Memorial Day kicks off the start of the summer travel season which can mean many different things, like beach vacations, high school graduations, reunions, and even weddings. For us, it may mean more days at the controls. For some, those social options may mean looking in the mirror and thinking, “I need to drop a few pounds to fit into that dress (or suit).” For others it means looking better at the beach. While I can’t conclude what your motivations are, it should be enough that being more fit equals being healthier. Since I have been away from my routines for a couple of months, I have put on a handful of pounds too, so I will be taking my own advice.
Here are some fitness “refreshers” in case that whole goal-setting/resolutions thing has fallen by the wayside.
Get Moving
It should be obvious that being more active has health advantages. Whether you decide to be all-in into fitness or just plain walk; move your body. I have been asked what the best answer is to how to lose weight. There isn’t any single thing that will help you lose weight, but the choices are either to take in fewer calories or burn more calories. While talking nutrition is beyond the scope of this article, it is a combination of diet and exercise that will help you drop pounds. Remember, the real goal of losing excess body fat is to be healthier. We don’t really care about the weight number; it’s fat loss that counts. While vanity may start your journey, you should focus on becoming healthier to allow you to lead a more productive life.
Drink Water
There are near-countless studies that emphasize water intake, and each offers some criteria of measurement: consuming half your body weight in ounces of water per day, drink 2.5 liters of water if you are a woman, drink three liters if you are a man, etc. Let’s just conclude that you probably overestimate the amount of water you’re drinking, and it is likely you aren’t really drinking enough. A healthy body needs a lot of water to operate most efficiently. Increasing your hydration has the positive effect of lowering blood pressure and reducing fluid retention—not to mention keeping your kidneys running smoothly.
Get a Metabolic Boost
On the subject of water, take a cold shower or cold soak. (I am not a doctor and any advice I give here should be followed up with a medical professional.) Physical therapists and world-class athletes use cold-water baths or showers to aid in reducing inflammation and speed injury recovery. As a metabolic boost, cold baths can be used as part of your regimen. Try cold showers for 14 days, by alternating between the hot shower followed by 30 seconds of cold. Gradually build your tolerance over the next two weeks so that you are enduring for 5-10 minutes. Your body will thank you!
While no one thing is the panacea for getting you into shape, reducing your weight or improving your health, it is up to you to dedicate the time and effort to be the best version of you!
If you have questions or need a guiding hand, I welcome you to take a moment and write your question(s) to me at [email protected].
