How To Start A Healthy Lifestyle This Year

“New year, new me” is the pledge we often make to ourselves and others when there are things that we want to improve in our lives. Right before the new year rolls around, people make a list of resolutions that they would like to accomplish. Among those goals is the desire to achieve a  healthy lifestyle which is usually followed by promises to eat healthier, lose weight, or get in shape. While some of us keep our word and crush those goals, unfortunately, many of us fail to stay committed. The problem is that we set unrealistic goals or look for quick fixes. Sometimes the intention to change is there, but we lack the knowledge or direction on how to do so.

The good news is that a healthy lifestyle can be attained, but the key is to have a clear path on what you sincerely hope to accomplish and to take small steps to help you get there. If you want to know how to start the new year healthy, here are some tips that you can use to help you stay committed.

 

Tips For A Healthy Lifestyle For The New Year 

Set Goals 

Whether you are looking to shed some pounds, lower your blood pressure, or to get fit, having an objective is crucial in helping you get the results you wish to achieve. For example, if your goal is to start eating healthy, you can eat salads three times a week instead of eating fast food for lunch. Also, you can take a 30-minute walk for a minimum of three times a week.

Adopt Healthier Eating Habits 

Healthy eating is essential for good health. Along with exercise, proper nutrition can help you maintain or lose weight, lower the chance of chronic diseases, increase energy, and helps you rest better. Making a conscious decision to select smart food choices promotes overall health and wellness.

Take a look at your diet in the past year and think about what modifications can be made. If you notice that you consume unhealthy foods in excess and not enough healthy ones, that is an indication that you need to make some changes.

Creating a new healthy diet is easier than you think; focus on adding rather than subtracting. When you are designing your healthy meal plan, make sure you include all of the major food groups. A balanced diet consists of an assortment of fruits, vegetables, protein, healthy fats, and carbohydrates.

With the help of your physician, you can design a healthy diet that is suited to your needs.

For a healthy meal plan, eat more of the following:

Whole foods: Eat foods that are unprocessed and unrefined. Examples of whole foods are fruits, vegetables, beans, legumes, whole grains, nuts, and seeds.

Fruits and Vegetables: Aim for 2 -4 servings of fruits and 3-5 servings of vegetables daily.  A general serving size of vegetables is:

• ½ cup of cooked vegetables
• 1 cup of raw vegetables
• One medium tomato (is also considered as a  fruit)
• ½ of starchy vegetable (potato, sweet potato, or taro)

One serving size of fruit is:

• One medium apple, banana, orange, or pear
• Two small apricots, kiwis, or plums
• 1 cup of diced or canned fruit
• ½ cup of fruit juice
• 30g of dried fruit

Eat whole, fresh fruits and be easy on the juices, dried, and canned variety as some of them tend to be high in sugar.

Healthy fats:  Believe it or not, we need fats in our diets. The ones that I am referring to are called monounsaturated and polyunsaturated, otherwise known as healthy fats. This includes foods such as avocado, nuts, seeds, olives, coconut oil, grape seed oil, olive oil, fatty fish, nut, or seed butter.

Healthy fats have many health benefits. They can help lower bad cholesterol levels, reduce the chance of a heart attack or stroke, and fight inflammation.

Water: In order for our bodies to function properly, we need to drink eight glasses of water daily. The human body consists of 60 percent water.  Water delivers oxygen throughout the body, flushes toxins, clears skin, regulates body temperature, and transports vitamins and nutrients throughout the body. Water also plays a key role in digestion.

Lean protein: This group includes foods such as beans, legumes, skinless chicken, and lean beef.

