Keep fit with a tracker!

Start the new year off right by getting into some healthy habits. Getting motivated can sometimes be hard, so here are some tips to get you started:

1) Get a fitness tracker
There are many trackers on the market, such as FitBit and Garmin, that will count your steps as well as track your sleep and allow you to input your food and other activities. These devices can be incredibly motivating and help you understand what changes you need to achieve your goals.

2) Enlist a friend
Start making exercise dates with your friends. A weekly appointment to go for a walk, play squash, go swimming at your local pool, or attending a fitness class can combine healthy habits with fun. When you want to be active because you enjoy it, you know the habit will last.

3) Be reasonable
At the start of a new year, many people decide they are going to “cleanse” with expensive products. If you have been drinking a lot of alcohol and eating a lot of sugar and unhealthy food, it is understandable that you will feel less than energetic. Begin by incorporating more fresh fruits and vegetables, more water, and cut out the unhealthy foods for a while. You may find yourself craving the foods you have been overdoing, so snack on healthy foods in their natural state. Foods such as hardboiled eggs, almonds, and raw vegetables with hummus all make great snacks.

4) All activity counts
Get away from your desk as much as possible by going for a short walk, doing some exercises near your desk, or stretching. If you are using a fitness tracker, you will be able to see how much those breaks can add up to extra steps by the end of the day.

5) Get more sleep
Not getting enough sleep will make it difficult to break your cravings. You are more likely to reach for simple carbohydrates or caffeine in order to give yourself a boost. Also, being tired makes it less likely you will be inclined to exercise. Try to go to bed earlier than your usual time if you find yourself struggling to get in enough shut eye.