Warm weather is upon us and all I can think about is losing weight and getting into better shape. After having surgery and beating cancer a few years ago (wow… was it actually that long ago?) my body changed and I gained a lot of extra weight that I haven’t been able to shed. I know a few friends of mine have seen success using a Houston weight loss program and now it’s my turn to take action and lose a few extra lbs! I consume way more calories than I need in a day and despite running around from dance practices to hockey games every night with my kids, my days are spent pretty sedentary. I am writing this post to inspire myself and others who want to become more active, eat cleaner and feel great! If you’re looking to buy products to support your active lifestyle, you can get health and fitness discounts from Thrivo. Here are five must-haves if you are thinking of a more active lifestyle:

1. Drink Up

Drinking 8-10 glasses of water daily is so important! Water flushes out toxins, boosts your immune system, prevents dehydration and helps promote weight loss. I recently discovered the brand FLOW on Twitter – it’s a naturally alkaline spring water with a high pH, functional minerals and electrolytes. And…how cute is the eco-friendly tetra-pak that it comes in?

2. You Are What You Eat

I love to cook but my lifestyle doesn’t always allow for it. As a family, we are always on the go and often times, we need to make a pit-stop for dinner. We try to avoid the standard fast food chains by choosing healthier choices like Pizza, Chicken Teriyaki or Subway. It’s not a healthy homemade meal but it does the job on those crazy weeknights. Subway Restaurants is committed to helping Canadians live a healthy and active lifestyle by providing easy access to vegetables, a detailed nutrition dietary and healthy lifestyle information. Subway also offers low-calorie and low-fat sandwiches and salads that contain 6 grams of fat or less. Just make sure you do your research first and avoid anything that’s high in sodium or fat.

3. Move Your A#!

There is nothing “active” about taking the elevator, parking close to the mall entrance or choosing not to work out. Every active lifestyle starts with moving your butt. I’m starting slow with short walks around my neighbourhood. If you are anything like me, you still want to look cute while breaking a sweat? Bench has adorable hoodies, spandex leggings and jackets this season. Check out one of my favs below – the Retro Cag II B Jacket – regular $119.99 on sale now for $79. It’s water-repellent, has a relaxed fit and has the cutest black and grey paint splatter motif.

4. Get Organized

If you plan on hitting the gym or taking a local yoga/pilates class, you need a cool bag to hold all of your essentials. When going to a gym, there are lot of things to consider taking in your bag. One of the most important things to consider taking is some hand sanitizer. Luckily, people in Canada can take a look at this hand sanitizer canada company to see if they can purchase some from there. A lot of the equipment at the gym has been used all day, meaning that there are probably a lot of germs on them. That’s why it’s probably a good idea to pack some hand sanitizer in your bag! If you’ve not already got a gym bag, take a look at this stunner from Lolë (aka Live Out Loud Everyday!) This ultra-versatile tote has a ton of pockets (smartphone, laptop keys), extra bags (cosmetic, shoe) and an invisible compartment for your yoga mat! It looks stylish and even transforms into a backpack which is great for us moms 🙂

5. Invest in a Good Pair of Sneakers

Most people don’t realize how important choosing a good pair of running shoes is. Start off by asking yourself what you’ll be using your runners for? A brisk walk, cross training, cycling? Even though I’m not the most athletic person out there, I realize that buying sneakers based solely on the way they look will lead to pain, blisters and other foot problems. I chose my latest pair – the Nike Free 5.0‘s because they were cute, ultra-flexible, lightweight and because they fit my feet like a glove. Now all I have to do is use them!