What is a healthy active lifestyle to me?

This blog has been kindly written by 1 of my valued and inspiring clients, who wanted to give his ideas and thoughts on what an active and healthy lifestyle means to him.

"I consider a healthy active lifestyle to consist of a lifestyle that involves a regular exercise plan equipped with a sustainable healthy diet. It typically involves the absence of unhealthy habits, such as regular smoking, alcohol intake, being sedentary and the motive of making up excuses to steer clear of carrying out fitness routines. To me an active lifestyle is a way of living that people of all ages, shapes and sizes strive for, and through personal experience with minimal time, is completely possible to accomplish through adapting to and applying simple lifestyle changes – especially getting active more often and eating nutritionally well..

The first thing I did to ensure my healthy active lifestyle was under way was by starting with a healthy diet. I made sure that I eliminated, or at least made some substitutions for the unhealthiest foods from my daily food and drink intake, for instance I swapped fizzy drinks with water, chocolate snacks and white bread with whole-grains and fruit or nuts. After receiving guidance and reading the links that my trainer was sending me on a regular basis,

I soon learnt that it is best to eat a healthy and balanced diet made up of fruit, vegetables, whole grains, and lean protein such as chicken or fish. It is difficult to lead an active lifestyle without eating a healthy diet, because it will be difficult to get enough energy to exercise and to give your muscles the nutrients to recover, repair and grow stronger. Get creative while cooking, and try to make new recipes with healthy ingredients; it is always possible to find new favourite foods. Additionally, be sure to drink enough water every day by carrying bottles of water with you, and to try to quit unhealthy habits which will differ from person to person.

The second part of a healthy active lifestyle is exercise. A regular exercise routine is crucial, such as in my case working out at home; using spaces around the house or natural areas such as woodlands or steep hills to challenge my cardio abilities. I do pull ups on trees, run up and down steps, do press up circuits on park benches etc etc. Working out at a gym, going for a daily walk or jog, or playing sport are also essential ways to live a healthy active lifestyle. I have found that I continually inspire my own personal workout results to want to achieve more and therefore push myself out of my comfort zone.

There are other ways to incorporate exercise into everyday life; for instance, take the stairs instead of the lift, parking further away from the door when driving somewhere, and take a break from work to go for a walk. People of all ages can incorporate regular exercise into their lives to develop a healthy active lifestyle. Many people who lead active lifestyles also enjoy outdoor activities such as hiking, cycling, skiing or running, which can be great ways to have fun, make new friends, and get in better physical shape. Leading a healthy lifestyle is a great way to lose weight and maintain that weight loss over time, rather than a fad diet where the weight may come back just as quickly as it came off. In addition, playing sport is a great to get active, make friends and to get a great feeling of achievement e.g. football, netball, hockey, rugby, badminton, squash etc. For me, I base my training plan around football, squash and golf.

Having a personal trainer Matt who I see twice a week and keep in regular contact with on a daily basis has without doubt transformed me as an individual. After 15 months of boosting my active lifestyle I feel confident, motivated, fit and most importantly happy about me as a person, which surely is why we strive to get fit. For me I need someone to push me for me to achieve my goals, because I am a strong believer that you will never know your limits until you push yourself to them? I embrace my lifestyle in an active manner, challenging myself with differing sports and exercises each day to avoid slipping back into my comfort zone. Challenging myself physically inspired me more and more to eat better and do well in life not only from a fitness point of view but everything in which I endeavor."

A big thanks to Ben Ellis for taking the time to provide an insight into what he believes an active and healthy lifestyle to be. It's an inspiring read and will hopefully provide you with some tips and advice on how you can live a more active, nutritious and happy lifestyle.

Live life in the active lane,

Matt