Being fit should not just be a hobby, but a lifestyle. There are so many things we
can do to make sure we keep our bodies healthy. Committing to a healthy
lifestyle includes everything from eating healthy and being physically active, to
body maintenance and recovery.
Having an active lifestyle does not mean you have to get a personal trainer or a
gym membership, although many people love this type of activity. There are
many other effective ways of exercise (running, biking, hiking, sports, etc). The
most important thing is to choose something that you love to do. This way it does
not seem like work, and you will look forward to doing it.
A good way to keep you motivated with exercise is to set goals for yourself.
Maybe these goals include completing your first 5k, breaking your PR on a
deadlift, or simply making sure you are doing something active 3 days a week.
Whatever it is, make it realistic for yourself. You should write your goals down
and revisit them everyday. I have found it easier to monitor my progress when I
have a visual reminder. I like to write my goals in my planner or on mirrors
around the house so I am constantly reading them. There is nothing more
motivating than achieving your goals! Trust me, it will leave you wanting more.
When it comes to food, you want to make sure you keep a well balanced diet.
You should be eating fruits and vegetables multiple times a day, and staying
away from saturated fats and trans fats. It is also helpful to eat 5-6 meals a day,
instead of your typical breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Eating smaller meals, more
frequently, helps keep your metabolism and energy levels elevated throughout
the day. When your metabolism is consistently elevated, it is easier to manage
your weight, and see quicker results with exercise. I have found that the easiest
way for me to keep a balanced diet is to do meal prep on Sundays. My weeks
can get crazy busy, but if I have all my meals planned out and cooked that is one
less thing I have to worry about during the week. Not only does it make it easier,
but it helps me stay away from fast food places when I need something on the go.
One of the last factors of committing to a healthy lifestyle includes body
maintenance and recovery. Once you find a workout regimen that works for you,
make sure to include rest days in your program. Overtraining can cause a
plateau, which means your performance will decline and you will not see the
results you want because you are not giving your body time to restore itself.
Along with taking days completely off of exercise keeping variety in your program
will also help with recovery and body maintenance. For example, Monday,
Wednesday, Friday can be your cardio days and Tuesday, Thursday can be resistance
days. Again, play around it and find what works best for your individual needs.
Whether you are a professional athlete or a stay at home mom, it is important to
maintain your physical health and fitness in order for your body to function
properly and efficiently. Committing to a completely healthy lifestyle can seem
overwhelming at first. However, start small and build from there. Overtime all the
small steps you take will have turned unhealthy habits into healthy substitutions
and you will be living a fit life in no time. Remember to keep your goals in mind
and in sight to help keep you focused. Also, continue to follow my “Commit to be
Fit” posts on the AVP and I will continue to encourage and guide you on your
journey to a healthier fit lifestyle.
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Emily Stockman is a professional volleyball player and certified personal trainer through the National Council on Strength and Fitness (NCSF). After graduating from Wichita State University in 2010, she played indoor volleyball in Europe for 4 years: France, Finland, Sweden, and Switzerland. Last year she transitioned into the beach game playing on the AVP tour and slowly making her way onto the FIVB world tour. Although beach volleyball is her full-time job, she loves training others and teaching them how to live a healthy active lifestyle. Keep up with her volleyball career and health/fitness tips on Instagram and Twitter @estock2 and on Facebook: Emily Stockman.
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