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Healthy eating isn’t a mystery. The mystery is how to get yourself to commit to doing it day in and day out, forever.
Eat healthier.. right now.
We are constantly bombarded by options- and the most obvious ones tend to be pretty UNhealthy. With a little bit of practice, healthier eating can become a LOT easier- but it takes time! Just like learning a new sport, you need to practice healthy eating, and be patient with yourself as you make adjustments.
Being social is part of a healthy lifestyle.
On the other hand, being ‘healthy’ sometimes means NOT choosing the ‘healthiest option’. If your diet is stressing you out because you can’t enjoy a ‘normal’ dinner out with your friends, or you feel like eating a piece of birthday cake is like ‘cheating’, then we should talk.
There are times to say YES to the cake, and YES to the pizza. It’s important that your lifestyle contributes towards you looking and feeling great, but also allows for flexibility- for time spent with loved ones over dinner without thinking about calories and nights out not worrying about how much sleep you’ll get. This is part of LIFE, and if your diet doesn’t allow for life, its the wrong diet for you.
Small steps lead to big changes.
Start by making just a few different choices, and see what happens- here are 30 simple tips and tricks that can help you lose weight, improve your health mindset, and practice healthy eating habits.
- Start your day with a big glass of water.
- Include protein in every main meal.
- Eat more vegetables.
- Find a sport, type of exercise or other physical activity that you can commit to doing 2-3 times a week, every week.
- Make sleep a priority. 7-9 hours a night is ideal.
- Read the ingredients. On everything.
- Every time you look in the mirror, compliment yourself.
- Stop worrying about the sugar in fruit if you still add sugar to your coffee. First things first.
- That said, stop adding sugar to your coffee.
- Buy in season fruit and vegetables. They’re cheaper, and they taste better.
- Always keep a snack in your bag or backpack.
- ‘Salad’ doesn’t automatically mean ‘healthy’ or ‘low calorie’.
- Stop scrolling through Instagram when you should be sleeping.
- Anytime you cook, make enough to eat twice and save the leftovers.
- Learn how to discern between physical hunger and emotional hunger.
- The number on the scale isn’t the ONLY measure of progress.
- In a restaurant you are a paying customer- ask questions about the menu and ingredients.
- Order dressings or sauces on the side, and add them to your plate yourself.
- What you have at home is what you will eat. So keep healthy stuff at home.
- Measure your oils– the size of a drizzle changes depending on your mood.
- Walking counts as exercise. Do it more.
- Spend time with people that make you feel good about yourself.
- Frozen food CAN be a great healthy choice- depending on what you choose.
- Any diet that sounds extreme is probably a bad idea.
- Stop drinking juice. Eat the whole fruit.
- Start paying attention to how you feel after you eat– when you eat ‘junk food’ do you feel different than if you eat ‘healthier food?’
- Take 5 minutes each evening to do something to help reduce your stress levels tomorrow.
- Quit smoking. Even if its only ‘when you drink.’
- Stop ordering a beer just because everyone else does. No one cares if you drink water.
- Remember that even healthy foods have portion sizes. Healthy doesn’t mean calorie free.
This list could go on and on- there are so many simple, little things you can start to do that have an effect on your health. If this seems overwhelming to you- don’t worry! You don’t need to change everything all at once. In fact, in my coaching programs we work on progressive change- implementing habits that move you towards your body, mindset and health goals without turning your whole life upside down.
Do you already use some of these tips in your day to day life? Anything that you feel could be added to this list? I would love to hear some tips that you live by- share them with me in the comments!
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