10 Easy Tips To Stay Healthy

*I understand this is a pregnancy/parenting blog so first and foremost I must say: be sure to talk to your physician before making any major changes to your diet, especially if you are pregnant.*

Sometimes you want to lose weight or slim down, but you're like me and you can never stick to a routine (so-and-so much water per day, strict exercise routine, counting calories, etc). Whatever the case may be, I have compiled a list of all the easy tips and tricks you can probably do RIGHT now that will help you, without spending $150 on a specific supplement or shake. Some of these tips are from my health/fitness fanatic ex-boyfriend, and others are just little things I picked up on the way or found online.

Food & Drink

1. Eat your body weight in grams of protein every day. So, if you weigh 120lb, you're eating 120 grams of protein every day. If you weigh 180lb, you're eating 180 grams of protein per day.

2. If you are not sure how to do that, try this; instead of having a glass of milk, take a glass of milk with 1 raw egg in it and beat it until it is well mixed. It sounds gross but honestly you will hardly notice and it's an easy way to get protein. I personally do this for breakfast, with 2 eggs, and I can hardly tell they are there. Easy, fast, and filling! *ETA- if you aren't afraid of a bit of sugar, add sugar and vanilla for flavouring. Now you have a mostly-healthy milkshake!*

3. Make breakfast your biggest meal of the day, and the meals to follow progressively smaller. Dinner shouldn't be much more than a snack.

4. Don't eat 3 hours prior to going to bed.

5. Take 1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar when you wake up and when you go to bed. You can mix it in a tea or with some honey to make it bearable (ACV is gross in itself), but if you can down it on its own and chase it down with water you will be avoiding the extra calories and sugars from the additives. ACV balances your PH levels, and helps with digestion and burning fat.

6. Drink lots of water. I get it, 8 glasses of water a day seems like a lot. So forget it. Don't count how much you drink, just fill up a large bottle and drink it whenever it crosses your mind. If you're like me, some days you'll be lucky to get 1/2 a glass, while others you drink close to 10 glasses. That's okay. If you don't like water and find it unappealing, add some fresh fruit or a few slices of lemon. I'm on the cheap side, I just add lemon juice from those squirt bottles, but either way it ups my water intake so who's complaining?

Fitness & Activity

7. Squats are by far the best fat burning workout, and you can do them anywhere, anytime, without any equipment!

8. You know that feeling when you get up out of bed or off the couch and you just want to stretch? Well, take the extra 30 seconds, reach for the ceiling, and then bend over and touch the floor. Keep your legs straight. This is good for flexibility and keeps you from going stiff.

9. Take the stairs. Avoid using elevators.

10. Sit up straight. My sister lost 5 inches off her waist just by sitting up straight and tensing her stomach. No joke. The best way to explain it (she was 12 and she understood this), is imagine someone is about to punch you in the stomach. Feel that tension? Hold it. But don't forget to breath! The straighter posture immediately creates a more slender figure and over time your tensed muscles (your abs!) will tone your belly until there's no need to tense or "suck it in" anymore!

I will do my best to update this list as I discover more "skinny hacks". Thank you all so much for reading and best of luck!!

*Originally published December 21, 2017*