Having been in the health and fitness space for over 20 years now I want to share what I consider to be the TOP 3 most important lifestyle traits that will help you not only reach your goals, but also make them a part of your everyday life for the REST of your life!
Lifestyle Trait #1: Health & Fitness as Your #1 Priority
I know this one can seem controversial, so lets dig in just a little bit.
We live in a society that values being “successful” more than anything.
And if we are honest with ourselves, the current cultural definition of success is defined by how many zero’s are in our bank account. This leads us to placing career above and beyond just about everything else, and it justifies our over-working patterns and makes us feel less guilty when we place our health and fitness on the back burner.
At this point you may find yourself saying, “well that’s not my problem, my problem is that I am a busy parent and I will always put my family first, which oftentimes means that I come last!”
I hate to say it, but you are still not off the hook! 😉
The simple fact remains that if you don’t place your health as your #1 priority, all of your other priorities in life will inevitably suffer. So many of us get caught up in prioritizing other things above and beyond our health and fitness, that putting ourselves last has unfortunately become the national norm. In fact 80% of us currently do not get the recommended daily allotment of exercise in our lives because of this flawed mentality.
I know that putting your health and fitness first may feel like a foreign concept to you at the moment, but it will get better and I strongly encourage you to have faith in the process making yourself #1. No you are NOT selfish! In fact it is the most selfless thing that you can do because it will optimize your relationships and bring your other priorities into their full potential.
Lifestyle Trait #2: Have a Solid Food Prep System & Question Everything That Enters Your Mouth
This one is fairly straight forward, but without it you are doomed to failure. I have never seen anybody succeed long term in 20 years without a solid food prep system in place.
It is not the intent of this post to go into the details of a food prep system, but at it’s core you will need to have a system in place in which you have a designated day that you can get your food prep done for the week. This will ensure that you are not having to rely on external sources such as restaurants, convenient stores, vending machines or cafeteria’s that likely do not have healthy food choices available.
Every time you are considering putting a piece of food in your mouth you should be asking the following questions:
#1: Is this a REAL food that comes from a plant or animal? In other words it is not processed.
#2: Does my body agree with this food?
#3: Is this food going to get me closer to my health goals or detract from them?
One last thing before we move on to the next trait…make sure you are drinking enough water everyday too! This is one of the fastest ways to detox your body and jump start your metabolism.
Lifestyle Trait #3: Guard Your Sleep With Your Life
This one often get’s overlooked to the detriment of those giving it the cold shoulder. Without going into deep descriptions of circadian rhythm or sleep science, let’s just agree that without adequate sleep it is nearly impossible to obtain a optimal level of health and fitness.
Aim for a routine that you can stick to. Here are a few quick pointers.
-Eat your last meal at least 3 hours before bedtime so that you have adequate time for digestion. This will also allow your nocturnal hormones to function optimally and allow you to enter deep sleep.
-Limit blue-light exposure at least 2 hours before bedtime. This includes, electronic screens, florescent lights and any bright artificial light in general. If you cannot escape these light settings then invest into a quality pair of blue-light blocking glasses.
-Try to get to bed and wake up at the same time daily. Doing so will help your regulate your circadian rhythm and your body will eagerly anticipate bedtime and allow you to easily slip into your nightly slumber.
-Try meditation and deep breathing exercises before bed to help you wind down and relax, Find what works best for you and stick with it.
Well there you have it my friends! I know these sound simple, but I am always astounded that the vast majority of us struggle mightily with these lifestyle concepts. If you find an area of weakness in your lifestyle it is not the end of the world and it is certainly not a good idea to get down on yourself. Simply recognize the area and take simple steps to correct it over time.
You’ve got this!
Life is Good!
P.S. If you would like help optimizing your health and wellness we can certainly help! Learn more about us here: http://www.llfit.com
