Modern Health - The importance of a metabolic makeover
/Metabolic Makeover
High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) needs to be combined with an important component for fitness and weight loss success. That is a Lifestyle Shift.
There is no quick fix to weight loss or improving fitness. It takes work and accountability. HIIT is one piece of the puzzle, the other two pieces are nutrition and activity throughout the day.
Nutrition and Hydration
You can exercise all day but, if you don’t include nutrition in the mix, you won’t lose weight and you won’t have a balanced approach to good health.
This involves a mindful approach to every bite you eat. Balanced approaches to eating include moderation and making water your best friend. Carefully plan what and how much food is consumed each day.
Activity all Day Long - Accountability is 24/7
Accountability has to do with activity all day long. Check your daily activity levels by creating a weekly log.
Sample schedule of a typical day for many people:
Start with a half hour workout
Get ready for work
Drive to work
Sit at a desk and eat a pastry and coffee
Walk to the bathroom
Sit at a desk
Walk to the fridge to grab your boxed lunch
Sit at a desk
Go for a coffee and two chocolate chip cookies, sit
back down at the computer10.Drive home or work longer virtual hours
11.Make dinner and clean up
12.Watch TV
13.Go to bed
Does the schedule above sound familiar? Physical activity combined with healthy nutrition and hydration are almost non-existent. It revolves around sitting, sitting and more sitting with a short workout.
Here’s a Revamped Active Schedule
Six-minute HIIT workout each morning
Nutritional breakfast
Pick a parking spot farther away and walk to your work place
Get up from your desk and do simple stretches every half hour. Have a healthy snack
On every hour, get up and refresh your water
Eat lunch and walk for 20-30 minutes
Walk around while on the phone or in a meeting
Get up from your desk each hour and perform 10 squats and change the next hour to 10 push ups and stretches
Eat dinner while standing at the counter
Add a 20 to 30 minute evening walk
Do a one-minute plank while watching TV
Do 20 jumping jacks during commercials
This active schedule will keep you moving and well hydrated. Sitting is the new smoking. Too much sitting is linked to cardiovascular disease, type two diabetes, obesity, increased blood pressure, high blood sugar, excess body fat, high cholesterol levels and even some cancers.
Reprogram your daily schedule to give you a metabolic makeover.
About Kimberly Hicks-Ruttan
I’m the founder of Fit2Move - virtual fitness in your home, on your own time. I am a certified fitness instructor and personal trainer. Connect with me on Facebook where I run a FREE group called Fit Tips with Kimberly or try out a class on my onpodio website.