It’s that time of year again. That time where you promise yourself its going to be different this year. You’re going to get back in shape. You’re going to be fit. You’re going to look fabulous.

But often we give ourselves impossible goals to achieve. And when we aren’t achieving them, we feel worse about ourselves than we did before. It’s a terrible feeling. And I’ve been there. But I’m going to give you a few simple recommendations for some health and fitness rules that I abide by (**now that the Holidays are over ;) ) that aren’t too hard and really make a difference.

1. MOVE. It is so important for your body that you move around during the day. And don’t tell me you ran on the treadmill at lunch. While that is excellent, you are still doing a disservice to your body if you sit back down and don’t move the rest of the day. You’ll get back into that sedentary state. Many doctors and other experts recommend getting up every 30 minutes. If you can just stand up and walk somewhere and sit back down, bam. You’ve done it.
2. Find your exercise routine. My grandmother is nearly 85 and hikes and does yoga. C’mon. She might be tougher than most people I know, but I’m sure you’ve got something in you too :) Whether its walking your dogs, getting in an exercise class, or biking or swimming or running or freaking dancing in your kitchen, find something that works for YOU.
3. Find TIME. I think this might be the hardest goal for many of you who have hectic schedules and offices that call for longer days. Eric really struggles finding time to work out. I get it. It’s not easy. But if it is important to you, find a way to get your heart rate up. Have stairs in your building? Walk them instead of taking the elevator. Maybe drink an extra glass of water or two at your desk so you have to get up… to you know… Circle back to #1 if you’re at a loss.
4. Find something to COUNT. Whether its counting how much time you spend on the treadmill, how many steps you’re taking in a day (goodness do I want a fitbit!), or something as simple as how many glasses of water you are drinking, it is important to set goals and hold yourself accountable. It is easy to lose track. But if you find something to count, it will help you achieve your goals!
5. Start your day with breakfast. Preferably a protein choice to get that body going. I start my day with a glass of water, a cup of coffee, and two pan-fried eggs. Sometimes I’ll sauté some veggies and throw them in there. I feel energized and ready to take on a day. You might be thinking (seriously, you think eggs will get me to lunch?) and I’ll let you know that NO, it usually doesn’t, but bring a snack like nuts or fruit or yogurt for a mid-morning break. Eating smaller meals more often is great for keeping your body going throughout the whole day.
6. Replace those processed carbs with greens, veggies, fruits, lean meats and proteins, and tons of water. I highly recommend trying the paleo diet if you’re eating at home. It’s not as hard as you think and it really does make you feel pretty good :) If you’re totally confused as to what that diet is or even where to begin, start here.  Paleo Grubs is a wonderful resource with tons of delicious recipes! Try it. If you don’t really want to dive into a diet (gosh I hate diets and what they usually mean), I totally understand. This website is still awesome for healthy recipes :) I also prefer ‘lifestyle’ to ‘diet’ because it usually means you’re doing something for the long run in terms of your health, not trying to drop 5 lbs.

That’s it. That’s all I’ve got for now. I hope to get writing about some recipes we have been trying. It’s all in the works! Enjoy your Tuesday :)

advice health health goals healthy habits nutrition resolutions