How to stay fit and healthy

How to Stay Fit and Beautifully Healthy

This article was co-authored by Laila Ajani. Laila Ajani is a Fitness Trainer and founder of Push Personal Fitness, a personal training organization based in the San Francisco Bay Area. Laila has expertise in competitive athletics (gymnastics, powerlifting, and tennis), personal training, distance running, and Olympic lifting. Laila is certified by the National Strength & Conditioning Association (NSCA), USA Powerlifting (USAPL), and she is a Corrective Exercise Specialist (CES).

There are 14 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page.

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There are a lot of benefits to staying physically fit. You’ll have more energy, you’ll look great, and you’ll notice improvements in your overall health. [1] X Expert Source

Laila Ajani
Fitness Trainer Expert Interview. 31 October 2019. Unfortunately, it’s not always easy to stay in great shape. However, if you focus on nutrition and exercise, you can make a lot of healthy physical changes. Don’t forget that a positive attitude is also really important to staying fit and beautifully healthy.

14 Ways to Stay Fit and Healthy

You want to be or stay fit and healthy, but where do you start? It may seem overwhelming, but it’s the small things you do each day that add up to a fit and healthy lifestyle.

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Accept that you’re always a work in progress, and use these 14 tips as a guide for your journey on the path to good health.

1. Kick Unhealthy Habits

Habits are a part of life, and they can be helpful in a lot of ways. But those that are pleasure-based are so much harder to quit, according to the National Institutes of Health — and oftentimes bad for your health.

Because there’s no way to do any of these in a healthy way, the «to-quit» category includes:

Unhealthy eating and being sedentary can also develop into bad habits if they’re not done in moderation, according to the University of Phoenix.

«Habits become habits because they are easy and provide reward,» says Shanna Levine, MD, board-certified internal medicine doctor and owner of Goals Healthcare. «In order to kick bad habits, surround yourself with people that maintain healthy habits, and make healthy habits easy and rewarding. For example, if you use a nicotine vape and your boyfriend does too, you should both quit together.»

A good way to break unhealthy habits is to change your routine, replacing bad habits with good ones.

«If you want to exercise, make it fun. Find a workout buddy or invest in home tools that make it effortless,» Dr. Levine says. «I like to watch my favorite shows on the iPad while using my indoor bike, and the hours fly by.»

Of course, it’ll take some time to kick your unhealthy habits, but it’s worth it if you want to lead a healthier lifestyle.

The 7 Most Effective Strategies to Quit Smoking for Good

Quit Drinking to Lose Weight? Try These 8 Ways to Unwind at the End of the Day Instead

9 Ways to Break Up With Emotional Eating for Good

2. Get Your Checkups

Get to your doctor for an annual physical just to make sure everything is as it should be. Routine health exams can help find problems before they really start and help catch health issues early, when chances for treatment and cure are higher, according to the National Library of Medicine.

«As a primary care physician, I cannot stress enough the importance of checkups,» says Dr. Levine. «Many of my patients are able to identify and treat many conditions before they become chronic and/or irreversible.»

Most routine checkups are covered by insurance, so take full advantage of those benefits. That being said, pay attention to your body and any symptoms you’re having, and see your doctor if anything seems awry, even if it’s not time for a checkup.

If you put off doctor’s appointments because your physician doesn’t seem to really listen to your concerns or shames you about your health in some way, those may be signs it’s time to find a new doctor.

3. Make Sleep a Priority

Sleep affects our physical and mental health tremendously, and many people don’t get enough, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Lack of sleep adversely affects mood and mental health, concentration, memory, weight, the immune system and cardiovascular health. Sleep allows the body to heal, repair and rejuvenate itself in a way it simply cannot when a person is awake.

The CDC recommends the following amounts of quality sleep each night for adults:

A 7-Day Kickstart Plan to Get Better Sleep

The 10 Best Natural Remedies for Insomnia

6 Reasons Sleep Gets Harder as You Get Older

4. Exercise Regularly

Adults should aim for 150 to 300 minutes of moderate-intensity cardio (think: walking, jogging, biking) or 75 to 150 minutes of vigorous-intensity cardio (running, swimming) throughout the week, according to the Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans. And strength training that works all the major muscle groups should be done at least two days per week.

5. Eat a Nutritious Diet

A nutritious diet is one of the most important ways to stay healthy and fit. The benefits of choosing healthy foods include:

Get as many fiber-rich fresh fruits, vegetables and whole grains into your diet as possible and make them the main part of your overall diet, recommends the CDC. Include lean sources of protein such as poultry, fish, tofu and beans. Eat balanced meals and learn portion control in order to stay within your calorie needs.

