Eating and Exercise: Where to Find Good Spots
Yeah, where do you find the good spots for eating and exercise?
The short answer is, there is no exact right spot. What works for you in terms of eating and exercise depends on your biological makeup and responsibilities.
So whatever that means for you, your goal is to keep it healthy.
Let me start where this discussion began.
It all started with the 5 Keys to Getting Healthy Eating and Exercise Back on Track series.
The goal of the series is to help you sustain a healthy eating and exercise consistency lifestyle.
The series started at the beginning of the year. That is the time people set out to change their lives in the hopes of being healthier and to exercise more.
What typically happens, however, is that most people end that ride by February. Thus, another goal of this series is to make sure you do not join that pack of folks.
Thus far the series has addressed why you want this change, what to change, how you will implement your change, and when you will implement your change.
Here, the focus will be on providing suggestions on where to go for healthy food options and where to work out.
Watch Where You Eat
This section will be short. Let's face it: we are not exactly a melting pot of healthy food options in America and it is problematic.
So where do you find healthy food options?
Grocery store: What you bring home from the grocery is your best option. Skip the cookie and frozen food aisles. Stay along the store perimeters. Grab leafy greens, vegetables, and fruit. If you are a meat eater, choose lean meats and fish. Stock up on nuts. They are portable and are a great source of protein. Also add legumes to your shopping cart.
Your home: Cooking for yourself is a better option than eating out. By cooking for yourself you control what you eat and the ingredients. If you cannot come up with a dish idea to save your life, do an internet search for healthy recipes. Trust me, there are people who make a living putting together healthy meals.
On the go, if you must: People want to be healthier. Major food chains have been listening. While fast food should be your last resort, make sure you know the fast food chains or chain restaurants who are providing healthier options.
Don't Limit Your Workout Spaces
Be honest. Where is the first place you can consider when thinking about working out?
Did you say a gym?
If not, cool. If a gym was your answer and if your trips to the gym have been few, far, and in between, don't limit yourself to a gym.
There are plenty of other methods and places for you to explore as your workout space.
Below I get you started, by I highly recommend doing a Google search to find additional ideas.
Embrace the Outdoors
The great outdoors: I hate cold and I am not a fan of the rain. Temperatures above 75 are not all that fun either. Even so, running outside works for me. I tried the treadmill. I'm not a fan. That is how I learned I like being outside. Go outside and run, hike, ski, bike, swim or find another heart pumping option that works for you, then do that.
Join a boot camp: There are boot camps that are held indoors or outdoors. This is a great option to explore if you like being a part of a community.
Make family time active: When I was growing up we were not planted in front of a television. Obviously, that was because we did not have the technology kids have today. Show your kids what it was like to be a kid back in the day. Go on bike rides. Have races. Run around the yard or in a park. Play basketball with your kids. Whatever it is that you choose to do, make sure you are moving your body.
Alternatives to Gym Memberships
Turn your home into a gym: My laundry room serves as my gym since I do not like going to gyms. I am not a fan of sharing gym space. It adds time to my workout. A sistah ain't got time for that. In our home I have a weight set, medicine balls, pull-up bar and dip station, and exercise ball.
Move along with your television: Invest in exercise DVDs. Do you like the cheerleader, rah rah types? Chalene Johnson workouts might be up your ally. Personally, I only want to throw things at my television with such workouts. I find them highly annoying. It is safe to say I liked to be pushed. That is why my workout DVD collection consists of Tony Horton (P90X3 and 22 Minute Hard Corps) and Shaun T (INSANITY, T25, and INSANITY Max 30).
Anywhere you can move: Your body is a great workout tool. Use it. You do not need anywhere specially to do squats, a push up, jumping jacks, or burpees. Yes, you would look weird busting out burpees at your desk, but there are plenty of exercises you can perform there. For options check out YouTube for office exercises, for example.
5 Keys to Getting Healthy Eating and Exercise Back on Track
That ends the series on the 5 Keys to Getting Healthy Eating and Exercise Back on Track.
Follow the guide that was set forth in this series to remain true to your desires. Everything shared in the series is to get you living a lifestyle of being healthier with your diet and exercise. There is nothing temporary about it. Each day set out thinking and living a healthy life.
Know, why, what, how, when, and where to be a healthier you every single day.
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