Every new diet or exercise program promises a new and innovative
way to lose weight. However, the method in which you lose weight or get
into shape really has little baring on your success. The way you think
and feel are the real drivers of success.
So here are my top 10 ways to get back on track, to start losing weight and get into shape today.
1. Decide on why it's important to you
Just
because you think you should be thinner is not motivating enough to
sustain a healthy lifestyle, you need to know why you care - why it
matters to you to be healthy. This means taking time to think about what
it means to you to be healthy and how it will improve your life. In
addition, you must be clear on the costs associated with remaining
unhealthy.
2. Taste vs pleasure
There is a reason junk food
appears to taste so much better than healthy good, when you are not used
to healthy eating, or when you include too much junk food in your diet.
There is a HUGE amount of money spent on research to ensure the taste
is pleasing and addictive. Shifting from highly processed, high salt and
high fat foods, to seemingly bland food can be very challenging. So,
you must give your taste buds time to readjust. The more you cut back on
these things and choose healthier alternatives, the more you start to
appreciate and enjoy more natural flavours.
3. Top on mind
In
order to be healthy it has to be top of mind, so that you don't slip
back into bad habits when you forget to pay attention or your mood isn't
quite right (eg during times of stress or hormonal changes). When you
are focused on being healthy, you can incorporate behaviours into your
life (other than eating quick-fix feel good foods) to address your
moods. Keeping you focused on why you want to live a healthy life.
4. Stop feeling like you're not missing out
When
starting to eat healthy it's very important to not feel as though you
are being punished by thinking 'its horrible that I can't eat delicious
food any more'. The idea is to want to eat healthily because you enjoy
how fresh, clean and energetic you feel. Thus, you don't feel tempted to
gorge on junk food in order to modify your moods or to satisfy a
craving. You want to be able to enjoy treats when appropriate (eg
celebrations), but be able to revert back to healthy eating again
straight away.
5. Believe you can do it
Self belief is
critical to your success. Use other examples of when you have set your
mind to achieving a goal & succeeded in achieving it (eg saving for a
holiday, changing careers, buying a new home) - to motivate you. This
way, you can regularly remind yourself that when you put your mind to
it, you can achieve anything.
6. Ignore well meaning others who want you to join them in their eating habits
Food
and socializing are very closely linked, so people around you are going
to try to encourage you to eat and drink unhealthy foods from time to
time. The key here is to ensure there are delicious healthy dishes
served that you can all enjoy together. In addition to you feeling less
stressed about having to explain your new eating habits, the consumption
of healthier food will lead to lighter conversation, more energy and
increased fun.
7. Stop all or nothing thinking
As noted
before, it's very important to be flexible with your eating habits so
that if you end up eating more junk food than anticipated, you simply
move on, rather than use it as an excuse to eat like crazy. Remind
yourself that you are not being restricted. No-one is telling you what
to do. You're eating healthy because you want to.
8. Be organized with meal preparation
Ensure
you eat regularly throughout the day and that you have healthy meals
prepared in advance to avoid picking up quick and easy high fat foods on
the run. Take time each week to ensure you have sufficient healthy
snacks in your bags, drawers at work and home pantry. Then, either
arrange for someone at home to prepare your meals for you, or cook a few
healthy meals at the start of the weeks and freeze them for those
nights when you really can't be bothered cooking.
9. Prepare delicious alternatives
Eating
healthy should never be boring. Log on to the Happy Life website below
for some free delicious meals you can easily prepare. It's really
important to have a positive association with healthy eating, so be
creative and prepare foods you enjoy. Don't just stick to the same old
salad and soup diet. You want healthy eating to be a lifestyle, not a
chore.
10. Get your family and friends involved
It's so much
easier to sustain a healthy life if your family and friends are
involved. You can involve them by arranging to engage in physical
activity together, preparing healthy meals everyone can enjoy together,
or by discussing what you are doing and asking for their support.
Remember
You are the only one in control of your destiny. Take control and live the healthier lifestyle you deserve today.
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