Decide to stay in balance
YOU’RE A WINNER: KEEP MOVING AND EAT HEALTHY
Remember the lifestyle skills you’ve learnt here.
It’s been almost five and half years of sharing a diverse amount of health, fitness, dietary and lifestyle tips through this Fitness @ Large segment. Our time has come to an end, and I truly hope it has been valuable to you and that you will all continue to lead as healthy a lifestyle as you possibly can.
With this being the final article from me and my supporting writer Thapelo Mowela, we want to remind you that leading a healthy and active lifestyle is simply about balance.
And balance has no schedule or handbook.
Balance is personal and it is based on your own individual lifestyle.
For some, balancing an active lifestyle could be running or cycling five to six days a week. For some it could mean yoga three times a week. And for others, it could simply mean three 30 minute walks around the block on a weekly basis.
The best way to ensure your active lifestyle remains a success is to assess your current timetable and decide where you can set aside time for physical activity.
When it’s planned and diarised, it’s easier to stick to it than when you “hope for the best” and leave it to chance.
If it helps, set your goals, write them down or tell a friend.
Having an accountability partner who knows your goals and will gladly remind you of them regularly is a surefire way to keep you in check.
If you are a runner, cyclist or tri-athlete, another way to help keep you active is if you sign up for an event.
That way, you have something to work towards and that should keep you consistent in your training.
When it comes healthy eating, decide on the good things you want to consume more of and stock up on those.
For example, you might want to start eating more vegetables and fruits, it’s really as simple as keeping them on your shopping list and stocking up.
Do the opposite with things you want to cut out on, reduce the quantities on your shopping list or don’t buy them.
I’ll give you a personal example. I don’t stock up on chips, sweets and chocolates in my house.
But when my daughter and I crave them, we pop in at the garage or supermarket, buy whatever it is in small quantities (just to fulfil the craving at that moment) and that’s it.
That way, we don’t consume chips, sweets and chocolate randomly when we could have fruit instead.
In essence, balance is a trainable skill.
It’s not a miracle thing that just happens. Balance in health and fitness is achievable if you consciously make decisions and plans to achieve it. It’s not rocket science.
In conclusion, if you exercise regularly and make “healthier” decisions when it comes to your daily diet, you will be just fine.
Keep moving. Eat healthy. All the best.