23 Apr Spring into Health this Season: Tips to Getting/Staying Fit
When coming off a holiday weekend filled with big family dinners and sugary treats, it’s easy to let your weekend indulgence spill into your week. How do you balance out enjoying life with staying healthy? It isn’t as easy or as complicated as it may seem. We share some basic tips for staying active and fit this spring.
Moderation
Enjoying dessert is fine, but having two helpings of dessert every night? Not so much. Paying attention to portion size, and making sure that occasional treats don’t become a dietary staple can go a long way to helping with a healthy lifestyle. By the same token, if you’re constantly training and planning your nutrition, sometimes you need to splurge. Even Olympic greats and professional athletes enjoy junk food – but the key is in moderation.
Beware Fad Dieting
There are probably as many different diets as there are people in the country; but whether you’re trying to lose weight, get toned, get in shape, or just eat better, fad diets are often heavy on the advertising but light on the actual balance and longevity. Sure, you may lose weight right away but it’s likely not something you’ll stick with long term – and if you’re trying to lose weight, once you go back to your regular habits, you’re right back in the same spot. Making longer term, doable, healthy changes is often better than jumping on a fad diet bandwagon. If you’re stuck, try meeting with a nutritionist. Don’t want to get that deep with your diet? Try eating “low on the food chain” – meaning, replace highly processed, packaged foods with more natural alternatives like healthy vegetables, fruits, grains, and meat. You could even shop just the perimeter of your grocery, since the processed food tends to be in the middle.
Time to Get Moving
While the saying may be “you can’t outrun a bad diet,” the implication is that you should still be moving somehow. Your body was meant for more than just sitting all day, and the good news is that your fitness can improve regardless of where you start. You may not win the Masters, but you could grab a friend and hit a bucket of golf balls at the driving range. You might not beat the Boston Marathon champs (for tips on Boston, click here), but you might like the way you feel after a short run around your neighborhood or park. When it comes to exercise, the great news is that there is no one-size-fits-all answer. Your activity can be as unique as you are. It may take some time and experimenting to figure out what you like doing, but the reward of feeling better is definitely worth it. Even if you’re starting from the bottom, the only place to go is up. If you’re limited because of balance, movement, or mobility issues, try visiting a physical therapist. A physical therapist can assess your condition and develop a treatment plan based on your unique needs and goals.
If you’re ready to get moving and want to feel better, Body One Physical Therapy wants to help you reach your goals! We’re locally-owned and operated, with three locations serving Central Indiana: North Indianapolis, Fishers, and Zionsville. Don’t sit on the sidelines in your life, call us and we’ll help you get in the game.
