With the
ringing in of the New Year, many of us have started or are thinking of starting
a new fitness routine to get us back on track and in shape after the revelry of
the holiday season. Adding or increasing
physical activity in your day has numerous benefits for your health beyond just
looking good, and is an important part of an overall healthy lifestyle. The foods you eat throughout the day can help
make or break your commitment to getting more activity, so choose wisely and
consider these eating tips to help keep up your energy throughout the day:
-
Eat often:
Eating every three to four hours can help fuel your metabolism, plus can
help eliminate unwise snacking choices due to being overly hungry.
-
Eat light.
Eat enough to feel satisfied but not so full you can barely move. This will keep your energy up and avoid
feelings of sluggishness that keep you on the couch and out of the gym.
-
Snacks are not a bad thing – if you make choices that include
fresh fruits, veggie sticks, a handful of nuts or other lean protein choices, a
Greek yogurt – you get the idea. Look
for things that will keep fueling you, tide you over til the next meal, but
without adding empty calories and extra sodium or sugar.
-
A caffeine buzz is only short-term.
Things like coffee, soda, sugary energy drinks may seem like a good idea
to get you going, but often they cause an energy crash within a short amount of
time after drinking them. Your best bet
is to drink lots of water – it’s key to staying hydrated, especially if you’ve
increased your activity levels or are exercising in a warm environment.
UB provides
a lot of options for increasing physical activity, with workout facilities,
outdoor walking and biking paths (once all this snow melts, of course!), and
fitness classes. Start the year off
healthy, active, and eating well!
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