Although all of my posts are related to living a healthy lifestyle, I haven’t written one on how to just be healthy! So here it goes!
It can be overwhelming when you’re trying to start living a healthy lifestyle, there is so much information out there and it can lead you to give up before you even started.
What does it mean to be healthy?
Well, this definition can change depending on the person, but generally, it means that you feel good about yourself because you are active, you eat well balanced meals and you are happy! Many people forget that to obtain a healthy body, you must have a healthy mind too! And of course, when all of these aspects come into play, your body is functioning as it should.
Now, I’ll break down these three categories:
1. Staying active: It is very important to incorporate physical activity in your everyday life. It doesn’t have to be intense exercise, especially if your new to this idea. Find something that you enjoy and stick to it. It can be walking outside on a nice day, playing soccer, lifting weights , skipping rope (which is a great cardio workout!) or it can be something softer like yoga. As you experiment and find what you like you can start to create a workout routine for yourself, there are plenty of fun things to discover, you just have to try! A great way to do so is by joining a local gym. Most gyms offer many different classes and this way you can stay fit and social! However, if you are exercising 6x a week, take one day a week where you rest or do light yoga in order to give your muscles a chance to recover.
2. Eat well balanced meals: Food is the largest part of the equation, if you want to stay fit and feel good it is vital that you nourish your body with the best possible nutrients. A diet richest in vegetables and leafy greens is best, along with fresh fruits, some whole grains (quinoa, sprouted grains, millet etc.) and some healthy fats (nuts, seeds, coconut oil, olive oil, etc.), little to no organic dairy, and occasional lean organic animal protein. The basic idea is that you want to stick to whole foods, foods that contain only one ingredient, like an apple or Brussels sprouts (yum!). Stay clear of trans fats, refined sugars, caffeine, alcohol, hydrogenated oils, and highly refined and processed packaged foods. Basically, if you can’t pronounce it, your best NOT to eat it. An OCCASIONAL treat is OK as long as you deserve it because you eat well 90 % of the time. Although, the closer you stick to a healthy diet, the better the results will be and the better you will feel. Don’t be discouraged, healthy food is delicious and very nutritious especially when eaten raw! There are millions of great recipes just waiting to be devoured, so go ahead and give them a try! Remember to drink plenty of clean filtered water too, this will keep you hydrated. If your not a fan of water, try infusing it with some lemon, cucumber, grapes or other fresh fruits. You can also try unsweetened coconut water which is highly refreshing and very replenishing!
3. Be POSITIVE: Be kind to yourself and others. Have a positive attitude in order to maximize the benefits of living a healthy lifestyle. Sometimes it’s hard, but if you seek the good in a tough situation, it will be much easier to work through. Imagine you are doing a really hard work out, and you want to give up, just remind yourself of how good you will feel when you’ve finished and eventually start seeing results. Set goals for yourself in order to stay motivated and don’t be afraid to get creative with your workouts and your recipes! It might sound silly but compliment yourself, say that you look great even if you don’t really believe it because eventually, you won’t only believe it but you will see it too!
I hope that my three keys to being healthy can you help you become the best that you can be. Remember that everyone is different and what works for me may not work for you but the trick is to never give up. Research and experiment because by listening to your body, you will find what works for you. The journey to a healthy you has just begun, there is so much more for you to discover and so I wish you good luck!
Stay Healthy,
Proteen Queen