DON’T JUST GET FIT AND HEALTHY – STAY FIT AND HEALTHY

Getting fit and healthy is one thing, but staying fit and healthy is a whole different kettle of fish.

To stay fit, you need to continue what you’ve been doing to get fit in the first place. Make it a lifestyle, not just one off thing. It’s like a good habit. How can I make this lifestyle change stay for good? I hear you ask. Well here are just some of the habits fit and healthy people have.

Eat REAL food:

Empty your pantry and cupboards of the low fat, sugar free, fat free, processed foods that come with a myriad of ingredients that you can’t pronounce or have to have a science degree to know what they are. Instead stick to wholesome, real foods with the least amount of ingredients and that taste natural. Meals with ingredients that are grown or raised, rather than man made.

Get a good night’s sleep:

Sleep plays a vital role in good health and well-being throughout your life. Getting enough quality sleep at the right times can help greatly improve your mental health, physical health, quality of life and safety. While you are catching those needed ZZZ’s your body is at it’s busiest repairing and healing itself – especially if you have been working out. The damage from sleep deficiency can occur in an instant (such as a car crash), or it can harm you over time. Ongoing sleep deficiency can raise your risk of heart disease, kidney disease high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity and stroke. It also can affect how well you think, react, work, learn, and get along with others.

Plan ahead:

Many studies show that if you have a plan, you are most likely to succeed… or at least try to succeed. This is true of anything, not just health and fitness! Plan your workouts, prepare you healthy meals ahead, set time aside in your day for rest. You will be surprised how much you can achieve and how much time you can actually save – having more to spend doing things you enjoy.

Drink plenty of water:

At least 2-3 litres of water a day is what your body needs to regulates all of the processes to function at it’s best. Just like skipping a meal, or not eating enough, dehydration will not only affect how you look and feel, but it will also affect your workouts and recovery as well. Its very important to replace what is lost. On average the body is 50%-60% water or fluid and we lose 2-3 litres a day though sweat, our breath and of course, the proverbial number 1s. People feel thirsty when they have already lost around 2-3% of their body’s water. Mental performance and physical coordination start to become impaired before thirst kicks in, typically around 1% dehydration.

Mix up your routine:

Do resistance or weight training one day and yoga the next. Throw in some interval training the next day, then a run or jog the following day. Research shows that if you don’t get bored from your fitness routine, you are more likely to stick to it. Mixing things up a bit also helps keep your body guessing and adapting to different demands placed on it, making it a more efficient ‘machine’! If your body gets used to a certain activity, you may find yourself in a rut, mentally and well as physically.

Exercise even if you only have a few minutes:

If you can’t get to the gym, a short workout is better than no workout at all. This is a fact! If you have 15 minutes or so to spare, do some star jumps before you hop into the shower. Try a few squats while waiting for the jug to boil for our morning coffee. How about some push ups while the ads are on. It is amazing the ways that you can sneak fitness in!

Resources:
www.thenutritiondr.com
chemistry.about.com
www.nhlbi.nih.gov