By Kelly Skinner

It’s true, a culture devoted to sweet tea, butter, Bourbon and the gospel of Paula Deen may not seem like the ideal setting for healthful living. But when it comes to your relocation in Atlanta, you’ll be happy to hear you can have the best of both worlds. While the opportunities for growing in girth are far-reaching (we have some of the best soul food and barbecue joints in the South), so too are the options for slimming down, eating right and staying in shape. Knowing where to look and how to get involved is the first step; from there, choosing the life you want to lead is completely up to you.

Walk the Walk
Sometimes the best motivation for living a healthy lifestyle comes from watching the habits of those around us. If you need that extra push to get out and moving, put yourself in the presence of those devoted to exercise and personal fitness in a few of Atlanta’s fittest ‘hoods:

Peachtree Park—Located within Buckhead, this 13-street neighborhood is a thoroughfare for walkers, joggers and cyclists. The quiet streets and picturesque homes make a pleasant setting for a stroll every day of the week, with the convenience of being just a few miles from Lenox Square. An added bonus is the Darlington Walking Trail, a one-acre walking trail complete with picnic tables and a touch of nature.

Cambridge Park—Centered in North Dekalb County, this 200-home neighborhood boasts its own 80-acre lake with running trails and options for canoeing and swimming as well as leisurely walks or sprints.

Alpharetta—Venture outside the peri-meter to sweat in this little slice of surburban heaven. Not only will you find beautiful homes in safe neighborhoods (perfect for raising a family), but you’ll also discover an area that’s devoted to active lifestyle. Parks, miles upon miles of hiking trails, and bike paths are merely the beginning.

Oakhurst—Walk your dog or run with the jogging club along the sunny sidewalks of historic Oakhurst. Located just a few miles from equally active downtown Decatur, Oakhurst balances a lively social scene with an active, walkable environment. Get everywhere on foot and become part of the crowd. Everywhere you look here, people are decked out in fitness gear and running with their dogs, strollers or friends.

Candler Park—Bordering other highly walkable spots like Lake Claire, Little Five Points, Druid Hills and Edgewood (all within walking distance) this neighborhood allows for a high quality of life amidst a pristine setting. People here tend to walk everywhere, whether it be to Little Five for dinner, to Druid Hills for work; or to the park and beyond for sheer exercise. Community events, festivals, soccer games and races find happy homes around Candler Park--—a neighborhood always on the go.

Exercise Like it’s Your Job
Several Atlanta offices have helped their workers out by giving them even more incentives to work hard: by offering discounted (or free) exercise programs or by promoting after-work athletic endeavors through organized soccer and baseball teams. For instance, Home Depot offers a wellness credit to employees participating in health-assessment surveys; Hartsfield-Jackson employees received pedometers to encourage group walks throughout the airport; and UPS provided its employees with discounted gym memberships at its Sandy Springs location. Check with your boss to learn more about fitness options available through your company. You may be surprised at what you discover.

But for locals, it shouldn’t come as a shock that Atlanta’s bosses are taking the fitness initiative. After all, Atlanta did just receive recognition as the Southeast’s healthiest metropolis, according to the American College of Sports Medicine’s fitness index.

If you’re more inclined to exercise when you have the added peer pressure of a group, consider joining a team or a gym with new colleagues or friends. Boot camps have sprouted up all over the city and are often offered to local businesses at special rates. If your company currently doesn’t offer anything in terms of fitness opportunities, enlist your work friends in early morning yoga classes or walks around the office park during lunch hour. Garner interest from colleagues and see who would be up for a regular weekly game of kickball or flag football. Look at sites like gokickball.com, csasportsleagues.com and flagfootball.leaguelab.com for starters, or have your boss look into businesses like Quick Fitness Solutions for your company. They provide potential personal training and fitness options right at your office.

Whether it be at work or on your own, the most important thing about finding a new exercise routine in Atlanta-—according to CrossFit owner, certified ISSA US swimming instructor and Pose running instructor, Jack Haire—is that you find something you’ll want to stick with. “I think it’s imperative you first determine what you like to do, and once you find what excites you, you’ll be more likely to keep with it if you find a support group or club supporting that activity,” he says. According to Haire, runners will delight in the veteran Atlanta Track Club, while tennis players will find a common bond among the members of ALTA. Rowers will find a similar mindset amidst members of the Atlanta Rowing Club. “All these clubs have their own websites. Googling and looking for a support club is a great way to get fit and to fit into your new city,” he adds.

Like a lot of fit Atlantans, Haire partakes in many of the city’s athletic clubs and events. He rarely misses the Peacthree Roadrace, an infamous 10K attracting runners from all over the world every July 4. You can also find Haire swimming, flat-water paddling or training for triathlons. With an extensive personal and professional passion for fitness under his belt, Haire speaks with authority when he advises how to find a personal trainer.

“Look for someone who not only has experience, but who has various credentials,” he says. Look for recommendations from someone you know who has had a positive experience with a gym or trainer and then interview that person or facility and ask for a training program. Meet the trainer face to face so you can get a feel for the program and for the people you’ll be working with.”

Is hitting the gym not your cup of tea? Consider some of Atlanta’s alternative options for fitness. In the East Point neighborhood of Atlanta, you can partake in high-speed, short-distance bike racing at the Dick Lane Velodrome. Wall climbing gyms like Wall Crawlers add a social component to exercise and open up your fitness routine to likeminded adventurers (who may want to join you on upcoming rock climbing trips). Ever been told you should join the circus? Learn the trapeze from professionals at D.A.I.R. in Grant Park. And work out with the likes of Matthew Davis (Alaric Saltzman in Vampire Diaries) at X-3 Sports kickboxing gym, which has locations in Midtown and in Marietta.

Local Diet
Atlanta’s outlying farm communities and residents’ devotion to fresh, local produce are present throughout the city, with roadside stands and farmers markets open for business in every nook and cranny, and chalkboards boasting locally grown produce in front of restaurants on every block. Whether you’re an omnivore or a vegan, your options vary widely in a city that’s home to celebrity chefs like Kevin Gillespie, Huge Acheson and Wolfgang Puck—all of whom are devoted to providing diners with delectable farm-to-table menues. Vegetarians will be happy to learn Atlanta is ranked fourth on PETA’s list of North America’s top vegetarian-friendly cities. From the massive Dekalb Farmers Market to city-wide grocery stores like Whole Foods and Star Provision, it’s easy to be conscious about what you’re putting in your body and tracking where the food came from. Likewise, local farms like Riverview Farms and the farm at Serenbe offer a wealth of opportunties for bringing garden-fresh veggies to your own table, either by eating their produce at local restaurants or by joining one of their sponsored CSAs (Community Supporting Agriculture). Join like-minded people and learn more about cooking and sourcing food responsibly by becoming a member of Slow Food Atlanta. It’s tough to chow down on Cheetos and Milk Duds when you’ve just been scolded about waste and consumerism. Besides, when you get involved with some of these grocery stores, farms or other groups, you aren’t just helping the community and boosting your health factor—you’re also laying down roots for lasting friendships in your new city.