Avoid or minimize the following:

• Sugar
• Fast Food
• Alcohol
• Processed Foods: These are items that are usually packaged in a box, bag, or can. While some processed foods are fine (bagged or frozen fruits and vegetables and roasted nuts), others are usually packed with sodium and sugar. Examples of highly processed foods are cereal, cookies, deli meat, and frozen dinners.
• Sugary drinks (Includes iced tea, fruit juice, flavored coffee, soda and, other carbonated drinks).
• Unhealthy Fats: Earlier, we talked about healthy fats. Now we are going to move on to the ones that are not the best options for our health. These are known as saturated fats and trans fats and should be eaten occasionally or avoided altogether. They can raise cholesterol levels and escalate the chance for heart disease. Saturated fats include foods such as lard, fatty meat such as ribs, steak, and lamb chops, high-fat dairy such as butter, whole milk, and ice cream, and processed meat such as sausages, burgers, and bacon. Trans fats are found in fried foods, pizza, vegetable shortening, potato chips, pastries, cakes, doughnuts, and pies.

Eat seasonally, if possible.

Buying and consuming foods at the same time they are grown is better tasting and heavier in nutrients. For example, you would eat plums in the summer as opposed to the winter.

Stay away from fad diets.

I’ll be honest with you, I am not a big fan of fad diets, particularly those that promise to help you lose 30 pounds in two weeks. Sure, you will lose weight, but the chances of keeping it off are very slim. You can also shed pounds with diets that consist of meal replacement drinks, but they don’t teach you how to eat properly, and you can end up right where you started. The key is to focus on healthy eating rather than going on a diet.

Consider taking supplements.

You should be able to get all of your vitamins and minerals by eating a healthy diet. However, many choose to take a multivitamin to ensure that they are getting all of the nutrients.

There are some cases where it may be necessary to take additional supplements. For example, if you have a condition such as iron deficiency anemia, you may want to take iron pills. Also, those who are vegans and vegetarians need to take B-12 vitamins due to the absence of meat in their diets. Before taking any supplements, please consult your doctor.

Go Grocery Shopping

Hitting up the supermarket aisles is the path to good health. Keeping your refrigerator and pantry stocked with healthy foods is essential to preparing and consuming healthy meals and snacks. Also, you will be less tempted to swing by the fast-food restaurant, considering all of the money you spent on groceries. A word of advice, try not to shop at the supermarket when you are hungry; you may end up with a bit more junk food than you intended to.

Cook More Often

One of the best ways to eat healthy is to prepare your own meals. Not only are you more aware of what ingredients are being used, but you also have total control over what is being put in your food.  Also, cooking your own meals is cheaper than dining out. If saving money is another one of your resolutions, then this is a great place to start.

Keep healthy snacks on hand.

Always carry healthy snacks such as fruit or nuts. Having healthy snacks available can help curb the desire to eat junk food.

Read Labels

Before you put any food in your grocery cart, take the time to check out the nutritional facts label. You want to make sure that the item is not high in sodium, cholesterol, sugar, and saturated or trans fats. Also, just as important, check out the ingredients and watch for additives such as gluten, dairy, or soy (if you are allergic or trying to avoid them). Another thing to consider is that if you can’t pronounce anything on the label, you may want to consider putting the item back.

Record your eating habits.

Monitor what foods you are eating, and either write them down in a food journal or by using an app such as MyFitnessPal or MyNetDiary. You may want to keep track of any food intolerances or what kind of day you were having when you ate junk food in excess.

Don’t Deprive Yourself

You have been good at eating healthy, but sometimes you get a craving for foods that are not the best for you healthwise. Although we should always strive to eat wholesome foods, sometimes a piece of fruit just doesn’t cut it. There is nothing wrong with the occasional treat. If you want a piece of chocolate cake, go for it; just don’t overdo it. Indulging in your favorite treat every so often will keep you from engaging in unhealthy binge fests. The important thing is to make sure you have a balanced diet.

Make Healthy Swaps

Part of a healthy lifestyle is choosing the best food options possible. Whether you want to satisfy cravings or seek healthier alternatives, here are a few examples of foods you can swap:

• Trade white bread for whole-grain bread.
• Exchange white pasta for brown rice or spelt pasta.
• Swap white potatoes for sweet potatoes.
• If you are craving sweets, eat a piece of fruit.
• For something crunchy, eat some celery. Add peanut butter for protein.
• Replace dairy milk with plant-based milk (almond, hemp, oat).
• Switch white rice for wild rice or brown rice.
• Use mashed avocado in place of mayonnaise.

