You can change your health and your life at the same time. It’s not easy to make lifestyle changes, but well worth it when you find how they make your life much better. Something as simple as switching a snack from a sugary treat or highly processed food to a whole food can make a big difference in how you feel over time. You don’t have to make all the changes at once, you can start with just one thing, such as eating more whole foods and fewer processed foods. Build on that and before you know it, you’ll feel amazing and shed any extra pounds. By making small changes, it can lead to a whole different lifestyle.
Ease into a healthy lifestyle.
You don’t have to change everything at once. You can start with one goal and slowly work toward accomplishing all goals. However, some people find it easier to tackle both an exercise program and healthy eating at the same time. No matter what changes you make, consistency is the key. If you want to add exercise to a healthy diet, it will get you to a fitness goal faster. However, the goal is always to make your lifestyle change a habit. Whether it’s getting adequate sleep, eating healthier, exercising or giving up a bad habit, it all takes time.
If you’re giving up a habit like tobacco or sugar consumption, adding exercise to your life and healthy eating can help.
Eliminating an addiction like tobacco or even heavy sugar consumption is one place where doing more than one change at once is a benefit. Exercise helps cut the stress that withdrawal from nicotine can cause. Most physicians will happily endorse additional exercise and healthy eating when trying to break an addictive habit like smoking. Eating healthy and exercise also help prevent the weight gain that can occur when you give up tobacco products. If you’re giving up addictive drugs or alcohol, get medical help. Going cold turkey on your own can sometimes be dangerous.
Increase your activity and move faster.
If you aren’t ready for a formal exercise program, put more movement in your life. When you clean, move as fast as possible, you’ll get a real workout. Walk more, take the stairs and increase how much you move. In fact, eliminating old unused items and getting your house in order is a huge benefit to making you feel better and can be an activity that keeps you moving and stop the urge when you feel like grabbing a sugary snack.
- Change your attitude. No matter what your goal or lifestyle changes you make, do it because you love yourself, not for any other reason. You’re worthwhile and deserve to be healthy. Nothing good ever comes from self-loathing.
- Create a schedule and stick with it. Put exercise on the schedule like an appointment. If you can find a workout buddy, all the better. They hold you accountable.
- If you’re changing your eating habits, take time to plan a menu and create a shopping list. Go to the grocery after you eat, so you won’t impulse buy snack foods.
- When you conquer one lifestyle change, you’ll feel empowered to do another. Little by little you’ll gain more mastery over your life.