A Note To Your Younger Self – 14 Health And Fitness Mantras

Written by Shirin Mehdi, BA  • 

As you age, you will find yourself wishing there was a time machine so you could go back and tell your younger self not to do certain things. Well, they might have seemed so petty in the past, but now, when you are in your 30s, you see the bigger picture.

This is a list of things that women said they should have adhered to while they were younger.

1. Do Not Binge On The So-Called Healthy Snacks

The bag of chips that claims to be baked, and all those nutritional cookies that are marketed as healthy still contain calories and other stuff that aren’t really good for you, especially if you have too much. They might be relatively healthier compared to junk food, but that doesn’t mean you can binge on them guilt-free.

2. Exercise Is A Must

Exercise is the best habit you can form in your 20s. It will save you from a lot of flak in your 30s. If you want to lose weight, you can’t settle for a laid-back fitness regime. You must definitely include cardio in your fitness routine.

[ Recommended Read: 26 Simple Tips To Lose Weight In Just A Week ]

3. Love Your Workout

Pick an exercise routine you absolutely love. As you grow older, the pressures of life tend to get the better of you. Work and kids occupy your complete attention, and your ‘me’ time is just going to be when you workout and exercise. Do something you love. It will not only serve as exercise but will also be an enjoyable stress-buster.

4. Listen To Your Body

If you think extra strenuous exercise will help you get in shape faster, you are wrong. It will be extremely stressful, and chances are you will quit owing to the stress levels, which can work against your body.

5. Love Yourself

Don’t be ashamed of what you look like, and certainly don’t skip your fitness classes because you are self-conscious. No one cares, and if they do, you shouldn’t!

6. Build A Relationship With Your Doctor

Make sure you visit your physician regularly and go through those six-monthly or yearly medical tests, however unnecessary you think they are. In the long run, they will surely do you good. After all, prevention is better than cure.

7. Get Your Beauty Sleep

If you consider yourself a superwoman because you can sleep in the wee hours of the night and still get up at 7 am with all the energy in the world, well, you need to think again. A good six to eight hours of sleep will ensure a healthy and happy life. Anything less than that may take a toll in the long run.

8. Do Not Skip Meals

While you are in college, it is very tempting to skip meals, or eat instant food, just because it is cheap and easy. You might take the resulting anemia and lack of nutrition lightly, assuring yourself that you will make up for it in time. But, that never happens, and as you get on with life and plan your kids, you will realize that it wasn’t a wise decision.

[ Recommended Read:  10 Harmful Effects Of Skipping Breakfast ]

Watch this video to know the side effects of skipping breakfast.

9. Smoking Is The Worst Habit

Smoking might seem hip and cool, but it is the worst habit you can have. Not only will it hamper any attempts at cardio, but you will also age much earlier than you should. You are definitely not going to like that!

10. Avoid Sugar And Salt

Cut down on your sugar and salt intake. Sweets are highly tempting, but they can adversely affect your health. You might not notice the changes immediately, but in time, you will kick yourself for indulging in those guilty pleasures. Consuming too much salt raises your blood pressure and increases the risk of heart disease.

[ Recommended Read: 10 Sugar Free Fruits And Vegetables ]

11. Say No To Too Much Alcohol

Cut down on alcohol. Not only will you save yourself calories from all that midnight binging, but you will also avoid those dreadful hangovers. It’s quite easy to get carried away when you are having a fun night out. Well, all you need to do is space out your drinks, and alternate them with water. You will be good to go! 

12. Do Not Overload With Carbs Immediately After A Diet

If you decide to diet, and cut down all your carbs, and two weeks later you give up, and then overdose on carbs, you are going to feel sick. Don’t do it!

13. Diets Are A Bad Idea

The fancy diets that the Internet lures you into will neither make you skinny, nor popular. They will only make you hungry and mean. Don’t try them out. Just eat healthy and exercise!

Check out this video to avoid the common mistakes one commits while dieting.

14. Know What Goes Into Packaged Food Before You Buy It

Processed and packaged food seems like such a good idea, but it is not. They have minimal nutrition and are sure to do more harm than good. It is best to avoid these foods, and if you really can’t, make sure you read the label and understand what it contains.

Let go of the unhealthy habits, accept the better ones, and live the best life you can from today.

Banner Image Credit: www.shutterstock.com

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