How to Be Healthier: 5 Simple Changes You Must Make

Leading a healthier lifestyle doesn't always require drastic changes to your diet or workout routine. By simply making a few little minor adjustments you can see big results in an extremely short timeframe.

Incorporate these changes into your life and be prepared for a healthier much improved lifestyle.

How to Be Healthier - 5 Simple Changes

Change #1 - Eat more whole foods

Whole foods should make up the vast majority of your overall diet. Aim for at least 80% of the foods you eat to come from unprocessed whole food sources such as lean meats, vegetables, eggs, and whole grains.

Related: 10 Amazingly Simple Changes for a Healthier Lifestyle

The people that have the highest life expectancies on the planet base their diets around foods that are fresh and unprocessed. Also, whole foods tend to be much more filling and satisfying than their processed counterparts.

Change #2 - Drink more water

The National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM) recommends sedentary women drink 2.2 liters of water per day and sedentary men drink 3.0 liters of water per day. As active individuals we should set our sights to drink one ounce of water per pound of bodyweight or more.

Water is not only crucial for survival but also helps us digest our food and makes the body feel more satiated. Drinking a glass of water prior to eating a meal will help prevent overeating and binging while dieting.

Change #3 - Increase physical activity

Strive to partake in physical activity the majority of your days. On off days from the gym there is no harm in partaking in active recovery days focused on flexibility, stretching, and moderate cardio.

Cultures that stay in motion tend to live longer, healthier lives as opposed to extremely sedentary lifestyles. Resistance training is one of the best forms of physical activity as you are increasing muscle mass. The higher muscle to fat ratio will improve metabolism and allow you to consume more calories.

Change #4 - Sleep more

Sleeping is often one of the most overlooked variables when it comes to building and creating new muscle. Recovery occurs most often when the body is at rest.

Strive to get at least 7 hours of sleep per night if not more.

Change #5 - Set goals

Make sure the goals you set are achievable, realistic, and measurable. Often times people make their goals too general or unrealistic. A good example would be increasing your deadlift by 50 pounds in a year or losing 10 pounds in 3 months.

Setting goals such as eating healthier or working out more provides no set variables and no way of measuring success. Only by creating goals that are measurable can be fully succeed in achieving the results we desire.

Final Thoughts on Living Healthier

Creating a plan of action will be the best way of reaching goals. However, large changes are not needed for optimum success. By implementing a series of small changes we will be able to see big results in the end.

The New Year is upon us and instead of focusing on unachievable goals set your sights on making changes one day at a time. Your results will be more sustainable and the outcome will be desirable.

Be sure to follow me on Instagram @ryanrodal and subscribe to our YouTube channel MuscleMinds for more great workout advice and diet tips!