In times like these when pollution, contamination, spurious products and mental pressure all seem to conspire against you, leading a healthy lifestyle and staying fit becomes a must have.
But they are either tiring or boring. At times, we simply do not have time for it. Can we ever find a balance!
Well, actually yes. We can try these simple tricks to make small changes to our lifestyle and lead a healthy life.
Diet: We should make our diet always a top priority. A healthy person doesn’t smoke, tries to maintain a healthy weight, eats healthy foods with plenty of fruits, vegetables and fiber and, of course, exercises on a regular basis.
Managing stress: A healthy person also knows how to manage stress, gets good quality sleep each night, doesn’t drink too much, doesn’t sit too much—basically, does everything in moderation all the time. When you look at everything that could possibly go into a healthy lifestyle, you can see just how hard all of those things are in our current world.
Exercise: Boring as it may sound, this is a must do. Even though there are many excuses not to do it such as you’re too busy, don’t know where to start, you’re not motivated or you’re afraid you’ll injure yourself. Maybe you think exercise has to be really hard or it isn’t good enough. Whatever definition you have about what exercise is or isn’t, the bottom line is that exercise is movement. Whether it’s walking around the block or running a marathon, that movement is exercise and every time you move more than you normally do, it counts.
It’s great if you can spend time exercising—meaning you’re sweating, working in your target heart rate zone, or doing something to strengthen your body. But it doesn’t always have to be that way. Moderate activities like chores, gardening and walking can make a difference. Keep trying!
Reduces stress: Sleep well! This is the key. Never bring your work to your bedroom. Keep your bed cool and comfortable. This will ensure good sleep and help you start fresh each day. Besides, stress not only increases chances of heart attack, but also obesity that can lead to a number of other health complications. So long as you can keep your diet, sleep and exercise in check, weight shouldn’t pose an issue to you.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes that if you are overweight, reduction of 5 to 10 percent of your total body weight can help lower blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar.
In fact, you don’t even have to have a goal to lose weight, especially if you have trouble sticking to a program. Why not focus on being healthy to start and worry about the weight loss once you’ve got some healthy habits under your belt?
Simple Ways to Move Your Body
You can start the process of being healthy and now by adding a little more activity to your life. If you’re not ready for a structured program, start small. Every little bit counts and it all adds up to burning more calories.
Turn off the TV and computer. Once a week, turn off the TV and computer and do something a little more physical with your family. Play games, take a walk, do almost anything that will be more active than sitting on the couch.
Walk more. Look for small ways to walk more. When you get the mail, take a walk around the block, take the dog for an extra outing each day, or walk on your treadmill for five minutes before getting ready for work.
Do some chores. Working in the garden, raking leaves, sweeping the floor—these kinds of activities may not be vigorous exercise, but they can keep you moving while getting your house in order.
Eat more fruit. Add it to your cereal, salads, dinners, or make it a dessert. Fruit is also a great snack after work or school to keep you going for dinner.Sneak in more veggies. Add them wherever you can—a tomato on your sandwich, peppers on your pizza, or extra veggies in your pasta sauce. Keep pre-cut, canned, or frozen veggies ready for quick snacks.
Leading a healthy lifestyle doesn’t have to mean drastic changes. Making small changes can go a long way. Besides, picking up just one good habit at a time and working on it each day is far more doable than promising yourself fancy list that slip out of the radar a days go by.
