6 hacks to get your fitness back in 2021

2020 must have been a challenging year to achieve your fitness goals because of the forced house arrest. So many fitness resolutions must have gone haywire because of the lack of physical activity, irregularity in meals because of a stressful work-from-home schedule, and more. To help you get back on track, here is a list of useful diet hacks that you can incorporate to achieve your health targets for 2021.

Say Goodbye to Sugar

There will be a massive outcry for this from people with a sweet tooth. But it is vital to eliminate or at least reduce sugar in your diet. Sacrificing sugar comes with multiple health benefits such as lower chances of obesity and diabetes, healthier teeth, clearer skin, reduced inflammation, enhanced brain function, and more. Of course, not all sugars are bad; fruit-based natural sugars are good for the body. You can also opt to substitute sugar with jaggery, a much healthier alternative.

Intermittent Fasting

This is about dividing your day into two distinct periods— one for eating and one for fasting. The most prevalent version is 16/8, where you eat only during a specified 8-hour window and abstain from calorie intake for the remaining 16 hours. Benefits include accelerated weight loss, improved blood sugar levels, and higher energy levels.

Avoid Junk and Processed Foods

It is vital to steer clear of unhealthy snacks and opt for a bowl of cut fruits, a fruit salad or a fruit juice/smoothie instead. Even a jar of nuts is a better option than deep-fried, oily, canned food which increases cholesterol levels and makes you sluggish throughout the day.

Don’t Forget the Fibre

High-fibre foods like strawberries, oranges, beets, cereal, broccoli, chickpeas, almonds, sweet potatoes, and more are great sources of essential nutrients. Not only do they help with digestion and toxin excretion, but also leave you feeling full so that you don’t get the urge of snacking in between meals.

5-6 Small Meals > 3 Big Meals

Consuming 5-6 small meals aids metabolism, and faster metabolism results in faster fat-burning. Moreover, you can control your binge-eating urges if you keep consuming smaller portions more frequently.

Stay Hydrated

Nutritionists recommend drinking 8-10 glasses of water every day (about 2 litres). Water suppresses your appetite and is crucial for carrying nutrients throughout the body, maintaining the body’s pH levels and temperature.

Let 2021 get off to the best possible start with these tips and meet your fitness objectives ‘without breaking a sweat’.