Recent world events have changed the way we work, exercise, and probably eat. Stretchy workout pants have taken the place of work attire lately so maybe it is time to reign in the working-from-home snacking! This thought could lead to crash dieting as we begin to think about our “new normal” moving forward. I hear about snacks and see them often when going to the corporate office to offer chair massage.
The first step in avoiding crash diets and supporting a healthy lifestyle is through food. Cutting your calories in half and eating nothing but apples and celery is not a viable option that will be good for you in the long run. Instead, it is important to create a lifestyle of eating clean. One way to do this is to eat for performance instead of pleasure. Your body is a machine, capable of so much as long as it is cared for properly. To exercise and perform other daily activities, you need to have strength through nutrition. When you eat poorly, you can feel lethargic and less capable of tackling your exercise routine, or even your daily tasks. Another tip for creating a healthy eating style is planning. Do your research, find out what healthy foods you enjoy, and know what you need to eat every day. Planning helps you to avoid the occasional “slips” in your healthy lifestyle and can be a great foundation for you as you attempt to eat healthier. Also, keeping yourself accountable is a huge way to keep on track. Record the food that you eat and calculate the nutritional information of your meals; knowing that you have to record your daily meals helps you not to over-indulge in sweets and other fatty foods on a whim.
Another integral part of starting (and maintaining) a healthy lifestyle is through exercise. While most people are not thrilled at the idea of a treadmill or weight machines, there are a plethora of ways to be active throughout the day. Here are some tips to keep you motivated on your journey to fitness: first of all, you can turn your commute into a workout. Instead of driving, why not try biking or walking? Working out before work can give you more energy before a busy day, give you endorphins for a better mood, and leave you less stressed about the idea of going to the gym after a long day at work. Also, you can invest in more (and better) workout clothes. Commit to exercise by dressing in the right gear and feeling comfortable at the gym. Sure, you get the same workout when exercising in boxer shorts and an oversized t-shirt as compared to Nike, but you can re-enforce yourself as an exerciser by investing in yourself and getting excited to look good as you work out to feel good. Another great way to stay motivated about exercising is by recording your workouts, either online or in a journal. Logging your workouts is a great way to see your progress over time, which is motivation in itself, and if you record them online, it provides you with a support system to encourage you and keep you going even on the tough days.
Overall, losing weight and being healthy is all about balance and consistency. Don’t focus completely on exercise, but also don’t only leave your health to diet choices. Sustainable healthy eating and living are crucial to achieving and maintaining a well-working body that deserves to be treated correctly so that it can perform well for you daily.
Corporate Massage Kneads would welcome the opportunity to help you and your staff settle back into the office. Mobile chair massage is a wellness program that offers many benefits.
Contact us to discuss how we can help you set up your program TODAY!
Sources:
Mackie, Ryan. “Eating Right: A Ten-Step Strategy to Eating Clean.” BodyBuilding.com, January 15, 2014. http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/ryanm14.htm
Soong, Jennifer. “7 Habits of Highly Effective Exercisers.” Fitness. http://www.fitnessmagazine.com/workout/motivation/habits-of-effective-exercisers.
