At the start of every new year, we all tell ourselves that this is the year where we will start getting into shape, start eating healthy, start creating excellent habits to improve our health. And this last, on average about one month, when the stresses of life take over, and you find yourself unable to find the time to get to the gym or go for a run, or even prepare a healthy meal every morning.
Maybe though you just don’t want to go to the gym. Perhaps your fitness goals do not include sweating your face off in a room full of strangers. It could be that you just want to feel healthier, without committing to a gym membership, they are expensive nowadays, anyway.
So what can you do to start living a healthy life, even if you don’t have the time or money to get yourself to the gym three times a week? Advancements in understanding the human body, advancements in technology and the number of options available in modern times have made this easier than ever. Here are some ways in which you can reach your fitness goals without going out of pocket.
DIETS
The saying that you can’t outwork a bad diet is correct. It doesn’t matter how often you take to the treadmill or how far you run; if you are stuffing your face with fast food every night, you will never achieve the change that you want.
There are a lot of diets out there that supposedly change your life without having to make significant substitutions to what you love. Some of them work, but a lot of them are merely snake oil sold by charlatans that don’t do lick except drain your bank account.
However, a more adequate understanding of how your body processes food has led to the development of diets that actually work. This includes the likes of the 5:2 intermittent fasting diet, which allows you to eat what you want at specific times of the day to help you shed those tricky extra pounds. Furthermore, you are supplied meal plans which can help you toe the line and keep on track.
PREPARED MEALS
Speaking of meal plans, taking the time to prepare your meals at the beginning of every week will go along way towards making the difficult decision of what to eat for lunch more simple. If you live a busy life and don’t have time for diets, just watching what you eat, cutting down on processed food and eating fresh ingredients will go a long way to solving your problems.
While not the same as any specific diet, it will help control your calorie intake and let you know exactly what you are eating, instead of visiting the cafe across the road from work every day and trusting their 100% health friendly meals are legit. People living hectic lives often find themselves too exhausted to prep every night. Instead then, try dedicating time on Sunday afternoons – the laziest time of the week – to prepare your lunches at the very least for the next seven days.
Doing this will save time in the morning, ease any anxiety about what you are going to have for lunch, and succumbing to the temptation of the quick and convenient option of deep fried treachery or typically bland canteen lunches. Furthermore, making your meals yourself lets you play about with recipes and combinations that you enjoy and might even discover something you never before considered as your favourite meal.
EXERCISE AT HOME
It can be challenging to will yourself towards exercising after a long day at work and dealing with the stress of a messy home upon getting back every day. Buty if you are ever going to achieve your goals, then the effort has to be made.
Even if it just a twenty minute run around the neighbourhood to start you off, you will find yourself feeling energised and invigorated more than you ever imagined, once you get over those initial aches and pains. However, it is essential that you do not push yourself too hard, as this can lead to injury and disrupt whatever progress you may have already made.
Additionally, you don’t have to go on 5km runs every other night. Instead, you can just change up how you get from A to B in a way that suits you. Electing to walk places you would usually drive, such as to the shop, will help immeasurably and give you the fresh air and activity you desire instead of moving from one confined space to another.
THE BENEFITS
Often, people want to know why it will benefit them to do something. This is just part of human nature, as we don’t want to do things that will cause more trouble than it’s worth. However, changing your lifestyle and improving your health now will ease a lot of problems later in life.
Striving for better health and fitness will not just save your body, but also your mind and your bank account, allowing you to have a comfortable amount of savings for the future. The positive effects of good health give you the energy to battle through the day and make those cold early morning rises that much easier.
Furthermore, any substantial changes in your life, like moving house or having a baby will be made easier if you are living a happy and healthy life. Good health naturally brings happiness and sound mental well being, saving you from any pressures and stressors that could hinder your lifestyle satisfaction.
TIME’S A-WASTIN’
Whatever way you choose to improve your overall health and fitness, it should be something that you are happy to do. Like most things in life that are worth achieving, these things take time, so don’t be discouraged if you don’t see much improvement early on.
That being said, waiting any longer to get on with it and improve your health will only lead to you losing motivation. Before that happens, get out there, plan those meals, start those diets, whatever, just don’t waste another second thinking ‘could I?’ Instead, say goodbye to poor health and hello to a life-changing activity.