We read a lot of advice on how to have a healthier lifestyle. Unfortunately, most of it seems to be geared toward people who live in a bygone age of 40-hour work weeks and yearly vacations.
(Photo Credit: wonderlane/Flickr)
Over at the Jane Dough, Sarah Kaufman of Manilla.com recently contributed a blog post on how the rest of us can incorporate healthy changes into our lives, even if we work 50 hours a week.
The bottom line is the same as it always is — small changes are best, but even those will only stick if you can figure out a way to make them work with your routine. Still, we were taken with a few of her pieces of advice in particular, as they seemed more realistic than the usual health and fitness tips:
1. Start small.
You’ve heard it a hundred times, and yet you still promise yourself hour-long workouts six days a week. Don’t burn yourself out before you even get started. Kaufman began her workout routine with 30-minute sessions three times a week, but you don’t even need to be that ambitious. The Mayo Clinic advises adults to get 75 minutes of vigorous exercise or 150 of moderate exercise per week. You can hit that target just by walking 20 or so minutes a day, without even darkening the gym’s door.
2. Make your changes convenient.
A little planning will save you a lot of time and frustration, and make it more likely that you’ll stick to your routine. Kaufman cautions against joining a gym that’s super far away from your home or office. We’d also add that those morning boot camp classes only work if you can get up for them, so if you’re not a morning person, maybe find a different time for your workout. And everyone can benefit from planning their meals a few days ahead. You’re less likely to cave and get fast food if you have a healthy lunch packed and ready to go.
3. Everything in moderation.
At the same time, if you’re really craving that fast food, go ahead and have some fries now and then. Don’t think of food as good or bad, or declare anything off-limits forever. Everything in moderation — including moderation.
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