4 Tips to Maintain a Healthy Lifestyle During a Lazy Day

There are the days you feel a little tired, but you muster up the strength to get your butt out the door and to your Zumba class. Then there are the days you'll make any excuse in the world to stay away from the gym and keep warm and comfortable on your couch.

Homebound time does not have to be a write-off - complete with Snuggie and diet derailment. When you're hit by a case of the lazies, here are some ideas to feel like you're still contributing to your healthy lifestyle:

1) Plan your workouts and meals for the upcoming week while on the couch. Take out your cell phone calendar to input grocery lists and recipe ideas. Pencil in workouts for the morning or at lunch to ensure that your night off will not become a new habit.

2) Spend the time doing something that isn't just eating in front of the television. Give oil pulling a try. Sip on warm lemon water. Spend the commercial break doing dishes or folding laundry. If your time for yourself turns into boredom, it's common that you may try to eat that boredom away. Safeguard yourself from these binges.

3) Fit in a baby workout. Try some jumping jacks for one minute while the water is boiling for your tea. Do a stretchy yoga pose as you watch television. Even try a balancing pose while you brush your teeth (tree pose is a great one). It doesn't have to be all or nothing - even these little bits of time will improve your mood and strengthen your muscles, especially if you've been sedentary all day.

4) Go to sleep early. Often we forget that when we feel lazy, we're probably tired. Staying up watching Glee is not the way to catch up on rest. Television is an engaging medium, so make sure to turn it off an hour before you plan to go to bed. Do soothing activities and your unfettered mind will find it easier to fall asleep earlier, giving more probability that you'll reawaken with more energy the next day.

And remember, "Time you enjoy wasting, is not wasted time"� ~ Marthe Troly-Curtin