This post is part of the Ultimate Guide to a Healthy Lifestyle
If you Google ‘women’s health’ you’ll find a million tips, tricks and suggestions on the best way women can stay healthy. With the overload of information and the somewhat questionable sources, it’s overwhelming and even exhausting for a woman to determine the best course of action in maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
In 2017, OrthoIndy partnered with Pippa Mann. So we thought, why not let a pro-athlete share her health tips for women?
Health tips for women according to Pippa Mann
- Find ways to workout that you enjoy. If you make your workouts a chore, you’re less likely to stick to it and achieve your fitness goals. There will always be some things you like less, but be sure to mix them with things you do like. If you’re a social person try a group fitness class. Looking for time for personal reflection? Try yoga. Or maybe you feel frustrated and wanted to relieve some stress; try boxing classes or martial arts, or maybe something low impact like swimming or cycling.
- Don’t get stuck in a rut. For me, this is a big one. Even once you’ve found something you like, you should regularly look to mix things up and try new things. Whether it’s getting a new routine to follow from your personal trainer, or trying something completely different; continuing to challenge yourself will pay dividends for both your physical fitness and your mental fitness too.
- Commit to moving every day. You want to have rest days between your workouts, but that doesn’t mean you get to sit and do nothing all day. Wear a watch or device that helps you track your steps and commit to a number every day. Go on short gentle walks in your neighborhood, take the parking spot further away or take the stairs instead of the elevator. This will help you achieve your goal without exhausting yourself.
- Try to eat healthy and stay active when you travel. Many of us, myself included, travel for work. When we’re on the road it’s easy to let good habits slide. Trying to train yourself to make smart decisions about your eating habits when you’re away from home, and trying to convince yourself to use that crummy hotel gym is hard. Finding the time to work out when I’m on the road, and trying to make healthy decisions when I’m at restaurants with my work colleagues and everyone else is ordering the burger and fries is something I struggle with all the time.
- Drink lots of water. I know, you’ve heard this one so many times before that you don’t know why I’m telling you again. Well it’s still important, and yes, I get that water can be pretty boring. Have you tried flavored water? My favorite brand is Hint water as their flavors are subtle, not overpowering, but I’m aware that it can get pricey. For a homemade alternative try dicing and placing some fruit in the bottom of your water bottle, and see whether that gives you just a touch of your favorite flavor that will help you drink more of the good for you stuff, and less soda!
- Get plenty of sleep. This is another big struggle for me as I’m often burning the candle at both ends, and it’s so easy to succumb to the temptations of junk food when you’re tired. I don’t know what the scientific reason for this is, but like most people, if I don’t get enough sleep, and I’m worn out, all I want is comfort food, and all my healthy options look entirely unappetizing.
- Give yourself a break. If you want to maintain a healthy lifestyle, you don’t want to cut out your favorite things entirely; you’ll only find yourself lusting after the forbidden items even more. It’s okay to have that soda every once in awhile or that piece of cake to celebrate. You can get away with eating anything, and still live a healthy and active lifestyle, as long as you only eat the things you know you shouldn’t occasionally, and you remember to keep the portions in moderation. When nothing is entirely off limits, I find myself craving the things I shouldn’t be eating much less.
Learn more about how Pippa stays in shape for racing.
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