Do you have your own set of healthy living rules? Do you always workout in the morning or end each day with a Hershey kiss? Here are my hard fast rules that I live by to make my life a bit healthier to maintain.
RULE #1: GET ENOUGH SLEEP
I love my sleep but studies have shown that if you workout in the morning you will burn more fat and be more likely to consistently do it. However, studies have also revealed that if you are sleep deprived (less than 6 hours a night regularly) you will be more likely to be obese. Try going to sleep earlier if you can, and if you can’t, save your workouts for the afternoon or evening.
And not all studies show mornings are better. Some have indicated that people who workout in the morning move less throughout the day. The attributed this finding to morning gym goers feelings entitled to be lazier in the day since they worked out already, despite the intensity. Lazier means they took less total steps in a day, by doing things like taking the elevator or parking closer to the store.
For more tips on how to make morning exercise easier if you do get the right number of hours but think you are not a morning person check out my exclusive new blog post on The Laughing Cow community pages. I went from taking walks last winter to HIIT workouts this summer as my morning routine. People, the advise works!
RULE #2: EAT AT LEAST ONE SALAD A DAY
This is a rule that I try really hard to keep. It doesn’t always happen on the weekends but I find that the days I stray, are the days I crave sweets and eat junk food!
Rule #3 START EACH DAY WITH BREAKFAST
I need to eat breakfast. If I am doing my booty call workout, I will wait until i get back but the workout usually does not last longer than 35 minutes. It’s important to eat within an hour of getting up. It’s also ideal to have at least 15g of protein to feel full until your next meal. My go-to is the protein pancake.
In the summer, I forget to grab groceries on Sundays so I make my pancakes with oatmeal instead of bananas. I love this recipe just as much and sometimes more because it adds more volume and is not as sweet.
Oatmeal Protein Pancakes
- 3 TBS Dry Oats – cooked in the microwave with 6 TBS water for 2 minutes
- 1 scoop of Protein Powder
- 3 TBS Egg Whites
- 1 TBS Flaxseed Meal
- Dash of Cinnamon
- 2 TBS Almond Milk – or milk of choice
Combine ingredients and pour into a heated skillet on medium. Flip once the edges are set and enjoy with your favorite jam, Smooth Sensations Cream Cheese Spread Cinnamon Cream or peanut butter!
RULE #4 SWEAT ONCE A DAY (or at least 6 outta 7 days)
I don’t workout every day but almost! The one day I don’t is always my splurge day. When I exercise I just don’t feel like eating garbage. Even if it’s a bike ride that lasts 10 minutes, if you break a sweat it counts. If you walk to the store, that doesn’t.
RULE #5 DRINK 1/2 MY BODY WEIGHT IN WATER
I drink a lot of water. It’s important for everyday health. Studies recently reveal we do not need as much as they used to think. Water packed fruits and veggies count towards our minimum daily needs. So do tea and coffee despite containing caffeine. I like my caffeine in the form of coffee with almond milk and stevia. Yes, I always bring my own sweetener.
What are your rules? Do you break them often or do you usually stick to your guns?
