With the right motivation, small lifestyle changes can lead to noticeable results. Many people try to make dramatic changes that end up short-lived, such as losing 20 pounds in 2 months or working out everyday. Small steps that are easy to incorporate into a daily routine are easier to maintain in the long run. Explore some simple ways to improve your health right now.
Start with food
Adjusting eating habits is a critical way to improve health, but it requires a lot of discipline. Completely overhauling a diet to cut out indulgent and unhealthy foods is a good long-term goal to work toward. To get started, use an app to log what food you eat every day and get an idea of how many unnecessary calories you consume.
Be conscious of how much added sugar and salt you consume. Try seasoning food with pepper, herbs, lemon, or lime instead of reaching for the salt shaker. Give raw sugar a try in that morning cup of coffee instead of using refined white sugar. Choose whole grain versions of pasta, rice, bread, and crackers.
Strive to incorporate five servings of vegetables every day. Determine what and when to eat; consider eating five meals a day to keep metabolism and energy levels elevated. This eating method can help to manage weight and avoid food cravings.
Home-cooked meals are healthier than eating out. Not only can one control all the ingredients that go into cooking a meal, but home-made food isn’t full of additives and preservatives. Developing a healthy relationship with food is easy with the help of a nutritionist. Health Soup online nutritionists work one-on-one with clients to give reliable diet advice.
A US registered dietitian nutritionist will create a customized diet plan tailored to a client’s lifestyle and health goals. Health Soup’s nutritional coaches will provide reliable, science-based diet advice that clients can implement and keep track of on an integrated mobile app.
Get moving
Myriad benefits come from daily exercise: reduced aging, lean muscle, lower blood pressure, improved bone density, and lower cholesterol, to name a few. Make a goal to walk 10,000 steps a day and start wearing a pedometer. Take the stairs instead of the elevator to move between floors. Bike to work instead of driving, or park as far away from the office building as possible. Any movement that gets the heart rate going and exercises the lungs is a positive change. Strive to reach a minimum of ten minutes of exercise daily.
Sit up straight
Not only does good posture have an instant slimming effect, but it can prevent and alleviate pain. Sitting at a desk all day is hard on the body and can result in back and neck strain, carpal tunnel, and eyestrain. Sitting with feet flat on the floor, back straightened and stomach turned inward can help avoid these negative side effects.
Stretching can also go a long way toward reducing or preventing pain. Stretching muscles helps the body move freely, find balance, and avoid injury.
Focus on positivity
Stress is a negative emotion that can lead to high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, depression, and obesity. Regular exercise, breathing techniques, and meditation are simple ways of de-stressing and clearing the mind. Unwinding with a good book, listening to music, or enjoying a hot bath are also ways to alleviate stress and relax.
Being grateful and focusing on a positive attitude helps build a stronger immune system.
Being around positive people with healthy lifestyle habits will further encourage someone to adapt and stick to healthy habits. Happiness is contagious, and it starts with good company.