You don’t have to treat your journey to getting fit as a project. In fact, it isn’t as hard as you think. You only need to break into a consistent routine and treat healthy living as a habit. In other words, enrolling for a fitness class doesn’t have to be another task on your already crammed to-do list.
Have you ever looked at those “super fit” girls on Instagram and wondered how on earth do they manage to maintain their bodies? The truth is – there are no magic pills to a lean figure. Besides, it is the smallest lifestyle tweaks that make the most difference. With that in mind, here’s what you need to every day.
Wear a Fitness Tracker
See, the first step toward becoming fit is tracking your progress, one day at a time. That way, you can know which areas you need to adjust to attain your goals. And, as SmartGeekWrist.com explains, there’s more to a fitness tracker than enabling you to keep up with your training regimen.
With one as part of your routine, you can track your heart rate and count your steps easily. On top of that, the device can be an excellent accountability partner. It’ll also give you the much-needed motivation to stick to your regimen. Did you know that a fitness tracker can help you determine the quality of your sleep? Yes, that’s how good this thing is!
Cook Ahead of Time
The last thing that you want is to get into your kitchen to prepare a meal after a long, tiring day. Dietitians recommend that you designate a specific day of the week (preferably weekends) to cook your meals. Refrigerate or freeze them to ensure that you have something healthy to eat in a couple of minutes without spending hours in your kitchen.
Away from the kitchen, you don’t have to feed on junk food during tea and lunch breaks at work. You can have a healthy dose of nutrients by carrying high-fiber snacks, raw nuts, fresh fruits, and cereals in your desk.
Learn (and use) MCTs
Eating medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs) is arguably your best bet to banishing belly fat (without hitting the gym, of course). For starters, MCTs are a unique class of fat that require fewer enzymes and less energy to get digested. The best part? They get burned instead of remaining in the body as stored fat.
In essence, this means adding MCTs in your everyday diet not only helps boost your metabolism but also burn fat. On top of that, it replenishes your body with energy.
Move Around
Make sure that you’re using your time wisely if your type of work requires you to sit all day. Consider exercising your day instead of remaining motionless for hours. And, you don’t have to walk around. Stretch one leg out and lift it for about 15 minutes while squeezing your quadriceps and abs. Be sure to repeat with the other leg.
Of course, you can walk around as often as you can even if it means stepping out of your office for a couple of minutes.
Drink Lots of Water
Sure, this is a no brainer. However, when was the last time you drank the doctor-recommended eight glasses of water every day? Even when you can’t keep up with this advice, make sure that you drink a big glass of water a couple of minutes before meals. Yup, doing so can help you shed more pounds than eating fewer calories alone.
Eat More Proteins
Substitute your morning bagel with fish, lean meat or eggs. These food items are chock full of vitamin D, iron, and omega 3s. They also contain a branch chain of amino acids that can help you kick-start your metabolism before you head out for the day.
The Bottom Line
Healthy living isn’t rocket science. Still, it takes the will to get started with your regimen and most importantly stick to it. Consider working together with a trainer and a dietitian to help you achieve your goals faster. You can also get a training partner for some inspiration.
And, when you get a lean body, be sure to upload some photos on Instagram to motivate others. Remember to keep a digital food journal as a way of creating awareness on the benefits of staying fit. Oh, and don’t forget to try a body-toning workout at least twice a week to enable you to remain in shape.