7 Quick Tips For a Healthier 2015

The following post is sponsored by FitFluential on behalf of Special K Snack Bars. Although I was compensated for this post, all opinions remain my own. I hope you enjoy the healthy living tips!

It’s no secret that every New Year comes with resolutions. If you have ever had the goal of “getting in shape” or “getting healthier”, I have great news for you: it isn’t as hard or time consuming as you might think.

Here are some quick tips to get you healthier and on track through 2015!

• eat the rainbow

Think about it… the more color you bring to your plate, chances are the more nutritious it will be.

Think outside your normal food box when you buy produce, make meals at home, and even order out. Aim to hit all areas of the food pyramid and make sure you are getting enough fruits, veggies, and whole grains!

• get outside

Go and enjoy the outdoors. If the only free time you have during the day is during a lunch break, try bringing your lunch and taking a walk around the building or block a few times before or after you eat.

It’s amazing how much even a little bit of fresh air can heighten your mood and motivate you to be productive throughout the rest of the day.

Try picking up an outdoor activity on the weekends like going hiking, biking, or trail running. I would be lying if I said that simply getting out on the trails hasn’t helped tame a lot of my stresses!

• satisfy your cravings without “cheating”

Ditch the candy bars and find chocolate and/or drool-worthy snacks that are better for your health and waistline.

I recently got the opportunity to try the brand new Special K chewy snack bars from Kellogg’s. This line of granola bars is made with tasty, wholesome ingredients that actually look like the package on the outside.

From the rich chocolate chunks and crunchy salted pretzels to the pieces of real fruit and rolled oats, these bars deliver a delicious taste with a great crisp texture. Special K Chewy Snack Bars offer the perfect combination of treats you can grab any time for a quick and healthy 100 calorie snack.

I love being able to snack on bars that have sweet treat ingredients without the guilt! Over the past couple of weeks, I have been grabbing them on-the-go, enjoying them at home, and even crumbling them up in my yogurt.

They taste fantastic!

Special K Chewy Bars will be available January 2015 at grocery and mass retail stores nationwide at a suggested retail price of $2.69 for six bars a box. Visit www.specialk.com for more information and stay updated on the release of this line by following them on Facebook and Twitter!

• subscribe to solid content instead of aimlessly browsing online

It’s really easy to get sucked into the black hole of social media and entertaining articles, especially at night. Why not take a break from the computer screen and dive into a book or magazine filled with health and fitness inspiration?

I have been gifted a subscription to Health magazine (thanks, Mom!) over the past two years, and can’t wait to dig into the new material each month. It’s hard not to get motivated to do something better-for-you after reading even an article or two.

• move every day, even if it’s for 20 minutes

Get your blood pumping! Even if you don’t have time for a full-blown trip to the gym or motivation for an intense workout at home, consider popping in a yoga video or tuning into a barre workout online.

I don’t have an Amazon Prime membership for the 2-day shipping y’all. That’s a great perk, but I continue to pay to be a member to have access to all of the free workouts offered through instant video streaming.

Ballet Beautiful is a favorite of mine, and I have also loved Jillian Michaels workouts and yoga flows. I need to search for more workouts and get into the habit of utilizing the videos more!

• fully unplug on at least one vacation

Letting your hair down and trying more types of food and adventure than your normal home life allows is so refreshing.

Nothing revs me up to fully get back on track like an extended vacation away from everyday life. It’s important for both the body and soul to vacation at least once a year. If you’re still skeptical… give it a try.

I dare you!

• carry a refillable water bottle with you

It’s extremely crucial to stay hydrated. Half the time we think we are hungry, it’s really just our bodies telling us to drink more water.

You’d be surprised at how much water you end up drinking in a day if you have it easily accessible.

I started carrying refillable water bottles with me in college and now drink more water than ever. Whether you are at home, in the car, or at your desk at the office, try carrying bottle of water with you for a day and see how many times you drink it all, refill it, and repeat the cycle without even realizing it.

I continuously refill my bottles while working at the gym or at home!

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You see? Healthy, active living isn’t the scary stretch you might think it up to be. It doesn’t take dramatic sacrifices to make small, almost effortless changes to your lifestyle to make 2015 your year to get healthier.

Have some tips of your own? Feel free to share them below!

This post is sponsored by FitFluential on behalf of Special K Snack Bars.