5 Habits to Kickstart a Healthy Lifestyle
Habit: something that you do regularly and sometimes even involuntarily
Kickstarting a healthier lifestyle is just as important as being able to sustain it in the long run and not only for the time being. E.g. going all out on chicken breast and salads just because you suddenly feel super pumped to get healthier. That’s why in these 5 points, I will be emphasizing a lot on HABITS which are REALLY EASY to implement. I don’t expect you to carry out all of them today, but at least try them one by one. JIAYOU!
1. DRINK MORE WATER
Do you know that our human body consists of an average of 60% water? Think about it, if our body is like a battery that can only function by recharging ourselves with water daily, what if we don’t recharge ourselves at all? As simple as just hydrating yourself will ensure your body will do what needs to be done to keep on functioning optimally. I used to carry a 1.5L bottle in my bag so that I will drink faster to lighten my bag load. Sounds weird? But it works for me! How do you know if you’re drinking enough water? Just check your urine colour, it should be light yellow to clear.
2. CLOCK YOUR STEPS
I’m not asking you to go for a run or gym every single day because it’s obviously not very realistic, but clocking steps is!!! I don’t expect you to aim straight for 10,000 steps a day either, but take it slow and steady. Let’s say you are currently only clocking 2,000 steps a day, aim for 5,000 steps for the whole of this month, then 7,000 the following month, and then gradually hitting 10,000 steps a day which is optimal. To make this more fun, challenge a friend to do this with you and “report” to one another the number of steps daily or weekly, and if one of you don’t fulfill the targeted number of steps, do a forfeit e.g. 50 push-ups! HAHA
If you do not own a wearable fitness tracker, do not fret. Some phones already have an in-built step counter like the “Health” app on iPhone but there are also apps out there like “Google Fit” that can track your activity as well.
3. STEAM/GRILLED/BAKED/BOILED > FRIED
I know this seems to be all common sense but as humans, we need constant reminders. Yes, you can still eat out. However, make wise decisions when choosing where and what to eat. When you flip through the menu and decide to go for fish, will you choose the deep-fried fish and chips filled with juicy fatty oil or grilled fish with steamed rice? Chicken with or without skin? I’m sure all of us know the “correct” answer, but the real question is, are you willing to make that change? Yes? Then make it a habit!
4. SLEEP
I have people coming to tell me that they are already “super healthy” because they workout regularly and eat well, but I will then ask them this question: How about getting good sleep/rest? Insufficient sleep might just backfire on your regular exercise routine as you are not giving your body the time to recover fully. I always emphasize on my “3 Keys to Sustainable Fitness”.
It is incomplete if any of these points are not fulfilled. The “You” category involves sleep, rest, and stress. Aside from nagging at you, a personal trainer can’t help you with that. You yourself need to be ready to prioritize your health to be willing to take these steps. Aim for 7-9 hours of sleep daily, and for those who are sleep-deprived, try getting one hour extra sleep per month until you reach the recommended range.
5. BE HAPPY
When we are happy, our body produces positive hormones, let’s call these happy hormones. These hormones help us to combat stress, boost our immune system and most importantly help us to make better decisions when it comes to food (I’m sure you know of someone or maybe even yourself who “stress-eat”). Make time for yourself, spend time with your loved ones, and surround yourself with positive people. (Read: “Nourishing Minds: 5 Foods that Boost Mental Wellbeing”)
Need help to start an exercise and nutrition program? reach out to us now.
This article is written by our founder and personal trainer, Gina Chan, who specialises in bodybuilding, functional training, weight management, and re-conditioning. She is also a certified Pilates and aqua aerobics instructor.
Edited by the FITFAMCO Team.