7. Practice Your Willpower
Staying fit can be a challenge – and there’s always something more important to do than exercise.
Or is there?
Better fitness improves every part of your day. Exercise helps clear your mind and increases your focus, and better weight management keeps your body humming. If you find yourself tempted to sit on the sofa instead of head to the gym, try clinching your fists – it actually helps keep you determined.
8. Drink Water
Staying hydrated may be the secret to ultimate health. When you drink water, you are less inclined to give into poor food choices, your body can easily eliminate wastes and toxins, and you lubricate your muscles and joints. Most people don’t get enough water. If you think you may be dehydrated, check your pee. Seriously. The color of your urine is like a hydration gauge. Darker colors could indicate you need to drink more.
9. Don’t Focus on the Numbers of the Scale
It might be tempting to take a shotgun to your bathroom scale, but don’t waste the bullet. Those numbers are notorious for being misleading. If you are near your period, the scale will read higher, if you took a Benadryl the night before, it’ll read lower and if you’ve gained muscle mass, it’ll look higher. None of these are true indicators of weight loss.
The truth is, weight loss shouldn’t be your goal – that’s the No. 1 way to tank your fitness goals. Fitness is your objective. A scale can give you comparative numbers, but never take them personally.
10. Get Better Sleep
Your body needs sleep to recoup. If you aren’t sleeping well, your body will use food as fuel to push yourself through the day. Practice getting sleep and your body will know it doesn’t have to find extra food to meet its energy goals.
Stay Healthy All Year Long
However you meet your New Year’s goals, think of fitness as something beyond a resolution. Good health is a life change we should all leverage for brighter futures and more joy.
Author Bio
Jennifer Landis is a 27-year-old healthy living blogger who loves yoga, running, and dancing it out with her toddler! You can find more from Jennifer at her blog, Mindfulness Mama, or by following her on Twitter: @jenniferelandis.