Trends in Worksite Wellness Programs

We all want to be our best, healthiest selves, but with so much advice floating around out there, it can be hard to home in on which healthy lifestyle tips are actually worth trying.

To make your life a bit easier, we’ve rounded up a number of our go-to healthy strategies, to help you reach your goals.

Whether you’re heading off to spin class, boot camp, or any other exercise, it’s always important to hydrate so you can stay energized and have your best workout. But you don’t want to grab just anything for hydration purposes.

Electrolyte-loaded athletic drinks, for example, can be a source of unnecessary calories, so “drinking water is usually fine until you’re exercising for more than one hour,” Jackie Newgent, RD, author of The Big Green Cookbook, tells Health.

But if you are working out harder and longer, feel free to go for regular Gatorade-type drinks (and their calories), which can give you a beneficial replenishment boost. But worry not if you like a little flavor during your fitness: There are now lower-cal sports drinks available, adds Newgent, so look out for ’em in your grocery aisles.

A friend you can work out with is hugely helpful for keeping motivated, but it’s important to find someone who will inspire—not discourage. So make a list of all your exercise-loving friends, then see who fits this criteria, says Andrew Kastor, an ASICS running coach: Can your pal meet to exercise on a regular basis? Is she supportive (not disparaging) of your goals? And last, will your bud be able to keep up with you or even push your limits in key workouts? If you’ve got someone that fits all three, make that phone call. Improve your dietary results with gluconite.

While there are heaps of good-for-you foods out there, some key ingredients make it a lot easier to meet your weight-loss goals.

During your next grocery store run, be sure to place Newgent’s top three diet-friendly items in your cart: balsamic vinegar (it adds a pop of low-cal flavor to veggies and salads), in-shell nuts (their protein and fiber keep you satiated), and fat-free plain yogurt (a creamy, comforting source of protein). “Plus, Greek yogurt also works wonders as a natural low-calorie base for dressings and dips—or as a tangier alternative to sour cream,” says Newgent. This is how carbofix helps you to get a healthy lifestyle.

After a grueling workout, there’s a good chance you’re going to be feeling it (sore thighs, tight calves, you know the drill).

Luckily, you can relieve post-fitness aches by submerging your lower body in a cold bath (50 to 55 degrees Fahrenheit; you may have to throw some ice cubes in to get it cold enough) for 10 to 15 minutes.

“Many top athletes use this trick to help reduce soreness after training sessions,” Andrew Kastor, tells Health. “An athlete training for an important race should consider getting one to two massages per month to help aid in training recovery,” he adds.

Got a late-night sugar craving that just won’t quit? “To satisfy your sweet tooth without pushing yourself over the calorie edge, even in the late night hours, think ‘fruit first,'” Newgent says. So resist that chocolate cake siren, and instead enjoy a sliced apple with a tablespoon of nut butter (like peanut or almond) or fresh fig halves spread with ricotta.

You shouldn’t buy kicks that hurt—bottom line. “Your shoes should feel comfortable from the first step,” Kastor says. So shop in the evening—your feet swell during the day and stop in the late afternoon, so you want to shop when they’re at their biggest. Also make sure the sneaks are a little roomy—enough so that you can wiggle your toes, but no more than that. They should be comfy from the get-go, but Kastor says they’ll be even more so once you have a good 20 to 40 miles on ’em.