Sometimes in springtime we shift our focus toward “beach-ready” bodies. Like we’re not stressed enough without putting the pressure of physical perfection on top of everything else, right? We continually see new eating and exercise regimens in the Pinterest spotlight – Paleo, Whole30, Circuit Training, Core Workouts… you get the idea. But, how can we make the most of both diet and exercise for the healthiest, happiest lives?
The American Heart Association recommends 150 minutes per week of moderate cardiovascular exercise. That’s 30 minutes, 5 days per week. Try any of these 3 tips for getting more aerobic activity into your week:
- Grab your dog’s leash (or borrow your neighbor’s dog!) and make a walk around the block part of your morning and evening routines. You’ll both rest better at night.
- Do one errand on foot each week. Can you get your morning coffee by walking from the office?
- Make Girls’ Night a walk in the park. You’ll get up to speed on each other’s lives and forgo the cocktail calories.
When it comes to feeding yourself and your family, what if we just s-l-o-w-e-d down? These are my 3 favorite ways to practice mindful eating:
- Tune into your internal hunger cues. Are you feeling weak or irritable, or having trouble concentrating? Those are signs of hunger. Suddenly feeling famished at the scent of freshly baked chocolate chip cookies? Not so much.
- Be flexible with the size and frequency of your meals. As you begin to respond more to internal hunger cues, you will find that some days your body wants six small meals, while other days the standard three meals do the trick.
- Eat together. It takes 15 to 20 minutes to sense fullness. When we take our time to enjoy a meal and chat with a friend or family, we’re less likely to overeat.
With all the food and fitness options available today, maybe it’s better take the long view. Rather than temporarily tapping into diet and workout trends, make fitness a journey, not a destination.