Whether it’s to look good in summer photos or it’s a complete turn to the healthy side because it’s “trendy”, people seek to live a healthier and more active life. After all, healthy is the new sexy and at the end of the day, it’s so they don’t have to deal with any disease brought about by any long-term neglect and abuse to their bodies. 

Of course, the commitment level to these goals depends on the goals themselves. If it’s for a good summer body, then it’s only going to last until summer’s end. If it’s because of a trend, it’s going to last until the next trend. This is why it’s important to look at your “why” when setting a fitness goal. At the end of the day, it’s all about staying healthy and avoiding being a slave to a medical condition.

It also helps if the place you live in is conducive for a healthier lifestyle. Enter Foressa Mountain Town, AboitizLand’s residential development along the peaceful mountains of Cansomoroy, Balamban, just an hour’s drive away from the city. Spanning 250 hectares of natural terrain, mountains, sloping hills, and rivers to explore and experience, Foressa Mountain Town encourages its homeowners, or vecinos as they fondly call them, to enjoy a healthier lifestyle by enjoying fresh, clean air and scenic surroundings perfect for outdoor fitness that feeds both the soul and the mind. Its natural features and man-made amenities offers adventure and relaxation for those who seek it. Here are a few tips to help keep yourself fit and healthy.

Establish A SMART Goal

The problem with most health goals is that it’s not nearly specific enough to create a mental image of what the results looks like. As a result, these goals don’t get met and other people straight up give up on them the moment motivation is lost. The solution is to create a SMART goal in order to mentally visualize what the result looks like.

SMART stands for Specific, Measurable, Actionable, Realistic and Time-Bound. As a goal it makes sense to be very specific about what you want your result to be like. You’d also want it to be measurable  so you know how to improve the processes involved in your goals. It needs to be actionable, which means that  its completion requires you to take  action. It needs to be realistic as well because, unless you have the time and money to hire a dedicated Hollywood fitness coach, it’ll be superbly difficult to get a Captain America figure. Lastly, it needs to be time-bound in order for it to be a good goal.

With these in mind, a good health and fitness goal can look like this: “I will be at 85 pounds (from a 100 pounds) by December 31, 2022.” or “I will have increased my cardio threshold by 10% by December 31, 2022.”. These goals are SMART and can easily be visualized. And once you have a clear vision of what you want to look like, it gets easier to make an action plan for it.

Schedule A Doctor’s Checkup

Just like any other machine, the human body needs to be maintained and examined/assessed . After establishing a SMART goal for your fitness and health resolution, schedule a checkup with your doctor. This way, you can make sure that you don’t have any conditions that can prevent you from achieving your goal.

It also helps to be informed of existing conditions so you’re mindful of how to improve them. You can also consult your doctor on certain fitness regimens or diets you plan to follow. Having an expert inform you of the things you can do and the things you need to avoid is a great step towards being fit and healthy.

Establish A Fitness Routine

Once you’ve checked  with your doctor on how your health looks and you’re given the thumbs up, start a fitness routine. It’s strongly recommended to have a fitness coach that can guide you in your fitness journey  , but if you’re  just starting out and would like to keep your spending to a minimum, look for an exercise routine that fits your lifestyle. 

For instance, if you’re a busy professional and you chose to dedicate 1 to 2 hours for your fitness routine, maybe strength exercises in the gym can do nicely. If you like going outdoors because you work from home and you crave  for some fresh air, hiking or outdoor biking can do well for you. Not only do these exercises help boost your cardiovascular endurance, they also drastically improve your mental health since being cooped up in your home for extended periods of time can be taxing.

As mentioned earlier, having a location that helps accommodate your fitness goals and routine is a blessing. Such a home is Foressa Mountain Town, a master-planned community designed by US-based firm Duany Plater-Zyberk & Company. Built upon the principles of New Urbanism, Foressa Mountain Town boasts wide open walkable spaces and paths that converge to common destinations, making it ideal for running, cycling and other healthy outdoor activity. Founded on sustainable planning, Foressa Mountain Town helps preserve nature for you to view and experience yourself.

Eat The Right Food

The adage you are what you eat rings true considering the amount of research that goes into diet and the different effects food has on the human body. So in order to have a healthy body, you need to eat healthier food. For instance, eating fresh produce is much healthier for you than getting some off of the grocery store in the Metro. If you live in Foressa Mountain Town, you have access to these fresh produce that come from the farms and through West Cebu Estate.

Diets are great but, depending on your level of commitment to your goal and their nature, they’re often less sustainable than following a healthy eating plan derived from a lifestyle change.

Regardless of what option you choose, consult your dietitian and doctor. It’s best to have these experts determine what your body needs in order to live a full and happy life.

At the end of the day, being healthy and fit is more a lifestyle than just a goal. It’s something that you consistently have to maintain and check on. But if you live in a place that’s intrinsically designed to be healthy for you, it’s going to be much easier to live a healthy and fit lifestyle. As mentioned, Foressa Mountain Town’s master-planned community is a good fit for anyone who wants to live an active lifestyle while taking in the beauty of nature. Feel free to take a virtual tour of this community here: https://bit.ly/ForessaVirtualTour.