4 Simple Steps to Jump Start Your Healthy Lifestyle
Who doesn't want to live a happy, energetic life full of vibrant health? It's a goal we all share and aspire to. But sometimes it seems so far from our reach that we find it easier to just keep doing what we do and not worry about it until we need to buy bigger size clothes, are shocked by a photo of ourselves or get bad news and strict orders from the doctor.
And once we get to that point we declared "Starting tomorrow I'm going on a diet and working out" we proclaim this endeavor with no plan, system or strategy just fueled by a combination of good intentions and sheer frustration. And how long does our unplanned progress last? Not very long at all.
That's because you can't just go from point A to point Z. A baby doesn't crawl one day and run the next, right? There are steps in between, steps that are necessary to ensure your success. By following, practicing and assessing your current standings on these four steps you can naturally and realistically transition from dieting to healthy living.
Mental Preparation
There are very few habits and behaviors we can change from one day to the next, and revamping our health and eating habits is certainly not one of them. We are talking about undoing a lifetime's worth of ideas, associations and relationship with food and exercise. Your craving, okay need for chocolate, your love of lasagna, your hatred of Brussels sprouts and most of their vegetable family, not to mention the emotional connection we have with food.Most people don't find comfort after a rough day or internal turmoil in a bowl of brown rice with teriyaki tofu and fresh fruit for dessert, no it's bring on the mashed potatoes, gravy, fried chicken and pecan pie with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. And whether you were the jock or the cheerleader in school or were the last one to get picked for teams, you also have some positive or negative associations with physical fitness.
These associations, ideas and beliefs are deeply ingrained and they are not going to give up their well rooted holds without a fight. So you have to start the gradual process of establishing healthy habits and creating a positive, health promoting mindset that is going to be open, welcoming and supportive of change in healthy eating, exercise and healthy living overall.
Accountability
Most of the time we keep our health goals to ourselves for two reasons #1 The Secret Before and After "I'm not going to tell anyone about my plan to lose 20 lbs. and then totally take them for a loop with my fabulous transformation" or reason #2 Fear of Failure "If I say I'm going to lose 20 lbs. by my birthday and I don't everyone is going to know I'm a failure and a loser".In both cases you are doing yourself a grave injustice, because by shielding yourself from reality and protecting yourself from criticism you are also depriving yourselves of support, accountability and encouragement.
And by not telling your supportive, positive friends and family of your goals you are really avoiding responsibility, which you are reminded of every time you hear a well intended check-up question like "So how is the diet going?" or "Have you started eating more veggies and drinking more water instead of diet soda?" or "Did you go to the gym yesterday like you said you would?" If you're not taking action and not doing what you said you would, it does seem easier to just keep your healthy dreams to yourself but that's not helping you, it's hurting you by keeping you stuck and repeating the same cycle.
Reevaluate your Diet
Get real about your diet. All those sodas you drink, they have calories just like the milk and sugar you have in your 5 cups of coffee every day. Just because you don't actually sit down to have a meal doesn't mean it doesn't count.And while it's great that you're eating more salads it kind of defeats the purpose when it's drowning in dressing, studded with crispy chicken, bits of bacon and a cup of cheese. Most of us know what we need to do; you know you need to be more aware of what you eat, that you need to eat more fruits and vegetables and that it's better to prepare your own meals, but we have trouble in actually doing it.
Again, this has to do with not having a basic understanding of how and where to start and not having a support system to hold you accountable. So be sure to do whatever is necessary to lay that foundation for success. No one said this was going to be easy, but getting real and honest about what you're currently doing wrong and then taking real action to correct those bad habits, and that includes asking for help, is a crucial step.
Physical Activities
While some physical activity is better than none, this is another area where we need a reality check. Eating while you're standing up doesn't burn off the calories of what you're eating. Going on the treadmill for half an hour doesn't cancel out eating chocolate bar. If you like the stationary bike because it's the best piece of gym equipment for reading, you should stay home and read because you'd probably burn the same amount of calories.LOSE WEIGHT BY CHANGING HOW YOU COOK
Getting the most benefit out of exercise takes work, maybe that's why it's called a workout, both mentally and physically. If you are not willing to make the commitment to a mindful session where you give 100%, you're not getting as much out of your workouts as you think or want, which means you're not seeing results, which leads to frustration and giving up.
Find an activity you enjoy, yes you can enjoy exercise once you find something you like. If you don't like traditional gyms that's fine, there are so many other things you can do like dancing, running, fencing, hiking, tennis, swimming, boxing, roller/ice skating, bike riding and you know there is so much more. Engage in these activities 3-4 times a week. Be mindful and present when performing your physical activity, this means concentrating both in body and mind. Honor the fact that you have taken time out of your day to do something good for your body and remember your goal and what you want to accomplish.
Taking the first steps towards a healthy life takes work, results don't happen overnight and it takes more work to stay healthy. The important thing is to not just focus on the effort and what you have to give up, instead relish in the rewards and all the benefits you reap. And the key is to start so start with these 4 simple steps today, why wait it's a good a day as any.
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