Dad Fit: The Tips For Success In The New Year
Becoming a parent can often change us in so many different ways that we don’t even realise it is happening until it is too late. Physically, you may feel like you don’t exercise as much, that you are more likely to reach for convenience or junk food and then subsequently start to notice a little weight gain. But there can also be some huge mental changes when it comes to your mind. You are less perky or energetic, perhaps not getting as much sleep as you would like, and you become a slave to routine of working, providing for the family and taking care of children. While you love and feel grateful for these moments and experiencing it, the changes in your mind and body can start to get you down. But it doesn’t have to be this way. We are now approaching the end of the year and the new year is in sight. It is the perfect opportunity to make some resolutions and changes to enable you and your family to move forward while you finally make yourself a bit of a priority as well. If you feel good and happy, look the part, there ultimately that is going to reflect in your mood and how you are perceived. Everyone’s a winner. With that in mind, here are some of the things that you can do to help.
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Don’t overdo it straight away
We can all be a little guilty of making a decision about doing something and then jumping in head first. But when it comes to something like exercising, if you haven’t done anything for a while, then this can lead on to cause injury and set you back a while. It’s also worth considering if you have any ongoing issues that you may want to address. Perhaps you need to be careful with old injuries to things like your ankles or legs. Maybe you need to look at adding gel insoles to your footwear and trainers for more comfort when doing things like cardio work or running. The problem we all face is just wanting to get started, and instead of starting off gradually, we likely want to pick up where we left off. Not taking into account that our bodies have changed and our fitness levels are not what they once were. Take things slow and build up.
Be realistic with your goals
The next thing to do would be to set yourself some goals on what you want to achieve. It might involve you being a certain weight, fitting into old clothes or running a particular distance. Once you know what you want to do, be realistic with your smaller goals on how you achieve them. It’s a great way to stay motivated and on track. This means that while the end goals are in sight, you can work towards smaller milestones that can be a plan to get you where you need to be.
Stay away from crash diets if you can
A diet will always give you a short term loss in weight, but in the long term, they often can’t be sustained. Instead, focus on a healthy more balanced diet and ensure you nourish your body with what it needs to function.
Just staying hydrated can make a world of difference
Water is so important and could be a real lifesaver for any parent. With very little sleep and energy on sometimes your best days, water is a natural remedy that can have an effect on the quality of sleep you get, your mood and even increase your energy levels. Keep a water bottle close by and regularly top it up. Water is one of those things that we just take for granted, and many parents don’t drink nearly as much as they should do when it comes to staying hydrated.
Try working out at home
Often leaving the house can seem impossible, but that doesn’t mean you can’t be proactive in your quest to be fit and healthy. Consider working out at home to DVD’s or even YouTube tutorials. Anything from Yoga to HIIT sessions can be found on there.
Just be more active
Finally, just being more active in general will help you start to look and feel better about yourself. So get to the park with the children, go out for a walk in the woods, or even walk to do the school run. Those little choices could make the biggest difference.
Let’s hope these tips help you get back in shape.
