Staying Active and Eating Clean Can Change Your Life in Just a Few Weeks
Prioritizing your health through exercise and nutrition will help you maintain a great quality of life and enjoy better health during your golden years. However, if you’ve recently retired, it can be hard to get motivated to stay active and eat well, but these are two of the most important things that will help you live healthfully for years to come. GoodEnding offers these suggestions and inspiration for adopting these wellness habits to help you live a healthy life in your senior years.
Physical Fitness
It’s extremely important to get up and move every day. Whether it’s some yoga in the morning, a walk around the park in the afternoon, or a swim just before lunch, getting active will improve your heart health, strengthen your core, and reduce your risk of a fall or injury. However, you need to ensure that you take your specific needs into account. For instance, if you struggle with standing exercises, you can practice chair exercises, and if you love being outside, you can find a stretching class in the park or find a walking group.
Do you prefer to walk indoors? You don’t have to go outside to get your body moving, and you can enjoy a walk in the mall or a trip to the museum. Stretch at home using a fitness video, or find home gym equipment that inspires you to stay active.
Clean Eating
Have you heard of clean eating? Clean eating isn’t a diet trend; it’s a food lifestyle that promotes eating natural, organic foods and avoids overly-processed items like processed meats, flours, and sugar. Clean foods are made with minimal ingredients and lack hard-to-pronounce preservatives and fillers. A good rule of thumb is that the label should be easily readable. If you have to look up an ingredient, it might be better to seek an alternative.
Another part of clean eating involves listening to your body; eat when you’re hungry, and stop when you’re full. Don’t keep eating after you’re full, and don’t eat a snack just because you’re bored. Post reminders on your fridge about clean eating, and see how just a few weeks of clean eating can give you fresh energy and a stronger immune system.
Quick and Easy Recipes
So, what should you be eating? As you age, your appetite might diminish, and it can be tempting to reach for prepackaged or microwavable food rather than taking the time to cook a proper meal. However, eating nutritious foods is the key to staying healthy regardless of your age, and it can help you increase your energy levels, strengthen your immune system, and help you maintain a healthy body weight.
Be sure to stock your pantry with fresh fruits and vegetables, and reach for an apple or an orange when you need a small snack. Eat healthy fats and oils from fish, nuts, and olive oil. Quick and easy recipes seniors love are one-pot meals that are packed with nutrients. These delicious dishes can feed you for several meals, so you can cook once, but enjoy wonderful home-cooked food for two to three meals. And by swapping to healthier foods, you’ll enjoy lower cholesterol and reduce your chance of developing diabetes.
The Result
The end result of changing your habits is healthier years. By eating well, you can improve your mental health, boost your physical health, and give yourself a better chance at enjoying your retirement with a smile on your face and a bounce in your step.
Living healthy doesn’t have to be complicated. Start small and focus on just two things: your daily exercises and clean eating. Putting natural, healthy nutrients into your body will keep you energized, and help you maintain a healthy body weight. Getting active every day, whether out with friends or in the comfort of your own living room, will boost your energy levels, give you more confidence, and have amazing benefits for your heart health and overall quality of life.