You kiss your wife and leave for the office every morning at 6:30 on the dot. You prod your teenage son to mow the lawn every Saturday afternoon. You change the oil in your car every 3000 miles. Busy dads know the importance of structure and regularity in juggling all of life's responsibilities. But should you be so rigid when it comes to nutrition and fitness routines and choices?
Having well-established habits and a consistent routine is great. But, it's not healthy at all to assume every fitness rule is set in stone. It's important to be flexible in your habits. If you want to lose weight, get fit and live a longer, stronger life then become aware and conscious of the real effects of some of your nutrition and exercise choices.
Get the Skinny on These 3 Widely Accepted "Fitness Rules" to Discover Why They May Not Work for You Anymore
1. Eat 5 meals throughout the day. While it's true that eating throughout the day helps keep your energy up, your hunger under control, and your metabolism burning, it's important to not eat TOO much. Quite often your small snacks or mini-meals turn into over-sized portions. So, even if you are making healthy selections, keep portion sizes in check. Think of the "handful" rule -- a handful of nuts, a palm-sized piece of protein -- and you'll keep portions in better perspective.
2. Stick to an exercise routine. Consistency is good, but variation is even better. Don't tie yourself to the treadmill when you could have fun with an occasional martial arts class or sign up for softball. If you don't include variety in your fitness plan, I guarantee you will hit a fitness plateaus. Although you will always be getting heart healthy benefits from any exercise, your body may not change unless you mix it up. Not ready to give up your favorite exercise? You don't have to! If you like walking or biking, add a few hills. Or go on a slower, longer jaunt one day and pick up the pace the next. More variety equals more results!
3. Plan your meals ahead. We've all had those long days where one thing leads to the next and suddenly you're home tired, stressed and starving. And now you're less than thrilled with the chicken breast and broccoli waiting in your fridge. There's no need to be so rigid with meal planning. Mapping out meals before you get hungry is smart. But so is including enough variety to give you several appealing options. Keep the family freezer stocked with healthy protein options like fish and lean beef. Fill the crisper with fresh fruits and veggies. Allow yourself to go for something tasty and satisfying within a range of smart and healthy options.
So don't forget to sometimes question those widely accepted hard-and-fast fitness and nutrition rules. Think about the real impact your choices have on your health and energy level. Be flexible in the range of options you create for yourself. And always remember that losing weight and getting in physical shape should be fun and eating should be a pleasure as well as a health choice.
