Fitness is so important to our health and well-being, but with life and all of the activity that comes with it, we can sometimes put fitness on the back burner. The truth is we cannot afford to do that. Our health and life depend on keeping fit. Below are five quick and easy tip for fitness.
* Drink Water.
Staying hydrated is vital to your health. The human body is comprised of 50 to 65 percent water. Water is an important ingredient in almost everything the body does. It helps your body perform during exercise, helps your mental processes, detoxifies the body, and aids digestion. By drinking water all day long, you are able to keep your body hydrated so that it can work at its optimal level. Try to get at least eight glasses (eight ounces each) of water every single day. Water is also a great way to reduce your calorie intake by drinking water instead of soda or sweetened drinks; you can save hundreds of calories a day.
* Set Goals.
Goal setting is a good idea in all aspects of life, but in fitness a goal can take you to the next level faster than anything else. Goals should be SMART. That means that they should be
S-Specific
M-Measurable
A-Attainable
R-Realistic
T-Time bound.
A specific goal is something that isn’t vague. I want to lose weight is a vague goal where as I want to lose 5 percent body fat is a specific goal. Measurable is something that can be measured like your weight, percentage of body fat, or amount of exercise. Attainable is something that is within your reach. Realistic is something that is attainable within a certain time for you and your lifestyle. Finally, time bound is something that you set a time limit on. Such as I will lose five percent body fat in six months.
* Get Moving.
Exercise is key to fitness, but that does not mean that you have to spend hours and hours in the gym to get fit. You can start small by just walking around your neighborhood for fifteen minutes a day. There are also a lot of exercises you can do just using your own body. Push-ups can be done the traditional way on your toes or on your knees for some assistance. Keep your body in one straight line from head to toes. Then lower your body keeping your body in line.
* Get Proper Nutrition.
Exercise is one part of the fitness battle, but nutrition is just as important. To lose one pound, you need to burn 3500 more calories than you are consuming. So it is important to make sure that the calories you are eating are good ones. Try to eliminate empty calories such as soda or other other treats heavy in sugar. Try to keep a balanced diet of fruits, vegetables, proteins, and whole grains. It is also important that you make sure that you are getting enough calories. You should never eat less than 1200 calories a day. If you do not get enough calories your body could go into starvation mode and slow down your metabolism.
* Don’t Give Up.
In the process of improving your fitness, you will have ups and downs. If you aren’t seeing results right away or if you hit a plateau, it is important that you keep going on your quest for fitness. Remember that exercise, getting enough water, and proper nutrition will always benefit your health even when you may feel that you aren’t seeing the results you want. Just keep going, and you will be fit in no time.
These tips would work just fine for anyone. The author of this guest blog post is a personal Fitness Trainer. He can help you remain accountable in your actions and meet your goals!