Spring Into Shape
Spring is officially in the air! Are you as excited as I am? It’s safe to say that most of us are more than ready to put away our winter gear. With swimsuit season just around the corner, there’s no better time to adopt a healthier lifestyle than now!
Unfortunately, there are no short-term or quick fixes when it comes to health and fitness. I can tell you first-hand from experience that the more extreme the exercise and nutritional approach is, the greater the likelihood you will get discouraged and gravitate back to your old habits. Sorry, but that’s the truth.
You need to find a way of exercising and eating healthy that you can sustain. You also need to devise a plan that will keep you in shape not just for a season, but all year round. Here are a few tips to help you get started.
Exercise in the Morning
There’s a lot of truth to the quote “Exercise in the morning before your brain figures out what you’re doing.” Especially for those of you who don’t love to exercise. An early morning workout will help you start the day with more energy, focus and optimism. Plus, after a morning workout, you’re more likely to eat healthy and say active throughout the day. Get up early and go for a run, lift some weights, or take a group fitness class at your local gym. When you put it off for later in the day, it’s less likely to happen.
Exercise Consistently
Life gets hectic, and it can be challenging to maintain a consistent workout during the week. However, this is what is needed if you want to achieve your fitness goals. Set aside a specific time each day that works well for your schedule and stick to it. If you miss a day, make sure you make it up! Trust me, you’ll feel better.
Pack Your Lunch
I don’t just pack my lunch; I pack my love! Packing a sensible lunch is always a great way to ensure your success. It also gives you the opportunity to create something healthy that you will feel good about! If you don’t plan ahead, you might find yourself in trouble. Nothing can derail your diet quicker than an unplanned trip to a fast-food restaurant.
Keep It Real
Real food is a simple concept. If you eat what nature has given us: plants, fruits, roots, nuts, seeds, meat, fish, eggs, milk and its by-products such as cheese and yogurt you will not only look good, but you will feel good too. Real food should never have a list of ingredients that you can’t pronounce. In other words, if you can’t pronounce it, don’t eat it!
Cook from Scratch
Whether you live on your own or are a busy parent, finding the time and energy to prepare home-cooked meals can seem like a daunting task. At the end of a hectic day, eating out or ordering in might feel like the quickest, easiest option. However, convenience and processed food can take a significant toll on your health. By cooking for yourself, you will know exactly what’s going into your food and you can ensure that you and your family eat fresh, wholesome meals.
Take It Outdoors
Nature is a gym and your membership is free! Being outside is so therapeutic and has a huge impact on both our physical and mental health. Go for a hike, ride your bicycle, rollerblade, swim, kayak or play volleyball. It really doesn’t matter what you do as long as you are actively enjoying the outdoors.
Shop Local
Shop local, eat local, spend local and enjoy local. Support the local businesses who support the area where you live, work and play. There is something so satisfying about preparing a meal with locally grown produce. Know who your local farmers are and show them your support. Find your nearest farmer’s market or fruit stand. Maybe you have an interest in starting your own garden?
Squeeze in Exercise
Finding the time to squeeze in a workout can be challenging. The good news is that research shows that the effects of exercise are cumulative, so you don’t have to do it all at once to get the full benefit. Use your time wisely! Try fitting in ten minutes before work, ten on your lunch break and then ten more in the evening. Whenever you need a quick, minute-long break at work, why not do a few sets of squats? When you are home in the evening watching TV, use commercial breaks to do push-ups, lunges, chair dips, planks, crunches and whatever else works in your living space.
Make a Lifestyle
Change Being healthy and fit isn’t a fad or a trend. Instead, it’s a lifestyle. Fundamentally, if you want to be fit, healthy and in shape long term you need to make all of the steps we are talking about a part of your everyday life. Thus, the term “Lifestyle Change.” Once you start to notice a difference in how you look and feel, it will be easier to keep moving forward with your fitness goals. There’s nothing more motivating than seeing results.
In Conclusion:
Despite the forecast, live like its spring! A healthy lifestyle not only changes your body, it changes your mind your attitude and your mood.
There’s no better time to get started than right now. Build a good foundation of healthy eating and training habits so that you are able to maintain your body’s condition today and in the long-term. Good luck to you!
