Act Now for a Healthier Future!

By Kendra Zieman Personal trainer, Fitness coach

The new year is a perfect time to set new health and fitness goals for yourself. This year, instead of just focusing on just weight loss like so many of us women do, try to focus on health and fitness as a whole. Exercise is an underrated act of self-care. There are so many benefits to exercising besides just weight loss. Exercise can improve your mood, reduce stress and anxiety, improve sleep, lower blood pressure, reduce the risk of heart disease and diabetes, help maintain healthy bones, improve muscle mass, and many more.

Some of these benefits are instant benefits and great for your day to day life; we could all use a little extra pep in our step. There are also several benefits that your future self will thank you for. Imagine being able to keep your active lifestyle and independence longer as you age because of the exercise you do now. Most seniors require assistance due to poor health, inability to move around well, or simply can’t get up and down without a helping hand. Exercising now can help prevent that. Walking and strength/ resistance training are two of the best forms of exercise that you should incorporate into your daily routine.

Along with exercise, proper nutrition is key to a long and healthy life. The foods you choose to eat directly affect how you feel. Another form of self-care is to properly fuel your body with nutrient dense foods. If you’re eating high protein and nutritious foods like chicken breast with a side of vegetables or a salad, you will have more energy, clearer skin, feel lighter, less bloated, have fewer stomach issues, etc., compared to eating a heavy meal and deep-fried foods.

Eating fast foods and junk foods are OK in moderation. Eating too much of these unhealthy foods will not only affect how you feel immediately after eating them but also plays a huge role in your health later on in life. Several health problems are related to the foods you eat and can be prevented with proper nutrition.

The more you care for yourself, the better you can care for your loved ones. Typically as women, it’s easier to focus on the people closest to us instead of ourselves, but it is so important to remember that we need to be healthy so we are physically and mentally capable of caring for others. The next time you think of something you want to do for a little self-care, also think about the long-term effects of whatever you choose.