Let me preface this by saying that my mantra USED to be 'I LOVE food and I HATE exercise!' which I always thought was a dangerous combination! {and it is}
Call me crazy but I have literally started to change the way I feel about that statement. Yes I still love food and I probably always will and it will always be a struggle to eat healthy - however, the more fruits, veggies and healthy stuff I eat the more I like that kind of stuff! Crazy, right?!
Also, I am learning to enjoy exercise. It's still HARD and many days I still have to force myself to do it. But I'm getting stronger and feeling better and even though I'm still not losing weight I know it's been so good for my body. {I try to think of how it's helping my insides, even if it doesn't look like it's helping my outsides.} ;)
So here are my tips for health and exercise:
1. Just do it. I don't care if you don't want to, do it anyway. You will ALWAYS feel better after a workout but you might be filled with regret if you skip it. So suck it up and do it anyway.
{in the cold winter months I did the Elliptical Machine in my basement}
2. Find a partner! This has made a WORLD of difference for me. I used to loathe running and even thought of giving up on it altogether. But now I have a couple friends who meet me each week and it's made it SO much more enjoyable! You'll find that just going with someone else will help inspire you to keep going and not quit and you can encourage each other when the workout gets hard. PLUS, knowing I have someone counting on me to show up makes me DO the workout every time. Where as if it was only me, I would make excuses and skip it FAR too often.
{my friend and I have run 2 days a week for the last month or more, even on days when it was 32 degrees and FREEZING - we would often wear 4 layers of clothing to run outdoors!!}
3. Find something you enjoy - but know that it still might be hard at first. Getting into the swing of things always takes work and will probably be outside your comfort zone when you start. You will probably even be sore for a while at first but just keep at it. If you try Zumba for the first time, don't get frustrated cause you don't have the moves down - just keep showing up and trying your best and you'll get it soon enough. And you're still working out and burning calories even if you don't have the exact moves worked out.
{Running in a 5K adventure race with my husband and brother in law -
SO good to have a family that enjoys being active! I married into one!! }
4. Do lots of different things so you don't get bored. Walk, run, play tennis, ride a bike, swim, go roller skating, just be active and keep moving. Variety is the spice of life and will help keep you from getting bored PLUS will keep challenging your body so it doesn't get used to the same exercise all the time.
5. Schedule it. Literally write in on the calendar and don't skip it! Keep it as an appointment the same way you would have a doctor's appointment.
6. Eat more of what God made. Don't worry about diets and diet foods. Don't follow every plan and scheme, don't buy all the low fat, no fat, 'health' foods ... just go back to basics and eat fruits, veggies, lean meats and dairy. Most things that come in boxes were MADE not GROWN.
7. Drink lots of water and little else. I still enjoy my coffee {just something I am not willing to give up} but I hardly ever buy/drink juices, sodas, etc... Just water is the best thing for you and it's FREE! {buy some fresh lemons and put lemon slices in your water, I promise it makes all the difference!}
8. Keep a food journal or follow an app like MyFitnessPal. If you really want to count calories or lose weight the best way is to keep track of what you put in your mouth. Trust me, I know from experience that little bites of this or that throughout the day really do add up and you will be shocked when you start tracking all those little things.
{riding bikes with my girls - it's important to get them moving too, so be a good example
and show them that taking care of your body is important!}
9. Enjoy life! I truly believe life is meant to be enjoyed, we are meant to be outside and move and breathe and be active and I also think it's good to enjoy good food. I never want to be someone who is so restrictive about what I eat that I am failing to enjoy life. it's OK to have treats sometimes, even those really unhealthy things. Just follow my friend Jessica's advice and
'let a treat be a treat' as in you only have it in moderation on rare occasions. {I'm definitely working on this because ALL TOO OFTEN it's an occasion for me to enjoy a 'treat' and I know I need to find better balance with this!}
{when I'm running and want to quit this is my mantra, I say it over and over in my head ALL THE TIME!!}
10. Share your journey with others! I know I said have a workout partner - but it's also great to have friends who share your passion for a healthy life. So find some friends who are on the same page and share recipes, tips and advice. Workout together. Encourage each other. Get together to eat and share healthy foods. I always benefit when I share this type of bond with friends!
{YES! This is what I want to do this year!!}
Hope you have enjoyed my tips, please know that I am NOT an expert in any way and am just a girl on a mission to be healthier each and every day. I eat junk, I skip exercise, I mess up - but I pick myself up and keep moving forward.
Check out
Kelly's Korner to see what others have to share about healthy eating and exercise!
