Every single day, no matter where you are, you can find someone complaining about their weight, talking about diets or crazy workout routines that some other person recommended them to lose a couple extra pounds. The reality is that sometimes we all feel like this “fitness” madness of diets and workouts simply doesn’t work for us, and then we just go back to unhealthy routines that lead us to a destructive cycle.

So this is what you need to do, don’t get stuck in the madness and focus on transforming some of your bad habits into healthy habits, one small, but significant, change at a time.

• Avoid driving your car and using the elevator: Let’s be honest, not all of us have the discipline, or actually the time, to go to the gym 5 days a week, but there are simpler, ordinary things that we can do to stay in shape. Whenever it’s possible, avoid driving your car and walk or drive a bike instead, and when you have the chance to take the stairs instead of using the elevator, do it!.
• Embrace eating healthy as a lifestyle, don’t “diet”: People that constantly stays in shape don’t diet, they just don’t! The mysterious secret to staying in shape is to remember to listen to your own body. Do some experimenting with your meals and find out what gives you energy and what makes you feel full. One day at a time replace those bad habits of eating at crazy hours and having too many cupcakes with healthy habits like eating vegetables and fruits you really like instead of those sugary treats that you know are no good.
• Sleep, seriously: You may believe that sleeping does not affect how fit you are, but what do you think working out or eating well can do to your body if you don’t have the energy to walk or exercise and your metabolism is all over the place? Sleeping around 7 or 8 hours each night will help you get the energy you obviously need to stay in shape, and it will also help regulate your metabolism.
• Yes, you need to drink water: We all love sugary drinks, but honestly, do you believe replacing a coke for a diet coke is going to help you lose weight?. Think twice and just drink water. If you don’t enjoy the flavorless liquid then add some slices of lemon or oranges to your water. Most times when we think we’re hungry we are actually thirsty, so keep this in mind! Whenever you are feeling like eating an extra snack go and grab a glass, or two, of water, you’ll probably feel less hungry and you will avoid the temptation of eating the snack your body didn’t really need after all.

If you commit to making these small changes you will probably lose more weight or simply lead a healthier life than trying out new diets or hitting the gym twice a day. Put your body and your health first and take control of your lifestyle, with time you’ll notice that it really wasn’t as hard as you thought.