Year after year, losing weight is among the top New Year’s resolutions, but while so many people mark it at the top of their to-do list, few actually make it a priority — and you can’t blame them! Getting back on track with your health is a tough mountain to climb, especially if you’re coming back from a long hiatus, but getting back into shape is so worth it. Get ready to regain your strength, confidence, and wellness in no time – read on for Weight Loss: 3 Tips to Help You Get Started!
1. Understand that Health is a Multidimensional Affair
As important as ab day is, it’s equally important to remind yourself that health should be approached holistically. In addition to your regular workout routine, you should also consider how your diet and lifestyle habits come into play.
A healthy diet not only keeps you looking and feeling good, it also ensures that your body’s internal systems, like your immune system, for example, function at their best at all times. There are some vitamins that your body naturally produces, including vitamin D and K, but the rest of the essential nutrients you need come primarily from food. That’s one of the many reasons why it’s so important to eat whole, healthy foods.
Here are a few key ingredients you can incorporate into your diet for maximum nutrition:
- Fresh fish such as salmon, tuna, and trout are high in Vitamins A, B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B12, D, and E.
- Dark, leafy greens like kale and spinach are rich in Vitamins A, B2, B3, B6, B9, C, E, K, and Beta-Carotene.
- Mushrooms are rich in Vitamins B2, B3, B5, and D.
You’ll notice that all of these foods are staples in a healthy diet, and many are easy to incorporate into everyday dining. But keeping these nutrients replenished at all times may require some extra support — vitamin supplements can be a great way to fill in any nutritional gaps you’re missing. In fact, many offer additional health-centric benefits, like these green tea weight loss pills which have become popular for their energizing and nutritional properties.
2. Get an Accountability Friend or Partner
If you’re struggling to keep up with your workouts on a consistent basis, you might seek the help of an accountability buddy. Not only is working out with a friend fun, but it’s also a great way to hold one another accountable for achieving your fitness goals.
There are many ways you can foster such a friendly and fitness-related partnership:
- Attend group workout classes online or in-person
- Track your fitness friends using a fitness tracking application
- Start your own group workouts with friends on Zoom or Facetime
- Tag your friends in a fitness challenge on social media
- Sign up for an endurance challenge, like a half-marathon, for example
3. Believe that Your Journey should be Fun!
Word to the wise: exercise for enjoyment, not for abs! Exercise offers a number of incredible benefits beyond merely improving your outward physique. From providing much-needed stress relief to boosting your mood and infusing energy into your week, being active is so rewarding and so important. But staying consistent with your workout schedule isn’t always so simple, especially if you’re not having a good time while doing it.
If you’re looking for ways to ramp up the fitness fun-factor, check out these creative ideas:
(You can also try fast-paced HIIT workouts via YouTube or integrate outdoor activities into your fitness programme)
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- Hiking
- Biking
- Mountain climbing
- Kayaking
- Skiing/Snowboarding
- Trail running
Give Zumba, Hip Hop, or Salsa dance lessons a try. Sign up for a fun run or obstacle race such as:
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- Tough Mudder
- Rock n’ Roll Marathon
- The Color Run
- Spartan Race
- Hershey Half-Marathon
Join a group sports activity such as:
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- Volleyball
- Basketball
- Ultimate Frisbee
- Frisbee Golf
- Soccer
- Swim team
