Middle-aged women often get frustrated over the effects of aging. Anyone can easily say that a healthy lifestyle should do the trick, but it’s quite hard to follow a simple routine. With a busy lifestyle, especially for moms, it can be tough to find time to do other things.
However, maintaining an active lifestyle shouldn’t be too hard. Despite a fully-loaded schedule, there’s still a way to squeeze in some time to work a sweat. But take note that having an active lifestyle doesn’t only mean being physically fit. It also involves eating clean, taking a rest, and above all, being happy!
If you want to feel and look younger age, these simple fitness hacks are all you need!
1. Control, But Don’t Avoid Food
Saying no to your craving for unhealthy food is a popular form of dieting, but it doesn’t have as effective as it seems. In fact, the more avoid them, the more you’ll want for more of those foods. And on those days that you feel like you need to reward yourself for doing a great job, that’s when “crash dieting” happens. This promotes a slower metabolism and makes you easily regain all the weight you’ve worked hard to lose.
So, how should you do it? Instead of battling with your inner thoughts and avoiding your the food you want to eat, rethink about your choosing which ones are your favourite. A healthy body begins with a healthy mind, so start changing your habits and choose what’s right for you. Besides, you don’t need to avoid something if you’re not interested in it in the first place, right?
On top of this, remember that the most important thing to do when eating healthy is never to skip your meals.
2. Take Short Walks Daily
This one shouldn’t be too hard to include in your daily routine. Aside from taking a break from sitting all day on the couch or an office desk, walking also releases stress and increases bone density. Try walking for at least 10-30 minutes every day, ideally in the morning while waiting for your coffee to brew. This is also an excellent idea for your body to absorb some vitamin D from the early morning sun.
3. Push Yourself Hard For At Least 30 Seconds
If you have been working out in your younger years, you may notice a decline in your pacing by this time. But hey, there’s still a way to workout like when you were 20 – but it’s not that easy. With this fitness hack, you need to challenge yourself and become your own worst enemy.
Push yourself as hard as you can for at least 30 seconds during each workout session. If you’re using gym equipment, run as fast as you can or increase the incline levels to make it more burn more calories than usual.
As we get older, everything changes. And if you have been constantly working out, you might notice that there has been a decline in your pacing as time goes by. Now, you don’t have to worry – there’s a way to get it back, but it’s not easy.
Keep those muscles moving all the time to prevent them from locking up as you age.
4. Relax Once in a While
It doesn’t matter if you prefer doing it by yourself or with someone else, you need to spend some time to relax and unwind. Middle-aged people tend to forget saving some time for themselves and de-stress once in a while.
Remember that you shouldn’t worry about anything while you’re out and just enjoy the moment while it lasts.
5. Take Deep Breaths
Of course, you’ve been breathing all your life, so this isn’t new at all. However, a lot of people don’t really give much importance to their breathing habits. When we breathe normally, we only use the top half of our lungs.
That’s why we need to practice deep breathing, as it fully expands the diaphragm and allows more oxygen to enter the body. Aside from that, taking deep breaths also releases the unnecessary carbon dioxide that’s stored inside the lungs.
6. Keep Yourself Hydrated
We all know that the body is made up of 70% water and the brain about 90%, that’s why everyone should follow the required amount to be taken daily. Drinking plenty of water allows the body to function properly and gives the skin a youthful glow.
Drinking lots of water also flush out toxins from the body, which prevents headaches and promotes weight loss.
7. Cuddle It Out!
Last but not the least, and probably the easiest on this list is to cuddle! It could be with your partner, your kids, or even your pets. When we hug or cuddle, the body releases a hormone called oxytocin, also described as the ‘cuddle hormone’. This powerful hormone is beneficial to our bodies as it relieves stress, boosts the immune system, and reduces the risk of heart disease.
Plus, cuddling develops a stronger relationship with your loved ones, which in turn will make you looking and feeling young at all times!