It’s the first day of spring, and you’ve got a lot to do. You’re running late for work, and the traffic is terrible. It takes forever to get anywhere, and then you have to park your car in an overcrowded lot.
When you finally arrive at work, you have to rush through the door and down the hall to your cubicle. Then you have to sit down and start working on that project you’ve been putting off for months. But the most important thing you have to do today is eat. You can’t possibly make it to lunch without food.
You grab some take-out from the vending machine, but as soon as you get home, you find yourself munching on chips and cookies instead of going to the gym. And when you go to bed tonight, you’ll probably be so tired that you’ll fall right back asleep.
If you want to lose weight this year, you need to start making better choices. Here are five tips for healthy living:
1. Eat breakfast every morning. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Your body needs fuel to get it through the rest of the day, and if you skip breakfast, you won’t have the energy you need to get through your busy schedule. Start eating breakfast with a smoothie or a bowl of cereal, and then eat something more substantial later in the day.
2. Don’t skip lunch. It may seem like you can eat all you want during the morning, but if you skip lunch, you’ll end up eating too much later in the day. Plan ahead and pack a lunch so you don’t have to stop at a fast food restaurant on your way home.
3. Drink water. If you’re thirsty, you should drink water. Drinking water will help you feel full and will keep you hydrated. Avoid sugary drinks like soda and juice because they will give you a sugar high followed by a crash. Instead, try drinking water with a slice of lemon.
4. Get plenty of sleep. Getting enough sleep will make you feel refreshed and energized throughout the day. When you don’t get enough sleep, you tend to crave junk food. Make sure you get at least eight hours of sleep each night.
5. Exercise regularly. If you’re trying to lose weight, you should exercise at least 30 minutes per day. It doesn’t matter if you go to the gym or just walk around the block. Just do something to get your heart pumping and get your blood flowing.
