6 Fitness Tips For Long-Term Success

Everyone wants to get in beach body shape for summer, but how about making changes to get fit and stay fit throughout the year? These six tips will help set you up for long-term success.

Avoid overshooting.

Know your limits, and be practical about how much you can and should exercise. It’s better to start conservatively and progress to more strenuous workouts than to start by overdoing it and risk getting burnt out or injured. If you currently exercise one or two days a week, bump it up to three. Eventually work up to five or six, and always include a day to rest.

Set a goal.

Sign up for a race or competition, map out a new route, or join a class you’ve always wanted to try. Working toward attainable goals will help keep you motivated and dedicated. Decide on a way to reward your accomplishments that’s not food-related, and then work toward a new goal.

Asses hydration.

According to a new study released by the , many Americans actually are drinking enough water — but are you one of them? The report also found that as physical activity increased, so did water intake. But because folks who exercise regularly are at greater risk for falling short on fluids, it’s worth counting up the ounces you drink for a couple of days to see where you stand.

Eat for performance.

Keeping fit means eating right. Fuel your workouts by eating properly beforehand and making smart choices during the rest of the day. It’s fine to indulge occasionally, but try not to undo all that hard work by eating too many high-calorie foods.

Remember to recover, recover, recover.

This buzzy sports nutrition term actually means something. Get in a meal or snack of some healthy carbs and protein directly after exercise to help replenish energy stores and build muscle. Get into the routine of doing this after any strenuous exercise session, and see our list of recovery food suggestions.

Have fun.

To make a long-standing commitment to exercise, it’s ideal to actually like to exercise. With so many options to choose from, you don’t need settle for something you aren’t interested in. Find a new activity you’ll be excited about with our list of hot new fitness trends.

Dana Angelo White, MS, RD, ATC, is a registered dietitian, certified athletic trainer and owner of Dana White Nutrition, Inc., which specializes in culinary and sports nutrition.

from Healthy Eats – Food Network Healthy Living Blog http://ift.tt/1qlDN0g