Taking steps to make healthier decisions can come from encouragement from a doctor or your own need to feel healthier. There is no denying that a healthier lifestyle and way of eating shows great benefits.
When you start doing your research into making these healthier decisions, it can seem like a tremendous task. Suggestions such as setting meal times, never eating on the go, taking daily runs all seem daunting.
There are realistic ways to start making healthier decisions, and they are a lot easier than you may think.
Eat what you like, just less
The chances of you sticking to a program of eating less are a lot more realistic than the alternatives. Imagine forcing yourself to eat a bowl of lettuce and broccoli, pretending that it’s a steaming bowl of pasta.
The goal is to make resolutions that will last. By doing this, you end up changing your entire lifestyle for the better. If after a few weeks of implementing this new way of eating, you see no results, take the next steps to a healthier you.
Find different ways to treat yourself
Make no mistake, a weekend at home with a big bucket of chicken, chips, and soda sounds like the best way to treat yourself after a long week. But is it really the “best” way to treat yourself and your body?
Finding different ways to relax or reward yourself may seem expensive in comparison to staying at home. But when you compare it, the amount of money you would spend on junk food and tipping the delivery guy, adds up to a nice day out.
Consider all the things you enjoy doing outside of your home. Book a facial, plan an outing with some friends or visit someone you haven’t seen in a while.
Manage Your Environment
We live busy lives, so when fast food establishments offer free delivery to your home, you leap for joy. Not having to prepare dinner, or just grabbing a soda from the vending machine, all form part of this love of convenience.
Managing your environment doesn’t mean forcing the vending machine to be removed. It’s about carrying a water bottle with you instead of buying bottled water from outside.
You can spoil yourself sometimes with those cheat days and all keep a good fast food menu attached to your fridge. No problems with that, but make sure your delivery guy brings the food in recyclable boxes. Small things make a big difference.
Don’t drive, just walk
When you decide to be healthier, you don’t magically become the fittest and healthiest version of yourself. It takes time and it takes effort. That’s why following a ‘30 days’ to a ‘six-pack’ is not realistic.
What’s realistic is talking a walk, just a simple stroll through the park or to the local shop for bread and milk. Once you start to get into the habit of walking, you will start to build your fitness. Before you know it, you will be taking the stairs up to your office instead of the crowded elevator.
Make time for those check-ups
It’s been said, our lives are busy, so when do we get a chance to go for our checkups? You haven’t needed any medication so you assume you are doing pretty well. And if you are healthy, that’s great, but you still need at least a yearly checkup!
This isn’t just with your GP, but you should also see your dentist. It’s something small that takes up an hour of your day. It’s the right thing to do.
In conclusion
Making healthier decisions can be a lot more realistic than some make it out to be. It’s just a matter of taking a look at your life and making yourself a priority. A healthy body, a healthy mind, and a healthy lifestyle make all the difference to your life.