Last Friday night, my wife and I had dinner plans. I’d had a busy day and, by evening, I still hadn’t had time to fit in a workout. Part of me dreaded driving to dinner and sitting for the next two hours, especially since I hadn’t fit in a sweat session and my calorie tank was still on full. Then came the turning point: My wife suggested we walk to dinner. When I got home, she was already wearing comfortable shoes and waiting for me at the front door. At first I didn’t love the idea, but by the end of our walk I wished I’d come up with it myself. By walking to dinner, we managed to get in our steps and get our hearts pumping all before indulging in appetizers.
This is just a small example of the many things that my wife does to make sure I’m living a healthier life. Looking out for your spouse allows you to tag team fitness and take on a healthier life together. The key is to make fitness a part of your lifestyle and not just a New Year’s resolution that fizzles out after a month. Set yourself up for success with my tips for helping you and your spouse live healthier lives.
Take Walks After Dinner
In Italy, there is a tradition that people go for a walk with their family after dinner. The “pasa giatta” is a practice that not only leads to more steps, but it allows your family to socialize with each other and others in the community. You don’t need to live in Florence or Veniceto take part in the time-honored tradition. Instead of heading to the living room and sitting in front of the television after your meal, get up and get moving.
Go Dancing
This is a great date night thing to do that mixes romance, music, and cardio. Moving to music can be a bigger calorie burn than your might expect. According to Harvard Medical School, a 155-pound person can burn more than 200 calories with 30 minutes of fast dancing. Time to put on your dancing shoes!
Take turns grocery shopping and preparing meals.
Make it a team effort to fill your house with healthy foods and delicious, nutritious meals. Instead of reaching for the takeout menu, make cooking a couples activity. Fitness is important, but healthy eating is essential to jumpstarting weight loss. Prepping your meals on weekends so they’re easy to grab during the week can also help limit the temptation to sneak sweet treats. Not sure where to start? Check out this 7-day meal plan kickstart.
Make sure your partner is sleeping well.
When it comes to sleep, quality is just as important as quantity. Don’t be that person who blasts the TV when your partner’s trying to sleep. Set your sleep environment up for success. Be sensitive about the family sleep environment, and make sure that you’re doing everything you can to make sure your partner can sleep soundly. Not sure how your sleep is? With your Fitbit Alta HR, Fitbit Charge 3, Fitbit Versa, and Fitbit Ionic, you can use sleep stages to see how much REM, light, and deep sleep you’re getting.
This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for medical diagnosis or treatment. You should not use this information to diagnose or treat a health problem or condition. Always check with your doctor before changing your diet, altering your sleep habits, taking supplements, or starting a new fitness routine.
Harley Pasternak
Celebrity trainer and nutritionist Harley Pasternak holds a master of science degree in Exercise Physiology and Nutritional Sciences from the University of Toronto, and an honors degree in Kinesiology from University of Western Ontario. As a fitness and nutrition specialist, Harley has trained many celebrities, including Adam Levine, Gwen Stefani, Jessica Simpson, Ariana Grande, John Mayer, Charlie Puth, Jordana Brewster, Rob Pattinson, Tobey Maguire, Lady Gaga, Megan Fox, and Jennifer Hudson. He has appeared on MTV, VH1, The Oprah Winfrey Show, Dr. Oz, THE VIEW, The Tyra Banks Show, Access Hollywood, Extra, Rachael Ray, America’s Next Top Model, Good Morning America, The Today Show, and most recently, Revenge Body with Khloe Kardashian on E! Harley has also lectured around the globe and does speaking engagements regularly.
