JUMP-START
Your Fitness Goals
With a new year upon us, health and wellness goals take a front seat steering our desire to lead a healthy lifestyle.
By Daniela DeFeo
Here are 3 fool-proof tips to kick-start your resolutions and keep them active all year long!
Fuel Your Body
Food is thy medicine, especially when it comes to your brain and gut health. Be mindful at mealtime of either eating too much, too fast or not enough throughout the day. Graze to fuel your brain, improve digestion and speed up metabolism. Slow down and chew thoroughly. This will help alleviate pressure on the digestive system to break down food, leading to intestinal discomfort such as gas and bloating. Eat smaller meals so your body can efficiently metabolize food, absorb nutrients, regulate blood sugar and hormones.
Exercise Your Will
Where there's a will, there's a way —to get your workouts in. Resistance training builds muscle and strength, is beneficial for strong bones and boosts your calorie-burning metabolism, even at rest. Likewise, cardio conditions the body for proper blood circulation, elimination of waste, increasing metabolic rate and workout recovery. If you're pressed for exercise time, consider interval-style cardio and multi-joint exercises like squats and chest presses.
Find Your Equilibrium
Balance your mind and body by breathing in and out. Stress is a common daily occurrence. However, a constant flow of cortisol (a stress hormone) can lead to wear and tear —ageing the heart, shrinking the brain, weakening the bones, and suppressing sleep. Implement deep breathing techniques to get oxygen flowing throughout the body, activating calming nerves and relaxing the muscles. Take slow, deep breaths from the belly —exhaling longer than you inhale.
Resolutions are great motivators, driving you forward with purpose. So take the opportunity of a fresh new year to commit to a healthier lifestyle, conquer and sustain your fitness mission.
