I don’t know about you, but bathing suit season totally snuck up on me this year. Between starting a new company, moving in with my boyfriend and his daughter {what!}, and creating content for FoodFash, I was struggling to keep up with me. After I completed all of the new company “musts” and got everyone settled in the new place, I created manageable habits to keep my health game strong this summer {and beyond}.
1. Daily Green Smoothies
Whenever I fall off the fitness wagon, my first step towards positive change is re-introducing green smoothies into my morning routine. If I can have control over one thing, one thing, every day, it’s a nutritious breakfast that knocks out a few servings of fruits and veggies. When impromptu meetings and other life distractions kidnap my day, I can go to sleep knowing that I consumed approximately three servings of roughage that day.
I also have the constant struggle of trying to find a plant-based protein powder without stevia on the ingredient list. Although I’ve turned to stevia during major cleanses when absolutely zero sugars are allowed, I try to steer clear of stevia {mostly because I don’t like the overpowering taste}. When I received Bob’s Red Mill Nutritional Boosters, I was over-the-moon excited to see their protein powders are plant-based and sweetened with monk fruit, not stevia! The fact that they are also made with prebiotic and probiotic fibers are a welcomed bonus. Scroll to the bottom of this post for my favorite fruit and veggie packed smoothie recipe.
2. Vitamins
For a long as I can remember, I have always teetered on the edge of anemia and Vitamin D deficiencies, making daily vitamins an extra important part of my daily routine. Keeping my vitamin bottles in the bathroom near my toothbrush has been a helpful reminder to take my ever-growing list of vitamins before I leave the house. And, by teeth brushing point, chances are high that I’ve already finished my green smoothie and I won’t get nauseas from taking vitamins on an empty stomach.
3. Stocking the Freezer
How many times have you decided to go out to eat because there’s nothing in your refrigerator? For us, that was becoming a daily excuse. I started stocking the freezer with chicken, salmon, shrimp, and green veggies. By doing this, we had almost every protein/veggie dinner combo covered and it started to get really impossible to make up excuses. Pro tip: Shrimp thaws incredibly quickly and this recipe is extra delicious.
4. Water
Water used to be the most simple box to check when I had a desk job. I’d fill up a giant bottle of water that I’d make myself finish before leaving for lunch and I’d repeat the process before leaving for the day. Boom! But when I’m working on a construction site or out of my car, water is the easiest thing to forget. Keeping reusable bottles of filtered water in the refrigerator and making a habit of taking one with me when I leave the house helps water intake when I’m mobile. We also started keeping a water carafe at the dinner table so we can refill our waters without interrupting our meal. And we have a general rule to finish our waters before clearing the table.
5. Quick Cardio
I am thabest at being too busy to exercise. But fitting in 30 to 45 minutes of cardio is really as easy as just doing it when you’re eating nutritious food, taking vitamins, and drinking enough water. I do not like doing any major exercising in the morning as I feel ravenously hungry and tired throughout the day. But a quick cardio session before I get ready in the morning has really helped increase my energy levels in an exponential way. And the yoga studio near our new place has a 9am practice, which allows me to fit in one to two classes per week as well.
I hope that you’ve found this list both helpful and manageable. Best of luck with keeping your health game strong this summer! Click here for $3 off coupon for any Bob’s Red Mill Nutritional Booster.
I was selected for this opportunity as a member of CLEVER and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.