A new year is upon us. Maybe you’re waiting until January 1st to start living that “healthier lifestyle” you’ve been talking about. OR, maybe you’re ready to start easing into it now like the badass you are and if I’m being honest, I hope it’s the latter because ma’am, you ARE a badass and you deserve to feel good today – not starting on the 1st.
Believer it or not, you don’t have to jump in full speed ahead to get to that healthier version of yourself. You also don’t have to and shouldn’t wait until a new year to start prioritizing your health. Guess what? You can still eat Christmas cookies and drink mimosas while still working towards your health goals. Wanna know how? By creating a more balanced approach and adding a few healthy habits into your routine. Let’s dive in.
No. 1 Start each morning with a cup of hot water with lemon
The benefits of starting each day with a hot cup of water with lemon are pretty great but my favorite thing is that it’s probably the easiest habit to start. Not only does this simple concoction provide a great boost of Vitamin C and a natural source of energy, but it supports digestion, hydration and can even support weight loss goals (when paired with other healthy habits).
No. 2 Get at least 30 minutes of movement each day.
This could be a workout, a walk, moving your body for 5-minute dance breaks every hour. What this movement looks like is up to YOU. That’s the best part. The goal is that you get used to moving your body and acknowledging how good it feels to just move. Then, when you’re ready to begin a more structured workout plan, your body is used to – and honestly craves a little bit of movement each day.
No. 3 Drink at least half of your bodyweight in ounces of water each day
I’ll be the first to admit that this is easier said than done. But it is possible. Take your weight in pounds >> divide by two. That’s the amount of ounces of water you should be drinking each day. For example, I weigh around 146 lbs so I aim to drink at least 75 ounces of water every single day. Starting the day with 8-16 ounces of that hot lemon water is a great way to start chipping away early. I also set my alarm for every hour (between 8am – 6pm) to sip 10 chugs of water and this has seriously helped. I do recommend finishing your last big intake of water around 6/7pm depending on when you go to sleep so you’re not waking up every hour in the middle of the night to use the bathroom. Trust.
No. 4 Give yourself a daily compliment
And no, it cannot be the same one each day. I started doing this with my Stronger 3.0 girls and realized just how bad I was at giving myself a compliment. And honestly, I feel confident saying that most women aren’t great at giving ourselves compliments. So, we’re going to change that and work on our mental health. Write it down, say it out loud, send it to me – whatever you decide to do, I want you to work on celebrating yourself every single day. Self-love and a positive body image are crucial to living a healthier lifestyle. If you don’t love who you are, no amount of weight loss or dropped inches will ever make you feel good. Believe me.
No. 5 Aim to have at least two meals with whole, nutrient dense foods each day
Okay, so this might be even harder than the water goal. But believe me when I say it works wonders. Especially with the holidays coming up, I want you to feel comfortable indulging in holiday staples. Rather than bingeing for the next three weeks, focus on making at least 2 meals each day made up of whole, nutrient-dense foods. Enjoy that indulgent brunch or Christmas dinner knowing that your other meals that day were fueled with whole foods that support better digestion.
I have good days and bad days with my water intake. And I always notice it’s always a good day when I start it first thing in the morning before coffee. Need to fill up my thermos every morning!
xo Jessica
an indigo day