How to Keep Fit

Co-authored by Laila Ajani

Staying fit is a great way to improve your mood and overall health. Many people struggle with staying fit over time, but the benefits of fitness definitely outweigh the costs. With some commitment and motivation, you can maintain your physical fitness for years to come!

Part 1

Part 1 of 3:

Exercising

1
Start walking, jogging or cycling. No matter what your speed is, walking, jogging and cycling are very important parts of a healthy lifestyle as they are activities that keep your heart and lungs active and your blood flowing. If you need to keep your knees strong or have body aches and pains, then cycling may be a better solution.^{[1]
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- Come up with a daily walking, jogging or cycling routine that fits with your schedule (i.e. go for a jog everyday at 6:00 p.m.). After a while you can increase your distance, speed, and the length of your workout.
- Go out of your way to walk more. For example, if you go to the grocery store try to park in the farthest spot from the entrance so you are forced to walk those extra steps to get there.
- Walk or bike to work or school. If you live close enough to work or school a good solution would be to start walking or cycling.
- If you jog you should jog at least 1 kilometre (0.62 mi), but it is very important to pace yourself.
2
Exercise at home. Not everyone has the time or money to go to the gym and there is no need to. Working out at home is very easy and can be very beneficial. Some at-home exercises include:
- Push-ups. Use your weight against the floor or wall to work on your upper body strength.
- Sit-ups. Sit-ups can be done by simply laying on the ground or, with a more advanced technique, with a chair or exercise ball.
- Yoga. Yoga practices such as downward facing dog or sun salutations are easily done on the carpeted ground or on a yoga mat.
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3
Exercise in the gym. If you like the gym atmosphere and can afford the membership then the gym is a great place to stay fit.
- Utilize the machines for cardio and weights, but be careful and never use a weight that is too heavy. Use smaller weights and you will find that you will progress through the weights very rapidly.
- Learn strength training and muscle toning techniques from an instructor or professional.
4
Join a local sport team. If you are not a fan of the gym or practicing random exercises then joining a local sports team may be a great solution to get outside, move around and have some fun! Many cities have their own recreational sports teams that meet and play on certain days.
- The most popular city sports are: dodgeball, kickball, softball, basketball, pickle-ball, and ultimate frisbee.

Part 2

Part 2 of 3:

Maintaining a Balanced Diet

1
Get rid of any junk food. It is one of the most important components of a fit lifestyle. Many people ignore it, but if you exercise and eat a lot of junk food you will not get any fitter. This is because the junk food turns to fat almost immediately. Junk foods contain poor nutrition and are high in sodium and sugar. Because of this, your body sugar levels drop after consumption and you end up feeling fatigued with a major lack of energy.^{[2]
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Research source} Foods to avoid are:
- High in sugar: donuts, cakes, cookies, pudding, cereals, canned and dried fruits, and sodas.
- High in fat: Processed meats, hydrogenated oil, and shortening.^{[3]
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- Avoid foods containing artificial ingredients.
2
Eat healthy. Maintaining a balanced diet can be difficult to do if you do not have the time to cook for yourself every day. But, it is easy to find healthy solutions in restaurants and take-outs as well. You will find that maintaining a healthy and balanced diet can increase energy and productivity, boost your metabolism and make you a happier person because you will be consuming the nutrients and vitamins your body needs.^{[4]
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Research source} Foods to eat are:
- Fresh vegetables and fruits: carrots, onions, broccoli, spinach, eggplant, melons, bananas, apples, and oranges.
- High-protein foods: lean meat, poultry, fish, legumes, nuts and seeds (like chia and hemp), tofu, soy beans, eggs, cottage cheese, and lentils.
- Grains: whole wheat toast, oatmeal, quinoa, and barley.
- Foods high in fiber: cooked lentils, black beans, green peas, pears, raspberries, and oat bran.^{[5]
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  Mayo Clinic
  Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals
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3
Understand the difference between complex and simple carbohydrates. Simple carbohydrates are carbohydrates made of 1 or 2 molecules of sugar that have very little nutritional value. Complex carbohydrates are made from a string of sugars but are very rich in fibers and contain healthy vitamins and minerals.^{[6]
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- Examples of simple carbohydrates: sugars, syrups, jams, and candy.
- Examples of complex carbohydrates: beans, yams, and sweet potatoes.
4
Know when to eat. It is really important to avoid skipping meals. A lot of people might think that you will lose weight by skipping a meal but that is very inaccurate. In addition, skipping meals can affect your energy levels.^{[7]
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Research source} Here are some examples of healthy meals and snacks and when to eat them:
- Light breakfast: eggs (you can mix eggs with some veggies like artichokes, peppers, or mushrooms, etc.) with grapefruit and a piece of toast
- Mid morning snack: unsweetened yogurt with berries
- Lunch: salad (be careful of the dressing!) with a protein (i.e. grilled chicken or turkey)
- Afternoon snack: apple, orange, or a banana with almonds and a spoonful of peanut butter
- Dinner: lemon baked salmon with brown rice, carrots, and asparagus
5
Drink a lot of water. The human body is made of about 50-65% of water, and you need to keep replenishing it. Your body sweats a lot of that water so you need to put it back in.
- The amount of water you should drink relies on how much you weigh. To calculate how much water you should be drinking, take your weight and multiply it by 67% (2/3). So, for instance, if you weigh 130 pounds (59 kg) you should be drinking about 87 oz (2.6 L) of water per day.^{[8]
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- If you are exercising you will need to increase your amount of water intake to replenish what you are sweating out.

