Sometimes you reach a point in your life when you realize it's time to change your lifestyle. For too long you've been eating too much junk food not exercising enough and not challenging your mind. You need to be healthier, getting rid of your bad habits and replacing them with good ones. But where do you start? How can you begin to make life-changing alterations when it seems like there's so much you need to work on? Perhaps you've tried to make changes before, and quickly fell back into your old ways. If you want to start a new healthy lifestyle and stick to it, you need to go into it prepared. Try doing these helpful things to stay on the right track.
Kick It Off with a Cleanse
Anyone who wants to turn their lifestyle around should start by getting rid of the effects of their previous choices. Some things like losing weight will take a long time, but there are some immediate changes you can make. Cleansing your body doesn't just have to do with your diet, but other things you put into it too. If your smoke, giving up should be one of the first things you think about. Although it can be a long battle, it will have several almost immediate health benefits.
You can also think about cutting back on alcohol, caffeine and other substances that can affect your body and mind. Some people like to start off their new diet and lifestyle with a cleansing tea. The purpose of these teas is to flush out your digestive system to help you feel refreshed and healthier right away. It could help you feel more alert and less sluggish, ready to start your new diet.
Plan Your Food
If you want to change the way you eat, you need to make permanent changes, not short-term ones. The first thing to do is drop the unhealthy stuff, but you don't have to say goodbye to it forever. It's perfectly acceptable to have a treat now and then as part of a healthy diet. Once you look at what you shouldn't be eating, it's time to look at what you should. Eating a balanced diet is much easier than you might think, although it will be different for everyone. Some people will choose not to eat meat or dairy, others will try to get extra protein for working out, and some people might choose a Mediterranean diet. Whatever you do, get plenty of vegetables and all the essential nutrients you need.
Make sticking to your new diet easier by planning out your food in advance. Instead of choosing meals and snacks on the fly, decide what you're going to have at the beginning of each week or whenever you go shopping. Create a meal plan, including healthy snacks and when you're allowed to treat yourself. You'll find it easier to avoid temptation if you already have healthy alternatives prepared. If you struggle to find time to cook, choose easy to prepare meals and make more than you need so you can reheat leftovers on some days.
Discover Food You Enjoy
One of the mistakes some people make when they want to start a healthier diet is to eat food they don't like. If you're forcing yourself to eat something that you think is acceptable, but not tasty, you won't want to continue. There are so many healthy foods out there and even more ways to cook them. Don't suffer through eating food you don't like because it's good for you. Look for things that you love and that fit into your new diet.
Find Your Fitness Thing
Just like with food, it will be much more difficult to stick to an exercise regime if you're doing something you don't enjoy. If you want to stay motivated, finding a fitness routine you love or at least don't hate is crucial. Don't just accept that people run or go to the gym to keep fit. If those aren't for you, look for something that is. It could be a class, whether it's salsa dancing or crossfit, or it could be a sport that you love participating in. There's likely to be at least one thing out there for you, even if you usually hate exercise.
Create a Workout Schedule - and Stick to It
Once you've found the thing you like or can tolerate doing, make plans to do it regularly. Similarly to your diet, if you don't plan in advance, you might never get it done. Decide on when you're going to workout and stick to it no matter what. Don't make excuses that you're too tired or don't have time when you know in reality that you can find both the energy and time to fulfill the commitment you made. Find ways to motivate yourself that work, whether it's working out with friends or listening to music.
Work Toward a Challenge
One of the best ways to start a new workout regime is to set a goal. It could be to work toward an event or an achievement. For example, if you've started running, you could sign yourself up for a local 5k run. You might decide you want to lose a certain amount of weight or that you wish to increase the amount you can bench press. You could set a goal to swim, run or bike ride further, do a certain number of workout sessions each month or aim to climb a mountain.
Get Friends or Family to Join In
It can be very hard to stick to your new lifestyle when there's temptation all around you. If you live with friends or family, eating the right meals can be especially difficult. You can ask people to join in with you and go on their own health kick. It will give you people to help motivate you and mean it's easier to resist temptation. It will help if you can cook one healthy meal for everyone at home or if you have friends to go to the gym with.
If you want to begin a new, healthy lifestyle, you have to start off on the right foot. Make a plan to help you follow through on your commitments and change your life for good.
Abbi Gabasa is the Managing Editor of MsCareerGirl.com and owner of UpraisedLiving.com. Having the background of a Marketing and Public Relations Manager with years of professional experience in various industries has given her an insightful perspective on careers, lifestyles, relationships, and attitudes which she humorously applies in helping people through her writing. Abbi is a training life coach, and an advocate of children's charities, women empowerment, optimistic thinking, and slow Sundays. A self-confessed Jane of all trades, she hopes to help girls all over the world find their calling and pursue their passions.
