Tired? Listening to your body is the key to fitness.

Living an active lifestyle leads to many great outcomes. Active people tend to have more energy, lower body fat percentages, less stress and a more positive outlook on life. After fitness becomes a high priority on your daily to-do list, however, you may find yourself stressing about how to fit a workout in on a busy day or feeling lazy if you miss a session at the gym.

As a personal trainer, I see how busy most of my clients are and how constant activity can start to wear us down. It can be difficult to find the energy for a tough workout when you are already awake before the sunrise, rushing to drop kids off at school before your big meeting at work, rushing home to get dinner started and not getting back in bed until late into the night(or in some cases early the next morning). On days (or weeks) like these, it is usually a better idea to ease into a light workout or try a more relaxing form of exercise like walking outside or going to a Yoga class. Our bodies need just as much rest and regeneration time as they need activity. We need to listen to our bodies, noticing levels of fatigue and energy so that we can choose the best type of workout.

Next time you feel fatigued, give yourself a day or two of very light workouts. Schedule a massage on your lunch hour instead of a workout, and notice how refreshed you feel next time you hit the gym. Try starting your workout with some foam rolling and stretching, giving you time to slow down and decide what form of exercise is best for you that day. Finding a balance between rest and activity can be challenging, but taking a few moments to check in with your body every day will help guide you in the right direction and lead you to a more balanced and healthy lifestyle.

A Balancing Act: Nutrition

Recent nutrition research has made news and sparked diet trends such as gluten, lactose and soy-free. Whole grain, dairy and soy products were once credited with preventing ailments like heart disease and cancer, but are now making headlines as unhealthy options and foods to avoid.

One day you may read that low-fat dairy products can help you lose wieght, while the next day a new report says that many people have trouble digesting them. Soy was once praised for everything from preventing cancers to lowering cholesterol, but recent news has highlighted its potential interferance with thyroid and hormone function. Gluten-free foods are popping up all over grocery stores and restraunts, and many claim that avoiding the protein found in wheat improves energy levels and digestion.

Concentrate on balance when deciding how to incorporate nutirition research into your own life. Educate yourself by doing your own resreach on the food in question, and realize that every body is different and will react differently to certain foods. Ask your doctor to test for food allergies if you suspect you have one, and experiment with different types of food for a balanced diet.

Gluten-free products, for example, are often made with corn or oats and can be a great option for balancing the types of carbohydrates you eat. You may try experimenting with low-fat, soy, rice and almond milk to see which option you like best. The key is remembering that, unless you have a medical reason to avoid a food group, a balanced diet should incorporate a variety of foods. Practicing moderation in your eating habits can help prevent the potential health risks assosciated with foods containing gluten, lactose and soy.