Healthy doesn’t mean skinny; it doesn’t mean starvation or self-denial; and it doesn’t require you to become vegan or vegetarian or to restrict yourself to a Keto diet or Paleo diet. Healthy simply means free from disease or in a state of good health. So, the question becomes, HOW do we become healthy and/or maintain healthy? Will some become vegan or vegetarian or follow Paleo or Keto? Absolutely! That’s their path. But what is our personal path? Instead of comparing ourselves to others and thinking we have to do it the way somebody else is doing it, or that we’re not doing it right or doing enough, we simply need to find what works for us. What is a healthy lifestyle we can buy into? What motivates us?
Finding that path isn’t always easy. But we can start with some SIMPLE steps that will fit into any plan or lifestyle we may choose.
Step 1: Start with smart food choices All the exercise in the world isn’t going to make us healthy if we don’t eat appropriately. What we fuel our body with is probably the most important step to good health. I recently read an article that stated the foods that are killing us aren’t necessarily the ones we’re eating, but the ones we are NOT eating. I love this statement since I’ve always felt that denying oneself totally often leads to a train wreck. However, adding to or augmenting or tweaking our current practices is something most of us can buy into and in the long run, experience success. In fact, I believe in this so strongly, that I would bet if we were to add some of these healthier components to our day, we will slowly find ourselves letting go of some of the foods and habits that aren’t as beneficial. After awhile, they won’t be as satisfying and we’ll crave the good.Let’s break this down even more. Instead of telling ourselves we can’t have a donut, eat the donut if it is too hard to resist, and then incorporate an additional powerfood sometime during the day. We don’t have to eat all of these to make up for the donut, but add at least one. When my kids were younger, if they wanted a brownie or some other similar treat, I didn’t say no, but instead told them they could and then be sure to have something green that day in addition. Of course, we always want to be aware of portion control. Notice I said one donut, not a half a dozen.
Examples of power foods are :Green leafy vegetables such as spinach, kale, swiss chard or turnip greensBerries – blueberries, raspberries, strawberries, or blackberriesAlmonds, nuts or seedsAvocadosEggsSalmonSweet potatoGreen teaLegumesPretty easy to add at least one of those into our day and several in over a week. Over time, the good feeling of eating healthy and having energy all day will become something we crave and desire, whereas the sugar and high fat spikes and crashes will slowly become something we want to totally alleviate and avoid, thus inclining us to eat the healthier options.
Step 2: Let’s move!
Move! Dance! Walk! Hike! Head to the gym! The big thing is to move and get your heart rate up to the point you break a sweat. If a gym isn’t accessible, try some youtube videos. There are great videos out there at all levels. Too embarrassed to go to the gym? Remember, the trainers and group fitness instructors are there for YOU! They are trained to meet people where they are and help them. The purpose of the gym is to GET fit and KEEP moving. It’s not a final destination. It’s a part of our week that we will eventually look forward to. If being outside is more up our alley, there are plenty of activities there as well. Each season offers a new variety of outdoor activities. Be adventurous and try something new. Interested in more? I have a youtube channel that I am slowly developing as a place to start. Although my videos would not replace a full class or other exercise, they are still beneficial and will help to get started. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCm3bDeZXglEgLqOowxPBabw?view_as=subscriber
Step 3: Forgive ourselves and de-stressWhen we don’t meet our goal, it’s so easy to beat ourselves up. Our self-talk can become very negative. We feel defeated and often resort to just giving up. Let’s change that. Instead of looking at what we didn’t do, let’s look at what we did do. Did we eat a powerfood each day? Did we add some exercise during the week we may not have otherwise? Did we take time to de-stress? If not, then it’s never too late to start. Tomorrow is a new day, a new beginning. It’s called GRIT. We all have it, we just might have to dig a little deeper to find it.
Step 4: Find our own pathIt’s so easy to think if it worked for someone else, it must work for us. But we need to be true to ourselves. We have to find what works for us. Find our own niche. Stick to our own convictions of being healthy. If we don’t love it or love the people we’re doing it with, we won’t stick with it. When our heart is vested, our mind follows. We can’t let our mind convince our heart it’s not worth it. Passion is a fuel. Use it for good!
These comments are only my opinions and not meant to replace professional advice. If you have been advised by a doctor, other professional, or personal trainer to follow a specific diet, please adhere to that advice. Also, before beginning any exercise program, you should consult with your doctor. Thank-you