Yes, yes, the holidays are here! In just about a week Christmas will be here, and before you know it we’ll be counting down the remaining seconds of 2012 and ringing in the new year- woohoo, 2013! Now, just because we’re all swamped with the seasonal hustle and bustle, doesn’t mean we should put our health and fitness on the backburner! Sure, we may not have as much time to devote to our workouts or meals as we normally do, but we can still make the effort to stay focused and on track to welcoming the new year a heck of a lot healthier than years past!
Just as a helpful reminder, here are some of my favorite quick fitness tips that even the most health conscious and fit of us need to revisit once in awhile! : ) Check ’em out, hope they help!
Jen’s Quick Fit Tips!
#1 tip- MAKE FITNESS FUN!!! If you’re not having fun with your fitness, it’s easy to get off track and lose interest in your workouts. So the idea of walking on the treadmill at the gym bores you to tears? Then don’t do it! Find the activity that YOU LOVE and enjoy- hiking, hitting the gym, join a running club, take up yoga, heck, even trapeze lessons, and as long as you’re having fun with your fitness, you’re much more apt to stay consistent and results are around the corner!
– Set a goal! Whether it is fitting into a smaller dress size, cutting down the time on your mile or lifting heavier, set a goal and get to it! This will help you stay focused and on your path to success.
-Be patient, and STAY CONSISTENT with your efforts. Small steps/changes made, with consistent efforts will earn you long-term results!
-Be prepared! When it comes to meals, don’t be caught off guard. The more you can plan ahead, the better. When I leave the house, even if just for a few errands, I always take my next meal or snack with me on the go- you never know what can come up, run late, etc., so always be prepared (simple easy bars, protein shake,, almonds, fruit, etc.) with a healthy option because let’s face it- when we’re starving we may just go with whatever is convenient, not what is going to necessarily help us reach out fitness goals.
-STOP stepping on and obsessing about the scale on a daily basis! NO, your body is not gaining/losing 5 lbs of fat in a 24 hour period, so stop stepping on the scale every day. As you strength train your body composition is going to change- adding more lean muscle and replacing that bodyfat with muscle gives you a leaner, tighter and SMALLER appearance although your overall weight change may not be as drastic as you originally thought it would be.
-Drink enough water! Just ate a meal and still hungry? Could be dehydrated! Too often when people are “dieting” or attempting to lose weight they end up mistaking what is actual thirst for hunger! Make sure you’re getting enough water for your food
-Add veggies to more than half your meals each day! Aside from all of the nutrients you’ll get from adding these in, you’re also going to reap the benefits of the fiber filled veggies that will help fill you up and keep you full- far more than any processed food will- at each meal
-Sleep! Yes, rest is very crucial in obtaining our fat loss or muscle gaining goals. Lack of sleep raises cortisol levels and in return, the body stores fat. Aim for 6-8 hours of sleep a night.
-Keep a food log of everything that you eat. That alone will help keep you honest and give you a more solid idea of where you are doing well in your dietary habits and areas that can be improved upon. This is especially important for keeping track of all those little snacks or bites that tend to add up throughout the day- even if they don’t count as a meal, they count as food consumed- and if you aren’t reaching your fitness goals, every bit counts and they need to be tracked.