The secret to living a healthy life

What does fitness and healthy living look like to you? Healthy living and fitness mean different things to different people. 

For some, it is losing a few kilograms in their belly or arms, a more toned body, having abs, biceps, and triceps.

It might be eating more calories and, for others, eating fewer calories or quitting carbonated drinks, excess alcohol, or cigarettes. Whatever your fitness journey is, it is impossible without consistency.

When we are hit by the bright idea to lose weight, to eat healthily or to exercise. We are filled with a burst of enthusiasm and motivation.

Motivation is not hard to come by. You can be motivated by how big your belly is or how much weight you’ve gained or an article you read about the health hazards of carbonated drinks, but motivation alone can not sustain your fitness journey.

The sudden burst of energy fizzles out after a few days or weeks, and it is replaced by guilt and going back to the old and unhealthy habits.

Consistency means doing the same thing over and over again. Being healthy and fit is not something that falls on you. You have to be consistent and make consistency a lifestyle.

But how do you maintain the consistency; we look at a host of ways.

Do not start by going to the gym every day. You might not be able to keep up. Start by once a week or once in two weeks.

If you do this, you will find yourself desiring to exercise more. Then you can increase the days you work out or go to the gym.

If food is your problem, don’t cut out every unhealthy thing you eat at once. Start with small things, start with reducing how many times you buy soda in a week or eat junk food.

Then once you’ve gotten comfortable with that, you can challenge yourself to do a little more.

Real transformation starts from a place of self-love and wanting to do better. Without a change in our values, we are quick to relapse to old ways and habits.

Think critically about why you want to stay healthy and fit and about the effect of junk food on your body. Your body deserves the best, see whatever exercise and diet you choose as a form of self-care.  

Accountability is important. If you and your friends or colleagues decide to exercise, lose weight, or eat healthy together, you can all help and keep each other in check.

Ultimately, a healthy lifestyle is exactly that. A part of your life, something you do, every day