Take It Slow

Don’t make too many radical changes at once. Doing too much too fast may cause you to relapse and resort to binge eating. For example, if you usually eat two candy bars a day, reduce it to one as opposed to eliminating them altogether. The key is to add more healthy food and cut back the consumption of junk food. Eventually, you will make a conscious decision to choose healthier food options.

Get Active 

For a healthy lifestyle, you must get enough physical activity. If you have a job where you spend most of your day sitting, it is essential that you get your body moving.

Here are some ways you can become more active:

• Take the stairs instead of the elevator.
• Walk short distances instead of driving.
• Take a ten-minute walk during your lunch break.
• Park your car a few blocks away from your destination and walk.
• Doing housework help keeps you fit. Activities such as vacuuming, gardening, sweeping, and lawn mowing, not only gets your heart pumping but also burns calories.

Exercise

An exercise program is essential for good health. According to the World Health Organization(WHO), we should aim to fit in at least 150 minutes (2.5 hours) per week. Some of the many benefits of regular physical activity include weight control, improved sleep, helps to boost your mood, and keeping your mind sharp. Before starting any fitness routine, please consult with your physician.

A good exercise regimen is a combination of aerobic activity and strength training exercises. The recommended amount of aerobic activity for adults is 150 minutes per week of moderate-intensity activity or 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity exercise, or a combination of both.

Examples of moderate-intensity exercise:

• Brisk walking (less than 2.5 miles per hour)
• Ballroom Dancing
• Riding a bike less than 10 miles per hour
• Vacuuming

Examples of vigorous-intensity exercise:

• Running
• Jumping rope
• Martial arts
• Hiking uphill

Also, you should aim to include moderate to high-intensity strength training exercises (such as weights or resistance) using all the major muscle groups at least twice a week.

You don’t have to do anything strenuous to see results. Low-impact activities such as walking (under 2.5 miles per hour), water aerobics, yoga, and tai chi can also have a positive impact on your health. The key is to keep your body moving.

Engaging in physical activities for 300 minutes per week or more will help you reap even more health benefits.

Pace yourself.

If you are a beginner or have not exercised in a long time, start with 15 minutes a day and work your way up. Also, do not attempt to do anything too strenuous or work out for two hours a day if you are not used to exercising. You will likely either crash and burn or abandon your fitness routine altogether.

If you suffer from a chronic illness, are mobility impaired, or have other disabilities, the recommended physical activity for you may vary. Consult with your physician to design an exercise plan specific to your capabilities and comfort level.

Don’t Forget To Nurture Your Mental Health

A healthy lifestyle does not only include diet and exercise; it involves your mind as well. Mental health is just as important or even more so than physical health. Aspects of mental wellness involve your thoughts, stimulating your intellect, and improving your thinking capacity.

Related: 172 Mental Health Quotes To Uplift and Empower You

Healthy Lifestyle Tips For Mental Wellness

Keep learning new things: Consider picking up a new skill. Study a new language, try your hand at painting, take piano lessons, or sign up for a gourmet cooking class. Learning something new enhances your brainpower by boosting your learning speed and helps to fight off dementia. Also, it keeps you busy, and you are less likely to be bored.

Read: Reading stimulates the intellect, helps improve focus, inspires creativity, keeps you entertained, and takes you to another place and time.

Meditate: Meditating for 10 minutes a day can help you quiet that “mental clutter” in your head, teaches you to focus, and helps relieve stress. It also makes you feel relaxed and encourages a feeling of inner peace, which enhances your mental health.

Spend time outdoors: Spending time outside has a positive effect on your mental health. It boosts your mood, improves your immune system, and enhances brain function. Take your lunch break outside on a nice sunny afternoon or sit on your porch in the evening and count the stars.

