As a personal trainer, I find that most of my clients are in search of a healthy lifestyle. Whether their goal is weight loss, increased muscle, strength gain, general fitness, or improved performance, it all really comes down to living healthfully. Yes, the process may be different, based on an individual’s goals, but a healthy lifestyle is the backbone of every fitness goal.
I’m not here to convince you that this is an easy process. Change is hard. The work is real. It takes dedication and effort to begin living a healthy lifestyle. However, there are some things you can do that will help you change your mindset and begin the process of healthful living.
Real secrets to a healthy lifestyle
Sometimes it seems that when guidelines for living a healthy lifestyle are given, the writer either tells you how simple it all is, or when all is written, it just seems very complicated. It doesn’t have to be either. Instead, the secret is that a healthy lifestyle all stems from how you regard and treat your body. The rest will follow.
Love your body
At some point in our lives, most of us have looked in the mirror and said, “I hate my [fill in the blank]. Now is the time to stop that. If you have a hard time loving the way your body looks at first, appreciate what your body does for you. Your powerful legs allow you to chase down your toddler. Your strong back keeps you upright and going through the day. Your delicate touch allows you to create beautiful artwork. We all can find something to love about our body.
Move your body
The truth is, we sit too much. We drive everywhere, spend our days at a desk and our evenings on the couch. Get your body moving! Start with adding walking to your daily life. All those little tips you used to read about how to sneak in exercise really work. Park at the far end of the parking lot. Take the stairs instead of the escalator. Try walking to a friend’s house instead of driving.
Honor your body
Your body is the key to everything good in your life. Honor it! Stop filling it with junk, quit smoking, stay away from chemicals and drugs that will only do you harm. Get more sleep, drink more water.
Feed your body
The health of your body (and your life) has a direct correlation to the food you eat. Eat whole foods as much as possible. Stay away from processed and fast food. Reduce or eliminate added sugar. Don’t skip meals, especially breakfast. Your mom was right, it is the fuel that starts your day.
Forgive your body (and yourself)
These changes don’t happen overnight. There will be times that you will eat junk food, sleep in instead of work out, or simply have negative feelings about your body and its abilities. Just let it go. Don’t give up or think of it as a failure. Instead, use your lapse as an opportunity to recommit to your healthy lifestyle.
Are you ready to commit to your healthy lifestyle? Are you already committed? What helps you keep on track? What advice would you give someone who is trying to make these changes?
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Weekly Linkups
My weekly linkups! Please stop by and check out all of the great recipes, workouts, and information that all these awesome bloggers share every week!
Meatless Monday with Sarah and Deborah
Meatless Monday with Annmarie and Dixya
Tuesdays on the Run with Marcia, Erika, and Patty
Inspire Me Monday with Janice
Wild Workout Wednesday with Annmarie, Jen, and Nicole
The Plant-Based Potluck Party with Deborah
The Running Coaches’ Corner with Rachel, Lora Marie, and Me!
Friday 5 2.0 with Rachel and Lacey and Meranda
I have come to believe that what you put into your body to nourish it is more important than exercise. Cutting out processed foods and really limiting alcohol makes a huge difference.
I completely agree. Exercise is important for many reasons, but for optimal health, our nutrition must be our top priority.
These are all great tips, especially feed your body. I always remember “crap in, crap out” LOL
Haha. That’s so true! What we eat is so important! I constantly have to remind my clients of this.
These are all great things to remember!! I’m with Kimberly on the “crap in, crap out” philosophy, haha. What you eat makes such a huge difference!
I agree with her too. Good nutrition is so important.
You are so right – we do sit too much! I’ve always been a big proponent of parking farther away, taking walks, etc and, at work, I rarely picked up the phone to call a coworker unless I absolutely had to. I pretty much always got up and went over there to talk to them. Used to drive me absolutely crazy that people who worked less than 100 feet from me would call me for something silly (and not pressing) instead of getting up. Especially since we were within shouting distance! GAH!!! sorry, major pet peeve of mine!
I agree! I know that even though my job is spent on my feet, I still spend too much time sitting (blogging, duh, social media, etc., are killing me!).
The constant sitting is such a bad thing that our modern age has going on. I’m thankful my place of work has started phasing in convertible stand-up desks. I can tell a huge difference in the past year that I’ve had mine…my piriformis issues have pretty much “vacated the premises” and I could not be happier 😉
That’s great! I think I need one at home because that’s where I’m sitting at my computer way too much. At work I’m on my feet most of the time.
Yes! Love these tips. Living a healthy lifestyle is about so much more than just diet and fitness.
Thanks. It’s really about changing our way of looking at health.
I always thought I drank enough water, but lately I don’t think I have been. Maybe it’s because it’s winter time and cold out normally and I don’t feel like I am as thirsty.
Sometimes we don’t realize how dehydrated we can get in the winter, especially when the air is dry.
Yes to all of the above! Since my diagnosis with RA, I’ve become even more conscious of making healthy choices. I may have to ride your wave here and share some of the stuff I’m doing. I may not be able to stop RA but I’ve sure slowed down its progress!
I would love to learn what you do. I’m sure some things would even be helpful with my plain old osteoarthritis.
Definitely great things to remember! I’ve been trying to eat better but sometimes I give in and end up eating junk food. I try not to feel TOO bad about it. I mean it is done so what can I do about it? I guess not do it again? 🙂
Great insights. So much that is written about health and fitness seems to glamorize sacrifice and punishment rather than treating yourself nicely.