Are you a ‘new year, new me’ kind of person? This kind of mentality tends to attract criticism, but really it shouldn’t be the case. Of course, we have 365 days to make a positive change in our lives, and we don’t have to wait until the start of a new year to do so, but this is the real world. We lead busy lives, we’re tired, and it’s easy to fall into bad habits. There’s something about the start of a new year that’s incredibly motivating, and if it’s something that’s going to give you a push to live better then roll with it! As a freelance health writer, fitness is always on my mind. Delicious smoothies and juices are an excellent strategy to adopt as part of your overall healthy lifestyle. However, if improved fitness is at the top of your list for your 2019 resolutions, here are a few things that you can invest in to help you with your journey.
You absolutely can get fit and healthy without stepping foot into a gym. There are plenty of free or cheap alternative ways to work out your body- you can go running, swimming, cycling or practice bodyweight exercises to name a few. However there’s no denying the effectiveness of the gym, and making an effort to go can be really worthwhile. Make it a part of your routine, decide on the times and days that you’re going to go and soon it will just feel normal and not like a massive effort!
Be realistic about what you hope to achieve, setting yourself the goal of going five times a week if you have a hectic schedule, for example, will lead to failure and can make you feel like you want to quit altogether. Aim for two or three times a week and stick with it religiously. Most gyms offer free classes which enable you to switch things up and stop your workouts getting boring.
Fitness Tracker
Fitness trackers are an excellent way to push yourself. You can see exactly what you’ve done and how hard you’ve worked each day. Many experts suggest allowing you to see with your own eyes how much activity you’ve managed, which is useful since many of us tend to overestimate this. They can help you set goals and generally keep you on track. They record your steps, heart rate, sleep and more so can give you an overall picture of your health, and point you in the right direction for making improvements. Fitbit is the brand leader, they have lots of trackers at different price points, and all of the information syncs up to an easy to understand app.
But there are lots of options out there so do your research. If you’re a tech lover, a smartwatch could be the way to go. While they won’t have quite as many health tracking features as a device aimed at fitness tracking, there are lots of third-party apps that work well with them. With Christmas coming up, maybe you could add one on your Christmas list?
Supplements
When you exercise regularly, supplements can help your body to heal faster, and provide it with everything it needs for better performance. Companies like san supplements have everything you need in one place; if you’re looking to take your workouts to the next level, then this is something to consider. Image: Unsplash. Collaboration.