip meals when you’re busy or grab something quick and unhealthy when you’re on the go. But if you want to maintain your health, it’s important to eat regular meals that are packed with nutrients. Make sure to eat breakfast, lunch, and dinner every day, and try to include healthy snacks in between if you can. Your body will thank you for it!
You know the feeling. You’re minding your own business, going about your day, when all of a sudden you get hit with a craving. A big one. The kind of craving that can only be satisfied by an enormous burrito/slice of cake/bag of chips. And not just any old burrito/slice of cake/bag of chips, but the supersized version with all the fixings. Before you know it, you’re halfway to the nearest fast food joint, telling yourself that you’ll just have a “little” taste. We’ve all been there. The good news is, there are ways to outsmart your appetite and win at weight loss. Here are a few tips:
1. Understand Your Cravings
The first step to conquering your cravings is understanding where they come from. Are you really hungry, or are you just bored? Dealing with emotional eating can be tough, but it’s important to be honest with yourself. If you find that you’re often reaching for food when you’re not actually hungry, try finding a different way to cope with your emotions, such as going for a walk or talking to a friend.
2. Eat Slowly and Mindfully
This one might seem obvious, but it’s worth repeating: eat slowly and mindfully. When we eat quickly, we tend to eat more than we need to feel full because it takes our brains a little while to catch up with our stomachs. Eating slowly gives our brains time to register that we’re getting full, so we’re less likely to overeat. In addition to eating slowly, it’s also important to pay attention to what you’re eating and how it makes you feel. Not all foods are created equal, and certain foods can leave us feeling sluggish or bloated. Be mindful of how different foods make your body feel and try to stick with those that make you feel energized and satisfied.
3. Plan Your Meals in Advance
One of the best ways to avoid unhealthy cravings is to plan your meals in advance. This way, you won’t find yourself scavenging through your pantry for something quick and easy (read: unhealthy) when you’re feeling too lazy to cook a proper meal. Planning ahead also allows you to control portion sizes and make sure you’re getting the right mix of nutrients. Not sure where to start? Meal planning doesn’t have to be complicated — try looking up recipes online or investing in a few cookbooks dedicated to healthy eating.
Going to the gym can be a drag. It’s time-consuming, it’s expensive, and let’s face it – it’s just not that fun. But don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. Here are three fitness routines you can do right in the comfort of your own home. No gym membership required!
Routine 1: The Couch to 5K Challenge
For this routine, all you need is a pair of running shoes and the determination to get off the couch. The Couch to 5K challenge is perfect for beginners who are looking to ease their way into a fitness routine. The goal of the challenge is to work your way up from being able to run for 30 seconds straight to being able to run for 5 kilometers (or about 3 miles) straight. And the best part is, you can do it all from your living room!
Routine 2: At-Home Cardio Workout
This routine is for those who are looking for a more challenging workout. For this one, you’ll need a jump rope (or any other type of rope), a set of dumbbells, and a timer. Start by jumping rope for one minute, then move on to dumbbell curls for one minute. Alternate between the two exercises until you’ve completed a 20-minute workout. And again, no gym required!
Routine 3: Pilates
Pilates is a great way to improve your flexibility and strength without putting too much strain on your body. For this routine, you’ll need a yoga mat and a set of light weights (optional). There are tons of great Pilates workouts available online – just pick one that looks like it will fit your fitness level and give it a try! No equipment necessary for this one either.
Every New Year’s Eve, people all over the world make resolutions to improve their lives. And every year, a large percentage of those people fail to stick to their resolutions — particularly when it comes to dieting and exercise. If you’re one of those people who always seems to fall off the wagon when it comes to making healthy lifestyle changes, don’t worry — you’re not alone. In this blog post, we’ll explore some of the most common obstacles for why diets fail, and help you to make healthy lifestyle changes and offer some tips on how you can overcome them.
Missing Motivation
One of the biggest obstacles to making healthy lifestyle changes is a lack of motivation. It’s easy to feel motivated when you first start out on your journey to better health, but that motivation often starts to wane after a few weeks or months. If you find yourself struggling to stay motivated, try setting small goals that you can realistically achieve. For example, rather than resolving to lose 50 pounds, resolve to lose 5 pounds. Or instead of vowing to work out for two hours every day, commit to working out for 30 minutes three times per week. Smaller goals are much easier to achieve — and they’ll keep you motivated as you work towards your larger goal.
Alleged Lack of Time
Another reason why diets fail, and that often gets in the way of making healthy lifestyle changes, is a lack of time. If you’re like most people, you probably have a full-time job, a family, and a social life — all of which can leave little time for cooking healthy meals or working out at the gym. The key here is to prioritize your health and make time for it in your schedule. That might mean getting up a little earlier in the morning so you can squeeze in a workout before work, or packing your lunch instead of eating out. Whatever it takes, find a way to make time for your health — it’s worth it!
Not Writing Down Your Goals
Finally, another common obstacle to making healthy lifestyle changes is simply forgetting about your goals. It’s easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of everyday life and forget about your commitment to eat healthier or exercise more often. One way to combat this is by writing down your goals and posting them somewhere where you’ll see them every day — like on the fridge or in your office. Seeing them every day will help remind you of what you’re working towards and keep you on track.
A personal trainer is somebody who will help you reach your fitness goals. A personal cheerleader is somebody who will help you reach your fitness goals and remind you that you are amazing just the way you are. You don’t need a personal trainer, you need a personal cheerleader. Here’s why:
Obstacles. We all have them. They’re those little (or sometimes big) things that get in the way of us achieving our goals. When it comes to making healthy lifestyle changes, obstacles can seem even bigger and more insurmountable. But trust me, they’re not. With a little bit of planning and some mindful decision-making, you can overcome any obstacle in your path. Here are three steps to get you started.
We’ve all been there. You start the New Year off with good intentions, vowing to lose those holiday pounds and get healthy. But by February, your motivation has fizzled and you’re back to your old eating habits. Sound familiar? It’s time to ditch the diet mentality and make some lasting changes with these five simple steps.