Well today is finally a day we can call spring (In Dartmouth). I know some of you on the South Shore have had a few hopeful days recently! Thought I would kick off our late spring with a few healthy tips for getting in shape for the summer or whatever your goal may be.
A lot of people come to me for tips and tricks on how to lose weight or how to start an exercise program. Here are some tips I have learned over the years, and you must always remember it is a work in progress. I am still working on it, and you have to realize you are human and will always be tempted and that is ok! You can indulge at times, if you do not, you will likely fail at your overall program. The key is to incorporate them and do not over do it. I am not an expert by any stretch of the imagination but I have figured out a few tips that are very helpful, so I thought I would share.
My first tip is to drink more water. Remember that you are mostly made of up water. Water helps your body function just like gasoline makes a car move. Fuel up with water, spice it up with cucumber or lemon wedge and be on your way. Try to space the glasses of water out throughout the day, for example have a glass when you wake up and then ensure you have some in and around your meals.
Nutrition is important and knowing your portions is even more important. I think we generally know what is bad for us. You really need to take a look at your personal diet, what are your triggers? what do you have too much of? How much are you eating? There are some great programs out there that can help you with portion control. Some that I can think of are Weight Watchers and 21 day fix. These programs really break it down and make it visual for you, it is really eye opening to see for example how many carbohydrates you should be having during the day. For me I tend to over do it on added sugar and carbohydrates, as long as I am mindful of these portions I can generally stay on track.
Have a cheat meal twice per week. I do not really like to call it cheat meal, as it sounds negative or like you are doing something bad. Call it a victory meal or success meal, celebrate staying on track throughout the week.
Find a fitness friend. Exercising is always better with a friend or a team. Generally you do not want to let your friends down. Having a fitness friend will make you accountable as they are relying on you to keep them on track and vice versa. You can also share in the tough times of getting through your workout, and on the other hand celebrate your successes of running further, winning that game, or losing that weight!
Do something you like to do. Exercise needs to be part of your life in some shape or form. For me this part has always been easiest as I love playing soccer, volleyball etc. You need to find something you like to do and will be easy for you to do frequently. Maybe for you that is hiking, walking, taking a class, gardening, cycling, whatever it is, pick something that gets you moving and you can see yourself doing a couple times a week with ease.
These simple tips can give you a great head start to working on a healthier you! If you have any tips you would like to share please let us know!
Source Url: http://gobelmont.ca/spring-healthy-behaviors/