A fit lifestyle encompasses so much more than just eating right and exercising. You can be doing those two things but if you fail to meet any of the following 5 fitness tips, it could be slowing down your progress or even defeating what you are doing.
While we don’t think much about the need for sleep when it comes to fitness, it really is a vital part of your fitness plan. So my first tip is to get enough sleep. Now of course we have all heard that we should get an average of 8 hours of sleep. However I don’t believe that necessarily applies to everyone.
Some people can get 7 hours of sleep every night and it’s enough. For others you may need a full 9 hours. You have to figure out what works best for you. A lack of adequate sleep can wreak havoc on your body and your emotions. It can also make you turn to unhealthy habits such as snacking, consuming more caffeine or skipping workouts because you are tired.
A lack of sleep can also bring on stress, which can be counterproductive to losing weight, with the release of cortisol into your body. Emotionally it can wear on you, bringing on headaches and other illnesses.
But sleep isn’t the only important non-activity you should be doing to improve your fitness lifestyle. My second tip is to make sure you get enough time for you. We live in a busy world. We are always on the go, always following a schedule and rarely take time out for ourselves.
You need to find a way to break away from life for at least 30 minutes everyday, to soak in the sun, read a good book, lie in a hammock, knit a scarf…whatever helps you to relax. You may think this doesn’t make sense…fitness is about moving. But fitness is also about rest. You have to be balanced in both.
My third tip is to drink more water. Water is a healthier replacement for sugary drinks like soda or juice. Water can also curb hunger pains. Sometimes our body makes us think we are hungry when it’s really just in need of water.
We should be drinking eight 8-oz. glasses of water a day. This sounds like a lot but if you begin to slowly incorporate it into your routine, your body will get used to it. Try to space it out. Drink your first 8 ounces of water as soon as you get up. Drink another 8 ounces with your breakfast, mid-morning, at lunch, mid-afternoon, dinner (make it 16 ounces at this time) and then early evening.
My fourth tip is to stretch more often. While you do this before and after exercising, you can do it at other times throughout the day as well. You can do it before you sit down to watch television, or whenever. It will help prevent injuries to your body, improve flexibility and is a great way to get your blood flowing in the morning.
Finally, do more walking. That is my fifth tip for improving your fitness routine. Walking is free, easy and helps you to regroup yourself. You can spend it thinking, listening to music, praying, meditating, whatever you choose.
Follow these 5 tips and you will see improvements in your fitness routine that encompass your body, mind and soul.
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