Limit the sugar, refined carbs (think: desserts and white bread, rice and pasta) and processed foods (packaged fare with long ingredient lists) in your diet, as these tend to serve up lots of calories with little nutritional value.

6. Enjoy Breakfast Every Day

A nutritious breakfast starts your day off right. It not only sets you up so you have energy and fuel for optimal mental and physical performance, but also to maintain stable blood sugar levels and a healthy weight because you are less likely to overindulge later in the day, according to the Cleveland Clinic.

«This is essential. Your breakfast should be nutritional and satisfying,» says Dr. Levine.

If you’re short on time, pre-plan your morning meal the night before or pick one day a week to make several nutritious grab-and-go breakfasts.

«Smoothies are perfect as you can customize them, they’re easy to digest and you can pack a lot of healthy calories in,» Dr. Levine says.

25 Make-Ahead Breakfasts You Can Freeze, Heat and Eat

29 Tasty Breakfast Meal Prep Recipes, and a Week-Long Meal Prep Plan to Try

9 Nourishing 10-Minute Breakfasts for Particularly Rough Mornings

7. Hydrate With Water

Staying hydrated is a daily necessity to keep your body functioning properly. All fluids support hydration, but plain water is still the best choice for maintaining a healthy body, according to Harvard Health Publishing.

So, how much water should you drink a day? A good general guidelines is to aim for half your body weight in ounces. So, if you weigh 180 pounds, aim for about 90 ounces, or about 11 cups.

8. Reduce Your Stress

Stress is a normal survival response to everyday life pressures, but it can become pretty unhealthy when it starts to disrupt day-to-day functioning, according to the American Psychological Association (APA).

Indeed, chronic stress can affect almost every part of the body — musculoskeletal, respiratory, cardiovascular, endocrine, gastrointestinal, nervous and reproductive systems, the APA notes.

So, how can you handle it?

The APA suggests the following to reduce the harmful effects of stress on the body:

Dr. Levine also believes that meditation, journaling, aromatherapy and reducing or eliminating social media are all quick and easy ways to reduce stress.

«Start with a one-minute guided meditation,» she says. «Take 10 minutes in the morning to journal about everything you are grateful for. Grab a small bottle of lavender oil and smell it when you feel stressed. Every little act builds up to a less stressed day.»

3 Tips to Start (and Stick With)В a Meditation Practice

The 4 Best Workouts to Do When You’re Stressed, According to a Sports Psychologist

5-Minute Daily Rituals Therapists Do to Relieve Stress and Stay Grounded

Feeling Overwhelmed? These Stretches Can Help You Recenter

9. Don’t Bottle It Up

Like stress, emotions like fear, anger and grief are a normal part of life. Keeping those emotions bottled up inside can cause mental and emotional stress as well as physical symptoms, according to a February 2019 review in the ​International Journal of Psychotherapy Practice and Research​. Unexpressed feelings can lead to cardiac abnormalities and depression.

Plus, an October 2013 study in the ​Journal of Psychosomatic Research​ found that people who bottled up their emotions increased their risk of premature death from all causes by more than 30 percent, with their risk of being diagnosed with cancer increasing by 70 percent. Although it’s important to note that more research is needed in this area.

Start by acknowledging your feelings, then talk about them — you can even start a journal or express yourself through some sort of art. And if you think you need to take a bigger step, therapy is always a fantastic option, according to Mental Health America.

Not all mental health services are covered by insurance, so checking your plan’s coverage is a good place to start when searching for a therapist.

10. Find Your Zen

Yoga and meditation don’t just help with relaxation and stress reduction — there are tons of physical and mental benefits that these two practices offer.

The benefits of yoga, according to John Hopkins Medicine, include the following:

Some studies also suggest that yoga can help with osteopenia (bone loss), cancer, women’s health issues and chronic pain.

Data from the 2017 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) found that meditation use by American adults tripled between 2012 and 2017.

So why not find a local yoga class in your neighborhood or download a meditation app? Set aside some quiet time for yourself and get your zen on.

11. Get Vaccinated

Being vaccinated and staying up to date with your shots is one very important way to stay healthy.

Vaccines have greatly reduced or eliminated diseases that once harmed or killed people of all ages. These diseases are still around, though, so if you’re not up to date with vaccinations, you’re putting yourself at risk.

