Ten Commandments For That Sculpted 2019 Bod

Read on to know how to get a fit, sculpted body with these health and fitness tips:

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  Thou Shalt Not Honour Bedtime Carbs

  Not that we’re advocating the consumption of unnecessary carbs before dark but a carbfest late in the night is definitely bad news. Since your metabolism rate drops as you head to bed, the carb overspill equates to sugar backing up in the blood stream and eventually turning into body fat.

  Here is a health tip for a fit body: Try to consume your daily caloric intake by 6 p.m. and then pretend to be oblivious to the concept of stress eating or eating out of boredom. In case you’re craving a midnight snack during that Netflix marathon, consider low-fat yoghurt or a mix of nuts and seeds.

• Thou Shalt Keep Your Cheat Meal Promises

  We know that feeling. You just devoured a random cheat meal and now you’re considering turning it into a cheat day because, you know, you’ll start ‘afresh’ tomorrow. Stop. Right. There.

  Want to know how to get a sculpted body? Every temptation, no matter how tiny the cupcake is, when curbed takes you closer to a life without love handles. Do yourself a favour, don’t trick yourself into going the ‘all or nothing’ way, at least with your diet.

  
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  Thou Shalt Not Indulge In Calorie Counting

  For starters, know that labelling laws allow a 20% margin of error on the nutrition facts panel. So just in case you swear by that tiny ‘informational’ grid on the outer package, too much math won’t help, darling.

  Also, turns out the composition of what you’re eating is crucial to how many calories you eat and how many calories you burn. Calorie counting also encourages you to ignore your hunger cues. So, as far as you’re eating healthy, tear apart that calorie journal and focus on quality over quantity.

• Thou Shalt Prioritize Sleep And Water Over Everything Else

  Day dreaming about that haute bod since you clearly got no time to dream? You ain’t meeting your goals in that sleep-deprived state, honey. An exhausted body produces more ghrelin, a hormone that triggers hunger and causes you to retain fat. Our health and fitness tip for a fit body is: a good 7 – 8 hours of shut-eye every night.

  The fizzy pop of a soft drink seems like music to your ears? Why not replace high-calorie beverages with water, boo! So often we feel hungry when we’re just thirsty. And it’s not even funny how a tummy full of H2O makes you consume lesser food. Wow.

  
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  Thou Shalt Not Get Too Comfortable With A Workout Routine

  Wondering why you’ve reached a weight loss plateau? Probably because you’ve been making sweet love to the treadmill all this while. Just like you, your body too isn’t a big fan of monotony. When your workout routine becomes another everyday task, your body starts investing lesser calories.

  Want to have a fit, sculpted body?Stop feeling married to a fitness form and explore different routines. Lift some iron at the gym, nail a set of floor Pilates at home, Zumba it out with your friends, go for a weekly swim at the community pool, or take baby steps towards being a yogini. It’s all about breaking out of the rut and challenging your body.

• Thou Shalt Not Honour Shortcuts

  Whatever’s worth it, doesn’t come easy. Chuck the protein powders and weight loss supplements of the world and obtain the same energy from quality food instead. Pre and post-workout stimulants show quick results, but sadly they don’t last.

  Fitness trends like crash diets, liquid diets, and intermittent fasting may work for some but nothing beats the goodness of a balanced eating plan. The secret lies in portion control. Eat small meals every 3 – 4 hours because eating less isn’t the mantra, eating smart is.

  
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  Thou Shalt Rest

  Not paying heed to your body’s limitations is a direct invitation to overuse injuries, which is why rest days are as important as your workout days. Not only do they allow exhausted muscles to heal and rebuild, but the mental break also leaves you hungry and ready for the next stretch of routines.

  But if you’re too paranoid about undoing all the hard work that you put it in the last week, go for a leisurely walk or just stretch while binge-watching your favorite show. Simple, eh?

• Thou Shalt Not Be Obsessed By The Weighing Scale

  What most people don’t realise is that the number on the scale isn’t a pure reflection of your body fat. With a strict workout routine, you start losing fat and building muscle, which balances your overall weight. The scale may not show a positive change but that doesn’t mean you aren’t doing good, does it?

  Instead, the correct parameter to measure progress is a loss in inches. When you go down a few sizes or when the people around you start noticing a change, that’s when you know you’re on the right track. So, stop weighing and keep working.

  
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  Thou Shalt Count Your Smaller Victories

  You’ve made a tough choice, picked fitness over sleep for the entire week, we think it’s a biggie. After all, it’s a series of little victories in life that add up to a larger accomplishment. So, find a way to reward yourself with something that’ll help you keep going.

  Buy yourself a new pair of running shoes, create a killer workout playlist, or maybe just whip up a new smoothie. Heck, you can also surprise your taste buds with a small scoop of your favorite ice-cream! Should you feel guilty about it? Absolutely not. #YOLO bro.

• Thou Shalt Commit To Fitness As A Lifestyle Changes, Not A Quick Fix

  Fitness is a journey, not a destination. And sadly, you’re starting it on a poor note if the goal is to fit into a lehenga at your BFF’s wedding or flaunt a skimpy bikini during your upcoming beach vacay.

  Yep, such short-term plans may motivate you for a while but what happens after the purpose is solved? The pursuit of health and wellness is forever, so don’t stop even when you attain that dream body because maintenance is key. Now you don’t wanna lose that shape, do you?