savvylife

The year is more than half way gone and if you are like many people that made 2011 resolutions, I’m sure working out, getting health and loosing those unwanted pounds was right at the top of the list. Expectations were high! As a certified trainer and group fitness instructor, I have seen the gym packed wall to wall with individuals setting off on the weight-loss/get fit journey only to quit or become derailed by mid-March or early April. For those of you that have fallen off the health craze bandwagon, I’m here to help.

Today, there are a multitude of tools to aid in the quest for weight-loss and health improvements including interactive video games, cell phone applications, and a host of diet plans.  But with all these options, it is easy to become overwhelmed and eventually revert back to the old habit of doing nothing.  So, in the mayhem of life, how do we improve our health and fitness level?

Small consistent changes are the key to a healthier you. With most resolutions, we try to do too much too soon and end up failing.  Here is a motto that I like to use:  Keep It Short and Simple (KISS). Here are a few tips to incorporate in your daily regiment that could payoff big:

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• Take a multi-vitamin everyday. The brand is not as important as incorporating the essential vitamins and minerals.
• Drink more water. Have a glass before you eat breakfast and dinner and while you eat lunch.
• Exercise everyday whether it is a 15- minute dance to your favorite tune or a 30-minute walk.

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These three tips are minor changes that can easily be incorporated into any busy schedule. Taking a multi-vitamin will provide your body with the tools (i.e. essential minerals and vitamins) to function more efficiently in our stress induced lives.  Most of us do not eat the daily recommend 9 serving of fruits and vegetables, this simple step will supply the body with the very basic.  An increase in energy levels will be a hint that you are on your way to a healthier you.

When we eat a meal, we typically drink our favorite beverage.  Substituting a glass of water is a healthy way to increase our daily fluids. Studies indicate that a minimum of 64 ounces of water per day is needed to hydrate our body. Unfortunately, most of us walk around in a state of dehydration. The body is approximately 60% water and it is the key component to all metabolic processes. Taking this small step to increase your daily water will help flush toxins and waste from your body ultimately leading to healthier looking skin and hair as well as a surge in your daily energy levels.

Last but not least, exercise.  Move your body enough to get your heart rate elevated for a minimum of 15 minutes every day. Whether it is dancing, walking, jogging or playing an interactive video game, find something you like and get moving.  Movement is essential to the health of your muscular, skeletal and cardiovascular systems. The sedentary lifestyles are one of the major causes for the decline in our nation’s health. Our body is a piece of machinery designed for movement. Incorporating daily exercise will not only increase your energy levels, but aid in how you manage your daily stress. Just these two combined benefits will boast your mood and make you feel and act like a different person.

In a nutshell, keeping your resolution to be a healthier person doesn’t have to be an overwhelming task, it can be as simple as a daily k.i.s.s.

Article Written By Monica Hughey