7 Ways to Stay Healthy in 2021

We’ll be honest, 2020 was a year of unexpected struggles and quarantining at home…but 2021 is a completely different story! This year, with the help of our lovely friends over at Bells and Barbells Wedding Fitness, we’re making 2021 the year of health and fitness. It’s never too late to make some New Year’s resolutions, as everyone works at a different pace to better themselves. From drinking lots of water to finding the right diet for you and your needs, taking small steps to get healthier has never been more easy. Read below about seven ways you can stay healthy in 2021 from Bells and Barbells Wedding Fitness owner and lead trainer, Kat Bahlburg, and don’t forget to check them out for all of your pre-wedding fitness and health needs. Cheers!

(guest post by Katherine Bahlburg of Bells & Barbells Wedding Fitness)

Photo // April Mea Creative

1. Find a Structured Program

The benefit of having a structured wedding fitness program means you’ll be more motivated, more accountable, less likely to miss a workout and less stressed – plus, you’re more likely to meet your goals faster. A lot of time with the uncertainty of 2021 or 2020, just having something that is structured can have so many positive things around it. More and more people are working from home and getting stuck in a rut of snacking all the time and being lazy. When you know you have to see a trainer or go to that structured workout at a specific time, you’ll begin to eat better and get excited more, giving you motivation to leave the house. You get out of the house, you feel better – it’s as simple as that! It not only helps your physical attributes and goals, but your mental health as well.

2. Find the Right Exercise Movements

To be honest, all exercise movements are key because it’s all individual – some brides build muscle quicker in the upper body, while some do in the lower. This is why a structured program is an absolute game changer! With exercise movements, always remember it’s not always about heavier weight and faster movements; it’s about proper form, activating the right muscles, and finding the perfect combination that fits you individually. Another thing is making sure that your program is well-rounded. You always want to make sure that you’ve got mobility, cardio, strength, full-body and targeted exercise. It’s so important to have a balance!

3. Plan a Well-Rounded Exercise Routine

This is a big reason why girls will be wondering why they feel “skinny fat,” where they still carry weight around their midline because their body is under stress. The body needs to balance itself out! Going back to structured programming – dedicating a day to strength, cardio or mobility – is super important. Balance is always key in making sure that the structured program is working for you. One thing that’s super cool about how we operate is even when we meet a bride and design a workout program, our design and creation doesn’t just stop there – we work to constantly improve it. We test measurements to we see what’s working and what’s not, and we’re very quick to modify things. That’s a big reason why our girls see so many results and they love having somebody there that’s helping them learn these new things!

4. Get Started on Dieting

One of the biggest rules of thumb: it’s a process of elimination. Our dietician likes to recommend each week taking out dairy and gluten – things that can typically cause irritation or bloating in order to go super clean. Then the following week, we introduce the items back one at a time, either adding gluten or dairy back and seeing if you are feeling bloated or sick in any way. If you’re not digesting it well, it’s probably not a good idea for you to keep it in your diet. If you don’t notice anything, you’re probably good to go!  This is something a structured fitness and nutrition plan will help guide you though so you can get where you want to be faster, while also learning at the same time, too.

5. Find the Right Diet for You

Fad diets are not sustainable. People will be like “but I lost so much weight,” but a lot of it is taking out a whole entire food group. Not everything is going to be a perfect fit for everyone – that goes for intermittent fasting or other “trendy” diet fads. Everyone is individualized. You really need to get down to the nitty gritty and pay attention to how your body is feeling, and the elimination method will definitely help with this. Focus on balance and focus on eating with intention!

6. Take Vitamins

It’s not always about taking supplements (like fish oil or folic acid for women, which are also good), but also seeking out foods that contain those items as well, because getting them from the source is always the best! Whenever a bride signs up with us, they get a booklet that breaks down veggies, fruits, meat, eggs, dairy – all sorts of stuff that you’ll see commonly in the grocery store – and we list out all the things that you get in those different items. Turmeric is really great for anti-inflammatory, Vitamin C and Elderberry are a really big thing right now (there’s more vitamin C in bell peppers than in oranges!), we definitely always recommend green tea, and cucumbers help with the detox process in your liver. Knowing about these foods and more will help in fueling your body in a healthy way!

7. Drink LOTS of Water!

“Water is life, be the fish, be that little guppy,” – words we tell all of our brides! There are so many benefits to drinking water: it cleanses your body, clears your skin and helps your digestive system. Another important thing to remember is where your water source is coming from. Drinking from the tap is not always the best idea, so we suggest either buying alkaline water or investing in a water purifier. We also suggest doing water challenges with your friends and family to see who can drink the most water in a day – it’s a great way to hold yourself accountable in the fitness journey to your big day!

Thank you to Bells and Barbells Wedding Fitness for tips on staying healthy in 2021! Visit Bells and Barbells’ Brides of North Texas vendor profile here, where you can learn all about their wedding-prep fitness services, personal training plans and customized nutrition services OR click here to book a 15 minute complementary discover call with one of Bells & Barbells‘ wedding fitness specialists.