Happy May, everyone!
This month has already been a busy one for me. I’ve been traveling a lot, helping to promote Rite Aid’s brand new wellness centers, and I couldn’t be more excited to be involved in such a wonderful initiative! Every Rite Aid store will have wellness ambassadors to help you feel and look better (just ask a store clerk to point you towards my Forever Fit line of at-home fitness products!) It’s all about getting on the road to wellness this season — especially now that summer is right around the corner and we all want to look our best in tank tops and bikinis!
I’ve always said that getting healthy is about small, manageable changes — don’t let getting fit intimidate you! The whole idea behind a road to wellness is moving towards a healthier, happier life, one step at a time. Here are five easy changes you can add to your routine. They won’t take a lot of time (or a lot off effort!), but I promise you will begin to notice the difference!
Add a staircase. Adding just one set of stairs into your daily routine might not seem like a big change, but boy, will you start to see and feel a difference in your backside! Choose the stairs instead of the escalator at the mall, get off the elevator one floor early and walk the remaining floor at the office, or just do an extra walk up a flight of stairs in your home. It’s an instant calorie-burn and butt-toner!
Get up and move once an hour. If you are sitting at a desk all day, as many of us do, it’s SO important to get up and move your muscles. Set a reminder on your phone or computer to stand up and stretch or take a quick walk once every hour. Just a 5-minute break can really boost your energy!
Include one more serving of produce. Many people don’t get nearly enough fruits and veggies in their diets. If you’re one of them, make an effort to add in just one more serving into your day. It’s as simple as choosing an apple as a snack, starting your dinner with a small side salad, or whipping up a fruit smoothie for breakfast.
Move your bedtime up 30 minutes. Getting enough sleep is vital to our health — and a lack of sleep can even cause weight gain. You may feel like there’s not enough time in the day, but vow to move your bedtime to just a half an hour earlier, and stick to it! Soon the earlier bedtime will become habit, and your body will thank you!
Have healthy snacks ready to go. How many times do you find yourself with a rumbling tummy — and hours to go until you can get home and make a healthy meal? Keep some nutritious snacks on hand for when your blood sugar drops. A banana in your desk drawer or a handful of nuts in a baggie in your purse will keep hunger at bay — and keep you far from the drive-thru window.
Pick just one small change to start with, and once it becomes part of your routine, add another into the mix. Pretty soon you’ll be enjoying a healthier lifestyle — and you’ll have the slimmed-down beach body to prove it!
Love,
Denise
