The Real Cost of Getting Healthy & Losing Weight
One of the most common goals at the start of a new year is to get in shape, but more often than not, people lose interest in that goal after a month or two. Getting fit can be a lofty goal, and many don’t want to pay the price for it. That price is very high for most people, especially if they aim for a competitor’s physique with a incredibly low body fat percentage. The cost involves more than simply changing one or two bad habits. Ultimately, it requires a total change in lifestyle.
So what does this lifestyle change entail that makes it so difficult? A few of the most important aspects are:
Eating Habits
This may be one of the hardest parts for people. We love food, and more often than not, we love the kinds of food that are the worst for us. In order to get in shape, you need to severely restrict many items that you might crave, such as foods high in salt or sugar and alcoholic beverages. These need to be replaced with healthier foods such as fruits, vegetables, and proteins. Your diet will become incredibly strict, which could make special events rather dreary and even lead to depression, hormonal imbalances, and mood swings.
Sleep
Another part of the cost of fitness is something that is often overlooked: you need to develop good sleep habits. Not only is getting plenty of sleep necessary for proper brain function and memory, it is also associated with lower body fat. Generally, people need 6.5 to 8.5 hours of sleep per night in order to function properly and keep body fat low. This means no more late nights or random sleep schedules, which may lead to missing out on parties and such.
Exercise
What would a fitness regime be without exercise? An hour or more of exercise per day is the amount recommended by most coaches. The purpose of exercise is to tone and build muscle, increase stamina, and train your body to work more efficiently. You also burn lots of calories and boost your metabolism, which melts away extra fat. It is possible to overdo it, though. You have to be careful not to put too much stress on your body and to avoid injury.
It takes work and commitment to get in shape. A halfway effort won’t cut it. You need to moderate all aspects of your life by cutting out unhealthy habits and replacing them with healthy practices. Success is already difficult to attain if you do a complete overhaul of your daily routine, but it will be all but impossible if you only make a few selective changes.
While getting healthy can be a hard habit to develop, regular chiropractic care is quite easy to add to your healthy routine. The Joint offers affordable and convenient wellness adjustments that may help you reach your health goals this year and prevent pain. Stop by today - no appointment necessary.
