For some, staying in shape seems to come naturally. Frustratingly for some, these perpetually healthy people often seem to be able to eat a variety of foods without worry, take part in simple exercise and always manage to slip into their skinny jeans come Friday night.
While it may seem that these fitter-than-most people employ some magic method to stay trim and tight, in truth, many of them simply adopt – and stick to – some simple habits. If you’re ready to stop the yo-yo dieting, or are not committed to getting and staying healthy, mimicking these healthy habits may make you more successful in your quest.
1. Enjoy The Process
When many people begin to dedicate themselves to fitness, they set a lofty goal. It may be an ideal – and likely difficult to achieve – perfect weight or a physical feat that you want to be able to perform at ease by the time you are done with your physical improvement efforts.
While setting this goal is great, if the only thing keeping you going in the process is the promise of one day – eventually – after a long period of toil – reaching this goal, your efforts will most likely peter out long before you get there.
Improve your overall well-being and your attitude by setting little goals for yourself along the way. Celebrate the achievement of these small milestones and you will find the task of getting fit decidedly less arduous.
2. Eat A Good Breakfast
It’s advice so often given that it’s almost become cliché. However, it’s so true that it bears repeating.
Making time each morning for a solid breakfast is vital to overall health and wellness. When planning your breakfast, seek specific items that offer lots of lean proteins and vitamins, like an egg white and spinach omelet.
3. Make Movement A Priority
Not only do you not burn off as many calories when sitting stationary as you do while moving, but failure to get up and get going can also lead to muscle atrophy and joint stiffness. Do whatever you need to do to make sure that you move daily.
If you’re always too tired when you get home from work to get in your steps for the day, set your alarm a half-hour earlier and do your moving and grooving in the early morning. If you’re finding trouble getting motivated, draft a friend to join you in your efforts.
Not only will pairing up make it more fun, but it will also give you someone to whom you’re accountable.
4. Eat In
Eating at home isn’t just good for your pocket book, as it can also have a positive impact on your waistline. Studies show that people who eat out not only end up consuming more than those who eat at home, but they also lack awareness of how many calories are actually in the foods they consume.
Make it a point to gather your family around the dinner table instead of piling them into a restaurant booth and you can have a positive impact on the health of your loved ones as well.
5. Avoid Drinking Calories
Your triple tall, extra whip white mocha is ruining your life. Okay, that might be an overstatement, but it certainly isn’t improving it – beyond maybe the five minutes of happiness you get as you down this $7 cup of fancied up Joe.
Whether your weakness is fancy coffee drinks or sodas sipped throughout the day, you can make a major dent in your calorie consumption by dropping these calorie bombs from your daily food intake plan.
If you’re not ready to commit to water, which is always the healthiest choice, try unsweetened teas or chilled black coffee. Both offer you the flavor you may be seeking without providing the burst of unwelcome calories.
6. Take Breaks When Necessary
Lots of people find themselves packing on the pounds because the pressures of life leave them exhausted, sedentary and comfort-food craving. Prevent pressure from building up and negatively impacting you by taking breaks when you need them.
If you find yourself sitting in your cubicle nursing a stress headache, take a coffee break. Sit outside and take some deep breaths. You’re not going to get much work done when you aren’t in a positive mental place anyway, so taking this break will probably increase both your work quantity and quality.
