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How to Maintain a Healthy Lifestyle: 7 Tips for Success

It’s no secret that maintaining a healthy lifestyle is something we should all do, but many of us don’t prioritize our health as much as we should. You may spend your time at the gym, eating right and managing stress levels to look and feel good, but do you remember to actually take care of yourself? In order to maintain a healthy lifestyle, it’s important to not only work on improving how you look but also focus on caring for your mental and emotional health as well as practicing self-care in general.



1) Walk more often

Studies show that individuals who walk as little as three times per week significantly decrease their mortality risk. Make it easy by setting up an alert on your phone; every 30 minutes, you’ll get a gentle reminder that it’s time to go for a stroll. Even short walks can make all of the difference. As long as you maintain your normal pace, walking doesn’t even have to be considered exercise—just do it because it feels good! Many medical experts recommend aiming at roughly 10,000 steps per day.


2) Add more fruits, vegetables and nuts in your diet

Increasing your intake of healthy foods can help you feel more energized and focus throughout the day. If you’re looking to improve your diet, these tips will get you started on a well-balanced eating plan that’s right for you. In fact, adding fruits, vegetables and nuts into your diet is one of best ways to maintain health and manage weight. That said, most experts say having two servings of fruit, three servings of vegetables and seven servings of nuts each day are healthy habits—so just pick some up on your way home from work or when walking through grocery store aisles! For an easy snack option, eat an apple or banana with nut butter on whole grain crackers before heading out in search of dinner.


3) Eat some protein with every meal

Whether you’re trying to lose weight or not, it’s important to eat protein with every meal. Protein helps keep you full, keeps your blood sugar balanced and can even help boost your metabolism. Think lean meats like chicken, fish and turkey breast as well as plenty of eggs. Try using beans or Greek yogurt as an alternative source of protein if meat isn’t your thing. When it comes to eating protein with meals, don’t get carried away: Just aim for about 20-30 grams at each meal (depending on your size). To put that in perspective, most cheeseburgers contain about 30 grams of protein! So try going Greek instead of regular when grabbing lunch or opting for legumes instead of beef when making dinner.


4) Make small changes every day

If you want to maintain a healthy lifestyle, it's important that you pay attention to how your body feels. Take note of how you're feeling on any given day. If you feel tired and out of sorts, there could be something wrong in your diet or other aspects of your lifestyle. By making small changes every day, you can gradually improve things like your energy levels, moods and weight loss goals. It doesn't matter what those changes are – just so long as they're positive steps in the right direction!


5) Prepare your lunch in advance

Instead of eating out every day, prepare your lunch at home and take it with you. This will not only save you time and money, but it will also ensure that you have healthy food that you can count on every day. When you plan in advance, make sure to include a healthy source of protein (e.g., chicken or tuna) along with some vegetables or fruit. If possible, choose whole grain breads and snacks as well. A container of yogurt is also an excellent choice—you'll satisfy your hunger without overeating.


6) Get off the couch!

Sitting around all day can seriously hurt your health. Get moving! The CDC recommends getting at least 150 minutes of moderate activity, 75 minutes of vigorous activity, or an equivalent combination every week. That might mean going for a 30-minute run and then taking your dog on another 30-minute walk—or vice versa.


7) Focus on results, not weight loss

Don’t look at your scale every day; once a week is plenty. And don’t focus on how many pounds you want to lose or how quickly you want to see those results. Instead, concentrate on your health and fitness goals. Can you run three miles straight? Or five? Do you have good muscular definition? Are your clothes fitting better? Is your endurance increasing? Focus on these kinds of things as opposed to an arbitrary number on a scale. You’ll be happier and more motivated in the long run.

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