«It is so important to have a primary care physician. They’re your gatekeepers for reviewing appropriate vaccinations as well as screening for age-appropriate illnesses.» Dr. Levine says.

Each year in the U.S., thousands of people become seriously ill from diseases that vaccines could’ve prevented, according the CDC. And even if they were vaccinated as a child, some vaccines’ protection can wear off.

So, keep up with vaccines and boosters, and protect yourself as well as your family, friends and coworkers. (P.S.: Vaccines are way cheaper than hospitalizations!)

Follow this vaccine schedule to protect yourself (and your kids) at every age.

12. Wash Those Hands

Did you know that the number one way to prevent the spread of germs is by maintaining good hand hygiene? It’s that easy!

According to the CDC, hand-washing with soap and water can prevent approximately 30 percent of diarrhea-related sicknesses and about 20 percent of respiratory infections like colds. And lessening the number of these infections helps prevent the overuse of antibiotics, which is another health hazard.

If you’re out and about where hand-washing isn’t an option, you can sanitize your mitts by using disinfecting hand wipes or a liquid hand sanitizer.

13. Manage Your Conditions

If you have a chronic illness or condition, it’s so important to manage it. More and more conditions are emerging, so the rate of self-management continues to grow as a crucial method to managing these conditions, preventing illness and promoting wellness, according to an August 2014 review by the American Public Health Association.

It’s not only important to be on top of checkups and medications, but it’s also a necessity to work with your health care provider in order to be supported and educated on self-management skills. This will help build the confidence you need to lead a healthier life, according to The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.

14. Grow a Support System

A support system benefits your mental health as well as your physical health. Having some people that you trust and can talk to can help you cope with everyday challenges, make difficult decisions or even aid in a crisis situation.

Family members, friends, teachers, neighbors and/or colleagues can help combat loneliness, social isolations, anxiety — whatever it is you need, according to the National Council for Mental Wellbeing’s Mental Health First Aid.

And having a support network while working on nutrition and exercise is a must! Having friends or family members who are encouraging of your healthy eating and exercise goals is vital for long-term success, according to the Mayo Clinic. It could be someone to lean on when you’re discouraged, someone to work out with or even someone to watch your kids while you cook or work out.

So, make sure to reach out to family and friends, join clubs, take classes or volunteer at your favorite organization, find a peer support group and find local events to attend.

7 Tips On How To Stay Fit And Healthy At Home

Staying healthy at home doesn’t have to be hard.

A home is a place where we unwind and relax after a long day. It’s a place we describe as “cozy” and “comforting.”

But what happens when we throw work into the mix of this?

The place where we usually expect to come to for relaxation is now a place of work, hustle, and everything in between.

Staying fit and healthy can seem difficult and challenging under these circumstances.

But it doesn’t have to be with these 7 easy tips you can implement to stay fit and healthy at home.

TIP #1: Drink Plenty Of Water Throughout The Day

One of the best exercises to stay fit and healthy is to drink plenty of water during the day.

Water is so important for our health and our bodies.

Did you know that we are made of 60% water and our blood is 90% water?

Every system, cell, tissue, muscle fiber, and organ needs water to function properly and efficiently. Without it, our bodies simply can’t perform to do its job.

Here Are Some Reasons Why Water is Important For Your Body:

If you are not getting a sufficient daily water intake, you risk the potential for health problems to develop.

Dehydration hurts the body by doing things such as impairing brain function, creating nauseating headaches, having low energy levels, causing muscle spasms and cramps, and so much more. This also has an effect on your emotional status as well.

Things such as irritability, mood swings, and confusion could all happen when you don’t get enough water.

How Much Water Should I Be Drinking Per Day to Stay Fit and Healthy?

Have you seen some suggestions telling you that you should be drinking 6–8 cups of 8-ounce glasses of water per day?

While this is a good starting point, there are very few studies and research done on this.

The truth is, everyone is different. Water intake should be calculated based on your own specs.

Here are the steps to calculating the amount of water you need:

Pretty simple right?

But consciously reminding yourself to drink water throughout the day can be hard. We often find ourselves to be super busy with no time to think about how much water we drank today.

Here Are Some Tips if You Struggle to Drink Enough Water Throughout the Day:

TIP #2: Set Alarms To Stand Up

Do you find yourself trapped at your desk while working at home? And do you oftentimes forget about how long you’ve been sitting there for?

