Thursday, July 9, 2015

FUN!




I am all about FUN! The FUN starts here this summer!

Fitness
Useful
Nutrition

This summer I’ve been spending a lot of time outside. Whether it’s going for a walk on the beach, bike riding with my daughter, kyacking with my son, boating with my friends or gardening with my family, being active is important for my mind body and soul. Healthy eating and physical activity go hand in hand. Once you learn the basics, you'll find that eating healthy and staying active isn't hard at all. And it’s all FUN!
 
Here are 3 USEFUL tips to help you have lots of FUN this summer!

1)   I believe that EXERCISE is one of the keystone habits that empowers a healthy, productive life. Exercise fuels the ability to make other habit changes in your life possible, including diet. Start by making small changes which can snowball into big results. For example, start each day or make some time in the afternoon or early evening to go for a 10 minute walk or a 5 minute run. Work up to 30-45 min a day, add in some squats, situps and a few pushups and aim for 3-5 days a week. Whether you exercise outdoors or in a gym your mind and body will reap the results in just a short amount of time. But most importantly, do what you love! If you don't enjoy running, don't run. If you don't enjoy lifting weights, don't lift weights. Move in a way you enjoy, and you'll see the benefits much quicker. Your exercise won't be a burden because it's fun! Maybe it's a dance class, yoga, hiking, canoeing, martial arts, cycling, soccer, or tennis. If you stop forcing the workouts, following what you're "supposed" to be doing, then the habit won't take hold. I enjoy running, but only on the treadmill. I enjoy lifting weights. I also enjoy mixing up my workouts, keeping them fresh and interesting by trying new things. Bottom line: Do what moves you.

2)   Drink 1 liter of water instead of soda! Plain water and/or sparkling is better than soda or juice. What about alcohol? Here I would say to limit your consumption. Alcohol slows down your metabolism, so really no matter what you drink (clear vodka, tequila or a wine spritzer) will work against all the good for your body that you are trying to do. 

3) Food over Fitness! Very often, people prioritize fitness  over food. They use exercise as an excuse to eat whatever they want and burn the calories off later. While the plan isn't bad, it's very short-sighted. A healthy diet combined with regular exercise is clearly the best way to live, instead of constantly trying to burn off the donuts you ate. Fueling yourself with good food simply makes sense. When you combine healthy eating with your exercise, you'll notice you feel and look even better! Just look at elite athletes- they understand this balance. By making smart choices with your meals you will help keep your body and mind in top shape. So, while this point may be obvious, when the choice is in front of you, choose the right food. We tend to make eating over-complicated, even healthy eating! So here are a few simple rules to keep in mind.
  • Eat as many whole colorful foods as possible, i.e. fruits & vegetables.
  • Eat lean cuts of meat.
  • Eat smaller portions, but a little more often.
  • Drink plenty of water.
In a go big or go home lifestyle, we tend to over complicate matters, and the way we move and eat are at the top of the list. We are always looking for new healthy foods or new ways to workout- we want to say we finished a killer workout or are on a fad diet, because we think it makes us interesting. But really the key to a FUN life is really this simple! I am not reinventing the wheel. DO WHAT YOU LOVE AND LOVE WHAT YOU DO! KEEP IT SIMPLE AND KEEP IT FUN!