I love spring. The days get longer. The temperatures warm up. And it’s more fun to get outside and play.
The more staying active feels like playing, the less you think about exercise and working out. And that can be a good thing when you’re trying to get in shape. Don’t think about it; just do it. You’ll be surprised at how much fun you have when you focus on having fun.
Where do you start?
Start with a mission
Most of us need a little help getting started. That’s why it’s good to gain a little motivation before you begin. Pick up a book, join a class, or even do a little research online. What are your goals? Where do you see yourself in two weeks, or even two months? If you want to eat better, start small. Goals like - I will eat one plant based meal every day - is something you can strive for and measure as you accomplish it each day.
Get rid of temptation
We often fall back into bad habits because they sit right in front of us. Have a cleanup day in your home before you start something new. Clean out your pantry. Throw away your Starbucks card. You might even cancel some of your television channels, so vegging on the couch loses its appeal. If you indulge in any way, get rid of the temptation to increase your chances of staying on track.
Get a Fitbit
Or an Apple watch. Or any other health tracker you prefer. These helpful little tools can help you set goals and stay on track. Just seeing you’re a few hundred steps short of your 10,000 step goal for the day, for example, can push you to get outside and get your steps in.
Get up and move
Another thing your health tracker can do is remind you to get up and move. New research shows that sitting for long periods of time raises your chance of developing chronic disease. So get up and exercise at least once an hour.
Set up your own competition
Do you track your daily bests? Every time you walk, jog, run, swim, or bike, time yourself. Now you have something to compete against. Try and up your daily best every day. Nothing can help push you more than a friendly competition with yourself.
Get smaller plates
Want an easy way to reduce your calorie intake? Shrink the size of your plate. You won’t be able to put as much food on it, and therefore won’t take in a larger portion of food each day.
Get up earlier
No matter where you are in the world, springtime means longer daylight hours. That means the sun peaks its head above the horizon earlier too. Use this to your advantage. Get up and go for a walk, a run, or even a bike ride. This early morning workout will keep you buzzing all day.
Go plant based
Studies show that vegetarians tend to have lower BMIs than their meat eating counterparts. While you don’t have to adhere to a vegetarian diet forever, try and incorporate it into your diet several days of the week. Try meatless Mondays. Look for restaurants to enjoy an evening out but stick with a veggie diet. Find new recipes you’ll love to eat as much as you’ll love to cook.
Buy a water bottle
Today, you can buy fun water bottles that you’ll love to take with you. Make water your primary beverage for the rest of the month and use your water bottle to help you stay on track. Bringing it with you will help you say no to coffee, and yes to water.
Do exercises at work
It’s not as difficult as you think. Find a walking partner and head out for a walk at lunch. Take the stairs instead of the elevator. Do a few stretches or yoga poses in your office.