Sitting for a prolonged bout of time is really harmful to your overall health. We do it every day without giving it a second thought when in reality, we should!

Living a sedentary lifestyle can hurt your cardiovascular system, lead to chronic health problems, weaken your muscles, and so much more. This is why it is so important to stay fit and active throughout our days.

But when we think of being active, most of our minds go to super intense workouts or exercise in general. While that is not necessarily a bad mindset to have, being active is actually a lot easier than you think it is!

How Do You Stay Fit and Active?

Well, staying active could simply mean moving your body. Whether that’s to stand up and walk around your living room for a little or getting in your workout for the day, the concept here is the same.

But did you know that you actually burn calories when you’re standing?

Just by doing absolutely nothing you could be doing so much for your body.

Try to Set Alarms on Your Phone to Stand Up

Let’s say you are working at home from 9:00 A.M. until 5 P.M. That’s a long time to be sitting down.

Try to set intervals for every hour or so to stand up and stretch a little or walk around your living room to stay fit at home.

TIP #3: Go For A Walk With A Friend

We are all culprits of making excuses as to why we don’t get to do certain things during our day. Fitness and health tend to be on the list of things that don’t get done for a lot of people.

An easy way to keep yourself accountable is to do it with a friend.

Humans are highly social beings.

We depend on human interaction to find purpose and joy in life. If we don’t, we could risk an unhealthy mind, body, and soul. So, neglecting this part of our health can actually harm us more.

If you’re working from home, going on a walk with a friend can be simple. Try FaceTiming or giving them a phone call during your walk. It can be a nice and refreshing way to go outside while catching up with someone you love.

TIP #4: Change Up Your Workouts

Physical fitness is a huge element in how to stay fit and healthy at home. Here are a few important benefits that exercise has on your overall health:

Like most of us, staying motivated to workout can be hard. If it were easy, all of us could be doing it right now.

So, how do we stay physically fit when we don’t feel like doing it?

Change Things Up

If we keep doing the same workouts day in and day out, we’re going to become bored and more likely to not do it.

Keep your same workout days but just change what kinds of workouts you do during those days.

So let’s say Monday’s are the days you usually work out your legs with dumbbells. It’s now Monday morning and you are already dreading the workout.

Try doing something different instead, like a HIIT session or full-body workout. You could also follow different YouTube videos or find so many workout routines on the Internet.

The key to staying in shape and maintaining it is to constantly change things up and challenge yourself.

Without doing these two things, you will reach a plateau in your fitness or more than likely give up altogether.

TIP #5: Include More Vegetables And Fruit

So we know that water is very important for our bodies. But what if I told you that you could eat your water?

Fruits and vegetables have high water content and could actually be even better for you than just straight drinking water from a bottle.

We absorb the water from the water-rich fruit or vegetable more slowly when we eat it. It allows the water to stay in our bodies for longer, and with additional benefits.

Not only are you getting your water in, but you’re also on your way to a healthy lifestyle just by having a healthy diet in place. This is the best way to stay fit and healthy naturally!

But I know not everyone likes eating fruits and vegetables or quite frankly remembers to eat them on a daily basis.

An easy way to incorporate both fruits and vegetables at the same time is to make a smoothie.

You can add in different vegetables into your smoothies, such as spinach and kale, without even tasting it. The only thing that might change is the color, but ever so slightly.

I highly suggest getting in a smoothie each day if you find yourself forgetting to eat your fruits and vegetables.

TIP #6: Incorporate Self-Care Into Your Routine

You’re probably wondering, how does self-care have anything to do with how to stay fit and healthy?

Well, most would think this has to do with your physical health, which, yes, it will benefit you in that aspect.

But the main reason is that self-care helps to maintain a healthy relationship with yourself and we can’t forget about how healthy relationships positively affect your health.

Self-care can help to aid stress and take time out of the day just for you, and only you.

It’s going to make you feel and function so much better.

But people often omit this out of their daily routines.

Because we get stressed. We get tired of working all day. We think we don’t have enough time for it.

If you take the time for it during your day, it will have so many benefits for you.

Here Are Some Says You Can Incorporate Self-care Into Your Daily Routine!

TIP #7: Make It A Habit

It takes 22 days to create a habit for what you are doing.

Once you can push yourself and get through those 22 days of implementing a new way of healthy living, it will be so much easier from there.

Now, these probably won’t be major, life-changing moments yet. But if you continuously implement these tips past the 22-day mark, you will notice a change in your overall quality of life.

