Fitness Friday- Don't Focus on the Wrong Numbers

For the last month, I have been working to get back on the "healthy track". I have been watching the number of calories I consume and the numbers on the scale, wondering why they are going down more slowly than I'd like them to. Deep down, I know that focusing on just these numbers is not the right way to live a healthy lifestyle, so I am writing this post not just to share with you, but also to remind myself of how important it is to shift some focus to other numbers!

Other Numbers to Shift Some Focus to....

Ounces of Water

Not so long ago, the recommended amount of water was 8 glasses a day. I think many people still aim for at least 8 glasses and that's not a bad thing. Recently though, I have been reading that you should aim for half your weight in ounces. So, if you weight 150 pounds, you should be drinking 75 ounces (over 9 glasses) of water a day. Are you drinking enough water?

Fruit and Vegetable Servings

According to the USDA My Plate Website, a woman my age should be getting 2 1/2 cups of vegetables and 1 1/2 cups of fruit DAILY! Some days I hit this goal and other days I am no where near it.

Dairy Servings

According to the same website, I should also be getting 3 cups a day of dairy products. I consider it a good day if I get 1 cup a day, I definitely need to work this in. No cheese for me though!

Minutes Exercised

I have not been as active as I want to be. Each week, adults ages 18-64, should be getting in at least 2 and a half hours of aerobic physical activity at a moderate level. I do not get that much physical activity in, so it's time to get to work!

Please note, I am by no means an expert, just sharing some information I obtained through various online sources. It is VITAL

that you discuss any diet or exercise programs with your doctor to see what the best choice is for YOU! I cannot stress the importance of checking with your doctor first, especially since there are so many things on the market to "help" people lose weight.

I'd love to hear some of your tips for maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Share them in the comments below and let's get healthy together because we deserve it!