5 Simple Steps to a Healthier Lifestyle
Often, people make achieving their goals much more difficult than they need to be. Maybe you’re hoping to lose fat immediately, or you’re down and out because you feel like you’ve already tried everything.
While we understand it’s overwhelming to begin a fitness journey, it’s much easier to grasp and meet goals when they’re aligned very specifically. The best way to do this for each individual is very different. This can include anything and everything from aiming for a weight, losing a specific number of inches around your waist, developing a stronger heart or even maintaining the healthy one you currently have. Whatever the reason for your goals, there are a few things you can kick off your fitness journey with that won’t exhaust or deter you from success.
If you’re unsure where to begin your health and fitness journey, we recommend starting off with the basics and sticking to them. Ignore the fat loss pills, the yo-yo dieting, waist trainers and crazy supplements.
Walk more
Prioritize protein
Sleep more
Drink more water
Exercise at least two times per week
Walk more
Yep, it really is that simple. According to the Cleveland Clinic, walking assists in “decreasing your resting heart rate, lowering your blood pressure and LDL (your “bad” cholesterol), and strengthening your heart.”
Walking more will help you lose weight, reduce stress, curb cravings, improve your sleep and more. Walk for 20-minutes per day to begin and increase the time you walk daily. Build up 10,000 steps per day.
Prioritize protein
How much protein you should eat depends on a number of factors including weight, gender and how often you maintain activity each day. A nutritionist or dietitian can assist you in determining how much protein you should consume daily for your goals.
Eating protein helps prevent muscle breakdown and also, builds muscle.
Sleep more
Late nights, early mornings and few hours of sleep throughout the evening won’t get you very far in your fitness journey. There’s no better excuse to pack on extra ZZZ’s throughout the night than your health.
Sleep allows your body time and rest to recover and repair from the workouts you put your body through. Maintain 7-9 hours of sleep each night.
Drink more water
You can often tell whether your body is hydrated or dehydrated by a number of factors. The color of your pee, the way your body and mind feel and more. While your pee doesn’t need to be completely clear, if it’s dark or too yellow, this is an indication you’re not drinking enough water. If you’re chronically dealing with headaches and dizziness, you might be dehydrated.
The Cleveland Clinic recommends 125 ounces (3.7 liters) of water for men daily and 91 ounces (2.7 liters) for women.
Exercise at least two times per week
Sure, you can exercise more than that, but you should maintain at least two times per week always. Get your body moving for at least 30-minutes. Switch between cardio and weight lifting workouts. Overtime, you’ll realize how much stronger your body, mind and heart have become so, keep with it.
Hold yourself accountable to it and you will see results.