Summer is right around the corner, which means that swimsuit season has already begun. As a nation, we struggle to find a balance between eating, exercising and everything in between. As a Kinesiology major, I have spent a lot of my time in college studying the human body, and the proper food and exercise that help it function correctly. There are so many benefits that accompany a healthier lifestyle, for example, a better quality of life, less injury, a happier outlook, and an excellent functioning body. With that being said, here are a few tips that will get you started on the path towards a healthier lifestyle:
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Cut out sodas and any other sugary drinks. Cutting out soft drink products may be just what you need to start your journey towards a healthier lifestyle. Even drinks like sweet tea and juices have a high sugar content that contribute to a lethargic lifestyle. If you’re unsure of the content, read the label, anything over 10 grams of sugar is definitely not good, but to be safe water is always your best bet.
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Cut out as much processed foods as possible. If you can cut down the amount of times you eat fast food almost completely, you’ll definitely start feeling the benefits of a healthy lifestyle. My favorite tip when entering the grocery store is to stay along the outside edges of the store; that is where you’ll find the healthiest foods for your body and food that are not processed.
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Unsaturated fat is good, but Saturated and Trans fats are bad. You’ll find the good fat in foods such as avocados, salmon, and nuts. Companies can get away with having “Zero Trans Fat” if it’s under a certain weight, but if you look in the ingredients list and see “Partially Hydrogenated Oils” then trans-fat is still in the food product you’re eating. Our bodies are not designed to break down these two types of fat, so instead they get stored (and you definitely don’t want more fat storage).
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Eat more of the right foods. Load up on fruits, veggies and whole grains; the more foods you eat in these categories, the more full you’ll feel and the fewer cravings you’ll have for the junk food. There are categories found on choosemyplate.gov that outline the 5 food groups, and the healthy portions accompanied with each. You can find dairy, grains, protein, fruits, and vegetables; ideally, eating from at least 3 out of 5 of these categories at each meal is good, but eating from all 5 would be excellent.
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It’s okay to have a cheat meal, just don’t let it become a habit. One of my favorite quotes is “One bad meal won’t make you get fat, just like one good meal won’t make you get healthy.” Find a combination of healthy foods that you like, for instance, my favorite ‘desert’ is a bowl of vanilla yogurt, topped with fresh strawberries and granola. When you find a combination of foods that you actually like, you’re more likely to stick to your plan.
Eating healthy and taking care of your body is a long process; things won’t just change overnight. It takes dedication and hard work to accomplish your goals. Set some goals, write them down, and make a deadline to reach your goals. Statistics show that you’re more likely to stick to your goals when they’re set in stone. Keep your head up and don’t lose faith because as soon as your body starts to get used to a healthier lifestyle, it won’t want to go back.