It is always a great feeling to be able to look at the mirror and like what you see. It is perfectly normal for people who do not have a healthy body to feel insecurities and wish that they had someone else's characteristics such as a beautiful body built for instance. However, maintaining a healthy lifestyle is not just about looks, it is about staying healthy and living a happy life. If you want a change in your body and you want to achieve a healthy lifestyle, don't wait for it to happen, take action now. See the steps and tips below on how to achieve a healthy body and maintain a healthy lifestyle.
How To Maintain A Healthy Lifestyle
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How To / Instruction
Difficulty: Normal
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1Make a commitment to yourself to make the change. Make up a plan of action on what you wanted to change in your lifestyle. Set goals and write them down. As you achieve them, cross them off and reward yourself. For example; set a goal of walking 30 minutes a day 5 days a week. Mark each day you walk on a calendar. When you have achieved your goal, reward yourself. Perhaps you can make a small yet indulgent purchase, take yourself to a movie or even sneak in some delicious chocolate ice cream.
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2Always consult your doctor for a healthy diet plan. Having your record in file, your doctor would know the best diet for you. Get regular check ups to make sure your plan is working well.
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3Draw someone else's healthy lifestyle as a motivator. Think positive, if others can why can't you.
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4Be proactive. Join clubs to boost your social life. Social interaction can raise levels of chemicals in your brain that will make you happy and keep you healthy.
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5Get a proper amount of sleep. The average adult needs between 7-8 hours of sleep to function normally, but others may need more or less. Consult your doctor about the right amount of sleep for you. Lack of sleep can make you cranky, cause memory loss, lower your immune system and can put you at danger of accidents. Start off by making sure that your bedroom is a place of relaxation. Spend the money on a good bed and mattress. Sure this is a big investment, but worth every penny. Get good curtains and keep your room dark when it is time to sleep. Light is a trigger that can keep you awake. Keep noise to a minimum. If there are outside forces that you can't control, bring in white noise to drown it out. Turning on a fan can create ambient sound that will help you fall asleep. Before sleeping, de-stress. Read a book, listen to some relaxing music or have a cup of chamomile tea. Skip on heavy meals, these will make your digestive system work at night and could keep you up. And most definitely do not consume caffeine 10 hours before bed time, this can have adverse effects on your sleep.
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6Exercise on a daily basis. If you are not currently doing so you can start off with just a 30 minute walk, 5 days a week. This is a cheap and easy way to get started on an exercise path. Studies have shown that just walking 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week may decrease the risk of heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, some cancers and helps with controlling weight. Talk to your doctor before starting on any exercise plan.
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7Add weights to your work out. It is very important to add weight training to an exercise program. Every pound of muscle you gain burns an extra 50 calories a day. Don't be discouraged if you are weight training and do not lose weight; you might be gaining muscle. Muscle weighs more than fat. Look for better fitting clothes and a change in shape. Talk to your doctor or consult a personal trainer to find out the perfect way to train your muscles.
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8Reduce the amount of sugary drinks you consume. Many people pack on the pounds and put themselves at risk of diseases like diabetes with this simple action. Juices, smoothies, frothy coffee drinks and sodas contain high levels of sugars. The average American drinks 2.6 cups of soda a day. That means 22 teaspoons of sugar a day. Sugar is not the only culprit, juices, those delicious frappuccinos and deceptively unhealthy smoothies can have just as much sugar too. Opt for sparkling water or seltzer and you will see the pounds come right off.
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9Reduce sodium in your diet. Sodium is necessary to the human diet, however...too much sodium can cause high blood pressure, stroke, kidney and heart disease. It is suggested by doctors that we consume only 1 teaspoon of salt a day (2400 mg). You may not think that you are consuming so much, but you probably are. The first thing to do is read nutrition labels. Most of the sodium we are consuming is hidden in pre-packaged foods and canned foods. Always look at the serving size as sometimes a package can contain multiple servings. Make sure to multiply the sodium content by that number. You will soon find out how much salt you are consuming and if you need to lower your intake.
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10Reduce the amount of time in front of the TV. Studies have found that watching TV for just 3 hours a day can raise blood sugar and make you depressed. Need some ideas on what to do with all this time? Call a friend and head out for a walk. Pick up that novel you always said you wanted to read. Take a class at the local Y. Learn a new language.
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11Get a dog. Studies have shown that dog owners have lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels. Pets increase the levels of Dopamine (the stuff that makes you happy) and must be walked (increasing your exercise level). Just make sure you adopt your new friend from a shelter and that you do sufficient research on what type of dog is right for you.
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12Eat more often. Instead of having three large meals throughout the day, have 5 smaller meals. Eating this way will keep your metabolism up, keep away hunger and help you lose weight.
Tips and Warnings
The key to a healthy lifestyle is to start with healthy food. Make sure to include plenty of fruits and vegetables. whole grains and lean meats. Stay away from refined sugars, alcohol, caffeine, drugs and tobacco.
Regular exercise is another important factor that could help you achieve a healthy lifestyle. 20 minutes of cardio 5 days a week is the minimum you need to maintain a healthy lifestyle.
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