6 essential ways to keep fit and have a healthy body

Staying healthy is key to having a long and meaningful life. It takes a lot of discipline but once it is a habit, what you once perceived as difficult becomes easy. Here are a few ways to ensure you have a fit and healthy body.

Eating healthy over dieting

People tend to use dieting to stay fit. Although this is not altogether wrong there is a more sustainable way to achieve a healthy body. One example is by eating healthy food. Your body (and your taste buds) has the capacity to adjust to anything. Thus, you can train yourself to eat foods which have less sugar, carbohydrates, and fat. There are also specific meals which burn quicker and can help you stay in shape and have a healthy body.

Be intentional about the amount of vegetables you add to your meals, eating more white meat like fish instead of red meat or consuming foods with lower sugar portions. These and many more are ways to have a healthy eating habit without worrying about dieting or gaining weight.

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Avoid eating late

Biology has shown that our metabolisms work slower at night. This means the body’s ability to break down food or burn off our calorie intake is not very effective at night. As a result, it is advisable to have meals before 7pm in the evening. However, if you are to eat after this time it is best to have meals that contain less calories like salad, steamed vegetables, fish, fruits or soup.

Doing exercises that are good for your body type

Exercises that are tailored specifically for your body type are great for getting the kind of results you want. For example, the Adidas website has a post of the 3 major body types and the exercises that suit them most for cardio or regular weight loss. The body types are divided into three groups i.e. ectomorph, mesomorph and endomorph. Endomorphs are those who are naturally thin or slender. They have very low body fat including narrow shoulders and hips. An example of recommended exercises for this group is the use of weights.

Mesomorphs are those in between the ectomorph and endomorph. They have broad shoulders and strong legs. Basic exercises like lunges and squats are recommended for this body group. Endomorphs are those who are more pear and round shaped. They tend to retain more body fat. They are encouraged to do 20-30 minutes of cardio a week including total body workouts.

Getting enough sleep

Sleep is particularly important for the body. According to research, it is necessary to get roughly 6 hours of sleep a day. Enough sleep gives your body ample time to conserve energy, recover and build the muscles worked up during exercising or a long day’s work. Sleep also helps to restore your immune system and repair muscles broken down during a workout.

Stay active outside the gym

People sometimes limit significant body activities to the gym. However, doing things like chores around the house, walking instead of driving, engaging in sports and other recreational activities all help to keep you healthy. Active people are healthy people. Staying active in and out of the gym helps you to sustain and maintain your lifestyle of fitness.

Hanging out with other fit people

The famous saying, “show me your friend and I’ll show you who you are,” or “iron sharpeneth iron” are extremely crucial if you want to have a healthy lifestyle. Spending time with friends who are also trying to keep fit and stay healthy will encourage and motivate you to do the same. It also helps with accountability for the days you feel unmotivated to workout or eat healthy. Friends who are on a similar journey as you or are being intentional about their health with enable you stay inspired to be consistent.

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