Staying healthy and staying in shape are not necessarily the same thing, nor do they require the same amount of attention or work. Of course, staying in shape is extremely important and being healthy does make it much easier to get into shape once the time comes, but finding the perfect methods for balancing the two objectives is never an easy task and requires an ample amount of time and consideration. Luckily, others have already put in all the hard work and pulled together the tips below.

Food is absolutely the quickest way to align a healthy and fit life, but also the easiest way to obscure the boundaries. Many meals and supplements that are advertised as being good for fitness are actually very un-healthy. However, most honest health foods will have a positive impact on your shape and tone. Thus, it’s best to stick with the foods that are organic and good for the body; rather than experimenting with various mixtures and surprises. Some sort of milkshake or something similar can be alright in the mid-afternoon, but never use it as a replacement for a full, healthy meal.

When to sleep and when to hit the gym is often a tough battle between people who are just beginning to workout. The truth is, you should sleep according to your normal schedule; don’t alter it for a better workout routine. Instead, mold your exercising and such around the times you usually go to sleep and wake-up.

You should do some light exercise before sleep; it helps you sleep more deeply  and get there faster, but likewise, it’s often good to workout not long after you start your day. This doesn’t mean workout just as you awake, but rather, after you have eaten a good breakfast, prepared for a full session, and are completely aware. Never start exercising if you are tired or not fully alert.

It’s good to map tough workouts on a constant schedule, but don’t push your body beyond your known limitations without first preparing yourself. Go at a steady pace and have good goals laid out along the way. Attempting to rush into a state of physical perfection will not only ruin a healthy lifestyle, but often will result in disappointment because you won’t achieve it as fast as you are imagining. It is best to take a comfortable, steady stride and know what your different long-term and short-term goals are. If you stick to this schedule and workout properly, these goals will become accomplished before long and everything will work out perfectly.

In either situation, healthy or fit, it’s best to avoid alcohol under most circumstances. As adults, it’s perfectly acceptable to have a drink on occasion and this isn’t going to hurt anything. It is actually believed to be healthier to have a glass of wine once a week, but you should never attempt to do any exercising or lifting once you’ve had a drink. In all circumstances, safety is extremely important and can be easily forgotten once you’ve had a drink. Never allow yourself or a friend to work out if the two of you aren’t fully alert and coherent. Each glass only makes that bar tougher and tougher to lift, not a good thing when disaster strikes.

These little lines may be hard to walk at times and the two lifestyles often seem to contradict one another at the oddest times, but if you look closely and pay attention, they are both aiming for the same thing. In the end, you should be healthier, happier and in a better shape than before. Never sacrifice good health for anything and if you follow these guidelines thoroughly, there will be no problem living on both sides of the coin.