Creating a healthy lifestyle can be very confusing and overwhelming. With all the information that’s available, it’s hard to know what’s right or wrong. Most of it is controversial and the information is conflicting. Mostly the focus falls on nutrition. Like high protein or vegan diet? Breakfast is the most important meal of the day vs intermittent fasting? Other questions that show up are things like cardio vs strength training… The list goes on.
If you are trying to figure out how to create a solid foundation and organise your thoughts around healthy living, I’ve made it easy for you. These simple tips create a great foundation for your wellbeing and will take you far. There is no need to over complicate it before you got daily habits in place. Let’s put all the geeky diets and bio hacks aside, and let’s start with these simple steps. They are perfect for those of you who are looking to create a sustainable healthy life that will make you feel amazing in your body. I introduce all my clients to these ones and everyone feels a difference.
- Big glass of warm water first thing in the morning. Hydration is so important for your health. It’s the key for your digestion, skin and detoxification system – just to mention a few. Your body is slightly dehydrated after the night so hydration is super important before you have your coffee or tea (which is actually dehydrating in itself). Warm water also wakes up your stomach in a gentle way and by adding lemon juice your stomach acid is ready for the first meal. A big glass means you starting the day right and get into the mindset of hydrating during the day.
- Five portions of green leaves or vegetables. The best way to create health is through the food you eat and a nutritionally poor diet is a world wide issue. Vegetables hold so much nutrition that is essential for your health. Every cell in your body will dance if you boost up with a variety of vegetables and fruit. If you can get 5 different kinds every day, your body will love you even more because they all hold their own powerhouse of goodness.
- Nourishing movement. Your body is made to move. Adding 30 min of movement each day will improve the quality of your sleep, brain function, boost digestion and improve your immune system. The key is to get the pulse up and it can be done from simply walking. If you have the energy for a more challenging exercise some days, even better.
- Turn off your phone 1hr before bedtime. Blue light has proven to compromise our rest at night and lack of quality sleep has a huge impact on your health. By eliminating the exposure of light before night time you will help the body to fully relax and quicker to into the deeper stages of sleep – which is where the magic happens!
- Slow down your breathing. This step is easy to skip but might be the most important one of them all. Stress is a world pandemic and is the root to very many health issues. Your body’s primary goal is to keep you safe and alive. Genuinely deep breaths help to take your body out of a stage of fight-and-flight and into safety. It is only in a calm space that your body can fully thrive and heal. Once a day, stop for a second and take 5 deep breaths that really expand your stomach. Inhale for 4 seconds, hold the breath at the top for 3 seconds and exhale for 5 seconds. The key is to inhale through your nose and make the exhalation longer than the inhalation.
Promoting long term healthy living that benefits you in a few weeks and also in decades, is my passion and mission. These habits might not seem much to the world but they have helped my clients lose weight, feel more energised thoughtout the day and improve their digestion. I also live by these habits myself. Ditch all the quick fixes and crazy weight management tricks. Try these simple tips out and get that solid foundation that you can easily live by each day.