Have you ever found yourself saying, “I know what to do, it’s just making myself do it”?
Here are 5 easy tips to establish healthy meal planning and a consistent exercise habits now, to give you the results you have always been looking for. After reading this blog post, write down one thing that you would like to implement right away!
Lifelong Habits Take More Work Than a Fad Diet
Congratulations on saying “no” to the yo-yo dieting and “yes” to developing healthy habits that will last a lifetime! The secret to wellness is not only making changes you know you can hold on to, it’s starting slow and building up. It’s going to be harder than following someone else’s rules for 21 days or 30 days — but the results will last longer, too.
Make Time for Wellness
It’s true — there are just not enough hours in the day and wellness doesn’t often just “happen.” There is no perfect time for weight loss, so make a commitment NOW to invest in yourself — whether it is through meal planning, exercising or just taking time to do something for you. Establishing new habits and avoiding going back to what’s easy takes time and dedication. Schedule an appointment with yourself in your phone, in your planner or on your family calendar to carve out this time and start to create a new healthy habit.
Meal Plan the Easy Way
Meal planning does NOT mean that you have to plan for 21 meals including 7 dinners. Dinner is typically where we tend to end up in the drive-thru line or on the phone with the pizza place. Try planning for just 3 to 4 dinners and include leftovers into the plan. Many of my clients love meal delivery services, and this utilizes that same concept, but you will save even more money and cook healthier! Start by putting your “events” in your calendar, and then build healthy meals and snacks around them!
Schedule Your Workouts on Sunday
Take a look at your week ahead and schedule your workouts in your planner ahead of
time. Write it down in your planner and reschedule if you have to — just like you would a
doctor’s appointment.
Be Realistic
It’s about progress — not perfection. This is a time to accept a broader form of excellence rather than a narrowly defined one. We are not aiming for A+ on a test here. In all reality we are aiming for a really solid B. Did you set a goal to workout 5 times per week but have only gotten in 3? Congratulations you got in 3! Celebrate that win, and consider re-adjusting your goal to build up to 5 times per week — you might need to change up your schedule or ask for some help with your to-do list. Think about what needs to be done to get there, start slow, and build.
Remember, you have the rest of your life to build these healthy habits and nothing ends in 21 or 30 days — it’s forever. Focus what works for YOU!
