You're not alone in your desire to build a strong, healthy body, but this takes time and effort as well as a firm commitment. If you're willing, though, you can become a stronger, healthier person with more energy and confidence. Read on to learn how.

Adjust Your Diet

Your first step is to take an honest look at your eating habits. Consider keeping a food diary for a week. That way you'll know exactly what you're popping into your mouth. Include drinks, too. At the end of the week, underline all the junk food, and circle the healthier choices. Do you notice any patterns?

If you have quite a bit of junk food on your list, you're going to have to adjust your diet. It may help to plan meals and snacks for several days. Research healthy recipes online for new ideas, and stick to a list when you grocery shop to avoid unhealthy impulse buys. Shoot for a blend of fresh fruits and vegetables, lean proteins and whole grains. Cut back on soda and other sugary drinks, too, and include more water.

To give yourself a further boost, you could add some supplements to your routine. Read about options like vitamins and amino acid supplements, and make sure you know how they work and what they do. If you're on any medications, check for possible interactions, and talk to your doctor if you have any doubts or questions.

Don't Be a Slug

Adjusting your diet, though, is not enough to build a strong, healthy body. You also have to stop being a slug. Get up and move! You should develop a regular exercise routine that blends cardio and weight training. If you aren't currently exercising, start slowly to avoid injury. Even fifteen minutes a day is better than nothing at first. You might take a long walk or ride your bike, try aerobic dance or invest in a gym membership.

As you establish your routine and favorite activities, you should increase your session times gradually over a few weeks. Keep your workouts fresh by varying your activities and trying new things now and then. Working out with a friend can be fun, too, and keep you on track.

Manage Your Stress 

Stress can throw you off in more ways than one, and it can affect your bodily health. That's why it's so important to find ways to manage your stress. Develop a set of techniques you can turn to when the tension rises. These might include everything from music therapy to meditation. Sometimes just taking a break to curl up with a favorite book or movie does the trick. You can try guided breathing exercises or biofeedback, too. Just be ready to manage your stress when needed to prevent setbacks to your health and overall well-being.

Sleep Well

Sleep is important to your health as well. Do you get enough? Perhaps you tend to get to bed late and wake up early. This can work for some people, but if you find yourself constantly exhausted, then you may need to make some changes.

Try to develop a regular routine that gets you to bed around the same time every night. Spend at least a half-hour winding down before your bedtime. Listen to some light music, or read an easy book. Take a look at your sleep situation, too. Examine the comfort of your bed, the possible distractions in your room and even the amount of light coming in. All of these can affect your sleep habits, so make changes if you must.

You can build a strong, healthy body. It may take some work, and it won't happen overnight. But you can do it, so start today!

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