14 WAYS TO STAY FIT AND HEALTHY TIPS FOR YOU AND YOUR FAMILY

FIT AND HEALTHY TIPS

I am a firm believer in the saying "healthy is more important than skinny." While this may seem like common sense, it just isn't true. This is especially true when you have children under age 7. I get that all of us can relate to the struggles of trying to find the perfect healthy balance, but we also need to remind ourselves it's not as easy as losing a few pounds or looking good on the outside. We don't want to lose our minds over what other people think on the inside, but to do so doesn't mean we want to lose our minds. So here are some of my fitness habits that we need to be mindful about...

1. Drink a glass of water

Even though we should be hydrating on average about 1-2 gallons of H2O throughout the day, if you're feeling super hungry and are working from home it might be best to take yourself to the grocery store and pick up a small bottle of water with you. Even if you choose to skip the bottle of water, try to drink it slowly to avoid any extra calorie burn. Try drinking your water at least half an hour before you go outside. The simple act of having a nice cold glass of water will give you and your family a much-needed boost in energy. That said, there's no harm in making yourself a bottle of water when you need to hydrate. Just make sure it's kept at room temperature and let it sit overnight in the fridge.

2. Take a quick shower

When you feel hot, don't just lay down in bed and turn it on. Go grab a towel and take the time out to shave and clean up after yourself. For instance, if you had a ton of skin coming up on your forehead, or just your back, then don't just do the bare minimum and throw out your hair. If you're worried about anything else that you've missed doing, try to complete them. It's a lot easier and healthier than worrying about the next thing when you know you made it a habit.

3. Get out

If you live somewhere more active with friends, then get out into the world and walk around. If you're going on vacation, then go see stores or explore the city. Getting the fresh air and moving around gives you something to look forward to and feel good about. Plus they'll most likely treat you to some ice cream. Also, don't underestimate how awesome a new outfit will feel on you so don't be afraid to show it off!

4. Find a way to exercise

A great way to start exercising is to use the stairs, but remember, sometimes we all love a new challenge. There are two ways to approach exercising; one is by starting by using the stairs first and then continuing by taking a short ride in your car or walking some of the streets. Or better yet, you could just buy some gym equipment. A new workout area or space in your house all makes for a bigger impact and bigger results, so go for it!

5. Walk around each other

This sounds counterintuitive, but we often forget how much movement and activity count in life. You don't have to get rid of everything in your life to start exercising; you can use a timer on Instagram and set goals to see how long it takes you to finish those steps. All you have to do is watch those videos, read the articles, and start exercising some more! Then slowly add it all back in! Let me know what you decide! Don't tell anyone else that you did it. Not only will it motivate you to keep going, but it'll also help you build self-confidence as well.

6. Go for a brisk walk

Don't just jog along the street or drive around the neighborhood. Instead, spend some time each day getting a little bit taller every day. Walking around together will never be boring, and it will always provide fun and happiness. Be sure to put an activity such as running/walking on your to-do list each day when you wake up because you never know when you will run into others. Also, make sure you stay warm and wear some comfortable clothing for comfort. It just feels good to walk in the fresh air!

7. Eat a variety of foods

It doesn't matter what it is that gets you ready to start exercising. Whether you chose to have a smoothie, eat lots of veggies, or snack on peanut butter and jelly, there are still plenty of things to enjoy. However, eating a variety of different foods keeps your body and your metabolism going. Remember, even though exercising burns calories, the amount that you're burning at the gym is dwarfed by the amounts you're burning when you're busy on the streets every day. When you have fruits and vegetables around each meal, it makes it a whole lot easier to stick to your routine.

8. Watch your portion sizes

This tip has two separate parts. First, watch your portions because bigger portions tend to make people lazier. Second, remember to have a small plate on hand each day just in case. One of my biggest pet peeves, for example, is the size of mine that they call "Giant 12 Pack", which comes with 8 ounces of food in it. That means I'm consuming about 6 of the 7 servings on the label, while the rest of the 12 pack is left out. My mindset is that I should have more than my share of food, regardless of how many times I try to cut my portions in favor of being thin.

9. Exercise regularly

This is another area where watching your portion sizes is very vital. As long as you see someone who is exercising every day on social media the last thing you think about most days is their body. But you cannot talk yourself out of working out if not for yourself. I encourage you to work out because it's proven to increase muscle strength and endurance. To make this even more exciting, check out these amazing YouTube workouts.

10. Create routines

Building your routine into what you can do that you'll accomplish within a set amount of time is essential. Creating routines helps you be productive and motivated and it helps everyone stay on track. Having routines to follow makes it easy to plan and stick to your goals. Your brain isn't focused on how hard you can work and instead of worrying about whether or not you're going to complete your set amount of time and how far you've gone. What matters is how much progress you make.

My favorite part? Making my routines! For a week in June, I decided to cut the number of hours/days I work out, and since I didn't want to deprive myself, I had to figure out a way to fit in a full day of cardio and weight training on top of just resting each other! With some help from her boyfriend, we did exactly that and we completed both weeks' worth of workouts in less than 24 hours! It was just so cool. We had created a new routine and our bodies felt amazing.

11. Spend time with loved ones

I hate saying this because it'll sound cliched, but we cannot stress enough how crucial spending time with your loved ones is. Spending quality sleep, having time to meditate, listening to music on repeat, and laughing together is extremely beneficial for your mental health and body. So if people ask you how you stayed physically fit, you're probably wondering why you haven't seen your significant other, and I get it; we get busy around the house. At least, we're not ignoring them. Of course, staying happy around the house is possible, but remember that sometimes you just want the peace of mind that someone is around to encourage and guide you. Make sure that you focus on finding out what your person does and then creating a routine that works for you and your household.

12. Start slow

If your schedule can accommodate you, then try hitting just 10 minutes of cardio each day. If you love cardio, then you'll enjoy having this number up for a couple of months. After that, you should start adding some weights and work out longer periods of intervals. Keep in mind though, that this is just a guideline of what you need to achieve to maintain your regular body shape and weight. Again, this is just a suggestion of what you need to make sure you're doing what you need to do to get into a state of physical wellness.

13. Reward yourself

I know this is somewhat challenging, but it's ultimately worth it. I'll admit I have been guilty of rewarding myself with pizza and chips every now for a while. But I must confess; I've started reaching deeper for the stuff that makes me smile and laugh. These are more specifically the things that bring me joy. Maybe someday I'll reach the point where I can spend whole days dedicated to rewarding myself for the little wins. Regardless of what happens in the future, make sure you reward yourself when you can.

14. Practice patience

This goes for pretty much everyone. It seems like everyone wants to see themselves as skinny and beautiful yet there is nothing wrong with that. It just comes down to practicing focusing on your goals and making them come true. People tend to think they can change their appearance through the use of makeup, but the truth is that everything changes with time. So as long as you have enough motivation to change the way you look, that will always be enough to sustain a positive body image and not go into negative territory.