Living a healthy life doesn’t have to be about inputting meals and snacks into MyFitnessPal or counting Macros. Although, that type of plan works for some it doesn’t have to be the only answer. Eating healthy is all about living a healthy lifestyle as a whole. Too many times when people are too strict or crash diet, they are habits that never seem to stick in the long run. Trust me, I have tried many different diets (from a vegetarian diet to a raw vegan diet, from trying Atkins to low fat and everything in between) to try to get things to stick, but in the end I have learned that you just need a few lifestyle tips to stick to and it all falls into place.
Here are my lifestyle tips on how to avoid being on a ‘diet’.
Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables
If you focus on eating a lot of fruits and vegetables then it doesn’t leave a whole lot of room left for other foods that are probably not as good for you. If you center your meals around vegetables then you are most likely going to eat healthier without thinking too hard.
If you choose to drink alcohol, do so in moderation
I used to not allow myself to drink alcohol. Hey, there is nothing wrong with not drinking alcohol, however, for me, it gave me anxiety when I actually did which defeated the whole purpose of trying to relax with an alcoholic drink. For whatever reason, I got it stuck in my head that if I drank alcohol I would immediately get fat. Far fetched I know, but it was exactly how I felt. Instead, not cutting out of my life completely was a better approach for me and over the years I have found this to be true for most people as well.
Eat whole foods
Eating whole foods is really all about eating food how it was intended on being eaten, from the Earth without modifications. The foods we eat should be as fresh and as natural as possible aka without chemicals and pesticides dumped all over them. Think things like vegetables, fruits, seeds, nuts, legumes, etc.
Limit processed meats
This one parallels with eating whole foods. Processed meats are not whole foods. In fact, eating large amounts of processed meat can slightly increase the risk of certain types of cancer. We don’t need to increase the chances of giving ourselves cancer by feeding our bodies.
Sweat daily (or almost daily)
I have learned over the years that I always just feel better after sweating. There is something about the body releasing hormones and sweating out toxins that feel so good. Also, when you work hard to get sweaty then you are less likely to make pour food decisions as well. They really go hand in hand quite well without having to think too hard about it.
What are some lifestyle tips that have helped you stay on track?
