DO YOU KNOW PEOPLE THAT SEEM TO EFFORTLESSLY MAINTAIN A FIT PHYSIQUE? WHILE THEY CERTAINLY PAY ATTENTION TO THEIR DIET AND EXERCISE REGIMENS, THEY SEEM TO BE GENETIC “FREAKS OF NATURE”. IN ACTUALITY, FIT PEOPLE TEND TO ADHERE TO SEVERAL COMMON PRACTICES THAT GIVE THEIR METABOLISM AND PHYSIQUE AN EXTRA BOOST. 5 1
EDUCATE themselves regarding nutrition and exercise. Knowledge is power!
EXERCISE IN THE MORNING. Many people find too many diversions as the day progresses. Fit your workout in early and get it over with!
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Look for ways to “MIX UP” their fitness routine. The body is constantly adapting to the forces imposed upon it. If you do the same thing at the gym everyday, you’ll limit your results and eventually hit a plateau.
AVOID FAD DIETS. If it sounds too good to be true, it is. Maintaining an ideal weight is about sustainable, life-long lifestyle changes – not the trendy weight loss gimmick of the moment.
MAKE EATING OUT THE EXCEPTION RATHER THAN THE RULE. Restaurant food is notoriously loaded with excess fat and calories. If you cook it yourself, you control what you put in your body.
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EAT WHAT THE CAVEMEN ATE. Think unprocessed, whole foods like grass-fed beef and poultry, wild-caught seafood, and plenty of organic fruits and vegetables.
MAINTAIN TIDY HOMES. These folks perform indoor and outdoor chores themselves rather than hiring these tasks out or forgoing them all together. Just think of the added calorie burn per hour: Vacuuming = 238 calories; mopping floors = 250 calories; trimming bushes = 215 calories; mowing the lawn= 408 calories.
PURGE THE JUNK IN THEIR REFRIGERATORS AND PANTRIES. Don’t fool yourself. If your weakness is mint chocolate chip ice cream and you have mint chocolate chip ice cream anywhere in your living space, you WILL indulge yourself. Wave the white flag and surrender those things that you cannot resist to the garbage can. Don’t set yourself up for failure.
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HAVE AN EXERCISE BUDDY. It doesn’t matter if that buddy is an acquaintance, friend, cycling club, group exercise instructor or personal trainer. Numerous studies have shown that exercise consistency markedly increases when you have a support and accountability framework in place.
HYDRATE, HYDRATE, HYDRATE WITH WATER. Water is the magic elixir. It flushes toxins from the body, reduces bloating from excess dietary sodium and assists in maintaining proper fluid balance in the cells. When cells are lacking in water, they shrivel resulting in muscle fatigue. Ideally, one should consume 64 ounces of water daily. This number increases as heat, humidity and/or activity level increases. .
FORGIVE THEMSELVES FOR SETBACKS AND MOVE FORWARD. So you missed a workout? So you had a piece of cheesecake for dessert? So what! Chronically fit people jump right back in the exercise and nutrition “saddle” after small setbacks.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Brooke Kittel
Treehouse Athletic Club 801-553-0123 TacFitness.com Treehouse has also been named among the TOP 20 GYMS in AMERICA by FITNESS MAGAZINE and has received Draper Business of the Year, Sandy Business of the Year and many other accolades. Treehouse offers family fitness in a beautiful and fun environment. TAC has state-of-the-art equipment, certified personal trainers and many programs and events that help keep you excited about working out and staying fit.
HEALTHY UTAH APRIL 2014
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