I believe that staying in shape , regardless of your age or build, is of the utmost importance. Today, thanks to more and more new technology, far too many of us are choosing to spend our spare time glued to our phones or game consoles. Instead, of taking the time to keep our bodies in good shape.
It’s not just about activity, though, it’s also about what we’re eating. We live in a dangerous world where convenience foods are cheap and tasty but do little to support our body’s health. We also live in an age where there are plenty of food and drinks that masquerade as being healthy. When actually they’re packed full of trans fats and nasty sugars. How are you to know what’s what?
Whether you want to shift a few pounds or just give your fitness a boost, below are eight secrets for staying in shape that the pros swear by. Steal these and you can achieve and maintain the perfect body.
- Cardio is key
The key to success when it comes to working out is cardio. Whether you want to shift those extra pounds or boost your fitness, cardio is king . How you choose to do your cardio is up to you but aim to do at least three hours of cardio a week. This can be via running, swimming, cycling or hitting the gym, it doesn’t matter what method you use. The important thing is that you’re challenging yourself more and more every day. Crossfit is a great option to consider as it’s a combination of cardio and strength training and offers a highly effective workout.
- Eat clean (most of the time)
You probably think that eating clean goes without saying when it comes to getting in shape. However, you’d be surprised at the amount of people that don’t go down this route. It’s best to avoid diet foods, instead, eat a diet made up of healthy whole grains and lean, organic meats and plenty of fruits and vegetables. Diet foods aren’t as healthy as they seem to be, they’re packed full of man-made additives and preservatives. It’s best to eat a diet made up of healthy, nutritious, natural foods. Of course, now and then you’re entitled to have a blowout. A pizza or a burger every so often won’t kill you, but it’s important that when you do treat yourself, it’s just a one-off.
- Find ways to workout at home
As well as going for a run or hitting your local Crossfit class, it’s important to find ways to workout at home. You may not always be able to make it to the gym or a fitness class, so it’s crucial to find ways to be active even when at home. A great way to do this is by having a punch bag installed and using it for kickboxing. Or, by creating a home gym in a spare area of your home. Before investing in machinery for your home gym, take the time to research each piece. For example, if you want an elliptical machine, it’s important to use websites for elliptical consumers to research them. You need to work out whether each piece of machinery is worth investing in, as you’ll only have limited space and funds.
- Be an active person
A great way to ensure that you’re in the best shape you could possibly be is to become an active person. This means in your free time, you don’t sit at home gaming and watching movies, you get out and do things. This could be walking, rock climbing, trampolining, whatever form of activity you enjoy doing. If you make an effort to be active every day, even if it’s just going for a short walk, you’ll soon see results.
- Drink plenty of water
One of the biggest mistakes a lot of us make is quenching our thirst with fruit juices and fizzy drinks. These are packed full of empty calories and sugar that aren’t good for our bodies. Instead, it’s best to make water – still or sparkling, your drink of choice . A great way to make water more fun is by investing in a Sodastream machine or by getting a water infuser bottle. These offer a great way of making water taste a little nicer but without the unnecessary, added calories.
- Be consistent
The best thing you can do to make getting in shape easier is be consistent. Of course, now and then it’s okay to treat yourself but for the majority of the time, it’s crucial to be consistent. When it comes to being healthy, consistency is key. Exercise on a regular basis, stick to eating healthy foods, and make an effort to be as active as possible. It might be hard work, but if you want a body to be proud of, it’s what you need to do.
- Find a workout buddy
Don’t be ashamed if you struggle when it comes to motivation, a lot of people do. The best thing you can do when it comes to motivating yourself to stay on track is find a workout buddy . Having someone who you workout out with is a great motivator. This is because you don’t want to let them down and so tend to be more motivated to stick to your workout regime. This can be a friend, a neighbour or a work colleague; it doesn’t matter. What’s important is that you have someone to workout with who can keep you motivated.
- Train for something
Last but not least, sign up for a sporting event . Be it a fun run or a cycling challenge, it doesn’t matter. If you have something to train for, you’re twice as likely to stick to your fitness and healthy eating plan. This is because you’ll have people sponsoring you, so you will need to make sure that you meet your goal. Trust me, signing up for a sporting event is a fantastic motivator to get your body into better shape.
If you’re looking to get in better shape, the tips listed above that the pros swear by are ones to take on board. Give these a try and you’ll soon see a difference in how your body looks and feels.