Hey there, faithful readers! Just wanted to check in with you on how those New Year’s Resolutions are going. Are you sticking with them? Have you relaxed a little bit on them, or have you chucked them out the window entirely?

If you couldn’t tell from my earlier blogs in late December/early January, my resolution was to lose weight and be healthier. How have I done? Well, as I predicted, I have not kept a food journal. However, I have made sure to work out 2-3 times a week. Yes, that’s probably not much in the way of exercise, but I can assure you that it’s more than what it used to be. I’ve also been more careful about what I eat and cook at home. Is it all steamed broccoli and boiled chicken? No way! But I am making healthier choices, and it’s a start.

Assuming that you’re also on the weight-loss bandwagon, what are you doing to lose weight and get fit? Have you jumped on one of the latest fad diets, or are you doing something different?

Some General Tips On Eating Better And Living Healthier

If you’re needing general tips on eating better and living healthier, here’s some ideas below to help you get fit this year and shed some of those quarantine pounds from 2020:

Never shop on an empty stomach. My mom has told me this one so many times throughout my life. And she’s right to have done so. Because when I shop while hungry, I tend to buy more than I intended to leave the store with. So, snack on something before you surround yourself with food.
Choose whole-grain over white. This applies to bread. It’s well known that whole grain is better for you than white bread. Try different varieties of bread to find the one that you like best.
Take the stairs instead of the elevator. This one probably seems obvious, but it’s legit. Taking the stairs will help slim down and strengthen your legs.
Ditch flat roads and try incline training. What does this mean? Well, flat roads aren’t challenging. However, walking at an incline can help you lose weight and get the blood flowing throughout your body.
Be more active. If the two previous points weren’t obvious enough, being more active is beneficial to your health. It could be something like walking during your lunch break, weight training after work, or doing yoga or pilates from the comfort of your living room. Whatever it is, get moving, and you’ll see an improvement in your general health and in how your clothes fit.

Some More Tips For Staying Healthy And Eating Better

Don’t reach for comfort food. You know the kind that I’m talking about. There’s the bag of chips that calls your name from the pantry, the slice of pie in the fridge, the pint of ice cream in the freezer. They make you feel better after a long or stressful day, but they don’t make your waistline feel better in the long run.
Make your meals from scratch. Are we suggesting that you grow your own wheat, grind it and make your own bread or pasta? No…unless you’re into that sort of thing. Rather, you can find a recipe and cook dinner from scratch. This will help you keep track of what you’re putting in your body and help you stay on budget while at the grocery store.
Trade out butter on your toast for avocado. Okay, I’m definitely a fan of buttered toast. I mean, come on! Have you had it? It’s pretty great. But recent years have seen the craze of avocado toast. The green fruit has great healthy fats to help with maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Also, eating avocado with your meal can help you feel fuller longer.
Opt for either black coffee or tea. If you’re like me and not a fan of black coffee, the idea of ditching your favorite coffee creamer might be asking a little much. But cutting the cream and sugar will not only help cut calories, but it will also help save you a few bucks. You can start by cutting back on the extras little by little, and then hopefully, you’ll be able to drink black coffee or tea without any problem.

Don’t Fell Overwhelmed! You’ve Got This!

If you’re overwhelmed by these tips, don’t worry. These are just ideas on what you or anyone can do to make small changes to your personal eating and physical activity habits. Maybe you’re already really active, but maybe your food choices need a little improvement. Or maybe it’s the opposite – your food choices are great, but you just need to be more active.

The team with Albuquerque Plumbing Heating & Cooling does whatever they can to get healthy and stay that way. We want to be around for our kids and families for a long time, and making better choices can help us ensure that happens. Are we perfect? No way. Do we stumble along the way and make unhealthy choices? Absolutely. What matters is that we shake it off and get back on track to being better versions of ourselves.