No time, no motivation, whatever your reasons are: you and the gym aren't gonna work out for now. How can you stay healthy anyway?
Lucky for you, there's a lot more ways to stay or get healthy without it. Let's start with these twelve.
One: Eat
Obvious, maybe. You really do become what you eat. By all means, figure out what works best for you.
You do not need to be shredded in order to be healthy. However, you do need to eat healthy to stay healthy. The amount of food matters in some perspectives, but more important is what you eat. You don't have to be calorie counting, but you do need to be aware of what it is.
Don't get swept up in the first couple of days of motivation, though. After a few days that motivation will run out and you'll just go back to eating how you ate before. Instead, make small changes at first, then bigger the longer you're in it.
For example, change your Starbucks caramel coffee for a homemade coffee with a little bit of caramel and cream in it. After a week (or maybe two), change it to just caramel. Then, to a black coffee. It'll save you both money, time and will get you healthier.
Another example: you're snacking throughout the day. You want to stop, you do, but it's hard. You like it. You deserve it. You'll go hungry without them.
Change them for healthier options (change from chips to nuts). Drink more water (a lot of the time, thirst is mistaken for hunger. The more you know). Eat bigger meals. Get more protein into your diet and less fat.
Two: Drink
Thirst, as said before, gets mistaken for hunger. First reason to drink more water. Water is the best thing you can drink, but if you want to drink other drinks we won't stop you. Just keep in mind to not drink drinks that are very unhealthy (sodas, anything with milk) or make you anxious (energy drinks and coffee) too much.
Along with keeping you hydrated and satiated, drinking enough water improves a lot of other areas too. It keeps your skin in great condition, along with nails, hair, eyes, nose, mouth, breath, down under, helps your muscles grow and reduction of fat, mental health (your brain gets healthier so your mental state improves) and even helps you sleep better.
Three: move around
This can range anywhere from taking the stairs instead of the elevator to just walking around the workplace or your school a little more. Having a more active approach to things rather than being in the same place and state of mind for the day.
Maybe buy a just dance or sports game that gets you on your feet while keeping things interesting.
Walk the dog.
Walk yourself.
Go for a quick run.
Take the bike or walk instead of taking the car for shorter distances.
Walk over to someone in the same building and talk instead of texting or mailing or calling (gets your mental health better too because the brain doesn't see texting as being socially active).
Dance like no one is watching (or dance when no one is actually watching).
Go to the store instead of ordering online.
Set an alarm every hour, drop down and do five (or more, or less) push ups.
You could always buy some dumbbells (ranging anywhere from 2 kilos to whichever you can reach) and exercise at home.
Four: Eat more protein
This might be the most life-hack-like tip on this list. Protein is a thing that builds your muscles and reduces fat. It won't do it completely on it's own -- that is, if you want to see any considerable changes -- so you've gotta work with it a little bit to make it work it's best work, but even if you don't, eating enough protein will change you.
Don't eat too much, don't eat too little of it.
1 gram protein per bodyweight kilo for average person, strength training people 1.6 to 2 grams.
So, if you weigh 75 kilos and don't do any strength training, you'd eat 75 grams per day. If you do do strength training, use for those same measurements 120 up to 150 grams per day.
A good way to get more protein is protein powder, but a lot of food has protein in it naturally, so just using these foods will get you there too.
Five: Less alcohol
You can still have alcohol, just cut down a little bit. Aside from it actively trying to poison you (why you feel that buzz and the hangover, along with the occasional throw up), it's calorie count is usually very high (for a drink). It hurts your liver and brain.
Drink, by all means, but don't over drink.
"Some research has found that people who limit alcohol to between two and six standard drinks per week have a lower risk of cardiovascular disease than people who drink more. That averages out to less than a drink a day."
Six: Go outside
You're not a vampire. Get outside. Even if it's your balcony or garden, you need that fresh sunlight. Vitamin pills can help you keep the levels up, but nothing beats the real thing. Even in winter, when the sun seemingly is hidden, you get those vitamins. Not as many as in summer, granted, but still enough.
Besides the vitamins, being outside boosts your mental health, especially longer term. You may not feel it the first couple of times you get out there, but it does change you, tiny bit by tiny bit.
You don't need to do anything crazy when you're out, just sitting in the sun is enough.
APOLLO SPORTS SOCIETY
At Apollo Sports Society, we believe that a healthy lifestyle begins with the right mindset and tools. Whether you're a seasoned athlete or just starting out on your fitness journey, our strength training programs and workout plans can help you achieve your goals.
And to support your fitness journey, we also offer a range of high-quality fitness clothing and workout clothes, designed to help you look and feel your best while you train. Our clothing is not only stylish, but also functional, featuring breathable fabrics and supportive designs that can help you perform at your best.
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