5 Fitness Tips For People Changing Their Lifestyle

Each year, millions of people commit to change their behavior. Yet, that is often much easier said than done. If you are looking to really make a positive, lasting change to your lifestyle, these fitness tips can help you get started.

1. Take Things One Step at a Time

A new lifestyle will not develop overnight. You will need to face that to be successful. Rushing the results will only lead to frustration and, more than likely, cause you to abandon your fitness journey. Instead of expecting miracles, understand that it will take hard work and dedication to make a lasting change. Think about this for a minute: The average length of time it takes to form a habit is about two months.

If every new habit takes about two months, and you want to develop five or six of them, it is realistic to expect it to take at least a year to integrate them into your new lifestyle. Sure, you can try to adopt a couple simultaneously, especially if they are closely related, but too much change at once can lead to feeling overwhelmed or, worse, deprived. That is a sure road to failure. Take things slowly, be realistic in your expectations, and make steady progress toward your ultimate goal.

2. Understand Your Nutritional Needs

Most adults, especially those who are actively trying to improve their health, have a basic understanding of human nutritional needs. While that is commendable, it does not mean they fully understand what they should be eating to meet goals or when they should be eating it. Keep in mind that your body has unique needs that can be affected by several factors. Gut health is one of them. A supplement like Activated You Morning Complete can foster better digestion and facilitate the absorption of nutrients.

And then there are calories. The daily recommended number of calories used to determine portion sizes and develop nutrition labels is based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Yet, most individuals consume much more than this, particularly if they are fans of the standard American diet. Simply cutting calories to get closer to 2,000 per day can help you avoid weight gain and achieve better overall health. At the same time, most adults need to consume approximately 1,200 calories a day to sustain basic biological functions. So, diets that have severe calorie restrictions can actually do more harm than good and should only be undertaken with a medical professional's advice and supervision.

3. Find Activities You Enjoy Doing

Physical activity is an absolute must if you want to improve your overall fitness. However, to make exercise part of your lifestyle, you really have to find things you enjoy doing that also challenge you physically. If you wonder why that is, take a moment to reflect on what you learned about developing habits.

If forming a new habit requires lots of time and effort, think about how much more work it will be if you really don't want to do the thing in the first place. That's why so many well-intentioned individuals end up buying a gym membership in January only to stop going after a few weeks. It simply isn't enjoyable for them. Exercise doesn't have to be a chore, though. There are so many great ways to be active that are fun and free — or at least very low cost — that there is no reason you can't find at least one you like.

4. Get Plenty of Rest

Physical activity is important, but it isn't the only component of a fit lifestyle. You also need to take care of yourself by providing plenty of opportunity for rest. There are two main types of rest: Active and passive. Each has a role to play in overall fitness.

Active rest is when you are doing lower-intensity versions of activities you normally participate in. For example, walking on a rest day instead of running. The heart rate stays slightly elevated and muscles are still being worked. Active rest periods can help you develop better performance and more cardiovascular endurance. Passive rest, on the other hand, is a cessation of most physical activity. This can be a much-needed break if your activity levels have been particularly high. In addition to rest periods, aim to get between seven and nine hours of sleep each night.

5. Surround Yourself With Others Who Share Your Goals

If you truly want to make a lasting change, you will want to develop relationships that support your new lifestyle. Surround yourself with others who share your interests and goals. You can become a vital sounding board and support system for each other.

By meeting nutritional needs, increasing physical activity and leaving time for rest, you can slowly work toward a new and healthier lifestyle.