How to Start on the Path of a Healthy Lifestyle Change

While it’s pretty basic and it’s been repeated so many times, having a healthy lifestyle is absolutely crucial. This affects your mind, body, and in a way, even your spirit. When you’re focusing on a healthy lifestyle, you just feel better. You feel more energized, you feel more confident, and you probably will even feel like you could take on the world! Generally speaking, you should try to focus on this positive change. But how can you get yourself to start on the path of a healthy lifestyle? Keep reading on to find out more!

Start With Your Diet

The goal of a healthy lifestyle includes eating right and staying physically active. Eating a well-balanced diet that is low in saturated fat and cholesterol, moderate in salt (sodium) and sugar, and high in fiber can help manage body weight, strengthen bones and teeth and prevent heart disease, diabetes, and stroke. Avoid foods and beverages that are highly processed. Processed foods often contain unhealthy trans fats, added sugars, and saturated fats. Read the Nutrition Facts label to help you identify these ingredients.

Instead of thinking of dietary changes as “all or nothing” propositions, think of them as simple swaps. For example, replace fried chicken with grilled chicken or cookies with fruit. This way, you can gradually reduce your intake of unhealthy foods and still feel in control if you do give in to temptation. You may also want to consider taking supplements too, as this can help you out with getting all the proper vitamins in each day, 

Focus on Your Sleep

This one will forever be preached, and it probably feels more complicated than dieting, but in the end, your sleep is going to affect you greatly. Get on a regular sleep schedule. It may take a while to fully get in sync with your natural circadian rhythm, but sticking with a regular bed and wake time will improve sleep over time. Make sure your bedroom is cool, dark, and quiet. Stimulants like TV, caffeine (including in tea and coffee), alcohol, and nicotine can keep you awake, so avoid them several hours before bedtime. 

Changing your habits isn’t easy, so it’s important to take it slow. Choose one area of your lifestyle to focus on at a time, and work on it until you see progress before moving on to the next habit. Also, you should cut down on the phone and other device usage before bedtime. 

Always Stay Active

It’s not just about losing weight or getting toned, but generally speaking, you’re going to feel a lot better by getting active. Getting enough exercise is one of the most important things you can do for your body, but it can be difficult to fit into a busy lifestyle. People tend to think of exercise as something that requires a change of clothes and a trip to the gym, but in reality, even short bursts of activity can help. Talking the stairs is great, walking the dog can work, and a short walk after a meal can be nice too. But of course, if you want to make a major transformation, then a great program like at TTown Fitness could be incredible. But in the end, just make sure you get active.