Eat foods that keep your brain healthy: Foods such as walnuts, almonds, cashews, avocado, beans, flaxseed, spinach, kale, blueberries, and fatty fish that are rich in Omega-3 such as tuna and salmon.

Shake things up: Deviate from your usual routine and do something different for a change. Drive a different route home from work, try a new restaurant, or take a vacation to somewhere you have never been. Adding variety to your life will take you out of your comfort zone, add a sense of excitement, and revitalize you.

Heal Through Therapy

If you are suffering from depression, anxiety, eating disorders, or other mental illnesses, you must talk to a therapist or psychiatrist. They are qualified to help you heal and put you on the path to becoming whole.

You do not have to have a mental illness to benefit from speaking to a mental health professional. It is also a good idea to seek therapy if you have experienced any of the following:

• Major life-changing events such as a divorce, death of a loved one, or loss of employment.
• Abandonment from a parent or partner.
• Chronic Illness
• Trauma or Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) due to assault, rape, being bullied, domestic violence, molestation, verbal or emotional abuse, or serving in the military.
• You can also speak with a therapist if you need someone with an unbiased opinion to listen and help you sort through your issues.

Emotional Health

Acknowledging and processing your feelings is key to preserving your emotional health. Did you know how you feel affects your well-being? For example, negative emotions such as regret, anger, fear, and resentment can have an adverse effect on your overall health, while joy, serenity, and love has a positive impact.

Emotional health includes being able to share your feelings without judgment or shame, self-esteem, and accepting who you are.

Healthy Lifestyle Tips For Emotional Wellness:

Write in a journal.

There are many benefits to journal writing. It is an excellent tool for self-reflection and assists you in keeping your thoughts organized. Jotting down your feelings in a journal helps you to understand them. Also, it aids you in setting and accomplishing your goals.

Replace negative thoughts with positive ones.

It was the legendary country star Willie Nelson who once said, “Once you replace negative thoughts with positive ones, you will see positive results.”

For example, let’s say you had to do a project at work. You hand it to your boss, expecting wonderful feedback since you worked so hard on it. Your manager hands it back to you only to have it filled with red marks and circles. Instead of thinking, “I failed horribly,” you could say, “I will double-check my work in the future,” or “I will do better next time.”

The thing is when you think, feel, or say something negative about yourself, you will eventually start to believe it. Start thinking positive thoughts, and you will see a difference.

Express your feelings constructively.

It is essential to let others know how we feel, but it has to be done in the most practical way possible. If you are angry or hurt, take a pause, breathe deeply, and think before expressing yourself.

If you express yourself irrationally, it could only make the situation worse. Also, when asserting yourself, start the sentence with “I feel” as opposed to “You make me feel” (unless it is a positive emotion) to avoid sounding accusatory which, again, can make the conversation go left.

Your feelings are valid, and you reserve the right to articulate yourself without guilt, humiliation, or criticism.

Start a hobby.

Whether it’s gardening, baking, sewing, or writing, getting a new hobby will give you a new zest for life, give you a sense of fulfillment, and boost your self-esteem.

Make time for yourself.

Spending time with yourself is essential for emotional well-being. Oddly enough, this is something that people find difficult to do.  Enjoy your alone time by engaging in your favorite hobby, writing in your journal, going to your favorite restaurant, or even a solo trip. By making time for yourself, you can clear your mind of the chatter of everyone’s opinions and hear your own thoughts.

Manage Your Time

Make a list of your tasks and schedule them accordingly. Planning your days and knowing exactly what you are going to do keeps you on your toes. As you finish each assignment, you will feel a sense of satisfaction, which alleviates stress.

Just Say No

You are always there to lend a hand whenever someone asks, but be careful that you do not overextend yourself. There is nothing wrong with helping out, but if you are unable to do so, just say no and explain why (if you choose to). Doing more than you can handle will leave you feeling stressed, burned out, and resentful.

Do What You Enjoy

Engage in activities that bring you joy. Whether it is listening to music, watching documentaries, couponing, or roller skating, setting aside time to do things you enjoy allows you to take a break from your busy life.  Also, it keeps you entertained, relieves stress, and alleviates depression.

