World events over the last 5 years have changed the way we work, exercise, and probably eat. For some of us, stretchy workout pants have taken the place of traditional work attire, and you might be thinking it’s time to reign in the working-from-home snacking! But without setting ourselves up for success by cultivating lasting healthy habits, these thoughts could lead to crash dieting or a strained relationship with diet and exercise.
The first step in avoiding crash diets and supporting a healthy lifestyle is through food. Cutting your calories in half and eating nothing but apples and celery is not a viable option that will be good for you in the long run. Instead, it is important to create a lifestyle of eating clean. One way to do this is to eat for performance instead of pleasure. Your body is a machine, capable of so much as long as it is cared for properly. To exercise and perform other daily activities, you need to have strength through nutrition. When you eat poorly, you can feel lethargic and less capable of tackling your exercise routine, or even your daily tasks. Another tip for creating a healthy eating style is planning. Do your research, find out what healthy foods you enjoy, and know what you need to eat every day. Planning helps you to avoid the occasional “slips” in your healthy lifestyle and can be a great foundation for you as you attempt to eat healthier. Also, keeping yourself accountable is a huge way to keep on track. Record the food that you eat and calculate the nutritional information of your meals; knowing that you have to record your daily meals helps you not to over-indulge in sweets and other unhealthy foods on a whim.
Another integral part of starting (and maintaining) a healthy lifestyle is through exercise. While most people are not thrilled at the idea of a treadmill or weight machines, there are a wide variety of different ways to be active throughout the day. Here are some tips to keep you motivated on your journey to fitness: First, you can turn your commute into a workout. Instead of driving, why not try biking or walking? If you live too far from your office, or you work from home, try setting your alarm earlier to get a work out in before work. Working out before work can give you more energy before a busy day, give you endorphins for a better mood, and leave you less stressed about the idea of going to the gym after a long day at work. Also, you can invest in more (and better) workout clothes. Commit to exercise by dressing in the right gear and feeling comfortable at the gym. Sure, you get the same workout when exercising in boxer shorts and an oversized t-shirt as compared to Nike, but you can re-enforce yourself as an exerciser by investing in yourself and getting excited to look good as you work out to feel good. Another great way to stay motivated about exercising is by recording your workouts online or in a journal. Logging your workouts is a great way to see your progress over time, which is motivation in itself, and if you record them online, it provides you with a support system to encourage you and keep you going even on the tough days.
Overall, losing weight and being healthy is all about balance and consistency. Don’t focus completely on exercise, but also don’t only leave your health to diet choices. Sustainable healthy eating and living are crucial to achieving and maintaining a well-working body that deserves to be treated with care so that it can perform well for you daily.
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Sources:
Mackie, Ryan. “Eating Right: A Ten-Step Strategy to Eating Clean.” BodyBuilding.com, January 15, 2014. http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/ryanm14.htm
Soong, Jennifer. “7 Habits of Highly Effective Exercisers.” Fitness. http://www.fitnessmagazine.com/workout/motivation/habits-of-effective-exercisers.
