Each of us has different desires and goals in life. One of the most common desires among people is to have good health. People have different reasons to long for good health (like fitting into clothes we like, preventing diseases, increasing their life span etc.).
When people achieve their health goals, their self esteem increases and they are happy that they are independent and can do their chores without assistance. To attain their goals people employ different ways.
While some people go on crash diets others prefer to sweat it out in the gym. There are some others who opt for easier ways of losing weight like taking medicines and opting for surgeries. Here are some ways by which you can achieve your health goals.
Set your goals
Try to figure out why you’re not happy with your health. Identify you’re health goals and work towards them. Set your targets keeping in mind your busy schedule and lifestyle. See that your targets are sensible, practical and attainable in the time you’ve set for yourself.
Inspire yourself
Encourage yourself to work towards achieving your health goals by thinking of the advantages you gain by being healthy (like wearing the clothes you like, preventing diabetes, obesity, arthritis, blood pressure, heart disorders etc.).
Identify the reason for your weight gain
Before you start your weight loss, analyse your daily routine and try to figure what are the causes of your weight gain. Is it diet or is it lack of physical activity etc. Once you identify the causes of weight gain, try to alter your lifestyle to achieve your health targets.
Begin your day with a healthy breakfast
A healthy breakfast will keep you fresh and alert during the day. It will keep you full during the day and will prevent you from binging on calorie laden snacks.
Monitor your diet and calorie intake
Try to have 5-6 small meals a day rather than having 3 heavy meals. Introduce low fat dairy products, fresh vegetables and fruits in your diet. Including fibre rich foods in your diet will keep you full for a longer time and will help in weight loss. Avoid alcoholic drinks. Keep away from foods that have high sugar and fat content. Drinking plenty of water will not only keep you hydrated but also make you feel full.
If you have food cravings and have difficulty avoiding them then try to balance it by increasing your workout on days that you give into your food cravings
Workout regularly
Exercising will help you burn your calories faster and give you visible results in a shorter period of time. In order to lose weight it is important to plan your exercise regime and stick to them. You could also get an exercise partner which would make working out fun and at the same time both of you could keep an eye on each other. When you start with your exercise routine you should set realistic targets and try to achieve them.
In order to lose weight you could join a gym. If you don’t like to go to the gym find some other form of physical activity that you would enjoy doing which at the same time would help you lose weight. A 30 minute walk or jogs are excellent ways to lose weight. Swimming, Karate and dancing are other form of physical activity which would help in weight loss. Jumping jacks, squats, lunges, crunches, yoga etc are excellent exercises for people not liking to venture out of their homes. Weight training would also help in losing your weight. Engaging yourselves in sports will also aid in weight loss. Increase the time of your exercise regime gradually for better results.
Prepare for lapses
One has to make many sacrifices to lead a healthy lifestyle. It is natural to get tempted and give into your cravings once in a while. If you are not able to stick to your weight loss program, try to identify the reason behind it and find a solution to it. Keep a positive attitude and don’t give up unless you achieve your goals. Reward yourselves with treats when you achieve your targets. This would make you feel happy and motivate you to strive harder to achieve your goals.
Good health is essential to fulfill your other commitments. A healthy individual can take care of his/her family, work and other social commitments better. A healthy life style not only helps our organs to function better but also provides us with psychological benefits (like reduces fatigue and stress, reduces risk of depression etc.). So adopt a healthy lifestyle and enjoy a long and happy life.
