All this time at home during the pandemic has led to minimal exercise and less than healthy eating over the last year. It would be easy to just stay in survival mode and ride it out until things get back to normal in the world, but doing nothing while our waistlines expand doesn’t just make our pants tight, it’s bad for our wellness at a time when having optimal health is important. Ready to get off the couch and focus on fitness? Health coach Jeff Later says these five steps will do it.
- Structure – Being steps away from the fridge all day everyday makes it so easy to take lots of snack breaks, but when we worked in offices all day, that wasn’t a problem. So get back to that routine of having breakfast and lunch at the same time and learn to ignore the pantry when it calls your name.
- Keep it moving – There was far less sitting on the couch when we worked in an office and a lot more daily movement. Set a timer to get up and move around every hour and it’ll improve cognitive function, burn more calories and help you stay on track with your goals.
- Stay accountable – Hire an online trainer or coach or set fitness goals with a friend to help you stay focused on your goal. Later says even other fitness pros enlist help from others to stay on track, plus, we could all use a little encouragement.
- Drink more water – Seems simple, but staying hydrated is key for a healthy metabolism. And drinking more water can keep you feeling fuller so you’re less likely to mindlessly snack.
- Exercise – We knew this had to be on the list because getting your blood flowing and your heart rate up is essential for our health. Whether you used to hit the gym all the time or you’ve never worked out, Later says you need to be exercising. He advises trying out one of the hundreds of home workouts you’ve seen online and if you find it’s not for you, try another one until you find one that works for you.
Source: Entrepreneur