Accept yourself for who you are.

This is a difficult task for most of us. We compare ourselves to others who we deem to have better lives than us. Instead of comparing yourself to others, celebrate your strengths, shush your inner critic, stop worrying about what you can’t change, and work on the things you wish to improve. Show yourself some kindness; you are amazing as is!

Forgive Yourself

We all have done something in the past that we are not proud of. Here is the thing: it no longer determines who we are in the present. We have to learn to forgive ourselves and remember we chose to do certain things because we felt it was the best decision at the time.

Forgiveness has many health benefits, which include lowering blood pressure, reducing the chance of a heart attack, alleviating anxiety, depression, and stress. Holding on to anger, resentment, hurt, regret, shame, and guilt does the opposite effect and puts you at risk for chronic diseases. It is in our best interest to learn from our mistakes, forgive and move on.

Social Health

How we connect and interact with others contributes to our well-being. That is why it is important to nurture social relationships.

Healthy Lifestyle Tips For Social Wellness

Spend time with family and friends.

Spending time with your loved ones is so important.  Make it your business to attend or organize as many family gatherings as possible. Plan a trip and pay a visit to those who live afar. Plan a weekly, monthly, or yearly activity with your family. Meet up with your friends and catch up over brunch or head on over to a lounge on a Saturday night. Have a date night with your significant other. Schedule some alone time with your mate where you turn off all technology and just concentrate on each other. Have a movie or game night with your children.

Keep In Touch

With the advancement of technology, it is so easy to stay connected to those we care about. Call, text, email, or Facetime your loved ones to let them know you are thinking about them. It can make all the difference in the world for someone to hear from you. Also, it will make you feel good to reach out to that relative or friend you have not spoken to in a while.

Respect

A key part of social wellness is the element of respect; giving it to others and demanding it for ourselves. Showing respect involves listening to what others have to say, being cordial, considerate, kind, and being appreciative when someone has helped or done something nice for you. Also, a major part of respecting someone is to fully accept others as they are.

Make sure you are also being treated with consideration. Respect is a two-way street and should be reciprocal.

Network with people that have similar interests.

Sometimes you have interests that no one in your circle can relate to. That’s why it is essential to link up with others that like the same things as you do. Go to a networking event, join an online community, or sign up for a hobby-based meet-up group. Associating with people who have like-minded interests helps nurture the part you usually don’t get to share, gives you a chance to express yourself and be understood, cultivate new friendships, and keeps you from feeling isolated.

Realize when you are in a toxic relationship.

There is no such thing as a perfect relationship. There are going to be times when they’ll be some bumps in the road, but at the end of the day, a healthy relationship involves love, support, happiness, consideration, mutual respect, feeling secure, and the freedom to be yourself.

If your interactions with someone continually leaves you feeling unhappy, used, drained, belittled, unsupported, disrespected, ignored, uncomfortable, or gaslighted, understand that you are in a toxic relationship. This applies not only to your significant other but is extended to family, friends, associates, and anyone you deal with in your professional life.

If you believe that you are in a toxic relationship, have a heart-to-heart with the offending party and express how you feel. The person in question may not be aware that they are being offensive. If he or she seems sincere and apologizes for their actions, give them a chance to redeem themselves and work on repairing the relationship. However, if things do not change, or in extreme cases of abuse (mental, physical, emotional, or verbal) cut off all ties without looking back. You may feel guilty, but it will only be temporary. The inner peace and happiness that will follow are worth it.

Related: Destiny’s Child’s The Writings On The Wall Turns 20: 12 Relationship Rules We Learned From The Album

Spiritual Health

Spiritual health involves being conscious of the world around you, seeking and expanding your sense of purpose and meaning in your life, your beliefs, morals, and fulfilling your life’s mission.

When your spiritual health is neglected, you become out of touch with yourself and the world around you. However, optimal spiritual wellness keeps you grounded and promotes inner peace and harmony.