Part 3

Part 3 of 3:

Gaining Willpower and Motivation

1
Stick to your plan. You know you can do it. You are the only one that can control your actions and strong willpower can make you happy!
- Stick to a daily or every other day plan. If you have a routine that you follow it is much easier to stick to than just assuming you will get to exercising or you will get to eating a healthy meal.
2
Don't let others bring you down. If you are at the gym and are using small weights, don't let the person next you using giant weights intimidate you. Just know that you are working at your pace and that it is just perfect for you. If you continue with your regimen you can achieve whatever goal you have set.
3
See if others want to join you. It can be very helpful if you have someone keeping healthy and fit with you. Their extra push of motivation can be very inspiring and it is a great way to bond.
- Good people to ask are family members, co-workers or classmates, neighbors (if you have a good relationship with them already) or local friends.
4
Treat yourself. Set goals for yourself and when you have reached those goals you earn a reward.
- For example, if you have kept up with your routine and healthy eating and you accomplished your goal for the week by jogging for 30 minutes instead of 20, then that Friday night you should treat yourself to a movie outing, massage, or luxurious bath.
5
Have belief in yourself. Do not care what other people think. If you are determined and believe that you can achieve your goal of staying fit then you can! Know that feeling when you feel great and strive to reach that goal everyday.
- Motivate yourself by wanting to continue on this path of fitness and health. You want to feel good, you want to look good, you want to be healthy...and you absolutely can!

What Post Workout Recovery Drinks Should I Drink?

Expert Q&A

Question

How can I keep fit at home?

Laila Ajani
Fitness Trainer
Laila Ajani is a Fitness Trainer and founder of Push Personal Fitness, a personal training organization based in the San Francisco Bay Area. Laila has expertise in competitive athletics (gymnastics, powerlifting, and tennis), personal training, distance running, and Olympic lifting. Laila is certified by the National Strength & Conditioning Association (NSCA), USA Powerlifting (USAPL), and she is a Corrective Exercise Specialist (CES).

Laila Ajani

Fitness Trainer

Expert Answer

A healthy diet combined with exercise can help you stay fit. When you're planning your diet, remember you have to burn more calories than you take in. The biggest mistake that people make when they're trying to lose weight is that they don't achieve a calorie deficit. Even plans like low-carb diets, vegetarian diets, and intermittent fasting won't help you lose weight if you're consuming more calories than you burn each day.
Question

Should I exercise?

Community Answer

Absolutely! Exercise is good for you. Exercise also can keep your body well toned and healthy, increasing your strength. Take some extra time to do exercise every day.
Question

Will exercising make me lose my body shape?

Community Answer

No. Exercising can make your body toned and healthier. Your basic body shape will stay essentially the same.