Getting fit and healthy is something that’s almost always on everyone’s mind at the start of the year. In fact, it’s one of the most common New Year’s resolutions that people have. Unsurprisingly, it’s also one of the most common resolutions that people have a hard time maintaining.
Here are some tips we’ve prepared to help you reach your fitness and health goals in 2019. These tips should be able to get you well on your way on the road to a better and healthier you.
What are the most realistic ways to get healthy?
It’s important to know that your primary goal should always be your health. Don’t focus on having a six-pack and huge biceps, or being able to run a marathon without getting tired. Focus on being healthier, and the rest will surely follow.
Set realistic goals
A lot of people have a hard time getting healthy because they tend to set lofty goals. If you expect to lose 20 pounds in a month, then you’ll just be disappointed.
Instead, try to focus on simpler and more realistic goals such as exercising at least an hour a day, avoiding sweetened drinks, and eating healthier.
Your goals should not only be realistic but should also include a lifestyle change that you’re sure you can stick to.
It’s also important to remember that getting healthy is a goal that you should have for your entire life. It’s not something that you can just quit once you’ve attained it.
Set aside some time for exercise
Out of these realistic ways to get healthy, making exercise a part of your daily routine ranks among the most important. Don’t think of exercise as something that you do when you’re free, or something to do during weekends.
It’s generally recommended to allocate 150 minutes of moderate exercise or 75 minutes of intense exercise a week for good health. That’s just about 20 minutes of exercise a day.
If you’re looking to lose weight, or get stronger, then setting aside at least an hour each day for exercise would be a great idea.
Don’t try and starve yourself or go on a fad diet
Here’s a piece of advice: Fad diets don’t really work. That’s because when you first go on a diet, you’ll see pretty good results. However, most people find it difficult to maintain their diet and slowly have more and more “cheat days” and eventually give up the diet altogether.
Once they notice that they gained the weight back, they’ll start dieting all over again. This is called the yo-yo effect, and it’s not really good for your health. In fact, it causes you to gain even more weight, which makes it even harder to get back into shape.
The best way to go about it would be to simply eat healthier. Cut back on the carbs, meat, and sugar, and eat more fruits and vegetables. Avoid eating at fast-food restaurants and eating junk food.
You don’t need to completely restrict yourself from eating certain types of food. You can still eat a burger, or have a slice of pizza if you want. Just make sure that you eat those foods in moderation.
Don’t forget about self-care
Stress is a big factor when it comes to your overall health. Not only does stress have an effect on your physical well-being, it can also affect your mental health.
That’s why it’s important to take breaks and relax, and to not push yourself too hard. If you’re constantly overworked and exerting yourself too hard, your body and mind won’t be able to keep up.
Give yourself a much-needed break and treat yourself every so often. Your body will be thankful for it.
