So you’ve resolved to make this year your healthiest year yet. But when you’re constantly bombarded with health and fitness advice, how do you sort through the noise without sacrificing your precious time and meaningful dollars? Now is the perfect time to start your healthy habits, but remember to keep it simple.
Instead of wasting time and money on expensive gimmicks, use these tips to take control of your health and fitness goals this year.
Without a strategy, your goals are just good intentions. You need a plan to bring them to life. Write down your goals and put them in a place where you see them daily. Use a planner or calendar to track your progress each week, and don’t forget to celebrate success along the way.
Pick a day to do your food shopping and prepping. Make a list of everything you’ll need for the week and stick to it. When you have healthy meals already prepped, you’re less likely to grab takeout on your way home from work or spend extra money on your lunch break. A good meal-prep method saves you both time and money.
Couponing may take a little time, but the savings are well worth the extra effort. Don’t buy things you don’t want or need just because they’re on sale. Coupon apps for various grocery stores can help you keep track of the deals in your area. Search only for discounts on the food and ingredients you need. Check out places likecoupons.com and GroceryIQ.com and to download coupons quickly instead of clipping them from the newspaper. You can also see if your local grocery store has its own couponing app. When you come across a great deal, buy in bulk and freeze food for later.
It’s easy to fall off the health and fitness bandwagon if there’s nothing to keep you accountable. There are plenty of free health apps that provide nutrition tips, free workouts, food logs, and water trackers. Check out MyFitnessPal, Lose It!, or Workout Trainer. Find an app that works for you and make it a part of your daily routine.
Take some time to learn the basics of a healthy diet. You’d be surprised how a little knowledge can take you a long way. You may learn some new strategies that help integrate healthy habits into your life and save money at the same time. For example, did you know that stocking up on frozen veggies will save you time, and keep you from wasting food? And if you like to bake, you can find lists of healthy substitutes for your favorite recipes.
Use these tips to stay on top of your health and fitness resolutions.