Start Here - 3 Habits for Health

I feel like we are all searching for the secret sauce that will finally help us to lose the weight and keep it off. We figure the more complicated a diet/fitness plan is then the better the results should be. So we hop from one thing to the next and still end up right back where we started. I mean if it were actually easy then everyone would be in shape, right? The problem is not you or your willpower but the quality of your habits. Where you are today is a product of your daily habits. These 3 daily habits are the building blocks of a successful fitness plan. I recommend that you start here before trying another weight loss plan. You can start building these habits today to make lasting changes in your health.

• Water - 1/2 bodyweight in ounces. Essential to life. Plain water. No, those packets you can add to a bottle of water DON'T count! And get rid of that plastic water bottle while you're at it! Plain water with a slice of lemon or lime if desired. Yes, you will have to go to the bathroom every 5 mins at least for the first few days until your body adjusts. Seriously this is your number 1 item to do before you try to change anything else. Don't start another complicated diet plan.

• Movement or mobility/stretching -intentional 15 mins. Really that's it! The point is to start small and to make it manageable for you to complete. This is not about weight loss but making time (prioritizing) your health. You would be amazed by how great you can feel when you spend time taking care of your body. Haven't worked out for awhile? No worries, just start with some simple yoga style stretches along with deep breathing. This not only quiets your mind but allows your body to relax into the stretch.
  

• Wake up 30 min early or schedule out 30 min during day - same time everyday is ideal- This is an appointment with yourself- the most important appointment of the day. This takes priority over anything else. You could use this time to start your day a little slower, get in some stretches or a quick home workout, meditate, plan your day, or just drink some coffee from a mug in silence.
  

I know what you're thinking. These are too easy, too simple, no way they will work! Keeping it simple is the point. These small habits add up to big changes over time. A 15 minute workout, stretching, walk etc can effect more change than a sporadic 30 min workout just by sheer repetition. They lay the foundation for the big stuff, for the hard stuff. The reason why you have failed before at the hard stuff is that you did not take the time to do the small stuff, the foundation. You see those bad habits (the reasons why you always fall off the plan) tend to creep back in the moment you neglect the small stuff. Your health and fitness habits will only be as strong as the foundation you lay. So, I encourage you to...