Do you have a good diet, recommended BF percentage, participate in moderate exercise and don’t smoke? Chances are slim.
What can you do about your health right now? Understand that you are able to change it! It’s up to all of us to keep our bodies running in peak condition. No one else will do it for us and there’s no time like now! By fueling your body properly and being physically active, you can achieve optimum wellness. Track your food and fluid intake! (free nutrition tracker here) You might learn a few things about what drives you to eat and drink what you do!
Start working toward adopting these health-promoting behaviors!
- Tell yourself “I can do this!” This is the most important step. If you don’t believe that you can achieve better health, you’re likely setting yourself up to fail. No matter how far away your health goal seems, there is a path to get you there. Write down your health goal right now and visualize yourself being in that state. Next, let’s figure out how to start moving you closer to your goal.
- Drink water. Your body is made up of ~60% water and staying hydrated is very important to overall health. Energy, muscle stiffness and false hunger can all stem from not drinking enough. If you have trouble on a daily basis, try carrying a bottle with you that you can refill throughout the day, challenge a friend to drink the recommended amount with you, or download a tracking app to your phone or smartwatch to remind you throughout the day.
- Eliminate soda and fast food. What sounds like an easy step can often be one of the hardest for some people. If you are drinking several cans a day or eating out at every meal, set a goal to reduce it by half every week if stopping cold turkey feels overwhelming. It is taking the small steps that count and get you closer to your goal. If your job or required travel makes fast food the only option, make a healthier choice by choosing grilled instead of fried foods. Refrain from adding creamy sauces or condiments. Choose a healthier side like a piece of fruit or a salad.
- Use your feet. Sitting is the new smoking. Going to the grocery store? Park a little further away and get a few extra steps in. Hair appointment on the second floor? Take the stairs to get up there. Nice day outside? Take a walk through your park or with your dog. Stuck at work all day? Do a lap or two around the parking lot before lunch. Getting your blood circulating and moving with fresh oxygen will keep your body and heart happy.
- Get sleep. Not getting enough sleep each night is a major problem in today’s busy world. It seems there are never enough hours in the day. But there should always be enough at night for your body to get the proper sleep and rest it needs. Set a “be in bed” time and stick to it. If at first you don’t “feel tired” try reading a few chapters of a book or focus on a few breathing techniques. You will slowly get used to going to bed at the same time every night and waking up feeling like you are actually rested. With a new, more active lifestyle, you might find you fall asleep as soon as your head hits the pillow.
No need to strive for perfection. It doesn’t have to be a new year, a new month, or even a Monday to start! Pick today as the day you start to focus on your health and good things will happen when you start doing instead of just thinking about it. If you have more questions about your health or how a food sensitivity test might help you identify foods that may be leading to adverse reactions, come join our facebook group where we are happy to answer any of your nutrition questions and create a community of motivated people wanting to get healthier every day.