My favorite “secret” for sustaining a fit lifestyle is to take those rest days before you need them.

Otherwise, you’ll end up digging yourself into a hole that can be tough to climb out of.

There’s no shortage of self-­help books and podcasts and just about everyone has advice on how to live a cleaner, more sustainable, happier life.

More frequently than not, I feel like it’s being shoved down my throat.

My advice to you is, spend some time on your own.

Do what feels like it’s feeding you.

Start by getting enough rest so you can see clearly what’s working in life and what’s not.

Begin weeding and in that fresh soil, plant seeds for what brings happiness to you.

Fitness is a lifestyle, not jumping from diet to diet.

So many people follow inconsistent patterns of health rather than giving their bodies the consistency of a healthy lifestyle.

This means finding your balance with food along with being active.

For me, the secret to life is rest!

Our society is geared toward constant movement, contact and stress.

We don’t sleep enough and when we do, our sleep quality is poor because we’ve kept ourselves so stimulated throughout the day and evening.

Rest is vital for repairing muscles and replenishing brain cell

Everything’s better with a community.

I wish more people experienced how much fun a healthy lifestyle can be and the doors it will open for them.

Sleep.

I think if we were all better rested so many other things in our life would be positively impacted.

That there are no secrets. It just takes effort, discipline and following through on what you know is best for you.

The reason people don’t do this is because it’s often so much work and requires responsibility for your actions.

Many endurance athletes have adopted the sentiment that they can eat and consume what they desire because “they will run it off or deserve it.”

I strongly believe and encourage that food can either be your medicine or it can be your poison.

Good sleep is oh-so-important.

I try to get at least seven hours of sleep every night and take magnesium before bed for restful sleep and amazing digestion.

Avoid caffeine and alcohol for the best slumber ever.

You only live once – so enjoy it.

People are so dying to be perfect they forget about enjoying.

Try it, you will be surprised how happy you are.

Meditation.

Most of us feel like we don’t have time for it because we could be doing so many more productive things.

The truth is, quieting our mind and sitting in stillness is one of the most beneficial things we can possibly do for ourselves outside of eating, sleeping and breathing.

The biggest secret to health is rest.

The body and mind require down time to repair tissues and reset.

When we are constantly pushing ourselves—whether it be physically, mentally, or emotionally, and don’t give ourselves the proper balance of rejuvenation time, the body will respond by making us stop.

When we get out of balance we get sick, so the best way to stay healthy is to get plenty of sleep and add some regular meditation and restorative yoga to your routine.

Sleep. Make time to recover and your body will thank you.

That and water, water, water.

Carry your favorite water bottle with you.

If you have to stop at 7/11 for a water, you probably will end up at Starbucks instead and grab a coffee because you are dehydrated and feel sluggish.

You think caffeine will do the trick, but really it will just slow you down more afterward.

Get hydrated and your energy will pick up as well.

Aquaphor is the universe’s gift to runners—and humans in general!

Not only is it great to prevent chafing but also prevents chapped lips/face during pesky winter/windy months.

I put it on my face at night—especially on dry spots—and sometimes mix it with hand lotion.

You can buy it at any pharmacy and it’s inexpensive.

In fact, I just found 3 almost empty tubes in my bathroom. You know you’re a runner when…

Take an iron supplement and eat hamburgers! I could go on and on about this, but it’s easier to send you to a past blog post I wrote. Share this with your running friends! Friends don’t let friends become iron deficient.

It is better to eat all of the time instead of sitting down for breakfast, lunch and dinner!

Our bodies need fuel throughout the day to have the sustained energy to live an active lifestyle and stay fit and healthy.

Try taking what you eat for breakfast and cutting it in half.

Save the other half for two hours after breakfast. Do the same for lunch and dinner.

Everything in moderation is key!