It’s no secret that exercising and eating healthy are two of the best things we can do for our mental and physical health.
However, there’s a big difference between wanting to stay healthy and fit and actually taking the steps to stay healthy and fit. Many of us lack the motivation to implement the necessary changes to stay healthy.
Luckily, exercising doesn’t have to be a dreadful experience. There are many exercising tips you can follow that will help you stay healthy, fit, motivated, and happy.
Check out this guide to learn about the top exercising tips for a fit and healthy life.
1. Make it a Social Activity
Exercising doesn’t have to mean going for long, isolated runs. There are many ways you can socialize while you work out, including:
- Going for a walk or run with a friend
- Joining an exercise group
- Attending an exercise class with a friend
- Engaging in team sports
Many people find that all it takes is a little social interaction to keep their exercise motivation up.
2. Vary Your Workouts
The goal of exercising isn’t to get in shape and lose a bunch of weight so you can quit your workout routine. As pointed out on most bodybuilding sites, exercising should be a lifelong commitment.
Because it’s a lifelong commitment, you need to make sure you’re choosing a sustainable workout routine. For many people, this means choosing a varied workout routine that won’t result in boredom.
If you’ve been running four times a week and are completely over it, it’s time to shake things up. Here are some ways you can shake up your fitness routine:
- Try a 30 or 60-day workout program
- Play a sport once or twice a week instead of doing a traditional workout
- Take a dance class
We also encourage you to think outside of the “traditional” exercise box. There are all kinds of workouts you can do besides running and weight lifting. You can try pilates, aerial yoga, kickboxing, or swimming, just to name a few.
Varying your workout routine not only helps prevent boredom, but it also helps you get in better shape. If you’re doing the same workout routine over and over again, your body will get used to it.
As your body adjusts to your routine, you’ll burn fewer and fewer calories. Varying your workouts will help keep your body guessing and burning more calories.
3. Track Your Progress
Even if your general goal is to just stay in shape and get healthier, tracking your progress with your exercise routine is a great way to keep your motivation going.
Remember, weight loss and muscle gain aren’t the only ways you can measure your progress. You can also measure your progress with:
- Running, biking, or swimming times
- How you’re feeling/your mental health
- How much energy you have/how well you’re sleeping
- How your clothes are fitting you
- Your blood pressure, cholesterol levels, or blood sugar levels
You can also make fun little challenges for yourself to keep you motivates. For example, you can say, “by the end of 30 days, I want to be able to do 10 pushups”. Then, you can do exercises that will help you meet this goal.
4. Incorporate Exercise Into Your Daily Routine
Exercise doesn’t always have to mean hitting the gym or carving out a chunk of your day for a sweat session.
There are also many ways you can incorporate exercise into your daily routine. Here are some things you can do to make exercise a part of your everyday routine:
- Walk your dog instead of just letting it outside
- Take the stairs instead of the elevator
- Go for a walk with a co-worker on your lunch break
- Bike or walk to work instead of driving
- Get off the bus a stop early and walk the rest of the way to work or home
- Walk around your office when taking a call
- Park at the back of the parking lot when going to work and running errands
You’d be surprised at how much these small changes can really add up over time.
5. Remember to Rest and Recover
When it comes to exercise, sometimes, less is more.
Exercising should energize and revitalize you, not drain you and wear you out. If you find that you’re having trouble getting through your workouts, then it may be time for a day off.
Working out breaks your body down, and in order for your body to build itself back up again, it needs rest. How much rest you need will depend on the type and intensity of exercise you’re engaging in. Generally speaking though, you should aim for 1 to 3 rest days per week.
6. Supplement Your Exercise With Healthy Food
In order to reap the most benefits from your workout routine, you need to make sure you’re eating healthily.
Eating healthy doesn’t mean you should be counting every carb and calorie that enters your body. Rather, your focus should be on eating whole, nutrient-dense foods that will keep you satiated and sustain you through your workout.
A diet rich in fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and whole grains is the way to go. For each meal, try to fill up half your plate with either fruits or vegetables, a quarter of your plate with lean protein, and another quarter with a mix of healthy carbs and fats.
A simple meal could be a cup of steamed broccoli, a serving of baked tofu, and some brown rice mixed with avocado.
You may also want to consider adding vitamins and supplements to your diet. You can check out http://lyf.fit to learn how to choose the right supplements for your body.
Exercising Tips: Are You Ready to Get Fit and Healthy?
Now that you’ve read these exercising tips, it’s time to put them into action. With these tips, you’ll be well on your way to a happier and healthier version of yourself.
For more tips on staying healthy, be sure to check back in with our blog.