It seems that there is a new diet craze every year. We’re told to cut carbs if we want to lose weight. Then it switches and we’re told that fats should be avoided for the best results.
Despite the endless stream of contradicting information that is fed to us through the media, living a healthy lifestyle can be simple.
It’s possible for everyone to be healthy, whether you have a health or fitness goal that they’re trying to reach or you want to maintain your current physique.
We all know that movement and great nutrition are key to living a healthy lifestyle. We know to exercise and eat a healthy diet.
But what do these things actually mean? How can you implement these things into your current life to achieve optimal health?
Here are five simple things that you can do to start living a healthier lifestyle as of today! In fact, you can even visit Rolling Paper for additional information and health guides written by health experts and journalists.
1 – Learn More About Nutrition
When it comes to weight loss, muscle gain, or weight maintenance, your nutrition is key.
Nutrition involves eating a well-balanced diet, and this includes items from every food group. It involves fuelling your body with the right kinds of foods every day so you can function to your full potential. Without proper nutrition, your body would not be able to grow and develop properly.
There is a lot of information available online for you to learn about nutrition and healthy eating. Spending the time to read about how you can fuel your body with nutrient-dense foods will make your health journey much easier.
The natural grocers in Utah stock everything that you need to eat a nutritious diet. Each week, fill your trolley with lots of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean meats, ready to cook some healthy recipes when you get home!
2 – Exercise Every Day
Moving your body every day is one of the best ways to improve and maintain your physical health and fitness levels.
Exercise can enhance the health of your heart and lungs. Your cardiovascular system becomes more efficient at pumping the blood around your body, which improves your circulation and lowers blood pressure. In turn, your risk of developing heart disease decreases.
Movement is also important to maintain muscle mass. If you perform resistance training, you can build more muscle, and gain strength and power.
Exercise shouldn’t be torturous. It should be enjoyable! Find a form of movement that you love, whether it’s jogging, walking, swimming, or dancing. When you genuinely enjoy what you’re doing, you’re more likely to stay motivated and continue exercising every day.
If you have a dog, take them on long walks each day. If you have a friend who also wants to go get fit and healthy, join the local gym and take a few workout classes together. Having a workout buddy can help you to stay accountable.
Aim to complete 30 minutes of moderate exercise five days a week to achieve the recommended 150 minutes each week.
3 – Eat Lots of Fruits and Veggies
Fruits and vegetables provide you with all of the essential micronutrients (vitamins and minerals) that your body needs to function optimally. Every vitamin and mineral has a unique set of functions in your body, so it’s important that you eat enough of each micronutrient.
Ideally, you should be eating at least five portions of fruits and vegetables every day. If you can eat more than this, that’s even better! The more fruits and veggies you eat, the better chances you have of consuming an adequate amount of each vitamin and mineral.
4 – Limit Your Alcohol Intake
Alcohol is okay in moderation. It’s okay to have a glass of wine over dinner at a restaurant or enjoy a cocktail with your friends on a Friday night. But you should limit your alcohol intake to a maximum of one or two drinks a week.
Alcohol contains more calories than you might first think. On average, one gram of alcohol contains 7 kcals, and these are ‘empty’ calories. In other words, they don’t fill you up.
Alcohol doesn’t send a satiety signal to your brain so no matter how much drink, you are likely to eat the same amount of food as usual. This means your drinking a bunch of extra calories on top of your usual food intake, and this is why drinking excessive amounts of alcohol can lead to unwanted weight gain.
Whether you’re looking to gain muscle, lose fat, or maintain your current physique, you should keep your alcohol consumption to a minimum.
5 – Practice Meditation and Mindfulness
Your mental health is just as important as your physical health, and they are closely linked.
You may have heard of the mind-body connection, which describes the way your emotions and feelings can significantly impact your physical well-being.
If your physical health is suboptimal, it can affect your mental and emotional health, and vice versa. This is why you should work on your mind as well as your body!
To improve your mindset, you can practice regular meditation and mindfulness. This type of practice can help to calm your mind and relieve anxiety. It can also help you to become more self-awareness and conscious of the present moment.
Your meditative practice is unique to you. You might enjoy meditating the traditional way, sitting on a mat in a quiet room. Or you might prefer to meditate while walking or listening to relaxing music.
You could do some deep breathing exercises, practice some yoga positions, or focus on gratitude as part of your meditation routine. It’s completely up to you!
Find something that helps you to feel more relaxed and relieves your worries. Something that makes you feel great from the inside out and stops your mind from wandering to the negatives!
Final Thoughts
Working on improving your mindset every day as well as your physical health is the key to true happiness. Don’t forget that I am currently working through each of the 12 categories of life to create a well-designed life. Feel free to take the free Lifebook masterclass and join me on the journey.
