So you’ve considered a career change into the health industry and decided that becoming a fitness instructor is the best step to take. Such a decision requires a serious lifestyle change, a stern commitment to healthy living each and every day.
We at Bombay Jam know the importance of maintaining a healthy lifestyle, and we always stress its importance to people taking part in our fitness instructor training program. If you’re interested in learning more about healthy living, and motivating countless others along the way, read on.
Keep a fitness diary
Studies have shown that people who keep track of their diet and exercise manage to lose weight much faster than people who don’t. Have you gained a few pounds recently? Keeping a diary will hold you accountable when you’ve had too many beers with friends one evening or opted for that third piece of cheesecake. It’s not that you need to track every single calorie or physical activity with strict precision. But the importance of keeping a diary is that it allows you to be more mindful of what you eat and what exercises you do on a regular basis so you can quantify your efforts, and in turn, gain more motivation as a result.
Cook your own meals
With work and family in the picture, it may be hard to set aside time to cook every meal of the day. So what is one to do? One great idea is to prep all of your meals for the week in advance. Set aside a few hours on a Sunday afternoon to cook a huge batch of turkey chili, chicken breasts with steamed veggies, or some breakfast burritos. Put everything in a set of containers, store them in the fridge and you’ve got yourself enough food for the week. Whenever you’re hungry, just toss a container in the microwave for a minute and you’re ready to eat. It’s that easy. If you don’t know where to begin, the Internet is filled with guides and tips to help you out.
Get enough sleep
Many of us may have heard the overly ambitious and workaholic types echo the expression, “sleep is for the weak” at one point or another. The mad scramble to succeed in our careers and other endeavors has unfortunately caused sleep to become less of a priority for many. And it’s this lack of sleep that weakens our bodies and minds. It affects our ability to control our emotions, making us much more irritable. It negatively affects our cognitive processes, which impairs our brain function. Sleep deprivation also causes a number of health problems like high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke and diabetes.
So how much sleep do you really need? The eight-hour rule is the golden standard for many but studies show that it may not always be the case. Some people may need a full eight hours of sleep while others are fine with as little as six hours. Whatever you do, just be sure you’re prioritizing your sleep, and don’t feel any lamer or weaker for doing so.
Make exercising a habit
Exercising is easy. Exercising consistently is not. Making a habit to exercise may take some time, but you can try a few simple things to make it easier. This first thing you need to do is to set a measurable goal. Aim to run five miles or do 30 pushups. The goal doesn’t matter as much as achieving it and gaining a sense of accomplishment. Next, determine the best time of day to exercise based on your schedule. Are you too tired to do anything after work? Try exercising in the morning after waking. You’ll free up your evening and likely feel more clearheaded by the time you get to work.
Use modern technology
In this day and age, we can count on the help of modern-day gadgets and smart phone apps to help us maintain a healthy lifestyle. Gadgets like the Jawbone UP can track your activity throughout the day and provide you with data you can review. Apps like MyFitnessPal can keep a log of the meals you’ve eaten and monitor the amount of calories and nutrients you’ve consumed. While we wouldn’t recommended entwining technology and fitness too much, seeing quantifiable results can certainly keep you going through those trying times.
Embracing a healthy living in your day-to-day life requires a major lifestyle overhaul, but it’s the best decision you can make for your body and mind. Keep Bombay Jam’s tips in mind and you’ll be well on your way.