Whether it’s the first of January and you’re making New Year’s resolutions, it’s springtime and you want to get ready for swimsuit season, or you’re simply realizing that the time has come to gain control of your fitness and overall wellbeing, now is the perfect time for launching a brand-new health regimen. But anyone who has tried to lose weight, get fit or otherwise improve their health knows that willpower alone won’t cut it. The straightest, quickest path to success includes information — specifically, the knowledge and insight you can gain from studying your Zodiac sign. Based on your sign, you possess unique strengths to harness and challenges to avoid as you start your journey toward a new, healthier and better you. Read on to find out all about how to use the wisdom of astrology to get and stay fit and healthy.
Aries
Energetic Aries possesses two great gifts to help you develop your health and fitness: your innate enthusiasm and your competitive nature. You’re at your best when engaged in fast-paced, intense physical exercise — think kickboxing, running, races and team sports. But avoid getting stuck in a rut; it’s important for Aries to switch things up often, so your interest stays at its peak. In fact, activities like CrossFit and circuit training are right up your alley; alternating quick, explosive bursts of resistance training with aerobic exercise, they’re anything but routine. As for diet and weight-loss, try setting incremental goals — working first toward losing five pounds, then ten, or dropping one clothing size and then another — to motivate you to keep pushing toward that next objective. Competitive by nature, you might enjoy challenging friends, coworkers or family members to join you in a diet pool, a 5K race, or some other competition.
Taurus
Hardworking Taurus has all the mental endurance needed to push through tough physical exercise — except your self-indulgent streak can throw off your focus, not to mention your diet. Thus, for you, improving your health depends on moving your body and enjoying wholesome meals with plenty of flavor. You’re a natural when it comes to endurance sports, such as swimming, running and cycling. You may not be the speediest one on the trail or the winner of the race, but you’ll reach the finish line every time; you’re all about keeping on moving until the job is done. Gym glasses like Spinning could be especially enjoyable for you, since you can set your own pace while enjoying the camaraderie of the group. As far as diet goes, it’s tough to avoid high-fat, high-calorie treats when you’re naturally drawn to rich flavors. Thus, tantalize your tastebuds with low-calorie meals that incorporate plenty of spices. Plus, good news — occasional treats like red wine or dark chocolate actually have health benefits!
Gemini
Sociable Gemini’s most enjoyable and therefore effective workouts are the ones you tackle with a friend. You’re more likely to stay engaged with a companion by your side, since chatting and laughing together distracts you from the effort your body is expending. Plus, you and a friend can push each other through those moments when all you want to do is quit. Similarly, team sports and group classes at the gym are a wonderful way to get moving and stay motivated. The same principle applies to healthful eating: Get new ideas for wholesome dinners at a cooking class or by joining a dinner share with people in your neighborhood who also want to improve their eating habits while cutting down on time spent in the kitchen. Whatever you try, just make sure to keep exploring fresh flavors and new activities that excite you. That’s Gemini’s key to making healthy living a long-term habit.
Cancer
If you’re like lots of Cancers, you’re an emotional eater — someone who combats stress or sadness with familiar, comforting flavors. Most Cancers also nurture their loved ones with the same types of hearty, stick-to-your-ribs recipes that are family favorites. The problem, of course, is that these foods aren’t great for your overall health, even if eating them feels good in the moment. Thus, improving your eating habits is a big part of overall wellness for you. You may even want to explore your lifetime relationship with food with a therapist, or at least with a supportive friend. At any rate, when you decide to make a change, recruit your loved ones’ assistance and encouragement, which can make all the difference in your long-term success. The same goes for exercise: Playing softball with your children can be a fun family event, while pickup games with colleagues or hitting the gym with a pal makes moving your body so much more fun. Soon, you’ll start craving your workout sessions, since physical exercise is wonderful at regulating moods and increasing overall happiness.
Leo
With Leo’s passion and energy, it’s easy for you to get swept up in a new diet or exercise regimen. Your excellent focus and endurance also come in handy when you’re beginning what you hope will become a lifelong habit. The challenge comes in when you aren’t crazy about the foods you’re eating or the exercise you’re sweating through; it’s hard to throw yourself into something you just aren’t passionate about. Therefore, the key for you is to find a diet and exercise regimen that will capture and hold your interest — namely, foods and physical activities that are pure fun. And if they let you show off your style and shine like the star you are, so much the better. Think cooking, dancing or rock-climbing lessons, a pickup softball game with your coworkers, or a potluck dinner with friends featuring lots of fresh ingredients and bold seasonings. And don’t be afraid to indulge in a yummy treat from time to time, such as a bit of red wine or dark chocolate (hint: Both of these have benefits for your health).
