The most critical thing in our lives is our health. With bad health, our life direction could change, and it would be hard to live the life we want. Sadly, even though we know this already, many of us still choose to neglect our health. We don’t even show up for ourselves and refuse to do simple things like having a healthy diet and regularly exercising.
We’re indeed all busy and have limited free time in our schedules. But delaying to prioritise our health could only lead to future complications that would only stop us from making the most of our lives. The good news is you can prevent that from happening by starting today.
If you’ve been telling yourself that you’ll finally manage your diet and stick to an exercise routine, the perfect time to start is today. To help you, here are tips for tracking and managing your diet and exercise routine ideally.
1 – Research the appropriate calorie intake for your body weight
Today, many influencers online tell us that to stay fit, you only need to try drinking detox drinks, following a specific workout routine, and eating at a particular time daily to succeed. Frankly, they’re not wrong. However, what works for them might not work for you. After all, each body is unique and different from others.
When starting your diet, you must remember that two things can be true at once. That’s why you should take the details you see online with a grain of salt. The best thing you can do is to research your body weight first. Learn the appropriate calorie intake for your height, age, and weight. That way, you wouldn’t put your body in a position that could detriment it in the long run.
2 – Have a physical check-up to know the type of food you should avoid
Usually, people skip meals or instantly remove sugar from their diet when they want to lose weight. However, many people don’t realise that that’s not the ideal and best way to lose weight. Before you remove food that might contain the ingredients your body needs to function optimally, it’s best to have a physical check-up first.
Having a physical check-up is also an opportunity for you to know the condition of your body. When you know your health condition, it’ll be easy to curate a food plan that works best for your body. Don’t cut any food from your current diet without checking your health first.
3 – Start with beginner workouts, then increase the intensity gradually
Most of the workout videos we see online are a combination of intermediate and intense workouts that people who have been working out for years are doing. If you don’t live an active lifestyle, starting with intense workouts will likely drain and demotivate you to continue.
Seeing people do intense workout videos online can give us the pressure that we’re not doing it right if we’re not following them. However, like most things on social media, we only see those people’s highlight reels. We didn’t see what they did to be able to do the intense workouts they’re sharing with the world today. Remember, you can start slow and work at your own pace.
4 – Record your workout on a journal, planner, or calendar to appreciate your growth
Many people give up on their workout routines because they don’t see significant changes after weeks or months of working out. Honestly, you need to combine a healthy diet, cardio workouts, and strength-building to see quicker results. But since we’re after progress here and not perfection, it’s best to take it slow and appreciate your growth.
You can start by recording your workout session in a journal, planner, or calendar. You don’t have to write in paragraphs about what you did. Simply record how many push-ups, sit-ups, or how long your plank was for that day. Soon, you’ll see how far you’ve come and how you’re gradually shifting from beginner workouts to intermediate ones.
5 – Never skip a workout for more than two consecutive days
One of the best rules of thumb you should follow is never to miss a workout for more than two days straight. It’s also even better if your rest days are not consecutive days but rather days apart. Sadly, there are many cases when you have a great workout routine already, but once you miss one day, you’re back to zero again.
At first, this can be hard. But remember that habit is better than doing one intense workout per week. Keep in mind that your habits shape your lifestyle.
6 – Schedule a “sweets day,” where you can satisfy your sweet tooth cravings
Sticking to a healthy diet means sacrificing the food you love most. For many, those are sweets like chocolate, ice cream, cakes, and the like. Honestly, it’s challenging and sad to stick to a healthy diet without satisfying your sweet tooth cravings. That’s why you must schedule a day where you can enjoy sweets moderately for a day.
Remember that your “sweets day” is not a “binge-eating” day. Instead, it’s a day where you can eat sweets moderately and not the other way around.
7 – Show up for yourself even on days you don’t want to; rest when you have to
Last but not least is to show up for yourself, especially when you don’t feel like working out or sticking to your healthy diet. One of the best parts of working out is the feeling of accomplishment and the good vibes you feel after. Remind yourself of that satisfying feeling when you feel like dragging yourself to work out or don’t feel like doing it.
But of course, don’t forget to rest when you have to. Listen to your body when it tells you you should take a break. You must learn to differentiate your feelings of low motivation and avoidance from feelings of needing rest for your body.
Learning these tips might be slow, but daily practice will help you manage better.
Choosing to live better is challenging, especially if you’re starting. It might take a long time before you incorporate these tips into your lifestyle, and that’s okay. Just practice them daily, and soon enough, you’re managing your diet and workout routines in the best way that works for you.
About the author:
Bianca Banda is a writer for Wednesday Cleanse Day, an inclusive Australian brand that offers nutrient-rich cleansing and digestion products. The brand sources the finest ingredients available to create a solution that supports and improves the body’s natural restoration process.