Beginners guide to a healthier lifestyle

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   Start with realistic goals. Before jumping into a whole new diet or workout plan, ask yourself why you want to get healthier. Focusing on short term goals rather than where you'd like to be in a year, can make goal setting more attainable and less overwhelming. Start with small habitual changes. 

2. Ask yourself how you want to feel in 30 days? 

3. What areas of your life need improvement? (nutrition, sleep, activity, stress levels, etc.)

4. What is one small habit you can change today?

2. Nourish your body with balanced nutrition. Healthy eating is not about restricting, fasting, counting calories, or perfection. It is about making healthier choices more frequently and being conscious of what you are putting into your body.

3. Be mindful of your macros. Each meal you eat should be evenly balanced with carbs and protein, with a smaller amount of healthy fats.

4. Start adding rather than restricting. Aim to add more fruits, vegetables, protein and whole grains to your diet. 

5. Limit eating out to under three times per week. 

6. Be mindful of your water intake.

3. Add in movement that you actually enjoy. Forcing yourself to run if you don’t enjoy it will burn you out quickly and not be attainable long term. One form of exercise is not better than another, add in what works for you.

4. Try different things to find out what you enjoy doing/what feels good for your body. 

5. Increase your daily steps by taking more walks. 

6. If you are interested in strength training but don’t know where to start, think about hiring a personal trainer. 

4. Prioritize sleep and recovery. Creating a healthier lifestyle is not just about what you do during the day, it is also about rest. If you are not well rested, your body can’t function the way it properly should - focusing on burning fat, building muscle, and giving you more energy throughout the day.

5. Try to get into bed earlier, aiming for 7-9 hours of sleep.

6. Create a relaxing evening routine. 

7. Limit screen time before bed.

5. Build habits slowly and consistently. Doing too much too fast will not benefit you. It can lead to burn out and fatigue. 

6. Start with small habitual changes you can implement that will not change your daily routines too drastically. (example - implementing a protein source in each meal)

7. Practice them for 2-4 weeks, once it becomes a normal part of your routine, implement more changes. 

8. Know that you do not have to push yourself hard in the beginning. Starting out with a new activity is a big change for your body. Keep it light in the beginning and slowly work up to more challenging difficulty levels. 

Your journey starts today, don’t put it off any longer! You do not need to spend hours and hours in a gym or restrict yourself from food. Creating a healthy lifestyle is about implementing small changes and habits that will be beneficial for your health. The process is slow and steady, make a commitment to yourself to stick with it. 

Need more motivation or help? Reach out to Coach Emily today at EHoffman@etageathletic.com