Maintaining your health and fitness levels has now become a huge buzzword and has transitioned into a billion-dollar industry. Each time you open the Internet, you will be hit by a massive wave of detailed data and information about keeping your weight down to stay fit and healthy. On the flip side, you'll also read about how to focus on your actual stamina levels and capability to complete your daily tasks efficiently. "Body shaming" is another buzzword, and overweight people are quite content with being who they are.
If you're reading this article, you're probably looking for answers. What should be your goals? Should you aim for that perfect 10 body, which may seem like a next-to-impossible task? Or should you look for other parameters of good health? Read ahead for some practical advice on how to redefine health and fitness.
What's the Trigger? Why Now?
When people start to think about health and fitness, the motivation comes from some specific reason, like a medical issue or a particular event for which you want to look your best. Whatever may be the trigger, adopt it as a lifestyle change. Think about how to sustain the changes regardless of whether or not the motivation remains. For instance, a sibling or close friend may have announced a wedding or an engagement. Or, your medical practitioner may have advised you to cut back on your sugar intake because of borderline diabetes.
Start with Small Changes
Use your motivation to add 1,000 steps to your daily activity levels. Walk up the stairs instead of taking the elevator and avoid driving as much as possible. Walk instead or take public transportation. Swap out salted snacks for fruit and drink plain water instead of aerated drinks. When you feel like eating a scrumptious dessert, go ahead and indulge. But keep the portion sizes in check. Changing your cooking techniques can also make a world of difference. Instead of deep frying, use the air fryer. Drizzle with butter before eating, and you'll maintain the great taste.
Team Up with a Friend
Reaching your health and fitness goals can be a lonely battle. Most people tend to give up or lose interest after a time. The key is to remain accountable, and to make that happen, team up with a good friend. Join a class together to inspire you to keep up with attendance. If you aren't quite sure about the right exercise routines to follow, get personal training experts to help. Carpooling to class together keeps you interested, as does sharing performance milestones.
Choose an Activity You Personally Enjoy
The exciting thing about health and fitness is that there are any number of exercises and activities to choose from. So, pick the one that interests you the most. Have you always wanted to learn salsa dancing? Or do you find yoga calming and ideal for stress relief? Or, maybe you just enjoy going for long walks on the trails through the woods. The secret to maintaining your goals is to do what you enjoy and leverage benefits from it.
Break It Up Into Small Achievable Units
Although staying committed to health and fitness is a good thing, finding the time can present a challenge when you're scrambling to keep up with daily responsibilities. Even if you can't set aside an hour every day for exercising, walking, or dancing, you can grab 10 minutes. Take a break from work to walk around the block and return quickly. Commit to stretching exercises for at least 10 minutes in a day. Focus on the boosted blood circulation and the burst of energy you'll sense.
Try this Example
On the spot working out is also a good plan. When you wake up in the morning, set the alarm to 10 minutes early. Use this time to do knee bends, raise your legs in the air, or lift your hips. Turning at the waist from side to side is also a good exercise. This small change before getting out of bed translates into toned legs and hips and trimmer thighs. When you get up, swing your legs off the side of the bed and sit for a few minutes. Raise your knees to the chest a few times for a flatter stomach. The key is to keep it simple and effective.
Fitness is Not About Being Skinny
Setting realistic and achievable goals is crucial. If you aim to lose 50 to 60 pounds within two months, that's not going to happen. Identifying your body structure and being comfortable in your skin is also important. If you have a broad bone frame, you can't keep up with someone who is naturally slender. The mantra now is not just health and fitness but fitness and strength. Your goals should center around confidence, increased stamina, and overall wellness. Think: a healthy sex drive, optimum sleep patterns, mental aptitude and focus, happiness, and healthy digestion.
Be Proud of Who and What You Are
Like anyone who exercises regularly will tell you, more than a healthier body, you'll also develop a healthier mind and psychology. Exercising boosts blood circulation, and you get a rush of endorphins or feel-good hormones. These hormones elevate your mood and make you feel confident and in control of your life. Expect these effects to spill into other aspects of your life, professional and personal with stronger relationships with loved ones.
The most crucial fact is that the efforts you put in will certainly start to show in a short time. You'll notice that your clothes fit better and that you feel more energetic and happy. And, the most valuable effect is the sense of pride and accomplishment you'll feel.
Before signing off, here's a final tip. Health and fitness and the efforts you dedicate to your body are not just about attaining certain goals. It's about achieving a healthier multi-dimensional well-rounded lifestyle, not just physical, but also mental and psychological. That should be the core objective.
