10 Tips to Improve Fitness

As a fitness enthusiast and a person who’s constantly on the move, one of my favorite ways to shake up my daily routine is to think of new and fun ways to add more activity into my life to improve my fitness and take me to the next level.

My motto is that a little bit of focused exercise can go a long way, and that it’s important to keep your mind and body challenged with new and innovative ways to keep moving. Maintaining a steady stream of movement in your everyday life will help to keep you energized, feeling good and most of all, can help promote good mood and overall happiness.

Top 10 ways to get more active

To help you boost your fitness, here are my top 10 favorite things you can do to get and stay moving:

1. Walk more: Walking to work instead of taking the bus, or walking to the grocery store instead of driving the car when possible are both great ways  to burn extra calories. Though neither walking to work or walking to the grocery store may seem like your typical exercise bout, finding more ways to burn more calories throughout the day by doing activities such as these  can help to increase the total amount of calories you burn every day. Not only can it help to burn extra calories, but doing simple activities like walking is a quick and easy way to boost your mood, while also helping you to improve your fitness.
2. Seek out deals in your area: Looking for fitness/exercise deals (of which there are many throughout the year) can be both affordable and can help make movement more fun. Trying a variety of different exercises can help you get in shape more quickly because both your mind and body are engaged. Look for sites like Groupon, Amazon Local, and advertisements in the local paper. (Hint hint we’ll soon be offering yoga classes of our own!).
3. Shake it up: Switching up your exercise routine can help to keep your mind and body engaged in the activity, which can help boost fitness. Not only that, but switching up your routine can actually help you lose weight more quickly too. Try to vary your method of exercise throughout the week to include some yoga/stretching, cardio, and weight lifting.
4. Buddy up: Calling a friend/ family member to workout with you can not only help you both stay on track, but can also make the workout more fun for both of you. The more fun the workout is, the more likely you are to stick to the routine and to accomplish your goals. If you don’t have a friend nearby, you can call one while you walk or run.
5. Take the stairs: Opting for the stairs instead of the elevator whenever possible can be a great way to burn extra calories and to improve fitness.  Research suggests that a 160 lb person can burn 10 calories per minute climbing stairs. Though this doesn’t seem like much, spending 5-10 minutes climbing stairs instead of standing in the elevator can help you burn an extra 50-100 calories per day.
6. Fuel up: Working out is essential for overall well-being and general health, but in order to work out to your fullest potential, it’s key that you refuel your body both before and after working out. Something simple like a banana before you work out, and a smoothie after you workout can really help with your recovery process and will help you to feel great too.
7. Rehydrate: Drinking fluids like water, coconut water, and even a fresh juice makes for a great way to rehydrate. Remember to drink at least eight, 8 oz glasses of water daily and if you’re working out to add an electrolyte-rich drink like a juice or plain, unflavored coconut water. Hydration is absolutely key for overall fitness.
8. Get lifting: Challenging your muscles to push harder and get stronger is one of the best ways to get leaner, lose weight, and feel great. Though it is often underestimated, weight lifting that includes both lighter and heavier weights or even body weight exercises can help your muscles and bones to become stronger. In addition to increased strength, one of the best benefits of weight lifting/resistance training is a revved metabolism. Muscle burns calories much more quickly than fat does, so get lifting!
9. Make time to meditate: Though it may not sound like the quickest way to get fitter, meditation and yoga are essential for keeping a balanced mind a body, which is key for fitness. Having some time to take a deep breath, stretch, and recenter can help you stay on track with your efforts for healthy eating, living and movement.
10. Get groovy: The more you cherish and enjoy the time you spend moving, the more likely you are to stay on track and to keep moving, which in turn can improve fitness. My favorite way to have fun and enjoy my exercise is to listen to some good music while doing so- it helps keep you motivated and can also help the workout to go more quickly (which can also help too!).