How to be young…

Being young can be stressful and hard. You’re fresh out of school. Loans are piling up. Relationships might not be going so well. Well don’t let your health suffer because of it!

 

Here are some tips to get you started on living a healthy young life.

 

Drink more water. It’s easy and free. Drinking water keeps you full longer and helps curb cravings. It has so many other health benefits. I wrote a post about it here.

Spirits over Beer. Partying and getting drunk is part of most young adults’ lives. Unfortunately, many alcoholic drinks are full of calories.Here is a  helpful guide to which drinks give you the most alcohol per calorie. Of course, always go with diet sodas over regular or juices for mix-ins. Remember that you’ll be getting drunk faster than your friends drinking beer, so take it slow!

Healthy snacking. Snacking calories add up SO fast. Some of the normal snacks you might make, like nachos or mac and cheese, actually have more calories than a full meal. Be careful with your snacking habits. This page tells you what you are actually craving. Want chocolate? Try some nuts. What you’re really craving is magnesium! We live busy lives as young adults, make sure you have healthy snacks on hand in your purse or in your car for when you get hungry.

Don’t forget to indulge. YOLO. You only get to be young once. Don’t forget to treat yourself every now and then. It will help fulfill your cravings. Go healthy afterwards for a sort of ‘detox’ and BAM you’re back to normal.

Talk to friends. Being in your 20s and 30s is hard! It’s stressful finding those first few jobs, getting into relationships, buying a car or home, etc. Make sure you talk to friends and family. Who knows, they might have some tips up their sleeves from when they went through it. Just remember that everyone is struggling with you. You aren’t alone.

Coach. Coaching is an easy way to get a few thousand more steps in per day, plus you get paid to do it! I started coaching a little over two years ago and it’s the best part of my day. I get to hang out with some cool kids who keep me up to date with the latest teen slang and celebrity drama, plus I get moving and it pays for my groceries and gas for the week. Find a sport that you either did growing up, or have an interest in. Make it fun. Don’t let this become a chore. If it is, it’s not worth doing. Being in your 20s and 30s is the best time to start. You may need a few extra dollars to pay off those student loans, and you won’t necessarily have your life all planned out with 5 kids already.

Eat Slow. I know you live a busy young life, but take it easy!  It takes 20-30 minutes for your stomach to tell your brain that it’s full. Start with a smaller size portion and see where you go from there. Make sure you drink water while you eat. When you’re finished take a break. Check back in with yourself in 30 minutes to see if you really are still hungry. Chances are, you probably aren’t!

Play Sports. Get out and get moving in a fun way! Fitness doesn’t just mean running around your block 20 times and calling it a day. Things like playing disc golf and playing catch are great exercise and they make a great date! Head over to the lake and take a walk around. You’ll thank me later.

Walk instead. How often do you drive somewhere within 2 miles just to pick up food or drive an errand you could have walked. I live in an urban area, but I still find myself doing that all the time. The other day I realized I needed to stop at the grocery store and reality checked myself. I only needed a handful of things and the store is only a few blocks away. Why should I have to drive? I grabbed my backpack and my boyfriend and we walked! We got to spend some time together and get yummy treats 🙂 Win-Win. Need to return a shirt to the store? Walk. Need to deliver a letter from the post office? Walk. It’s that easy.

Eat Breakfast. It really is the most important meal of the day. Get your day started fresh with energy and help cut cravings throughout your morning. Oatmeal or a granola bar will suffice. You don’t have to go creating a 5-star egg white omelet every morning. Breakfast can be easy. I usually grab a yogurt first thing and have a granola bar a few hours later when my tummy wakes up a little more.

Go to the gym. If you’re lucky enough to have a gym membership (some are as low as $10 a month). You can use weights or cardio on rainy days. Don’t let winter be an excuse for fitness. I live in a state where it is winter for three seasons. It is so easy to hide inside and Netflix. I now grab my ipad and Netflix on the go. You can use gym internet to watch shows on your tablet or phone while walking on the treadmill. Great deal! Before you know it you’re 45-minutes into your walk!

Eat Nutrients like whole grains and veggies. Load up your plate with bright colors. Sometimes that salad bar plate isn’t as healthy as you think. Croutons and dressing really add up. You’re better off with that veggie stir-fry.

Take time to eat. Along the same lines as waiting 30-minutes afterwards, make sure you are taking time to enjoy your food. I recommend not binge-watching while eating.  Take a break from re-watching Gossip Girl to listen to your body and focus on your body. It will help you know when you’re full and it also provides a great opportunity to  talk to your loved ones.

Drink Tea. I’m not suggesting cutting coffee completely from your diet, but teas like green tea have been proven to speed up your metabolism. Maybe you need your coffee for a kick start in the morning, but you can make your second cup a tea. End your day with a nice tea. Doesn’t matter. Plus with tea becoming a trend, they have a whole bunch of fancy schmancy flavors now! You don’t want to miss out!

Do it now! Be proactive. Not reactive. Don’t wait until you notice you can’t fit in your favorite shorts anymore. Make an effort to stay fit and healthy even when you know things are going well.

 

Congrats on making it 20-30 years into your life. Take care of yourself so you can live a few more decades!

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I hope that these tips and tasty tidbits motivate you to live slightly healthier today.

If you have any questions, comments, concerns, compliments, please contact me on the contact page. Subscribe for more healthy living motivation, and go ahead and ‘Like’ away!

Look here for yesterday’s “Tips for Bringing Your Lunch…” Post.