Healthy Lifestyle Tips for Spiritual Wellness 

Show Some Gratitude

Take some time out every day to make a list of things you are thankful for. You may not have everything you want, but trust me, you have a lot of reasons to be grateful.

Related: 52 Reasons Why I Am Thankful

Practice what you believe.

Outside of religion, some of us don’t really take into consideration what our beliefs genuinely are.  A good way to determine our values is to write them down. Once we analyze and understand our principles, we can put them into practice and apply them to every aspect of our lives.

Realize that everyone’s journey is different from yours.

You may want to get married and have kids, while your bestie wants to stay single and travel the world. Understand that everyone isn’t going to want the same things as you. Although you’re close friends, you are two separate individuals with different dreams, goals, and interests.

I get it; you want to bond with your friend over as many things as possible.  However, you each have your own lives to explore and different roads to travel.

Treat others with kindness.

Always be kind and courteous to others. You have no clue what someone is going through behind closed doors.

Be yourself and allow others to do the same.

Giving yourself the freedom to be who you are encourages you to be at peace with yourself. In addition, you should let others do the same. Trying to change others will frustrate you (when they refuse to change) and alienate them.

Stick to your principles.

Many of us have values that we hold dear to us. But sometimes, we go through hardships where we make choices that we usually wouldn’t. For example, let’s say you run your own online magazine. You are making just enough to pay your staff and keep everything afloat, but you are looking for advertisers to bring in more revenue.

So you meet with an advertiser, only to find out that the ads he wants to place not only do not align with the message that your magazine is trying to convey it doesn’t coincide with your personal values. Do you agree to post an ad in your magazine because you need the money, or find another alternative? The best way to make difficult decisions such as this one is to refer to your values.

Respect other’s differences.

You were raised as a Christian, and your bestie practices Islam. One of your cousins believes in social norms, while you may not. The thing is that perceptions vary from each person, and although you may not agree with someone’s opinions and outlook on life,  you must be respectful. It is our differences that make us unique and the world a beautiful place.

Look at challenges as an opportunity for growth.

When obstacles are thrown in our path, we get discouraged and may want to give up. In order to overcome our challenges, we have to change how we look at them. We have to realize is that hardships are not designed to hinder but to make us rise to the occasion. So when you get hit with an obstacle, think about solutions as opposed to merely focusing on the problem. Once you conquer those challenges, you will feel a sense of power and accomplishment, not to mention your confidence will soar! Now that you got that obstacle out of the way, you can now continue on the path of achieving your goals.

Other Tips For A Healthy Lifestyle

Get Enough Sleep

Getting a sufficient amount of sleep is very important for your health. Unfortunately, it is something we often overlook because of hectic lifestyles.

The benefits of getting a good night’s sleep are enhanced concentration, increased productivity, and improved immune function. Poor sleeping habits are linked to weight gain, difficulty staying alert, and escalates the chance of developing heart disease and other illnesses.

Getting enough sleep is just as important as healthy eating and exercise. Aim to get 7-9 hours every day.

Reduce Stress

To some degree, we have all experienced stress in our lives. Whether we have work deadlines, demands from family obligations, or life-changing events such as divorce or the death of a loved one, there is no way to escape it.

Believe it or not, the majority of the stress we experience stems not from the situation itself but how we react to it. One way to calm down is to assess the situation and think before responding. Other stress relievers include taking deep breaths, exercising, listening to relaxing music, meditating, and spending time with loved ones. Practicing self-care is crucial when you are stressed. Make sure your needs are met before taking anything else on.

If left unmanaged, stress can have negative impacts on your health. It can wreak havoc on your digestive system, weaken your immunity, and put you at risk for chronic diseases.

Limit Screen Time

Many of us love to watch T.V., especially when there is a marathon of our favorite shows. While the occasional binge-watching is fine, spending too much time in front of the television encourages a sedentary lifestyle, which can increase the risk for heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and weight gain. Limiting time in front of the screen is not only restricted to T.V. but also includes cell phone usage and the computer.

