If you want to transform your body, it is easier than you think. So whether you need to lose weight or you only want to tone your body, these healthy habits will help.
With some willpower and determination, you will be able to make these changes to transform your body. Maintaining healthy changes will become easier over time as you become used to the new lifestyle. You will quickly come to enjoy it, as well, and it will make you feel better than ever.
Developing healthy habits is about more than just appearance change, as well. Along with body toning and helping to lose weight, these healthy habits can help with:
- Increase positive mental health
- Decreased risk of chronic diseases
- The management of chronic diseases
- A longer lifespan
- Enjoy increased energy levels.
Healthy Habits That Can Transform Your Body
Adopt these ten lifestyle changes, and you will be on the way to a total-body transformation.
1. Drink Plenty of Water
This is advice you probably hear often, but it is one of the most important lifestyle changes to make. You will not be able to transform your body if you don’t drink enough water.
Human bodies are 60% water, and water is necessary for every function, no matter how small or big it is. Without this basic need, your body will not be able to function to the best of its ability. Plus, a lack of water can lead to digestion problems and deplete your energy levels.
When your body works efficiently, you will be moving more and making better decisions. With the increased energy levels and movement, your body will change. Making better decisions will make it easier and more natural for you to choose healthier options.
2. Walk Instead of Drive
If you live close to a location that you frequently visit, stop taking your car. It may take you a little longer to get there, but the benefits to your body will be worth it. Doing this will allow you to drastically transform your body within a short period of time.
You will gain muscle in both your legs and core, and you will burn additional calories. Make this a daily habit, and soon you’ll find yourself losing weight and toning your body at the same time.
3. Eat More Fruits and Vegetables
If you think you don’t like vegetables or fruit, try again. There must be a couple that you enjoy, and you can try preparing them or cooking them in different ways. Try to cover half your plate with fruit or vegetables at every meal.
Keep in mind that you can’t only increase the amount of fruit you eat. Vegetables are just as, if not more so, important than fruit. It’s essential to give your body all types of vitamins and nutrients, so make an effort to include vegetables.
Vegetables contain many essential vitamins and nutrients. They will help you burn more fat because your cells will be replenished with these necessities.
4. Cook at Home
Eating out at restaurants and fast-food establishments is a guilty pleasure for many people. It’s completely unhealthy, however, and many people don’t realize the effects.
Each meal you cook at home can save hundreds of calories that you would have consumed if you had eaten out. Plus, you are more likely to indulge in extras when you are at a restaurant, resulting in even more calories.
If you can get out of the habit of eating out multiple times a week, you will notice a huge difference. You will look better and feel better.
5. Go Outside More Often
You need Vitamin D and fresh air to live a healthy life. Fresh air can help detox your body of pathogens that you inhale inside. The sunshine will give you an energy boost, too, because it slows the production of melatonin.
Vitamin D from the sunlight also helps with maintaining or developing healthy bones and teeth. Plus, it can regulate insulin levels. When your insulin levels are normal, you won’t crave as many sugary foods.
6. Turn Off Electronics an Hour Before Bed
You may not initially realize that this can help transform your body, but it has a huge impact. If you stop using your smartphone, computer, or tablet an hour before bed, you will notice many positive effects. Screen time before bed can cause difficulty sleeping, restlessness, and gaining fat.
Your body needs sleep to heal itself. Plus, it goes through many restorative and regenerative processes while you sleep. Without this time, your body will not function as it should, and you won’t be at your best.
7. Start Waking Up Earlier
While you may think sleeping late will be useful for you, the opposite is true. When you sleep in until the last minute, you will likely feel sluggish. This will cause you to be lazier and move less.
If you wake up earlier, however, you will feel better and have more energy. You will be more alert, too, which will help you get through the day.
It may be challenging, at least in the beginning, but if you have the willpower to make it a habit, it’ll become easier to do. After a short time, it will become normal, and your body will wake you up on its own at that time. Then, you’ll be more alert and energized, and more likely to move and exercise more often.
8. Eat Smaller Meals
Instead of eating three larger meals every day, eat smaller meals six times a day. Smaller, more frequent meals will prevent you from feeling too hungry and overeating at your next meal.
Eating smaller meals with only a few hours between each will also help you make healthier choices. You won’t get as many unhealthy cravings if you don’t let yourself get overly hungry between meals.
Another benefit of this is that your metabolism will be high. Since your body will be digesting food almost all the time, your metabolism won’t have a chance to rest. Between healthier, smaller meals and high metabolism, you will be sure to transform your body.
9. Consume Less Alcohol
It may seem harmless to consume alcohol whenever you feel like it, but that’s not the case. It is harmful to your body, and too much of it can be hard to un-do.
Alcohol causes inflammation, and you won’t be able to metabolize food as well as you should. Plus, your body won’t be able to heal itself when it’s working on getting alcohol out of its system.
Keep in mind that you may also be tired after a night of drinking. As mentioned before, being tired will make you lazier and less likely to move enough. At that point, exercise or anything that requires motivation is probably out of the question.
When your body has to work on getting the alcohol out of your system, it isn’t a quick process. Depending on the amount you drank, it could take several days to recover.
Alcoholic beverages usually contain high amounts of calories or sugar, too. When you want to transform your body, you probably don’t want to gain weight.
10. Skip the Elevator or Escalator
This tip goes beyond just gaining more movement. It’s true that when you are on an elevator or escalator, you are standing still, so you won’t be moving. The real reason for this habit, however, is that taking the stairs is more beneficial than most other things you’ll do every day.
If you’ve ever visited your local fitness center or gym, you have probably seen the exercise equipment that mimics stairs. There is a reason those pieces of equipment are so popular. It affects your glutes, hamstrings, quads, calves, and many other muscles as you do the stair-stepping movement.
In addition to helping to transform your body, taking the stairs can improve heart health. For a healthy heart, it has to be able to get a workout sometimes, too. Taking the stairs will ensure this happens regularly.
If you struggle to find the inner-motivation to work out, this is even more beneficial to you. You’ll be working out, but you won’t think of it that way. Instead, as a part of your daily regime, it’ll become just another everyday task.
Final Thoughts on Healthy Habits That Can Transform Your Body
You can transform your body by developing a few of these healthy habits. If it sounds overwhelming at first, it’ll quickly become a habit and become a regular part of your day. Then, it’ll be easier, and you will do it without a second thought.
Whether you are trying to lose weight or you are just looking to tone your body, these habits will help. You will look and feel better. Plus, you will have more energy quickly after the lifestyle changes. It is easier than you think to transform your body, and you won’t regret any of these changes.
So, the next time you are going to step onto an elevator or escalator, remember this article and take the stairs instead. Eat more fruits and vegetables, and switch from three large meals to six small ones. Likewise, try to implement some of the other techniques and see what a difference it makes.