10 healthy lifestyle habits you should adopt in 2015

The start of a new year is generally synonymous with fresh starts and the ubiquitous resolutions/goals. However, it's not uncommon to find folks begin to lose steam after the initial huffing and puffing at the cusp of the new year.

The reason - many times, folks set unrealistic goals which prove to be more than they can handle. It was based on this we sought the opinion of fitness and wellness expert, Eden Lifestyle CEO, Maje Ayida.

In an exclusive chat with Pulse, the fitness guru who's married to media personality, Toke Makinwa shared a few lifestyle tips which everyone should adopt in the new year.

Check them out.

1. Set realistic goals: The first step is setting a goal. It's not enough to go out and buy a brand new gym gear, but your exercise regime should be realistic and in sync with your regular schedule. So, for instance you can either wake about 30 minutes earlier than you usually do to exercise or work-out in the evenings after work.  Its also advisable to use down times, for example rather than head out into traffic, stay back and use that time to work out.
2. Drop one bad habit a month: Don't overwhelm yourself by trying to change overnight. It can be counter-productive and lead you straight back to your old habits. Instead, pick something you want to change and work towards it. Furthermore research reveals that doing something continuously for 30 days leads to forming a habit, so baby steps people.
3. Join an exercise group: A great way to motivate yourself to exercise is to join an exercise group. You can also get an exercise partner be it a friend, acquaintance or even a total stranger. Seek out someone who has the same goals as you and exercise together, that way you can motivate and keep each other accountable. In addition, pay for your gym sessions ahead of time, that way you're forced to commit.
4. Change your mindset: According to Ayida, exercising should not be seen as an extra-curricular activity, but rather an essential part of everyday life much like eating or sleeping. It should be understood that there are people who have died as a result of poor lifestyle choices, as such exercising which really is a healthy, body-enhancing activity should be given top-most, non-negotiable priority.
5. Never skip breakfast: Breakfast is the most important meal of the day and skipping it is much like running a car without fuel - eventually the body will pack up. The danger that also exists with not eating breakfast is that when meal time finally comes, the body is very hungry for food which leads to over-eating. This in turn leads to weight gain. So do your body a favour by ensuring you eat breakfast everyday.
6. Get rid of bread and soft drinks: Yes people, you read that right. Bread and soft drinks are a no-no for the body due to their high carbohydrate and sugar content respectively. So help your body and cut them from your diet (also leave the sugar out of coffee if you're a coffee drinker) but remember, these habits should be dropped gradually so that its sustainable.
7. Snack every 2 hours: Before your eyes light up at the thought of binging on sugar and carbs every 2 hours, please note that we mean healthy snacking. Fruits like mango and banana which have high sugar content and proteins are your best bet. The great thing about snacking frequently through the day is that it increases the body metabolism and also helps helps the weight loss process because when you're hungry, the brain tells the body that you're in starvation mode which then leads the body to hold onto fat and then burn muscles for energy.
8. Water, water and more water: Start your day with a big bottle of water and keep it going through the day. The advantages of water to the body cannot be overemphasised, it cleanses and nourishes the body. Also if you're very hungry, drink 2 full glasses of water before eating, this helps to keep you from over-eating.
9. No carbs at night: Avoid taking carbohydrates at night. Instead replace carbs with protein and vegetables. Also if you sleep late, have a snack of fruits, preferably fruits like watermelon and apples which are low on sugar.
10. Exercise daily: It's important to not go more than 2 days without exercising. You can keep it as short as 10 minutes of intense exercising. Begin slowly and increase the number of work-outs you do as the days go on.