New year, new you, right? If like countless people across the world you have decided that you want to finally ditch the takeout and become healthier in 2019, you’re probably looking for the best ways to stay in shape. It’s important to note that getting into shape, losing weight, or even building up muscle is not an instant task. Although we wish we could eat an apple and watch the weight fall off, it just doesn’t work like that. You have to instead work for what you want, and these will definitely help you along that path.
Find something to suit you
Staying in shape is not something you do by going to the gym once a year. This is a lifestyle change and one that you need to stick to for as long as you possibly can. Because of this, you need to find out what works for you. It may be that you don’t want to give up your daily candy bar – and that’s okay. You just need to find a way to burn this off and keep your sugar intake to a minimum. You might be the kind of person to go hard at the gym a few times a week, or you might be the person to simply swap public transport for your own two feet. Once you find what works for you, you’ll be able to maintain this lifestyle.
Prioritize your health
To stay in shape, you really need to be ready for the challenge. Although it won’t be easy, it will become easier when you start to prioritize your health. By taking a long, hard look in the mirror, visiting the doctor for a health checkup, and writing down your goals, you’ll be able to understand what your goals are in terms of your health and wellbeing. Do you want to lose weight? Do you want to build muscle? Do you want to put on weight? Once you’ve done this and you’re committed, you’re ready to take the plunge.
Make sure you hit your 10,000 steps
Many people take a good ol’ walk for granted, but it seems as though putting one foot in front of the other is one of the best ways to ensure that you stay in shape. It’s recommended that everyone walks around 10,000 steps every single day to ensure optimum health. While this does sound like a lot, these steps can easily be hit over the course of a lengthy dog walk, intermittent walks around the office, or even just walking to and from work. Not only will this burn calories, but it will also reduce the risk of heart disease and help your mental health. What could be better than that?
Staying in shape doesn’t have to be hard. However, it’s also not easy. You need to really put your heart and soul into staying as healthy as possible, and this sometimes means making changes to a life that you may be comfortable with. Ultimately, your diet and exercise determine the next stage in this process.