How To Get Into The Best Shape of Your Life And Maintain It
I recently had a birthday, and it got me thinking about my health and wellness journey.
While I’ve been passionate about fitness for the last five years now, there’s a part of me that wants to go the extra mile to ensure that while I might be getting older every year, my biological clock isn’t.
So, with that said, if you’re looking to transform your life and get your health in check and you’re unsure of where to start, here are a few things to help you get started that have helped me in my journey.
Make This Consistent in Your Routine:
You can have the greatest diet, the best trainer, the best equipment, and the cutest workout outfits, but you won’t see true results if you’re not consistent when it comes to exercising.
Working out needs to become as habitual for you as eating and brushing your teeth. It’s not something you debate on doing; it’s something you do with no excuses.
Dedicate 1–2 hours every day towards your health for a better you today, tomorrow, and so on and so forth.
I’m someone who loves to wake up early, and after a lot of trial and error, I’ve learned that working out first thing in the morning fits my lifestyle and truly makes me feel pumped and ready to take on the day.
You don’t need to go the gym at 6 am if that’s not your cup of tea. You don’t need to follow a rigorous training program that takes hours to complete every day — that isn’t sustainable, and the goal is sustainability.
So play around with it, see what works for you and fits seamlessly into your lifestyle, and turn the gym into a daily habit. Or, at the very least, aim to go 4–5x a week.
Implement a Program Tailored To Your Specific Needs:
Contrary to popular belief, you can’t just buy a workout program online and expect to look like the person selling you the program.
Maybe you know that already, but to be honest, when I first started my fitness journey — I had no idea.
I thought if I just bought a “How To Grow Your Booty in 6 Weeks” program from a fit-looking influencer, I’d look like her.
I couldn’t have been more wrong.
Every body is different. Everyone stores fat differently, and everyone is on a different experience level.
Buying a random program online might work for a few weeks for a beginner because newbie gains are a real thing, but realistically speaking, you need a program that is specifically designed for your body and your fitness goals.
A good trainer isn’t easy to come by, which is why I recommend doing your research and learning how to create a program for yourself so you have the necessary knowledge that you need in order to take care of your body.
However, think of it as an investment, and if you have the means to afford a great trainer, then do so and follow the program they create for you.
Eliminate The Following:
Do a fridge, freezer, and pantry cleanout. Get rid of the junk in your pantry that isn’t serving you or your body.
Get rid of the seed oils that do nothing but inflame you and wreak havoc on your gut.
I’m not saying you need to be ultra-healthy and never consume a sugary thing for the rest of your life — I have pastries on a weekly basis and would rather die than give up my weekly pan au chocolate.
However, moderation is key. Good quality ingredients are equally as important.
There’s a difference between you having a fresh croissant made with grass-fed butter and good quality flour and chocolate vs. you having double-stuffed Oreos from Target.
Remember, it’s not about restriction and never having anything “naughty,” it’s about moderation and being aware of what you’re putting in your body.
Hydration:
I saw this meme the other day saying something along the lines of, “I used to think that coffee was an adult drink, and then I thought alcohol was an adult drink, but now that I’m an adult, I know that water is the ultimate adult drink.”
That couldn’t be more accurate.
Our bodies are made up of 60% water, and if you’re anything like me, you’ve got a major infatuation with coffee and think that you can replace water with it — you can’t.
Drink your water first thing in the morning, drink it during your workout, drink it before lunch and before dinner, just drink your goddamn water.
Your body and your skin will thank you for it.
Active Recovery:
Something I personally never thought about before was the importance of not only taking rest days but also having active rest days.
I’m all for laying horizontally and taking a full day off from everything, especially when you genuinely feel like you need it, but our bodies were not made for being lazy and inactive all day long — consecutively.
Implement active recovery days for yourself; these days will look different for everyone.
Maybe for you, that’s taking a light yoga class or taking a walk to your favorite coffee shop.
Go to the gym and just do some stretching, walk on the treadmill, read your Kindle, or watch a YouTube video.
This is a day for your body to rest, recover, and recuperate.
Prioritize Your Food in The Following Way:
Think of protein as the foundation of your house, fats as the glue that keeps everything together, and carbs as the furniture that puts everything together.
I start my day with a high-protein breakfast after my workout. Dinner is usually a well-rounded meal of everything. Lunch is always spur of the moment, but protein plays a huge factor.
Do not neglect protein. The same goes for healthy fats. Contrary to popular belief, carbs aren’t the devil — they just aren’t as necessary for survival or physical improvement as protein and fat are.
Balance is key.
Do Your Best To:
I know that saying “stress less” isn’t all that helpful, but to put it plainly, stress is evil.
Stress triggers the release of hormones like cortisol, which can disrupt sleep, affect metabolism, and impair your immune function.
It also contributes to cardiovascular problems and leads to inflammation.
Over time, this can increase the risk of heart disease.
Stress also affects your digestive system, leading to various issues like indigestion, heartburn, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), as well as other gastrointestinal problems. The gut-brain connection is significant, and stress can disrupt the balance of bacteria in the digestive tract.
There’s also evidence suggesting that chronic stress can accelerate the aging process at the cellular level, impacting the length of telomeres, which are protective caps at the end of chromosomes.
The bottom line is that managing stress through healthy coping mechanisms, such as exercise, relaxation techniques, and mindfulness, is essential to your overall well-being.
Start with exercise, start implementing stress management techniques, and stop worrying about things that haven’t even happened yet.
Focus more on what’s in your control rather than what isn’t. Life is short, don’t waste it stressing.
To Recap:
Don’t wait for January to start implementing these things into your life, your health should always be your biggest priority.
So to recap how you can get into the best shape of your life and maintain it, start with the following:
Focus on consistency when it comes to exercising
Follow a workout program tailored to your body and your fitness goals
Eat less bullshit, eat more whole foods
Hydrate
Don’t neglect protein and healthy fats
Don’t waste your days stressing, easier said than done but friendly reminder that life is short, so enjoy it rather than worry about it all the time.
