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Ijeoma Okoro: 4 Helpful Tips to Help You Kickstart A Health & Fitness Journey!

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BN Beauty - Bellanaija - September003Happy new year everyone!

Every new year comes with resolutions – to go out more, to start that business, to get a better paying job…the list, really, is endless. But I’ve come to realize that one of the most popular resolutions is to keep fit and lose weight.

The ‘New Year, New Me’ syndrome for 2016 comes with getting rid of the old baggage. This includes saying no to the large plate of rice with 2 chicken laps and cans of soda you indulged in during Christmas, and opting for something a little more healthy.

If you’re in the same club of heavy holiday eaters, don’t kick yourself too hard because I have news for you  – there are loads of member who have the same issue as you. Besides it was the holidays; we are all allowed to indulge a little.

But now it’s time to get back to your gym and access your inner healthy self. I’ve started my journey to the healthy world and there’s no stopping me (except I see ‘banga soup and eba’ – then it’s over).

Whether you’re on a mission to stay fit or you want to lose the excess weight, there is no easy way out. So you have to be in it to win it. It’s really not that difficult – all you need is the right mindset.

Here are 4 tips to help you out!

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1. Healthy Inner Thoughts
How we picture ourselves is very important – no matter your health condition or size, positive thoughts make all situations better. So the first thing you should try to improve is your inner thoughts.

When you wake up, say something positive about yourself. For example – “I’m strong, I’m beautiful, my big ears makes me hear clearer”. This will not only put you in a great mood, but will boost your confidence and willingness to get healthy.

2. Daily Diet Challenge
One of the most popular reasons why most people fail in their quest for fitness, is because they make drastic changes that affect their body. The ideal technique is to change your diet slowly. A drastic change can lead to your body shutting down.

You can try the following;

Reduce your portion of food by half and take more fruits.
Replace sugar with honey: if you can’t take your tea, coffee without sugar, consider replacing it with honey. Honey is a healthier choice and still gives you a sweet.
– Take whole wheat bread & brown rice as these contain less calorie as opposed to white rice and other processed food.
– Consume healthy fat and oil. Include unsaturated fat such as olive and vegetable oil. Also make conscious effort to reduce your intake of fat and oil.
– Fill your plate with vegetables and fruits. Daily intake of fruit and vegetable will help your weight loss plan and also improve your overall health.
 Rather than snacking on junk, always have a fruit with you in case you need a snack.
– Don’t forget to pay attention to the size of the food you consume on a daily basis.
– Increase your intake of fiber. You can do this by including fiber rich food such as oatmeal. However, do not rush your intake of fiber, slowly increase the quantity as you go along with your healthy living journey.

3. Exercise, Exercise & Exercise!
A lot of people hate the word ‘exercise’, but it doesn’t have to be as hard as you make it out to be. Start with the easy exercises such as walking, running and jumping, then steadily add other exercise to your routine.

It’s always advisable to join a gym, but if you can’t afford a gym time or you just don’t have the time, you can always do the following:

 Run daily.
– Use the stairs rather than taking the lift.
 Join a fitness club, attend fitness events. For example, I’ve heard of Truppr.com that connects people to fitness events and programs all over Nigeria (and most times its free).

4. Get Your Fluids
When we exercise, we lose fluid from our body through sweat. It is important to replenish the fluid lost in order to prevent dehydration. Therefore, you have to;

Drink water before and after exercise.
 Drink enough water regularly daily.

What are you plans to achieve your fitness goals of 2016? Don’t forget to share any idea/program/events that can help us achieve our curves?

Photo Credit: Dreamstime

Okoro Ijeoma is a natural care enthusiast and entrepreneur. She's an undying optimist whose passion includes; writing, singing, fashion designing and photography. Follow her natural care exploits on her Instagram page @naturecareng and on her website Naturecare NG . You can also follow her on her personal I.G @chuks_tessany.

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