Cell Phones make it so easy to stay in touch with others. Not only that, many of them are like a mini-computer on which you can listen to music, look up your bank account balance, search for restaurants and, help with navigation. There is also social media, which allows you to connect to others.

However, there are many adverse effects to spending too much time on your cell phone. For example, it can lead to sleep deprivation, give you a headache, keeps you from staying focused while walking or driving, and impair your vision. Also, it can lead to depression due to following social media accounts that deflate your self-esteem. Not to mention, it causes distraction because of the need to constantly watch what other people are doing. It is a good idea to turn the cell phone off every so often.

Computers are one of the most useful tools ever invented. It makes it easy to communicate, conduct research, and complete school assignments. If you are employed in this day and age, more than likely, you are using a computer to do your work. As convenient as computers are, using them can sometimes wreak havoc on your body.

Sitting in front of the computer for long periods of time can be bad for your eyes, and back, impede blood circulation, and can give you carpal tunnel syndrome. Because most jobs that require computer work are sedentary, there is a chance of chronic diseases due to a lack of physical activity. To counteract these potential health risks, take a break away from the computer and do some stretching exercises, or go for a walk.

Stop Smoking

Cigarette smoking is one of the most unhealthiest habits there is. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), it is associated with an increased risk for heart disease, stroke, depression, vision loss, causes type-2 diabetes, and cancer.

Many of these diseases could be preventable if you stop smoking. Consult with a physician to put you on a program to help you quit for good.

Also, Keep In Mind

Be patient: Rome was not built in a day. It takes time for your mind, body, and spirit to adjust to your new lifestyle.

Love yourself.: No matter where you are in your wellness journey, it is important to show yourself some love. For example, if your goal is to lose weight and you are unhappy because you wish you were thinner, chances are you won’t be satisfied with yourself slim either. Don’t get me wrong, you will like your body, but you will more than likely find something else that will be subject to your self-criticism.

Celebrate each win no matter how small: You exercised twice this week, or maybe you lost only one pound. You should be proud! Although this may not seem like a cause for celebration, remember that these small accomplishments are putting you one step closer to your goals. So please, do not get discouraged and keep going.

Don’t be too hard on yourself: So you binged on some chocolate chip cookies for breakfast. Don’t beat yourself up or feel guilty. It takes time to adapt to a healthy lifestyle, and besides, you have the rest of the day or even the next day to start over.

Stay Motivated: Sometimes, a busy schedule or lack of inspiration can keep us from focusing on our health and fitness goals. You are eating right and exercising, but things are not progressing as planned. The idea is to persevere and don’t give up. Be your biggest cheerleader, and remember the reason why you wanted to start your wellness journey.

Reward yourself: You worked hard, and you are finally starting to see results. Do something nice for yourself. Treat yourself to a spa day, buy a new video game, or get that new handbag you’ve had your eye on. You definitely deserve it!

Final Thoughts

Remember that a healthy lifestyle is more than diet and exercise; it also involves your heart, mind, and spirit. If you put focus on one aspect of health (such as physical) but neglect others (mental or emotional), your efforts will be futile.

Good health is something we should all aspire to attain, whether we are slim, curvy, thick, plus-sized, or petite. Even if you are not trying to lose weight, you can still benefit from pursuing a healthier lifestyle. Being thin does not necessarily equate to good health, especially if you are not exercising, eating mostly junk food, and not dealing with the stuff going on inside.

A healthier lifestyle is not only a New Year’s Resolution or motivation to fit into a new dress, but it is also something we should incorporate into our lives daily, weekly, monthly, yearly, and for a lifetime.

Thank you for reading.

Yours truly,

Tracy

 

Disclaimer: Yours Truly Tracy does not provide medical, nutritional, or psychological health advice, diagnosis, treatments, or cures. The information presented on this site is not intended to substitute advisement from a medical or mental health professional. Before taking any action based on the information on this website, you should consult with the appropriate healthcare professional.