It’s officially spring as of this past Monday! I’m excited about the change of the season, though I can’t say I look forward to the traditional spring cleaning around the house. However, as a lover of personal fitness, a healthy body, and feeling good, I do look forward to giving my body a “spring cleaning” every year. And I want all of my readers to join me this year.
How to Get Started on Your Body Spring Cleaning
Spring is a great time to give your body some of the good stuff that it needs. And whether you want to start bringing out some summer cuts (that’s trainer talk for toning up), boost your energy, scale down a size, or just do your best to feel better and healthier, spring is probably the best time to get started. I wholeheartedly believe in the idea that what you do today will impact your tomorrow, so a healthy spring will lead to feeling great in the summer.
So, what can you do to get this physical spring cleaning started? Let me tell you: it could be as easy as taking one step…and other healthier steps will just fall into place automatically.
Start with Exercise…Outside!
First off, start exercising…and make sure you do it outside. Sure, it might not smell great outside and it might be a little muddy or even still chilly depending where you are, but that fresh air is exhilarating. Walking or jogging for as little as 20 minutes per day can boost the health of your heart, lungs, brain, bones, muscles, and more. And it can be the perfect starting point for your body’s spring cleaning.
Here’s where the extra benefits start rolling in.
Get That Glorious Vitamin D
Once you get outside to exercise, you’ll also be getting some of that all-important vitamin D. The best source of vitamin D is sunlight. Getting 20 to 40 minutes of direct exposure every day (depending on your complexion) should fulfill your daily requirements. Vitamin D is important for heart, bone, and mental health. It also has strong associations with a number of other benefits, including cancer and arthritis prevention.
Improve Your Diet
I also find that exercise is almost instant motivation to start eating better. Whenever I start exercising with a little more purpose and intensity, my eating habits improve instinctively.
When you start exercising your body, this signals that it requires the right fuel and, all of a sudden, healthy food choices become instinctual. Burger and fries? No thanks. I’ll stick with the chicken, broccoli, and sweet potatoes!
Some other foods that can help you gear up for summer include oats, sirloin steak, unsweetened yogurt, salmon, green and colorful fruits and veggies, peanuts, almonds, walnuts, and turkey. All of these items offer the nutrients you need to function optimally and feel great.
Take That First Step Today!
So, take the first step to your spring cleaning your body by stepping out the door. Schedule some walks during your break from spring cleaning the house this weekend and throughout the week. Pretty soon, you’ll notice how other healthy habits instinctually follow suit!
Source for Today’s Article
Chang, L., “Vitamin D: Vital Role in Your Health,” WebMD, 2004; http://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/features/vitamin-d-vital-role-in-your-health#1, last accessed March 22, 2017.