Summary

The article outlines five practical steps to improve health and manage anxiety during lockdown, emphasizing the importance of morning workouts, personalized exercise routines, a balance of weights and cardio, adequate sleep, and reducing sugar intake.

Abstract

The "5 Easy Ways To Live A Healthy Life" article provides guidance for maintaining physical and mental well-being amidst the challenges of lockdown. It acknowledges the varying levels of motivation and the common struggle to keep up with fitness goals. The piece suggests starting the day with exercise to boost energy and mood, advocating for a workout style that is enjoyable and sustainable. It also discusses the ongoing debate between cardio and weight training, highlighting the benefits of combining both. The article stresses the often-overlooked role of sleep in weight management and warns against the negative effects of poor sleep on metabolism and hormone production. Lastly, it advises cutting down on sugar due to its prevalence in processed foods and its impact on insulin production and fat storage. The overarching message is to take small, consistent steps towards a healthier lifestyle, tailored to individual needs and preferences.

Opinions

Morning workouts are ideal for sustaining energy and positive mood throughout the day.
Exercise should be tailored to individual preferences to ensure long-term adherence.
A combination of cardio and weight training is generally more beneficial than focusing on one.
Adequate sleep is crucial for weight loss and overall health, with lack of sleep linked to weight gain.
Reducing sugar intake is essential, as added sugars in many food items contribute to weight gain and other health issues.
The article emphasizes self-care and personalized health strategies during the lockdown, suggesting that survival is a priority over the pressure to thrive.

5 Easy Ways To Live A Healthy Life

With the lockdown and all this extra time, almost all of us have indulged in bouts of motivation that have led us to put on our workout gear and pop an Instagram or Facebook workout video.

From the likes of Chloe Ting to Whitney Simons, Youtube is filled with content that Is equips you to workout from home with no equipment.

And then there also those of us that have kept pushing and pushing our workouts and procrastinated getting a run in or even off the couch.

The promises that we have made at the start of the lockdown to use all this extra time to exercise and get fit, are nothing but words now.

That’s okay too.

Remember this is a time to survive, it’s okay not to thrive

This is a time of major stress, cluelessness, and disruption. Exercise can be a useful outlet to allow the management of anxiety and help you stay as healthy as possible, both physically and mentally.

So even if your goal is not to lose weight but to manage your anxiety and manage your mental health, exercise might be just what you are looking for.

So, here is a sure shot 5 step plans to take small steps to be a little bit healthier and take care because you deserve it.

5 Easy Changes To Adopt

Now, some of these are obvious and easy even, but most of us are overlooking these:

Workout First Thing In The Morning

Now, this is a no brainer. There are countless books and videos out there that preach the miracle of an early morning workout.

While the benefits of working out first thing in the morning are not something that can be overemphasized, it’s not something all of us can do. Now the alternate to this should not be skipping out the workouts till the day that we finally wake up early.

Instead of starting by setting up your alarm 20 minutes early and getting your workout in the first thing will allow you to carry the feel-good hormone and energy throughout the day.

It does not have to be 45-minute all-out cardio. You can just put on your earphones and play your favorite album or an interesting audiobook and go for a nice morning stroll.

Get some movement in first thing.

Find What Works For You

Now I know I just said that we can take a gentle stroll too. But hear me out.

Finding a workout style that works for you will pay you off in the long run. Movement and taking care of your body does not have to be a punishment.

With thousands of options available, even during the lockdown, once can delve into HIIT based cardio workouts or go for Pilates at home.

With thousands of workouts on a single tap Apps like Daily Burn and Alo Moves — resources are there waiting to be utilized.

Cardio or weight training or even a Yoga Flow from 10–45 minutes a day can make a world of difference.

These options include a number of programs to help you jumpstart your fitness journey or get up in the groove of the workout routine you had to abandon due to the lockdown.

Weights vs Cardio

While diet is important and picking the nutrient food, options make a world of difference, if one wants to reach their fitness goals some form of exercise is imperial

Cardio vs. Weight Lifting: The Age-old Debate

A lot of people at the start of their weight loss journey’s find themselves stuck with the question of -what is more…

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Now when most of us begin our journey the decision to either do weight lifting or cardio plagues us all.

Although the two have their own benefits and play a functional role in weight loss, the answer to choose one over the other boils down to factors specific to one’s own body type.

However, for most of us, the best alternative is always a good combination of cardio and weights.

Sleep Is Important For Weight Loss

Sleep is something that has its importance overlooked far too often. However, the role of sleep in weight loss is very significant.

Numerous studies have shown that consistently getting less than 6 hours of sleep every night leads to weight gain and obesity.

To ensure that you’re not depriving yourself of good sleep, make sure that you get 6–10 hours of sleep every night.

Research suggests that insufficient or poor-quality sleep deteriorates the process in the body which allows the conversion of calories to energy, in other words, it damages your metabolic system. This leads you to gain weight even if you are not overeating

Poor sleep can increase the production of insulin and cortisol which increases the likelihood of fat storage in the body and leads to weight gain.

So get some Zzz’s.

Cut Down Sugar

Almost all food items available today have added sugar in them. Even the presumably “healthy” fruit juices and low-fat yoghurts have added sugar in them. This ends up doing more bad than good.

Refined carbohydrates foods that are highly processed and lack the necessary fiber and nutrients are difficult to digest which catalyze the bloating pandemic.

Excess sugar provokes the production of insulin which leads to the fat storage in the adipose tissue which again leads to weight.

Therefore, the fastest way to lose weight is to cut sugar out of your diet and opt for healthier alternatives like honey, stevia, or maple syrup.

Final Thoughts

To find a course of action to improve one’s situation can seem daunting at times, but we must wake up each day and give life the best shot because:

If you are not taking care of your body, eating healthy and taking care of yourself; you aren’t giving yourself a fighting chance.

Workout First Thing in the Morning: Do it first thing and get it out of the way. Find What Works For You: There are dozens of options out there, look for what is compatible. Weights vs Cardio: For most of us the best alternative is always a good combination of cardio and weights. Sleep Is Important For Weight Loss: Poor sleep can increase the production of insulin and cortisol which increases the likelihood of fat storage in the body and leads to weight gain. Cut Down Sugar: Excess sugar provokes the production of insulin which leads to the fat storage in the adipose tissue which again leads to weight.