Improving your fitness is something that everyone dreams of doing. However, the reality is much more difficult, and there are hundreds of reasons why someone may not be able to be as fit or as healthy as they want.
Whether it be down to location, finances, workload, looking after kids or anything else, there are many legitimate reasons that people struggle to stay healthy, and it is simply not always down to someone being lazy.
There is nothing anybody would want more than to be fit and lead a healthy lifestyle, but achieving that takes a lot of time, work and commitment. There are a number of things that you can do to improve your fitness and start achieving the dream. Some of them are so simple and easy, that you’ll soon be on the road to a fitter and healthier life without even realizing it.
Start walking
If you are physically capable, then it is very important to walk for at least 20 minutes each day. That might not be appealing to everyone, but walking is the easiest and best form of physical exercise. If you usually take your car or public transport to work, why not consider walking if it’s close enough.
Alternatively, you can simply take a stroll during the evening with your partner or child. Getting outside is a great way to clear your mind, and walking for just 20 minutes every day can really make a difference to your overall physical and mental health.
There are a number of apps for your phone, such as the Step Tracker app, that can measure the number of steps you have walked, and some will even let you know the amount of calories you’ve burned up. When you start seeing the weekly log of your walking activities, you’ll be pleasantly surprised with the actual distance you’ve walked.
Don’t stay seated
Sitting down for long periods throughout the day is not good for the body, especially your back. If you work in an office then you will most likely be sat down at your desk for hours during the day. You need to start getting into the habit of standing up at least once an hour and simply walk a couple of paces and stretch your muscles.
If you are so focused on your work, then why not set an alarm on your mobile to go off every 60 minutes as a reminder for you to simply stand up. There are lots of health benefits to this, and it will save you from being hunched over your keyboard for hours on end.
Cut down on snacks
Eating habits are one of the main problems with maintaining a healthy lifestyle and staying fit. We all like to munch on our favorite chocolate bar or ice cream, and there are lots of good feelings that are associated with doing so. However, if this is something you are doing on a daily basis, then why not try to cut the pleasure or junk food for just one day a week.
Once you’ve been able to do this for a month or so, you can then increase it to two days a week, and then three. Trying to stop everything all at once is never easy and rarely leads to a change in habits. But making small changes and gradually adapting to them and making them part of your routine is much easier for improving your fitness.
Get a good night’s sleep
How we sleep will affect how we feel the next day. If your body is fully rested then you’ll find the following day a lot more pleasant than you would if you have a restless or sleepless night. It is a good idea to switch off your mobile phone or tablet at least an hour before you plan on going to sleep.
Lying in bed unable to sleep and scrolling on your phone through Facebook or Instagram is not going to help your brain switch off. You’ll be more awake than ever. Getting into a routine of having at least an hour or so before your sleep time without any technology or white light can often help in getting a better night’s sleep.
Stay dedicated
Changing your lifestyle and diet to one that is healthier and promotes better fitness is not easy. It takes commitment and time. Taking the first step and accepting that change is needed is the most important.
Once you’ve done that, then it becomes a little easier each day to commit to the cause, and to achieve what you have set out to do. There will be bumps in the road ahead, but as long as you remain dedicated, your journey will eventually take you to your destination.
