How to Start and Maintain Health Resolutions—Forever.
Guest Blog Post by Rena Lee
Health Resolutions.
How to start and maintain health resolutions—forever.
It’s January, which means most of you have started your New Year’s Resolutions, right? Did you have something on the list pertaining to health, like eating healthier, losing weight, exercising, thinking positive, etcetera? According to research, many people fall off the wagon by end of January through March. Hopefully, some of these tips could be helpful and an encouragement.
It’s ok to start small.
When you take on more than you can handle you end up giving up quickly. It takes time to learn and grow, so don't be too hard on yourself if you start small. It is better to be able to accomplish and overcome one thing than try to do all and ditch the whole shebang.
Consistency is key.
Keep consistent until it becomes a habit! Whatever place you’re able to start, whether that be once a week, once a day, etcetera, just start at a place that is manageable and keep at it! If you can have an accountability partner or group, that is even better. Remember, the slow turtle that was consistent in his speed and won the race!
Think lifestyle, not diet.
Think of these new health resolutions as new habits you want to install into your life. Make it a part of your life, instead of a short-term diet. That means it’s not going to be perfect from the very beginning. There will be days where it’s not all perfect, but you are moving in the right direction and that's a great accomplishment! Start switching out foods with a healthier alternative. Maybe you don’t like the gym, but enjoy a good brisk walk in nature, soaking up that fresh air and sunshine, chatting with your bestie.
Eat food that tastes good!
I love food. I couldn't imagine a life of not eating lip-smacking, but guilt-free food! I’ve seen so many times where people are miserable on their “diet” and thus they stick it out for 1-3 months at max. Eating sad, unappealing, salads everyday is not what I find enjoyable either! Find foods and recipes you actually like. If you don’t enjoy your food, you also can’t reap all the health benefits. Food should be a pleasure to eat, not a task. When you eat food that you actually feel satisfied with, it’s much easier to start switching over to healthier eating if it actually taste good!
Don’t restrict and starve yourself.
Starving yourself is not a recommendation. Unless you are doing a water fast, juice fast, fruit fast, etcetera for detox to help jumpstart your body or to help with whatever health issue you’re trying to deal with. A healthy way of implementing and maintaining your healthier lifestyle is to eat foods that are nourishing. I’ve seen it before, someone starves themselves and then gorge on the worst foods. You actually start ruining your health and your gut.
Carbs are not bad!
Yes, I said it. People misunderstand and think all carbs are bad, but they aren’t! In fact, good COMPLEX carbs are what we need! It’s what fuels our body. Things like potatoes (not fried), brown rice, oats, whole-grain bread, beans, fruit, nuts and seed, are all nutritious. Of these you may freely eat. SIMPLE carbs are bad: sugary foods, doughnuts, fries, white bread, I think you get the picture.
Educate yourself.
Everyone has great intentions when setting a resolution or goal. But it is very important to also try to educate yourself as much as possible when starting something new. Sure, you won’t know everything when you first start, neither should you give yourself the excuse that you don’t know enough to start. If you have a health-freak friend, a local health food store, gym personnel, or even a health coach, ask them! They would be more than happy to help answer your questions.
I hope there was something here that you took away in helping you jumpstart your new year. It’s a new year for a newer you! It is never too late to work on your health, because health is wealth! If it gives you an extra year of life, that is an extra year to spend with less pain, possibly less medications, quality time with family, a sense of purpose, and a new sense of life!
About Rena
Rena Lee is the owner of the Sweet Pea Health Food + Floral in Hartwell, Georgia. She can often be found giving health lectures and demonstrations on how to eat and prepare healthy food and she enjoys teaching world how to live a healthier and happier life.
Contact her at her
website: sweetpea-healthfoodandfloral.com