6 Tips to Be More Active

Want to lose weight or maintain a healthy weight? The best place to start is the kitchen. Seriously. Here’s where most of your food should come from:

● Fruits

● Vegetables

● Whole grains

● Lean meats

● Fish

● Legumes, nuts and seeds

● Low-fat dairy

Fresh foods are packed with vitamins and nutrients your body needs. They also contain fewer calories than burgers, fries, pizza, sugary drinks, and fried food. Looking for a little help to eat healthier? Check out the complete list of Portion-Control meals made from fresh ingredients and ready to eat in minutes.

But what about exercise?

Don’t you need to exercise to lose weight and maintain a healthy weight?

Yes, but you can’t out exercise a bad diet.

If you want to lose weight or maintain a healthy weight, combine healthy eating and regular exercise. Not sure where to start with exercise? Keep it simple. Here are 6 tips to be more active.

1. Set a process goal For now, forget about outcome goals like run a 26.2-mile marathon or swim 1 mile. Instead, set a process goal. Think of it as a daily activity you can do that isn’t dependent on an outcome, or specific time.

● For example: Walk for 20 minutes every day. You can do that, right?

2. Create consistency Ever been super excited to start an exercise program, workout a few days, then completely blow it off? Ya, it happens…a lot. Instead of thinking you’re going to exercise at random times here and there, figure out a way to make exercise a consistent part of your schedule.

● For example: Go for a walk every afternoon during your lunch break.

3. Increase exercise activity…gradually If you’re super stoked about starting to exercise, you might think doing as much as you can right away will help you reach your goal faster. Don’t do this, OK. Doing too much too soon is a recipe for burnout, failure, and injury.

● Do this: Gradually increase the amount of time you exercise by a few minutes each week.

4. Expect to experience discomfort If you haven’t been exercising, you can’t get from where you are to where you want to be without a little discomfort. It’s how we learn, grow, and make progress. It’s going to take a little time for your body to get used to exercise. You might experience some muscles aches and pains, or soreness, feel a little out of breath, or sweat a lot. That’s great. It’s just part of the process. 5. Create accountability Here’s another great way to create an exercise habit: Create accountability. Think about it this way: If you wake up one day and don’t feel like exercising like you planned, there’s a good chance you won’t do it. So how do you change that?

● Do this: Ask a friend to go with you. Or join a walking/running group that meets at the same time every week. You’ll be a lot more motivated to exercise. And if you don’t show up your friends will check on you.

6. Pick an activity you enjoy It doesn’t have to be walking or running. If you want to develop an exercise habit you’ll actually do consistently, and even look forward to, pick an activity you enjoy. You could try:

● Cycling

● Taking a fitness class

● Lifting weights

● Swimming

● Zumba

● Hiking

Combining regular exercise with a healthy diet, is the best way to lose weight and keep it off.