Living a healthy lifestyle involves making healthy choices. As well as choosing not to smoke, drinking alcohol only in moderation and keeping your stress levels low, your diet and exercise regime is an integral part of maintaining a healthy body and mind. Your diet should include the right combination of carbohydrates, proteins, fats and other nutrients. Similarly, a well rounded workout routine develops all elements of physical fitness including strength, flexibility and cardiovascular fitness.
Breakfast
At breakfast, do your arteries a favor and avoid the traditional plate of fatty bacon, eggs, sausages, grits and pancakes soaked in syrup. Instead, choose a less calorie dense breakfast that will give you energy to get you through the morning. Your breakfast should ideally include whole grains, low fat proteins, low-fat dairy products and fruit. A typical meal might be a whole grain bagel with peanut butter or hard boiled eggs, a low-fat yogurt and a small bowl of fruit.
Lunch
If you take sandwiches to work for lunch, opt for whole grain bread with lean meats such as turkey or chicken with salad and a light dressing rather than full fat mayonnaise. If you eat out with colleagues, don't betray your diet. Even if you end up in a McDonalds, there are healthy options. The premium bacon ranch salad with grilled chicken is low in fat and offers a high amount of protein as well as some dietary fiber. Because it is low in calories, you can also add a fruit 'n yogurt parfait.
Dinner
When you are cooking at home, there is no excuse to be unhealthy. Include a protein such as fish or meat, as well as at least two vegetables. A healthy dinner could be salmon with brown rice, broccoli and asparagus or grilled chicken breast with baked potato and a side salad. If you eat out, avoid calorie dense sides such as french fries, loaded mashed potato and salads covered in full fat dressings.
Cardio Workouts
Work out daily giving yourself a day off each week. Alternate between cardio and strength workouts spending three of your six days focusing on your cardiovascular fitness. Aerobic exercise improves your heart's health by helping to lower blood pressure, cholesterol levels and risk of heart disease. It also helps you shed pounds, improve stamina and improves your mood through the release of endorphins. Aim for 50 minute sessions at a moderate intensity or 25 minutes of vigorous intensity exercise. Aerobic exercise includes running, walking, bike riding and swimming.
Strength and Flexibility
Your other three days should focus on strength and flexibility. If you are new to resistance training, begin with either low weights or resistance bands. Body weight exercises are also highly beneficial. The bulk of your resistance workout can consist of just five or six moves. Pushups and pullups work the upper body while squats and lunges work your lower body. For core strength, perform crunches and other exercises on a stability ball. Be sure to stretch after any workout in order to prevent injury and improve recovery. Feel free to substitute yoga for some of your strength routines for a workout that improves balance, strength and flexibility.
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