My name is Drew Saenz, and I’m like you. I work a lot of hours, I’m a father of two young children, and it seems like I’m always on the run to client meetings and events. While my professional life is all about fitness, I fall into the same traps as most working men and women. Not enough hours in the day to do the right things for health all the time!
I’m here to tell you just because you have failed before, doesn’t mean you can’t do it. Simple, small steps can and will make a difference.
My interest in health and fitness started when I had a health scare at 19. During a check-up with a doctor, the physician told me that I was overweight and needed to drop a few pounds. Can you relate?
It was more than just a few pounds. I was well over 50 pounds overweight and on the verge of pre-hypertension.
When I asked the doctor about how to lose weight? He didn’t have the answers I needed to get on the road to better health. However, this experience inspired me. The lack of information and my health concerns put me on a quest for wellness.
Choose activities you love
We all get that motivation from time to time… but how do we keep up the results when progress is so slow?
For me, it was about finding a few activities that I enjoyed that I knew were healthier habits than how I had been living out my days previously.
Initially, I started riding a mountain bike for 15-20 minutes a few days a week and cooking meals at home instead of getting fast food 2-4x per day.
Enjoy your favorite foods
I learned I can still eat things I like, but with modifications. Common fast foods and comfort foods tend to get a poor reputation regardless of their actual nutritional values. Most homemade burgers are relatively low in unhealthy fats and high in protein and minerals our bodies need.
A few simple ways to reduce calorie intake are to swap beef with ground turkey or chicken, seek out whole wheat buns, and always add colors such as roasted veggies, fruits, and leafy greens to your meals. The calories and money you’ll save by having ready-to-cook meals at home will soon become far more valuable than the price of convenience you’ll pay ordering out.
Adding movement to mealtime
Our bodies better utilize calories for fueling physical activity when we plan exercise around mealtime. Training can be as simple as walking for ten minutes or as adventurous as an afternoon hike. Be sure to choose an activity you enjoy and that you can do without a bunch of planning or needing equipment you don’t currently have.
In addition to the physical activity and digestive benefits, psychologically, you will be inclined to eat more health-conscious knowing you just finished exercising or are about to. Make it a social activity after mealtime in your household to get moving with those under your roof or call a friend during a neighborhood walk.
Remember even, if you only put your walking shoes on and head to the door, that’s taking a step. You might have to do that five times before you go on a walk. You’re not a failure, you are simply human.
The best way to start is to write down a straightforward habit you’d like to add or remove from your daily routine. It could be a morning walk or a stretch session. If a simple stretch is something you’d like to add, here is a how-to video:
Your partner in health,
Drew Saenz
P.S. If you’d like to learn how I can help you or your organization improve your health on a more personal level, email me at Drew@teamupaz.com
Check out my tips on maximizing your strength training routine:
