It’s almost March and Spring is just around the corner! We might not be quite out of winter yet, but there’s so much happening just beneath the surface that in a few short weeks, we’ll see everything come back to life. Warmer weather is on its way, things are looking up!
Unfortunately, this is also the time of year when many a new year’s resolution begins to fall by the wayside. The spring is the perfect time to rejuvenate and get over the gloominess of winter. All the new habits and goals we were so excited about starting in January slowly became harder to sustain and our resolve to read more, go to bed earlier, exercise more often, etc. is easily broken. There’s no shame in admitting, I am also a victim of that! This is completely understandable. With so much going on, it’s easy to regress back into old habits — sometimes without even realizing it.
Building a new wellness/fitness habit starts with a sometimes massive behavioral change, which also brings up the question: Am I really ready to make a change at this point of my life?
Everything we do, feel, and think relates to our well-being. In my opinion, wellness is considered a way of living, an integration of the body, mind, and soul. It’s not just about your looks, but your health as well: overindulging in unhealthy habits can endanger your life in more ways than one, and avoiding this situation is a must.
1. Self Evaluation
Take a realistic look at yourself in regard to your resolutions. How well have you done so far? Be honest with yourself. Even if it’s a small step in the direction of your goals, it’s still progress. Don’t beat yourself up. What’s important is what you do from now on. Will you recommit to your goals or will you let another year go by without seeing the progress you’d like? Make the decision here and now.
Perhaps your goals are too big. If so, make them smaller. We love to hear about people’s lofty ambitions; it’s inspiring! But set the bar too high and you’ll become discouraged. A goal has a much greater chance of being accomplished if it deals with specific facts and events. Breakdown your objectives into small manageable pieces. If you are still feeling overwhelmed, break them down again until you feel as though you have tasks that you are able to accomplish.
2. Stay Healthy!
Eat a diet based on whole foods. Adopt a healthy regime and cook using whole foods and use recipes that provide sound nutrition and taste great. Fuel your body with the good stuff! Our modern diet is full of restaurant and processed food, and that’s OK from time to time. Everyone enjoys going out to socialize with friends and family at restaurants.
Eat at least 8-10 servings of fruits and vegetables every day from every colour of the rainbow. They are high in antioxidants, A, C, E, zinc and selenium which will all boost your immune system. I can not emphasize this enough, but ANY fruit or berry is always a great choice of healthy snack. I personally prefer Apples, Pears, Bananas and Peaches because they are quick and easy to consume. Berries are not only highly nutritious but also a low-carb fruit choice. For example, blueberries provide just 11 grams of carbs in 1/2 cup (74 grams). For a delicious, low-carb snack, combine 1/2 cup (74 grams) of blueberries with 2 tablespoons of heavy whipping cream.
Avoid sugar and refined carbohydrates. Consuming excessive amounts of these foods will deplete the immune system. Things such as “Low-sugar”, “No Artificial”, and “zero calories” should do the work in getting your attention, but make sure you read the labels and be aware if the packages are lying or not. As I mentioned in this article, I started small by quitting to add sugar/sweetener on my coffee. It might seem like a small thing but I promise I was able to change my entire lifestyle based on that.
3. Quality > Quantity
It’s important to focus more on behaviors than outcomes. Or, put another way, focus on the journey, not the result. Reaching a goal isn’t linear. It can have ups and downs, but as long as you keep moving, even baby steps in the right direction are progress.
The harder you make it to fail, the easier keeping your resolutions will be. Partner Up: This advice is cliche for a reason – it works. You are likely to stay motivated and moving in the right direction if you have a friend or a community of like-minded individuals to support you. It is always easier and more fun to stick with something when you have a buddy to “suffer” through the process with you. They also help keep you accountable!
Switch TODAY! The minute you take your foot off of the gas pedal is when you start to lose focus on what was once so hard to accomplish. You can avoid this fate very simply by focusing on the process and not the result. A clean diet and fitness routine can only bring benefits to our health and overall well-being. If you have things such as “eating healthy” or “lose weight” in your New Year’s resolution list this year, I challenge you to stay consistent and stay focused throughout the whole year by implementing some of the tips I gave you. The most important part is to get started and not give up. It might seem harder at first but I guarantee it is worth it and you will adapt in the long run! Paul Millsap, 4x NBA All-Star and Hydra-Guard Partner has always made his nutrition and health a priority, which reflects his elite performance and extremely successful career in the NBA. Paul’s ability to maintain playing at the highest level has been nothing short of amazing. It's a professional career that every athlete strives for.
The key for longevity in any athlete’s career is to take care of their bodies first and that's something that Paul has obviously done very well. Hydra-Guard Sports Drink caught Paul’s attention in early 2019, when he officially partnered with them in efforts to bring the brands healthy benefits more readily available to more households across the country.
"Being a professional athlete naturally encourages me and my family to live a healthy lifestyle. Hydra-Guard Sports Drink raises the bar to unprecedented heights with its beverage innovation. It’s packed with electrolytes, and being an all natural sports drink with low sugars is a game changer, this product is changing the industry," says Paul.
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