Getting fit requires a lot of dedication and hard work, but what happens once you reach your goal weight? Being fit is about maintaining healthy lifestyle habits and being conscious of the fact that fitness is an ongoing journey. Being fit does not mean skinny. Everyone has a different body type, and no matter what society says, we do not all want to be a size 2. However, when you put in the work to lose weight, you want to make sure you are in it for the long haul. We do this by changing our lifestyles and developing routines that work for us. To help you along the way.
Here are some habits that will make you fit for the long term.
Stop Stressing Over Losing Weight
Stress does insane things to our bodies. It increases our production of cortisol, which is one of the main culprits of excess belly fat. In many cases, we stress ourselves out with trying to become what we believe we should be based on societal norms. Do not put pressure on yourself, be proactive, hold yourself accountable, and stick with your workout plan
Keep Moving
Find healthy habits that require you to get up and do something. Go for a hike, a long walk, play catch if you have children. You will notice that the more active you are, the easier it is to maintain a healthy body weight. Incorporating these healthy lifestyle habits into your life is the difference between keeping your goal weight easily and struggling to stay fit.
If you find yourself with limited time, and you must drive, try to park further away from your office and walk back. The goal is to keep your body moving as much as possible because if movement helps us maintain our weight, being stagnant makes us gain more weight. Bike riding is another great way to get your body moving.
Make sure you get enough sleep
When we sleep, it gives our bodies a chance to shut down and replenish from the day. Sleep is essential when you are working out and lifting weights. Our bodies are not machines, so we require time to rest and recover to maintain a fitness routine. Do not discount the importance of getting a good night of rest. f you are someone who struggles with weight and functions on little to no sleep, this may be hindering your ability to lose weight. Getting seven to eight hours of rest per night is vital because when we do not rest enough, our cortisol levels elevate, and our bodies retain excess fat.
Recognize bad eating habits
If you are someone who has foods that trigger you to eat too much, do not keep them in the house. Are you a person that tends to overeat when you are stressed out? Take a step back and consider whether or not you are actually hungry. Avoid taking the bowl of popcorn or snacks to the couch when you are relaxing and watching TV. Watching television can be a very focused experience and putting your hand in the snack bowl over and over can contribute to eating too much and pushing you off the healthy lifestyle track.
Don’t overdo it on exercising
It is possible to overdo it at the gym and hurt yourself. While we want to maintain a balance of eating well and working out, we want to give our bodies time to recuperate. The perpetually fit and healthy take rest days between workouts to give themselves adequate time to recover. Do not be afraid to give yourself a day off between your workouts.
Snack Smart
Part of a healthy lifestyle is knowing the right way to snack. Eating healthy snacks is a great way to keep your metabolism going and keep your hunger levels steady throughout the day. When you have your snacks with you, you are not forced to search for things to eat, which helps to keep you on the right track.
When you are working to lose weight and stay fit, you must think not just for today, but also for tomorrow. By incorporating these lifestyle changes into your life, you will be able to maintain habits that will make you fit for the long term instead of yo-yoing back and forth with your weight.