You’re at a certain point in your life if you’re reading this, and it’s time to start thinking about your health, fitness, and well-being. You’re approaching 40, which means it’s time to take stock of your lifestyle and health habits and decide what you want out of life. Hopefully these tips will inspire you to start making changes that will positively impact your life. Let’s get started.
Find A Health Practitioner You Can Trust
Depending on your health issues, you may already be seeing a doctor or practicing yoga. If not, it’s likely that you will in the future. Finding a physician you can trust is essential so that they can understand your needs and goals and help you develop a plan to meet them. Don’t be afraid to question what you’re feeling and experiencing and to express how you’re feeling (e.g., depressed, anxious, or frustrated). A good physician should be able to guide you towards healthier choices rather than prescribing medication every time you have a headache or temperature. Seeking out a holistic or integrative physician helps to connect the different systems of your body and mind and allows you to find the root of the problem rather than just treating the symptoms. This type of physician may also be able to suggest dietary changes and lifestyle changes (e.g., more sleep) that could help you to lose weight.
Cut Back On The Booze And The Bad Food
Let’s face it, as you get older, your body is changing, and it’s not always for the better. One major cause of weight gain is excessive drinking, so if you’re drinking soda, juice, or alcohol, you’re likely adding a lot of unnecessary calories every day. Also, many of the food options available today are loaded with calories and fat, so avoid buying pre-made food items where you can and cook your own meals instead. There are lots of healthy options out there, and you can start with what’s available at your local grocery store so that you don’t have to spend a lot of money on costly restaurants. If alcohol isn’t your thing and you’ve cut back on the soda, you’ll notice a difference in your weight immediately; keep cutting back until you reach your desired weight. The same goes for the food; if you’re really determined, you could join a gym and cook healthy meals for yourself daily so that you don’t resort to eating out all the time.
Learn More About Nutrition
If you’re reading this, it’s probably because you’ve already heard of the glycemic index (GI) and know that some foods are better for you than others based on how they affect your blood sugar. The GI scales food based on how rapidly it is digested and absorbed into the bloodstream (high GI means the food is quickly absorbed and processed sugar is quickly converted to sugar in the bloodstream, while low GI foods are slowly digested and absorbed, which in turn raises blood sugar more gradually). You can learn more about nutrition at https://nutritionfacts.org/, where you’ll find comprehensive GI and nutritional info for every food. You can also use the resource as a guide to learn more about what foods are high in fiber, low in calories, and beneficial for your health.
Join A Gym Or Yoga Class
Getting a good workout in a gym is half the battle in ensuring healthy living. Working out in a group also offers a motivational boost to help you get through those tough times when you just can’t seem to find the motivation to move on your own. You’ll also meet people who share your same goals and will encourage you to continue moving towards them. Joining a gym or taking a yoga class regularly will help to keep you in good shape and offer benefits to your mental health as well. It’s a great way to relieve stress, get some fresh air, and meet new people; what’s not to like?
Learn To Be Active
This tip might seem obvious, yet it’s one of the most overlooked ways to lose weight. As we’ve established, the causes of weight gain are many and varied, but one of the major reasons behind it is inactivity. People are too proud or afraid to admit that they’re not very physically active, so they end up putting on weight. It’s a vicious cycle that can be broken by simply becoming more active. This doesn’t necessarily mean you have to join a gym or take up yoga; any activity that gets your heart pumping is beneficial. Even going for a walk can be enough to start with; try to do it for 30 minutes every day, and before you know it, that walk is turning into a workout and you’re feeling refreshed and rejuvenated.
Lift Weights
This one might be hard to believe, but weight training not only builds muscle, it also helps to shed off those extra pounds. Simply put, muscles need fuel, and the best way to provide them is by lifting weights. Not all weights are created equal, so you should start by selecting a weight that’s challenging but not impossible. If you’re wondering what kind of weight to choose, reach for a pair of dumbbells or buy a weight bench. The main idea behind weight training is to build your muscles and challenge them, so you continue exercising to maintain your strength. The American Journal of Medicine reports that regular weight training can help to boost your metabolism and thus enable you to lose weight more effectively.
Hopefully, these tips will inspire you to start making changes that will positively impact your life. Whether you decide to follow them all or just pick and choose a few to start with, at the very least, they should get you thinking about your health and well-being. We’d love to hear from you and how you’re doing; feel free to comment below or connect with us via our Facebook page or Twitter handle.