Healthy Living Changes You Can Make Today!

Last month we gave you some tips to help you kick-start your health living journey in 2019.  We're continuing that focus this month to include six simple things you can do every day to help you reach your goals! Check them out!

Get plenty of sleep.  You might be scratching your head trying to figure out what a good night's sleep can do to help you toward your fitness and/or weight loss goals, but getting enough sleep can help you in a lot of surprising ways.  If you're tired, you might be more likely to reach for a sugary beverages, like overly sweetened coffee or soda to get you going in the morning.  Additionally, you might be more tempted to skip your scheduled workout for the day.  Your body is also more likely to hold on to fat after you've had a poor night's sleep, slowing your progress.  For more information on sleep and its effects on fitness and weight loss, read this article!

AIHREA members hiking in Ernie Miller Nature Center.

Find a workout partner.  Apart from safety concerns when lift weights alone, having a workout buddy can increase your chances of reaching those weight loss SMART goals (to learn more about SMART goals, check out last month's post!).  Having a workout partner can provide a lot of things including accountability, support, and motivation.  Take a look at this write-up  about why having a workout buddy can be beneficial to your goals!

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Pick parking spots in the back of the parking lot.  Whether it's at work or the grocery store, picking a spot that is further back in the lot can add a few extra steps to your daily step count.  You might even get out of the parking lot faster!

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Drink more water. Drinking water can help you reduce your calorie intake while decreasing your risk of weight gain!  There are lots of ways to incorporate drinking more water into your day.  Check out this list of twelve things you can try today!

Drink your coffee black.  All the extra sugar and sweetened creamers in you average cup of coffee can easily hinder your weight loss and fitness goals.  You can wean yourself off of your favorite creamers and sweeteners to make your morning cup of joe zero calories!  Check out some more reasons why drinking your coffee black is better for your health here!

Reward yourself.  When you're making your SMART goals, be sure to find ways to reward yourself for reaching these goals.  Whether it's a new outfit or a special dinner, these little rewards can help you focus on something other than the weekly grind at the gym.