Fitness fads, like any trend, come and go. But bottom-line, when it comes to long-term health, fitness fads do not work, but these 10 lifestyle habits do!
There was a moment in time where planking was a fitness challenge, inspiring hundreds of people to spontaneously plank in random locations.
Though the internet gifts us with new trends and kooky ideas, it’s important not to take these trends too seriously as some trends have their own health risks.
Shake weight. No comment.
While you may feel inspired to implement a fitness trend into your everyday life, do your due diligence to ensure that the fad is safe and healthy.
When it comes to creating a healthy lifestyle, it’s wise not to base your fitness on fads.
If you are to participate in the trends, then ensure you do so safely and only for fun!
However, you never want to reinvent your life for another fad. Instead, you can retool your lifestyle and get even better results!
Why Fitness Trends Never Work
Fitness trends may appear to work momentarily.
Remember the thigh master? Where are they now?
However, most of these fads aren’t sustainable or effective for regular routine. The reason why something is a trend is due to the fact that many people share a common enthusiasm to participate in doing the said fad. The sheer hype is why certain things catch on or go viral.
However, it’s not realistic to achieve long-term success with your fitness when following a fad as many fads are often overrated. You may begin the fad with optimism and find that it isn’t quite what others purported it to be. Thus, it doesn’t sustain your attention or motivation.
The Importance of Personalizing Your Fitness
Each person’s preferences and approach are unique to them. This includes your preferred method of exercise, fitness level, available time, and body condition.
Some fads often require you to ignore these factors and fit a preset mold.
This is why it eventually fails.
Thus, you should reinvent your fitness by taking a different approach to creating a healthy lifestyle. In doing such, you want to focus on implementing fitness habits attuned to you individually.
Though, there are still things we can all do to retool our lifestyle and achieve our fitness goals.
10 Best Lifestyle Practices to Reset, Retool, and Relaunch Your Healthy Lifestyle
To improve your fitness, you should incorporate healthier habits into your day-to-day routine.
Much of your physical health can be improved by changing habits of eating and even sleeping.
The following are 10 tips you can use to retool your lifestyle and dedicate yourself to long-term fitness.
1. Exercise Daily – this never goes out of style!
There’s no shortcut to achieving a healthy body especially when it comes to working out.
Exercise is essential and even necessary to get a fit body.
However, you never have to limit yourself to a workout regimen. You can make more of an effort each day to increase physical activity by walking instead of driving or taking up a sport. Dancing and house chores can also count as daily exercise.
The main idea is to get moving!
2. Get Good Sleep or don’t – the choice is your own
Sleep is vital for our body’s optimal functioning.
Without adequate or good quality sleep, performing everyday activities can become more difficult.
Exercising without enough sleep could result in dizziness, nausea, a lack of motivation, and poor performance.
The recommended duration of sleep for adults is around 6 to 8 hours daily. Good sleep also includes deep, uninterrupted sleep. So, make sure you turn electronics off while you sleep as well as minimizing any other distractions.
3. Stay Hydrated or else
Drink water!
In addition to sleep, water is another necessity we all need adequate amounts of daily.
Dehydration has many of the same effects as sleep deprivation.
So, it will negatively impact your workout performance as well. The recommended consumption of water is around 4 to 8 glasses of water a day.
If you struggle in remembering to drink your water, there are apps like WaterMinder and Aqualert that will help you to stay on track.
4. Set S.M.A.R.T. Fitness Goals for SMART results
When setting S.M.A.R.T. fitness goals, you want to be sure the goals you set are specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-based.
Setting unrealistic fitness goals can actually lead to quick burnout from overworking yourself.
Or, you may feel discouraged or unmotivated as a result of not meeting set goals. So, be sure the fitness goals you set are S.M.A.R.T. to conserve time, energy, and resources.
5. Go Outside
If you spend a lot of time indoors, try taking a break from the monotony.
Nature offers a variety of therapeutic benefits.
Spend at least 15 minutes under the sun to absorb your daily dose of vitamin D which will help improve bone health and boost your immune system.
6. Pre-Workout Energy Drink
Feeling low on energy?
Try a pre-workout energy drink to boost your energy levels.
Everyone has their days where they aren’t feeling at their best. A pre-workout energy drink (check out this one — it’s my fave) or shake can help you to improve your performance and endure a more intense workout routine.
7. Take Cold Showers
Another thing you can do to boost your energy is taking a cold shower.
If you’re feeling too tired to workout out that day, spend a few minutes taking a cold shower.
Coldwater helps to alleviate muscle aches and soreness throughout the body.
It also helps with blood circulation and alleviating stress.
These benefits make cold showers quite effective for your pre-workout or post-workout regimen.
8. Don’t Over Do It
Don’t be too hard on yourself when it comes to reaching your fitness goals. And, don’t overdo it.
Sometimes, less is more.
By working out S.M.A.R.T., you will save yourself time and receive even better results. Set your breaks accordingly to avoid burnout and keep you motivated.
9. Use Smaller Plates
Use smaller bowls and plates to consume smaller portions.
People usually try to fill their bowls and plates up to the brim. However, this results in people eating twice or triple their recommended serving depending on how big the bowl or plate is.
However, a simple change in dish wear can trick one into eating fewer calories and manage one weight more effectively.
10. Meditate
Stress happens to have very negative effects especially when it isn’t being relieved.
Not only does stress make our bodies feel tense, but it also inhibits the body’s ability to heal.
To reduce stress, you can make meditation a daily practice. Moreover, you can implement mindfulness meditation which is the practice of establishing awareness of one’s thoughts and emotions.
In doing so, you’ll notice yourself becoming lighter and more energized. Find a comfortable place where your meditation will be undisturbed. Then, gently close your eyes and begin deep breathing. Be mindful of each inhalation and exhalation.
Thoughts will naturally surface.
Do not judge them, but observe these thoughts objectively.
Release these thoughts by refocusing your attention back towards your breathing.
Summing it all up…
Fads are almost always temporary.
So, don’t try to structure your life around fitness trends. Instead, utilize the tips and tools mentioned above to improve your well-being and achieve your fitness goals.
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