Eating healthier is a real struggle. We’ve been bred to like sugar and indoctrinated to see sugary substances as “treats”. It also doesn’t help that our holidays, birthdays, and get-togethers create a food circus where you can go from one ride to the next without stopping for air.
To be honest, I don’t even feel like it is ok to indulge (and it’s taken me a long time to get up to this point) but I still do… why? because I’m still trying to be better. It’s a journey and with every journey there are bumps along the road. Some days are better than others and that’s part of life.
Here are some tips that have helped me. Please contact me I would love to know what has worked for you!
- Think positive! Instead of beating yourself up, get excited! If that’s hard, fake it until you make it. Say it out loud,
- “I’m SO EXCITED TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS TO MY HEALTH”
- I’m looking forward to re-centering my taste buds
- I’m looking forward to the day I stop polluting my body with toxins
- I’m looking forward to recognizing sophisticated marketing aimed at enticing me to buy toxic food
- It’s going to be so sweet when I gain independence from my toxic food environment and am able to say “No thank you, I choose longevity and health”
- Drink more water. 60% of the human adult body is water. According to H.H. Mitchell, Journal of Biological Chemistry, the brain and heart are composed of 73% water, and the lungs are about 83% water. Reach for water before you reach for food.
Lemon water- water with Lemon, first time I drank it, AWFUL… but don’t worry you get use to it. Hot, Cold, Luke warm, it’s up to you. Change it up. I drink this when I’m hungry, it’s a perfect appetite suppressant. In the summers when it is abundant, I juice it and freeze it in ice cubes. Pop one in my cup and I’m good to go.
Mint water - Fill half your plate with green leafy vegetables, 1/4 lean protein, 1/8 healthy fat, 1/8 healthy carb such a root vegetable or fruit (no processed foods) and leave out the high calorie salad dressing, opt instead for vinegar and a bit of olive oil and lots of herbs and vegetables. If it doesn’t taste delicious, don’t worry you’ll get use to it… If you’re really hungry you’ll eat it.
- Find an exercise routine that gets your heart rate going and that you love. For me Yoga has changed my life, I LOVE my studio and all the people in it. Our community is so awesome. If you don’t like the gym, don’t go, instead opt for ballroom dancing or salsa… whatever it is you’ve got to enjoy it as long as you are moving. Goal is to have a higher heart rate most days of the week for at least 30 minutes
- Simply your life and learn to rest. The hardest part of eating healthier is changing your lifestyle. This is something I struggle with. Modern society is built on hard charging and go-getting, no sleep necessary. What researchers have found is those who sleep 7 hours a day have tendency to be healthier. Also when you are stressed out, instead of reaching for a cookie, try stretching, closing your eyes for a few minutes, and focus on your breath. Research has shown this technique can lower stress hormones that are associated with obesity.
Have fun and good luck! You don’t have to incorporate all these at one time but just focus on one thing every week and try to do better everyday.
Good luck!
With lots of love and an infinite amount of gratitude,
KC