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Summer is almost here, and whether you’re looking to slim down in time for the beach or just feel better about yourself, the first step is to start watching what you eat and incorporating regular exercise into your daily routine. If you’re thinking that this will be too hard, think again—just follow these seven steps, and you’ll be on your way to getting in shape for summer before you know it! 1) Set Achievable Goals Your goal doesn’t have to be a huge change in physical appearance. Maybe you want a more healthy relationship with food—or, heck, just learn how to say no! Once you’ve figured out what you want, your next step is setting up milestones. Make these small enough that you can hit them each week, but large enough that they still challenge you (for example: cut soda from your diet or eat more veggies). Progress is where it's at. 2) Add Exercise Into Daily Routine To really get your diet under control, you need to make it a part of your daily routine. A good way to do that is by starting an exercise program—whether that’s going out with friends on weeknights or playing volleyball once a week. Another option is getting up 15 minutes earlier each day so you can fit in a quick workout before work. Even if it’s just 20 minutes of yoga, it could help you make healthier choices throughout your day. 3) Create Motivation Through Accountability Partner Create accountability by telling someone about your plans. Share your goals with a friend, family member, or coworker. Ask them to check in on you regularly, at least once a week. If you know you’ll be held accountable for your fitness progress every week, it will be harder to cancel that gym membership or slip up on your diet. Even just sharing short updates on social media can help! 4) Drink Water Throughout The Day Hydration is key when it comes to getting in shape. By simply drinking water throughout your day, you’ll keep your mind fresh, motivated, and alert while also starting a relationship with exercise or diet. Instead of trying to down a bottle of water before or after a workout, simply sip on one every hour throughout your day—you’ll still get all of its benefits without all of that extra H2O weight. 5) Planning Is Key My relationship with food is an interesting one: I think of myself as a foodie, but I’m also an emotional eater. When my day goes off track—and it often does—I reach for chocolate or wine. A few weeks ago, I found myself lying on my couch with a bag of peanut M&Ms watching Netflix late at night. It was 1 am, I was eating out of boredom, and I had already eaten dinner hours earlier. It was time to get back on track! The next morning, I started planning ahead so that when hunger pangs hit (they do!) they wouldn't be filled by crap. Here are seven ways you can kickstart your diet and get in shape for summer too! 6) Changing Habits Takes Time and Patience Change takes time. When you’re working towards healing your relationship with food, exercise, or both, don’t expect overnight results. Developing a healthier relationship with food may take months—maybe even years—of work and effort. And developing a healthier relationship with exercise can be equally challenging! Don’t give up if you start seeing progress at a slow pace; instead, focus on what you are accomplishing every day, week, or month as you heal your relationship with food and fitness. 7) Stock up your Fridge Rather than shopping for groceries on an empty stomach, make it a habit to stop by your local grocery store on a non-hungry day of week. This way, you’ll have time to check out all of your options, instead of forcing yourself into a quick trip after work.