The holiday season is upon us. This is the time of year that we overindulge in the good stuff and we push exercise to the back burner. Now more than ever we need to establish some healthy habits that we can fall back on. 

If you are fortunate to be a Performance Ranch member your coach has already talked to you about your healthy habits, and you are probably working on them now. For the majority of our members, we have them make exercise a priority. Having this foundation to fall back on tends to steer your other choices. It’s more common for us to not overindulge in alcohol or foods that may hinder our activity the next day. Think back to when you drank a little too much or had something that did not agree with you. You ended up paying for it the following day. I have been there too many times.

When I was tracking my food on my way to losing weight and body fat, I kept notes on how foods and drinks made me feel the next day. I quickly learned that too many beers were making it harder for me to keep up with my friends on the trail. Also, my stomach is sensitive and spicy foods such as chile would make my mornings miserable. 

How to Start

First, you need to start with a goal in mind. Need help setting a goal? This article should help you. Once you establish your goals, you will have to set up your schedule to help you get there. Ideally, you set up a habits-based routine that is manageable and has wiggle room to make changes as needed. Life is not perfect so holding yourself to a strict schedule will only last momentarily. You will end up kicking yourself later if you make it too hard to stick to.

Try to create a schedule that revolves around healthy habits. Changing our habits will have lasting impressions rather than trying to eliminate stuff from our lives. One habit I changed a few years ago was replacing beer with carbonated water. I still drink occasionally, but it is no longer a nightly habit.

5* Simple Healthy Habits To Do Now

1. Drink more water! This super important nutrient is often neglected with flavorful, sweet drinks. Water is the most important thing we can drink daily. Track your water intake now and try to add 10% to that. This small habit will go a long way. 
2. Eat more plants! Fruits and vegetables are nature’s gift to us. Enjoying sweet fruit and delicious vegetables daily will help you increase the nutrients your body needs. Do you hate vegetables? I did too. But proper preparation will make these things taste delicious. Try roasting them in your oven. Our nightly go to’s are; broccoli, cauliflower, and brussel sprouts. We roast them on a stoneware baking sheet from Pampered Chef. 
3. Move more often! I have said this a million times and I will say it a million more times, movement does the body good. Even if it’s just taking a walk, the act of moving is a catalyst for more moving. Our bodies will adapt to the stresses placed on it. If we are not stressing the body, then we will adapt to the couch. How do you want to live your later years? 
4. Limit your alcohol intake. This is a hard one during the holiday season, usually social gatherings revolve around drinks. Like I mentioned above, try replacing your drinks with carbonated water. Or after you have an alcoholic drink, grab a glass of water or two, this will help you stay hydrated and full. By offsetting the dehydration effects from alcohol your body will thank you the next day. 
5. Limit social media time. This has been a huge change for me over the last 6 months. I set up a 30 minute screen time limit on my social media apps. This has kept me in check and staying away from my phone. Another trick I have done is use “Do Not Disturb,” while I am working. This allows me to focus on my tasks in front of me. 
6. Bonus: While on social media, make positive comments to people you enjoy doing cool stuff. I try to do this with my daily 30 minute time. Encouraging others success will help you become successful in the long run. Positive energy encurages positive energy.

If you need further help with this, just email us at info@theperformanceranch.com We are here to help you find success.