Final Thoughts

To stay fit and healthy from home is a lot easier than you might think. By implementing all of these tips into your life, you will be able to live a healthier and happier life.

How to stay healthy? : Top 10 Ways to Stay Healthy

How to stay healthy? : Top 10 Ways to Stay Healthy

How to stay healthy? : The best way to stay healthy is to eat healthy food. Here in this article I am going to tell you about top ways to stay healthy. Health is the most important asset of human body. Health refers to the well being of human body and human structure. The health is a state or condition of body which can be either good or bad. It is our utmost duty to keep our health in the right place and in the right condition. It health gets affected in any way then it destroys the human anatomy in some serious ways which can be dangerous in long term and short term as well.

Good and bad health depends on how we keep ourselves fit and fine. If we are taking care of our body in a nice and gentle way then it will be beneficial for our health and body and if we are not putting any effort or give time to our body then our chances are more likely that health will degrade. There is a very wide scope of staying healthy.

A good health means you are physically, mentally and emotionally fit.

Many people have a lot of money. Their needs are fulfilled because of they are rich but they cannot buy health by money. They always run after money and don’t care about their health. After few years they are found with suffering many diseases. If you have a huge house but you are not able to use stair and start breathing rapidly because of asthma, then in this case what is the use of money? You can buy many sweets but you can’t eat because of diabetes. Why don’t people take care of their health before time. Prevention is better than cure. You must be conscious for your health and adopt some good habits in order to stay healthy and free from diseases.

Top 10 Ways to Stay Healthy

There are 10 ways to follow in your hectic schedule to keep your health mentally as well as physically fit-

1. Eat healthy food

Eating healthy food does not always mean that eating fancy foods or salad but eating right food and at the right time is considered. If we will eat healthy then the body will automatically show the results and the health will improve which will benefit the body in every possible way. Eating healthy also means eating fresh food and mostly that food which suits us the best. Here healthy food means a proper diet chart to follow according to your body. We always succumbed when we see fast fast or spicy food. But you must be aware of it that how much quantity you are consuming. However it is okay to eat once in a week. Have your meal time to time and never skip it because of any pressure.

2. Eat green vegetables

We should eat green vegetables for good health as green vegetables are are rich in antioxidants and vitamins. They have many good properties which are beneficial for our body and which has many long term effects.

3. Drink at least 8 glasses of water

Water is an essential part of our life. We cannot survive without water. Our body also needs water for maintaining the good health and for the healthy mind as well. We should drink at least 8-9 glasses of water everyday to flush out the toxins in our body so that the body can breathe in proper way. Water is also important for the proper functioning of the body.

4. Sleep at least 6-7 hours daily

Sleeping is a stage when you are completely in a rest physically as well as mentally. So it is important for our body as proper sleep can relax our mind and maintains peace of mind which is really important for our health as healthy mind leads to healthy body. Lack of sleep can cause some serious trouble and stress so its better to take proper sleep of 6-7 hours daily without any disturbance. Without rest you cannot work properly and make you bed tempered. Your eyes will look like puffy eyes and having dark circles around it. This would indicate that you are depressed or you are getting older.

5. Exercise daily

Doing exercise daily can make make the body fit from fat and make the body healthy. Stretching the body will help us strengthen the muscles of the body and it will automatically create flexibility in the body. If our body is flexible, we can do whatever we feel like and there is no feeling of tiredness, fatigue or illness. Daily burn your calories by some exercises like stretching, walk, running, cat pose, camel pose, workout, etc. when you do exercise regularly, it enables you to look young and remove wrinkles, obesity, dark circles.

6. Do meditation

Mediation in now a days is mandatory in order to stay stress free and healthy. Stress lead to many diseases as contribute to diabetes, high blood pressure and heart diseases. While mediation keep your mind calm and beneficial for our health. It always help to think positive and to better understand or focus on the facts or problems. Our negative impressions get washed away.

7. Don’t smoke

Smoking is a bad habit and injurious to our health. When you are smoking in your office or at any other place, it makes other people around you uncomfortable. It affects lungs, heart, brain and causes cancer. Once you become addicted to it, then it won’t be easy to get out of this trap.

8. Avoid alcohol and tobacco

Alcohol is an ingredient or a drug which is found in wine, beer, vodka, whiskey. It affects central nervous system and slows down many functions. Excessively drinking of alcohol cause many serious problems like cancer and may kill cells of brain. Alcoholics thinks that it is pain killer but they don’t know how dangerous is it. However, It is really common in modernisation, but you should avoid it before driving and when you are pregnant.

