Tips For A Healthy New You This 2019!

I think it is safe to say that we are all well aware of the fact that it is often quite challenging and difficult for us to obtain a healthier diet and a more balanced food intake.

Given the lifestyle in Malaysia, it comes as no surprise that people will tend to struggle in order to maintain a healthy diet and a better physique overall. This is caused by the fact that the lifestyle in Malaysia is often food based, and this includes the sugary and oily food based. It is definitely not easy for someone to make a switch and to hop over to becoming a healthier person overall, but the struggle is not as grave as it may initially seem to be.

The definition and the meaning of being healthy varies from individual to individual, some think that being healthy means obtaining and maintaining a slim body, and for some it means having a low fat percentage in your body, some also consider that the consumption of your greens in proper quantities as healthy and also, some consider exercising healthy. But, at the end of the day, it all does come down to you and what your mindset of being a healthier person is, and based off of that, start putting your work in.

This time of the year is often challenging for many people, because you just prepared your New Year’s resolution and being healthier was one of those resolutions and now you are stuck in a place figuring out where should I be starting. This mainly comes off from the fact that the holidays have just passed and let’s admit it, we all do a little bit of over indulging during that period of time. So in this article, I will be going over and sharing a few tips that you can start implementing in your daily routines to get a head start to achieving your goal when it comes to being healthier.



SETTING ACHIEVABLE SHORT & LONG TERM GOALS
First of all, the best thing you may do is acknowledge the fact that you haven't been as disciplined with your health as you could have been. This particular acknowledgement then acts as a motivation for you to change. Before jumping back to making changes, ensure that you have set a short term as well as long term health goal. These goals that you have should be specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and also have a certain time frame attached with them. By aiming for specific and achievable goals, not only will you actually reach those goals, but the feeling you get from doing so will inspire and motivate you further to keep going. On the other hand, setting unrealistic health goals will only be as effective as setting yourself up for failure.

Once these goals are known, you will obtain a much clearer picture of what it is that you will need to do in order achieve your health goals. Some tend to start by exercising 3 to 4 times in a week, eliminating refined sugar and reducing alcohol are all small, achievable goals that will eventually benefit you slowly, but are simpler to maintain than attempting to commit to exercising every morning at 6am, or restricting yourself from carbs or alcohol. It helps when you write these goals down and even put them for your personal display on your fridge or wall so you can see them and work towards them every day.

TRY STARTING WITH A HEALTHY BREAKFAST
You have probably noticed that if you tend to have an unhealthy breakfast, you are possibly more likely to eat unhealthy food for the remainder of the day. Beginning your day with healthy food, however, will make you feel more responsible to keep the day going well. Start your day with a healthy, nutrient packed breakfast, such as maybe a protein smoothie with berries for antioxidants and also fiber, ground flaxseed for fiber and proteins to fill you up, cinnamon for your blood sugar stabilization as well as coconut water for electrolytes. Throw in some greens such as spinach or celery, and opt for a quality multi vitamin and probiotic.

Starting your day off with a healthy meal boost will not only give you a proper dose of nutrients for that day, but it can also help you curb your appetite and your naughty habits later on in the day by slowing down those cravings.

KEEP YOURSELF HYDRATED
Hydration is a key for numerous bodily processes, and it will also help to make your skin and digestion better. This year, treat yourself to a nice looking water bottle, or one that shows you how much water you need to drink by certain times of your day. Keep yourself hydrated to lower hunger pangs and fluid retention, as well as stave off your hangover if you have really overindulged, Hydrolyte, coconut water and some good old room temperature water sipped on every 20 minutes is certainly a great way to counteract dehydration and therefore, decrease hunger cravings. Drink 1 to 2 glasses of room temperature water before each of your meals in order to decrease hunger and increase hydration, which is constantly mistaken for hunger.



HAVE A WORKOUT BUDDY
Eating healthy and working out is a 100 times easier and definitely more enjoyable when it is done with a friend. Challenge yourself and your buddy by setting goals and you will most certainly be taken aback at how easy that daily routine becomes. Recruit a close friend of yours to join in a fun and new class so you have someone as a motivation for you and also make you more accountable.

PREP YOUR MEALS AND MAKE THEM HEALTHY
This one may seem like a no brainer, but many of us tend to get caught in the trap of working hard but eating unhealthily. The secret to a healthy physique is in the fridge, not only the gym, so make sure that your meals count. Try increasing your lean protein during every meal to keep you full, and also reduce or even eliminate the size of snacks, If you are wondering how can you eat healthier during the week with work, looking after the kids or other commitments, meal prepping is the way to go. Prep your meals and certain snacks in advance. This will ensure you have the right portions for when you are consuming your meals and snacks, instead of being caught up in the moment and risking overeating.

WORKING OUT AT HOME
Exercising at home is certainly easier and you can do it at any time of the day. Yes, there are no excuses for missing a sweaty workout session. Go ahead and add a 10 minute workout routine to your day that you can do at home without putting on your gym equipment. Try out weighted bicep curls, squats, lunges, push-ups and also sit ups for about 45 seconds of each exercise, a 15 second rest, two rounds, and no excuses.

WATCH THE SIZES OF YOUR FOOD PORTIONS
Eat smaller meals rather than large sittings of meals. Do not overeat and eat to 80 percent of fullness. Be aware of your hunger cues and keep in mind that it takes about 20 minutes for you to feel full after you consume food. If you eat to about 80 percent fullness, you are less prone to overeating.

GIVE SOMETHING NEW A GO
Try finding a type of exercise you love and enjoy doing and you will most certainly surprised at how fun working out can become. If you are someone who is used to going to the gym or going for a run and your motivation is dwindling because of the monotony, try out a new form of activity even try a new sport. Getting some friends together and starting up a social competition in a team sport is a brilliant way to keep your own self motivated.

Finally, don’t forget certain key elements such as being kind to yourself. Do not force yourself from the get go and be a bit lenient with your mind and body. Also, don’t restrict yourself from all kinds of foods all the time, because this can risk to you bingeing and eventually risk overeating. And, do not just notice the outer changes, but also focus on your inner changes. Becoming healthy is a commitment which changes your body from the core. This takes patience, and time. So be kind to yourself and all the best!