We’ve all heard the health sales pitch. “Eat more vegetables! Exercise daily! Quit smoking! Nix the sweets!” In the age of instant gratification, however, most women prefer to see tangible results within a smaller amount of time. Alas, we all know that the long and winding road to our ideal bodies is paved with Herculean effort, some abject self-loathing, and whole wheat bread, though.
Still, although improving our overall well-being may take a lot of effort, it doesn’t always have to be complicated. So, I present to you the 10 lifestyle changes you really need to make to get the results that you want stat!
1. Get active: Burn, baby, burn!
Strong is sexy! When you work out, you burn fat, build muscle, reduce your risk for disease and secrete happy hormones! The best part? You don’t need any sophisticated equipment to begin exercising. If you’re really busy, you can try and clock in at least 7 minutes with the Scientific 7-Minute Workout, for example. GO!
2. Stretch to bed, exercise to rise.
Do simple exercises after you wake up and right before going to bed. One effective suggestion would be to do 10 sit-ups and 10 push-ups every morning. Eventually you’ll be able to increase that number and you won’t be able to fully wake up without doing them. Additionally, stretch for 5–10 minutes before going to sleep. Doing so will help you sleep deeper and make you feel more in tune with your body.
3. Move it. Don’t veg out!
Keeping still for too long won’t do your blood circulation or your muscles any good. Try to stretch and flex at the office or in school from time to time, so you can keep your blood and oxygen all a-flow.
4. Chug more agua.
How much liquid we drink depends on how hot it is and how active we are. The average amount of water intake is 2.5 L per day for men and 2.2 L for women. In order to keep hydrated throughout the day, it’s helpful to invest in a good water bottle (enough with the plastic!).
5. Smaller plates, less guilt.
When it comes to a healthier diet, the amount of food that you eat is just as important as what you put on your plate. Portion control can help trick your brain into thinking you’re eating more than you are, hence the tip for smaller plates.
6. Eat a wide spectrum of colourful fruits and vegetables.
There’s a reason why they call this food group “Glow Foods”. Fruit and vegetables are important ingredients in any healthy diet as they are chockfull of nutrients, antioxidants, and fairy dust. Make sure that half of every meal that you eat is comprised of vegetables, and always eat them first, too.
7. Sleep tight and rest up.
Generally speaking, people need between 7 to 9 hours of sleep every night in order to fully recharge. Sleep deprivation can also alter your body’s natural digestive processes, impair your concentration, and make it harder for you to cope with stress. Didn’t get enough zzz’s? Never underestimate the power of a 10 to 15-minute power nap!
8. Ditch the processed foods.
Processed foods aren’t real food; they are substances that resemble food. In other words, they don’t provide any nutritional value. Plus, processed foods will sit on your thighs and arms like bags of regret. If you have a hard time sticking to healthy diets, then it’s time to ditch those processed foods for good.
9. Meet. Greet. Socialize.
Meeting new people can be such a chore and a bore, but when you put yourself out there and make an effort to make friends, you’ll feel all sorts of wonderful! You don’t have to be the life of the party or suddenly become a social butterfly; you just need to interact with like-minded individuals who share your interests and can help cultivate them.
10. Keep Calm and Spoil Yourself
There are days when you want to scream and shout, instead of, well, twist and shout. Yes, we all have those down-in-the-dump moments. Take a chill pill—don’t worry about what you can’t change, and instead, try looking at things from a different perspective. Also, spoil yourself, you workaholic, you. You deserve it.
Yes, we are all privy to these guidelines on improving our health, but in actuality, there are no hard and fast rules that will suit every individual. It’s your life and you will naturally gravitate to what you envision and work at it to be. And that’s the truth, albeit with some cheese on it.