Virgo
Most Virgos feel much better when following a healthy lifestyle. You tend toward anxiety and stress, but both conditions can be managed by eating well and exercising regularly. You’ve probably noticed that once these elements spin out of control, so do other areas of your life — which is no fun at all. Therefore, moving your body and following a healthy diet should be lifelong habits that are easy to work into your day. For Virgo, this means staying organized: scheduling workouts and trips to the grocery store — meaning, actually recording them in your calendar, and setting reminders so you’ll follow through — and keeping a list of go-to meals and snacks to stave off hunger and junk food cravings. Enrolling in gym classes or signing up for a race is a good idea, both for the accountability and social aspect as well as for the financial motivation; frugal Virgo can’t stand wasting money by paying for something you don’t end up doing. Finally, capitalize on the fact that you thrive on routine by mapping out a plan and then sticking to it, week in and week out. That’s Virgo’s key to wellness success.
Libra
As social as you are, Libra, your path toward wellness could very well depend on a little help from your friends — and, best of all, you could help them out along the way. After all, they’re probably suffering the same health effects that you’re experiencing as a result of too many late nights, expensive drinks and unhealthy restaurant meals. Why not make wellness a group effort? When you want to get together, instead of heading out on the town, cook a wholesome meal at one of your homes. Or, if you do go out to a bar or a club, tell a friend you plan to order two sparkling waters for every one alcoholic drink, and enlist their help in sticking to the plan. When it comes to physical exercise, take a cue from your sign’s symbol of the Scales: Try workouts that incorporate core strength moves, yoga, or Tai Chi to improve your overall balance and fitness.
Scorpio
Since Scorpio thrives on intensity, power and control, you’re most in your element when your fitness regimen features these as a central component. For physical exercise, think disciplines that build your balance and control along with your muscles, such as Pilates, modern dance, Tai Chi or other martial arts. And don’t be surprised if you get a little obsessed with your new routine! Of course, it’s all too easy for your sign to take obsession a bit too far; combat this by scheduling three or four workouts per week, and limiting yourself to that. Your approach to eating well should be the same: Capitalize on your exceptional endurance and self-control, but don’t overdo it. It may even be a good idea to consult with your doctor or a nutritionist who can advise a sensible diet plan for you to stick to. Just make sure it incorporates bold, dynamic spices and other flavors that you’ll relish, since bland foods will send you looking for something more exciting.
Sagittarius
Considering that your open-hearted, open-minded spirit is all about spontaneous adventure, it’s probably tough for Sagittarius to settle on a wellness routine. The very word “routine” is apt to send you running, screaming, for the hills! That’s why your challenge is finding a way to reframe adopting a healthy lifestyle, so you can view it as an adventure rather than an unwelcome limitation. One way to do this is to tap into your inner scholar: Take a vegetarian cooking class or study an Asian cookbook for new, healthful recipe ideas, or take a course in rock climbing, horseback riding or anything other physical activity you’ve always wanted to learn but never tried before. CrossFit and circuit training workouts are also varied — and challenging — enough to hold your interest. You might even end up enrolling in an instructor-training course, with the goal of teaching your new passion to others.
Capricorn
For Capricorn, working hard and striving for improvement are a way of life. Thus, these, along with your ambitious, goal-oriented nature, are your gifts to employ when seeking to improve your health and wellbeing. Whether you’re trying to lose weight, lower your cholesterol or improve your racing time, be sure to set measurable, specific goals — lose ten pounds, complete a 5K race, run an eight-minute mile — and keep track of your progress. And don’t forget to reward yourself when you reach those milestones of success! Since you rarely indulge in pampering relaxation, set up a goal-and-reward system that builds that in, such as earning a bubble bath or an afternoon nap for reaching your target. You also have a competitive streak, so joining a soccer or basketball team could be a great motivator to get physically fit. As for dietary changes, set some rules for yourself and your family to follow, such as no chips or sweets in the house, or filling three-quarters of your plate with fruits and vegetables at every meal.
Aquarius
As progressive and innovative as you are, Aquarius, you’re probably well informed about the latest research in health and fitness. You already know that a healthy lifestyle includes moderate amounts of wholesome foods, aerobic exercise and strength training. The trick is getting motivated to put this knowledge into action, preferably in a way that piques your interest. For you, that probably means exploring routes toward wellness that others might see as a little bit “out there” — juice cleanses, for example, or acupuncture, or “yogilates” (an exercise system that combines yoga with Pilates moves). Just try to avoid the trap of chasing wellness fads rather than settling on a regimen that will work for your lifestyle in the long term. Here’s the good news: Your sign has exceptional endurance and follow-through, and you do well with routine. Deciding on a course and sticking to it shouldn’t be too difficult, as long as you follow your interests.
Pisces
Dreamy Pisces can have a difficult time establishing a wellness routine, since it’s a lot easier to fantasize about getting healthy than it is to put your ideas into action. If willpower is an issue for you, enlist help: Take gym classes with a friend, for example, or hire a personal trainer who can help you focus on specific, key exercises that are tailored to your body and fitness goals. Improving your diet is the same: It’s easy to get overwhelmed when you know what you need to do but getting there seems like an immense and impossible undertaking. Therefore, it’s important to break it down into small, measurable and manageable steps. Write out a weekly meal plan — with the help of a nutritionist, if needed — and then make out a shopping list so you know exactly what to get at the grocery store. As an animal lover with a huge heart, you might enjoy trying a vegetarian or vegan diet in your quest for wellness; you’ll feel a cleansing in your soul as well as your physical body.
