Our lack of physical activity lately is a result of us being stuck at home for more than a year. Most of us are working from home sitting on a chair all day without much activity. This sedentary lifestyle can cause big damage to our bodies in the long run. All is not lost though. Knowing that we need to do something about is half the battle.
Being able to prevent diseases and being healthy and fit is our end goal. It will not be easy but with proper preparation, this goal will be in our hand’s reach. Here are four ways to help you get back to shape.
Body Weight Exercise Routine
Exercising is one of the best ways to get fit. It is however not going to be easy if you haven’t used your muscles for a long period of time. Your strength will be weaker than before but that is okay. Understanding this and taking it slow will be your best bet. Bodyweight exercises are the way to go as it doesn’t need equipment as all you need is your own body.
Start by doing these three exercises that will work out your whole body. These are pushups, squats, and jumping jacks. Take it slowly and piece by piece, so you won’t be overwhelmed and get tired too easily. Maybe on the first day just do five to ten reps each and call it a day. Keep working on it slowly and as you progress with it, increase the reps to fifteen to twenty up until you get the hang of it.
If you are experiencing DOMS or delayed onset muscle soreness, do not fret nor worry about it. It is your body building your muscles so use that time to rest your body for the meantime.
Eating Healthy
People say that muscles are built in the kitchen. There is some truth behind it as what food you eat is what the body uses to take care of itself. If it is full of nutritional food that your body will get its fair share of nutrition and it goes the same when you fill your body with junk food. Start by learning what ingredients are in your daily foods and know what ingredients are bad and good for your body. The best bet is to add more fruits and vegetables to your diet and lessen those high-carb and high-sugar foods as they can mess with your body.
A great way to monitor your food intake is to cook your own meals. This way you know what ingredients you are using and avoid the bad or unnecessary ones. If you are having problems with a sweet tooth, then maybe you can switch your candies or sodas with milk permeate which is a sweet but healthy substitute.
Good Hydration
Water is your friend. Proper water intake leads to different benefits. One such benefit is it curbs your hunger. If you are feeling hungry and want to get that bag of chips, drink a glass of water first. After that, you won’t be hungry anymore and you have saved yourself from those unnecessary calories. When you are exercising, it is always important to keep bottled water next to you so that it can keep you hydrated when you are feeling tired.
You can also step it up a notch and instead of water you can use a whey permeate protein product as it also helps in building your muscles and recovery. Be sure to drink water every time you feel thirsty and it will help you lose weight and be healthy.
Proper Sleep
Getting a full seven to eight hours of sleep every day is vital to being fit and healthy. Your body needs rest when you exercise so that it can recover and build your body up. Not having a good night’s rest or staying up all night can lead to a myriad of problems for your body. It will not only break your sleeping schedule and mess with your body repairing itself, but you are also prone to having snack breaks during these times. If your mind is not thinking right it can lead your conviction of being healthy away.
Being tired will also lessen your motivation to work out or prepare your food and it all falls from there. Yes, sleeping is a simple task we do every day, but it is also detrimental to our dedication to get back to shape.
Understanding the different ways to be healthy once again can be a daunting task as you don’t know what to do first or how to do it well. It doesn’t need to be perfect right away as it is a long process but is also the right way to go. Hoping these four tips can guide you on your way back to fitness.