10 Things I Swear by for a Healthy Lifestyle

1. I get at least 45 minutes of exercise in every day

Yes, I know that this is the most basic health habit in the book, but it really is the one that matters most to me. It sets the tone for my day, resets my mind, and is the only hour of the day that I have to myself! It truly makes me feel my best! 

2. I try my best to get a good night’s rest

If you want to commit to a healthier lifestyle, sleep has got to be one of your top priorities! It’s been hard for me to get my full 7-8 hours of sleep lately with a newborn, but it has always been one of my top priorities. If you’re serious about getting healthier and losing a little weight, skip the late night television and get some sleep already. It will make those morning workouts a lot more bearable, too.

3. I aim for 12-14 hours of fasting at night. 

I try to stop eating for the day around 7pm and then won’t have breakfast until 8 or 9AM this.  Why do I do this…. fasting for 10–16 hours can cause the body to turn its fat stores into energy, which releases ketones into the bloodstream. This should encourage weight loss.

4. I wear SPF—every single day

This is an easy thing to add to anyone’s daily routine that takes absolutely no effort. This is the #1 thing you can do for your skin to prevent aging and inexpensive too!

5. I take a daily vitamin and probiotic. 

I sweat by Ritual vitamins and currently on their postnatal vitamin. My mom swears by this probiotic for good gut health and I’ve been taking it ever since she recommend it. 

6. I drink water before anything else in the morning

I am an avid water drinker. Every morning I force myself to down a glass of water on an empty stomach which makes me feel more energized and less dehydrated as a whole throughout the day. This Hydroflask helps me hit my water intake goal on the daily.I like how easy it is to carry and how easily it helps me drink the right amount of water everyday. I try to refill it 3 times a day!

7. I drink a smoothie every day

I have my tried and true protein smoothie everyday. I love when my smoothie tastes like ice cream and this recipe is delicious. Trust me, it doesn’t taste gross 

It has a mix of protein, fat, fiber and greens—because it’s blood sugar balancing, it regulates my hunger hormones and it helps prevent cravings later in the day. Recipe here

8. I meal prep

I am not a good cook, at all. Maybe it’s because I just don’t have time, or maybe it’s because I just don’t have the touch, but I can meal prep and find it important to eating healthy everyday. See, I have a horrible habit of waiting too long to eat a meal and then being so ravenous that I eat everything in sight, so to avoid this, I meal prep some basic food every week to avoid grabbing chick -fil-a to go. It’s the easiest way to make sure you’re getting healthy meals in throughout the week.

Here are some foods I meal prep:

A big batch of lean protein like shredded chicken, or ground turkey.

I roast of ton of veggies or steam a big batch of broccoli for my broccoli bowl recipe. 

9. I don’t count calories. 

While I do think there’s value in recording/keeping track of the foods you’ve eaten to understand what you’re consuming and offer accountability, and while I do think it’s important to know relative calories (e.g., cake: high, broccoli: low), it’s a colossal waste of time to drill it down to every single calorie that passes your lips.

Opt mostly for fresh, whole foods when you’re grocery shopping. Focus on healthy items like vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and lean protein, and it also means eating mindfully—slowing down, eating until you’re satisfied, and giving deprivation a pass. If you eat a balanced diet most of the time, your body will most likely respond by finding its balance—no calorie counting required.

10. I do fasted workouts.

Studies suggest that fasted workouts increase human growth hormone and testosterone to help oxidize free fatty acids and bring down elevated glucose and triglycerides, so I don’t eat anything before I hit the gym.