This is a tough one.
Seems like for ages, people have been doing whatever fitness and diet fad there is to try and lose fat off our bodies and look better for society, or whomever you are looking good for. Health is a complex equation that you can master, one habit at a time and I am here to help and offer some guidance!
What should I be eating?
Lean & Green! Think low glycemic. If you have a 9-inch plate, 50% of it should be some low GI vegetable, 25% lean protein and then 25% low GI carbohydrate. Why low glycemic? It targets your blood sugars keeping them from spiking and dropping which causes your body to then go into fat storage. This is due to the huge spike in insulin that your body releases after you eat something that isn’t considered to have a low glycemic index. That spike of insulin is what makes you feel lethargic after a heavy meal as well as causing your body to go into fat storage. There is a lot of evidence that will support this nutrition lifestyle and even better research for plant-based protein diets and Veganism.
When should I be eating?
You should aim to eat within the first hour of waking up and drinking water. YOUR BODY JUST WOKE UP FROM (hopefully) and 8-hour slumber and REQUIRES nourishment. Then, from there, eat every two and a half to three hours until you go to sleep. Want help with your nutrition? Message me to get some personalized advice and nutrition plans!
What should I be drinking?
Water is the answer! You want to drink HALF YOUR BODY WEIGHT in OUNCES. So, if you weigh 160 pounds, drink 80 ounces to be considered: hydrated. If your goal is to achieve optimal fat loss, drink a gallon of water. YOU CAN DO IT, pace yourself and check out these helpful hints on how to reach your water goals! Yes, you will be using the bathroom a lot in the beginning, but that is because your body is reaching a healthier homeostasis and will balance out if you keep yourself hydrated. Trust me when I say there are much more PROS than CONS when it comes to drinking water or not.
How much exercise and what kind do I need to be doing?
NOT A LOT! It is actually quite amazing how little exercise your body truly needs when it is doing the right kind of work! 20 Minutes, Twice a Week doing slow-motion weight training is all you need to do to get your body strong, conditioned and in the BEST shape possible! You also get a bad ass cardio workout within the strength training workout, too! Yes, that means NO MORE RUNNING, especially if it’s hurting your knees. Exercise should never hurt your body OR take away from your health.
How much sleep do I need?
If you don’t get enough sleep it will kill you and your willpower to make good decisions on a daily basis, among a long list of other reasons why to get enough sleep. You make thousands of choices every day that you want to be sharp for! Getting 7 hours of sleep is good, but 8 is GREAT! In the book, The Will Power Instinct it speaks about that hour difference was great enough to keep recovering drug-addicts from relapsing. Get 8 Hours of sleep!
Don’t push snooze!
WHY? Because of your REM cycles. Once you are awake, STAY AWAKE. Pressing snooze will allow you to fall back asleep and then be woken up in the middle of a REM cycle which will cause you to be extra tired throughout the day and have a harder time focusing. It will literally set you back in productivity for four hours! You can even download some cool alarm apps that when left on during your sleep will track your REM cycles, and according to the alarm, it will time your alarm to start at the proper time during your sleep cycles so you wake up on the right side of the bed every day.
Take care of yourself!
Your body is the only Neverland you can’t just exchange for a new one or try and create something better. Plastic Surgery doesn’t count, that fixes your exterior. We all should really focus on taking care of the health of our bodies on the inside and who we are as individuals. Every day, be the best version of yourself, stand true to who you are as a person and to your beliefs, and make strides to being the healthiest you!
