Breaking Bad Habits For A Healthier Lifestyle

Prioritize A Restful Sleep

It is recommended that adults receive at least 7-9 hours of sleep each night. When you do not get enough rest, it can have a significant impact on your physical and mental health, not to mention your work performance and social life. If you have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep due to stress, waking children, or shift work, follow these tips to get into the routine of getting the recommended hours of sleep each night: 

• Avoid caffeine, alcohol, and nicotine before bed
• Put away your electronics including the TV at least 1-hour before you plan to go to sleep
• Use a natural sleep aid to improve sleep quality

Get Moving

How often you are physically active is different from how much you exercise. Yes, exercising before going to work is a great healthy habit, but this routine only gets you moving for one hour out of that entire day before sitting at a desk for eight hours or more. Getting up and moving around throughout your day will help improve everything from your circulation to your stress-levels and your sense of well-being. Here are a couple of ways to breakup sedentary activities with some extra movement:

• Park further away than you normally would from the grocery store or work to get more steps in
• Set your alarm ten-minutes early to do some meditation or morning stretches
• Take the stairs rather than the elevator or escalator whenever you can

Fuel Your Body With Nutritious Meals

Ditch the processed foods and the morning habit of fast food breakfast sandwiches and instead nourish yourself with a balanced meal of fresh fruits and vegetables, polyunsaturated fats, and protein to improve your health and overall quality of life. You do not need to go out and spend a whole bunch of money on a stocked fridge full of the freshest produce for it to only go bad after a week if you don’t use it. Instead, focus on one meal at a time, such as dinners to start, so you are not overwhelmed with the change. 

Hire A Weight Loss Coach Or Personal Trainer

A personal trainer already understands how hard it is to make these lifestyle changes and wants to be there to help you succeed. They will be able to provide you with workout plans and nutritional advice that suits your lifestyle to ensure you have the best success. A weight loss coach will also hold you accountable and will be able to keep track of your progress so you are less likely to slip back into old unhealthy habits. If you are unsure how to begin to build healthier lifestyle habits, hiring a personal trainer or weight loss coach is an excellent place to start.

Create New Healthy Habits With Jensen Fitness

Swapping your unhealthy habits with healthier ones will create lasting effects on your personal well-being. Experience a fresh start by taking control of how you feel today and making small, gradual improvements. These are the building blocks that will help you become stronger, healthier, and improve your quality of life for the long-run. 

If you have struggled implementing more beneficial habits into your routine, or do not know where to start, contact Jensen Fitness today.  Our personal training, fitness coaching, and weight loss programs will provide you with all of the support you need to achieve your personal goals while helping you sustain your new healthy habits for the long term. To start your weight loss or fitness journey, contact our team of personal trainers in Calgary by calling (403) 200-0199 or by filling out our online contact form.

FAQs

Q: How do I begin my weight loss journey?
A: The first step of beginning your weight loss journey is identifying why you want to make your new lifestyle change and creating small goals you wish to achieve. After you have identified “why,” you can then begin figuring out the “how.” 

Q: Can a personal trainer help me with my nutrition?
A: Your personal trainer can offer general nutrition advice. If you are looking for a more personalized approach, consult a nutrition coach. 

Q: How often should I exercise per week?
A: If you are just starting out, only exercise 2-3 times per week to ease your mind and body into your new routine and to give your muscles time to heal. Exercising too much right away will quickly burn you out leaving you feeling unmotivated and discouraged, so it is best to take it slow at the start.