Four Easy Things You Can Do Today To Improve Your Health

The idea of becoming healthier can be an overwhelming one. There are so many different things you can do! Here are four easy options that will get you on your way to a healthier body. 

1. Hire a personal trainer. Even if you only have the funds to train once or twice a month, a personal trainer can help you:

• set realistic weight and strength goals 
• plan a healthy diet (and even give you meal ideas)
• know which exercises to do and how to do them correctly (inside and outside the gym) 
• push you to train harder without hurting yourself 
• encourage you to step outside your comfort zone and try new things 

Try it out for six months or a year and see how much personal training helps. You can always cancel or try someone different once your contract is over. 

2. Track your steps. There are many devices out there that will help you do this, many of which come with an accompanying app. You will be surprised how motivating it is to know how many steps you are taking! You are probably more sedentary than you realize. Using a pedometer or fitness tracker of some sort may push you to:

• park your car further away from the store
• take the stairs instead of the elevator
• walk around your office building during your breaks
• march in place (or pace) while on the phone 
• take a walk or bike ride around your neighborhood in the evenings 
• purchase a treadmill or rebounder
• visit the gym more often
• start attending nearby exercise classes
• pick up a new sport 

It is harder to get to 10,000 steps than you would think. Tracking your steps can help motivate you to move more. 

3. Join a group. Even if you can't meet with a group in person, there are lots of groups online that encourage each other. Many fitness trackers can share your information with friends (or strangers) and you can compete with each other. Your personal trainer can help set you up with an exercise group, too, if you can't find one. 

4. Find a few new recipes. Going on a "diet" can be overwhelming and is often not as good for you as it would seem. Instead of trying to remove all "bad" foods, start adding in some new recipes that are healthier than your old ones. Experiment and try some gluten free, low-carb, and vegetarian recipes, just for fun. The more variety you have in your diet, the better. You can compare how you feel after eating different foods, too, to see if you want to change your diet entirely. Focusing on the positive instead of the negative will make a huge difference in how you feel about food. 

As you do these four things, you can shed the guilt and be happier and healthier before you know it. Good luck!