9. Keep yourself clean

Our day to day activities calls many germs and bacteria. If you won’t keep yourself clean and tidy, these germs will reach to our stomach and cause many problems or viral infection. Always wash your hands before eating and after your meal.

10. Drink juice

There are many fruits and some are seasonal. Drink a glass of juice (apple, banana, pineapple, orange, mango, papaya, pomegranate, sapodilla) everyday in order to stay hydrated, boosting immunity and stay healthy. Juice reduce the risk of cancer, losing weight and helpful in better digestion.

5 Easy Ways To Stay Healthy And Fit

Getting into the habit of eating well and working out consistently is hard enough. Staying healthy and fit is even harder. Until you get into a good rhythm and form healthy habits, it can be challenging to figure out how to stay at your physical best without obsessing over it.

Here are five easy habits you can start forming today to help you stay healthy and fit for the long-term.

1. Buy fewer processed foods at the grocery store

All the foods we eat are processed in some way, but foods that undergo chemical processing, which means they are made from ingredients that aren’t real, thus making them high in sugar and low in the nutrients we actually need to fuel our bodies and keep us healthy, should be avoided.

As a general rule, try to limit the number of prepackaged, nonperishable food items you have in your grocery cart at checkout, foods such as chips, granola bars and frozen meals. Purchasing perishable items, such as yogurt, bread and fresh produce, is a sign that what you’re buying more closely resembles foods your body can easily digest and use for fuel.

2. Make exercise part of your everyday life

Just because you don’t live at the gym or own your own fitness gear doesn’t mean you can’t stay fit. Sometimes it’s the small actions we add into our daily lives amidst other activities that make all the difference.

Find creative ways to stay active no matter how busy your schedule is. There might be days that you really don’t have time to head to the gym, even when you want to. You can do squats and stretch while you’re on the phone. Invest in a standing desk or put together a makeshift version if you sit a lot during the day. Walk instead of drive, if it’s practical. Ask a client or co-worker if he or she would rather talk and walk instead of sitting down for coffee.

3. Eat more than three times a day

We’re used to eating three large meals a day because that’s what our ancestors did when they first came to the New World. You probably base when you eat off of your school or work schedule: a decent breakfast in the morning, a light lunch in the middle of the day and a hearty dinner after a long, nine-to-five workday. When you do get hungry in-between, you’ll usually either grab a vending machine snack or wait until your next meal, which can lead to unintentional overeating.

Eating smaller meals more often—yes, that means snacking—can help you be more mindful of how much you’re eating, and when. The best way to manage eating smaller meals more frequently is to learn to eat when you’re hungry, stop eating when you’re full and refrain from eating out of boredom or stress. You can pack healthy snacks for yourself during the day, which we’ll talk more about next.

4. Prepare snacks in advance

Sometimes we end up eating too much junk food just because it’s easy to grab and munch. When you’re crunched for time or trying to multi-task, putting in the effort to slice an apple and find the almond butter in the back of the refrigerator isn’t going to make the top spot on your priority list. You’ll reach for the bag of potato chips instead—no preparation required.

These don’t have to be complicated snacks. It can be something as simple as sticking a bag of popcorn in the microwave and pouring it into a plastic bag or making your own kale chips the night before to carry with you. If you buy fresh fruits and vegetables at the grocery store, cut them up and store them in the fridge right away for easy access the next time you’re home and hungry for a snack.

5. Write down a detailed description of what being healthy means for you personally

The biggest mistake we make when we decide to start living healthier is using someone else’s parameters to shape our new lifestyle. One person’s fitness routine and dietary habits are not a standard you are required to follow. The key to staying healthy and fit is figuring out your own definition of health, and deciding how you’re going to stick to it.

You might define being healthy as getting six to eight hours of sleep every night, working out for 30 minutes three times a week and eating all five food groups every day. If that’s what you can manage what’s going to work with your schedule, there is no right or wrong. Write down how you plan to modify your lifestyle and let that description shape your actions.

Conclusion

The path to healthy living doesn’t involve sudden, drastic changes. Adopting a healthier lifestyle involves looking at where you’re at, picturing where you want to be and figuring out how you can incorporate gradual, subtle modifications to your normal routine.

By taking it one short, simple step at a time, you’ll be on your way to a happier, healthier, more fulfilling life in no time.