When starting your health journey it can seem like a huge task and the number one question we see is how to begin making healthy choices? This post will go over our top ways to help you see long lasting results and tips to make the right heaalthy choices.
What makes us “healthy”? This is one of the best questions to ask yourself when you want to begin making healthy choices. For many people, over-eating and sitting for long periods of time is an unhealthy habit. For others smoking and drinking could be one of your unhealthy habits. The main reason to ask yourself is (what makes me healthy?). This mindset change helps you start thinking of what you need to change or eliminate in order to become that healthy version of yourself.
At some point in our lives we have heard the phrase, “make healthy choices”, and probably didn’t think much of it. As simple as this phrase is, it has a very important message and can really change your life.
Healthy Choices are what can influence our mood, help us reach our goals, dreams, and by replacing some habits with more beneficial ones the benefits can be seen in several aspects of your life and can lead to long lasting change.
When starting to make healthy choices it does take time to see the results from these new changes, but if you are dedicated and consistent you will be rewarded. Believe in yourself because we do 🙂
Begin Making Healthy Choices
Hydrate
Choosing water and teas over sugary beverages can make a huge difference in your productivity and prevent weight gain. This is because water and teas can help detox the body and increase your metabolism, while decreasing the chance of a burn out and crash that happens with sugary drinks. Water is important when making healthy choices as the amount you drink will provide more health benefits, on average 2-3 L of water per day. Another important note to mention is to have alcoholic beverages in moderation, there is a-lot of sugar in these beverages which can lead to weight and skin changes. You may also find when cutting back or eliminating alcohol from your diet, your goals seem more attainable due to increased mental clarity and decreased anxiety and/ or depression.
Choosing Natural Foods
Life is busy and grabbing fast meals are sometimes the only option, however, if you can make time to prep food for yourself it will be beneficial in the long run and help you save money. This is not going to be easy for some and may require you to sacrifice time in other areas of your life or reorganize your week in order to get this done, but your body and mind will thank you. Fast food, packaged foods, and frozen meals all have high sugar sodium (salt) content, and many preservatives that you shouldn’t eat on a daily basis. Think 80- 20 rule (20% is the “junk” or “fast” foods) and (80% whole foods). When you eat more whole foods your overall salt intake will decrease which can help with weight loss, brain fog, and increase energy. Make sure to also read nutrition labels (less ingredients = better) and remember no added sugars or salt doesn’t mean there is none in that food already. When making healthy choices and choosing better food your weight and overall health will benefit greatly.
Daily Physical Activity
Another way to stay healthy is to keep your body moving with physical exercise and physical activities. It may seem simple but it truly is one of the best ways to keep your heart health at its best, keep unwanted weight off and naturally energizes you! Physical exercise can mean going for a walk, a run or doing at home or gym workouts. The more you are moving your body ( at least 30 minutes per day) the more calories you are able to burn throughout your day , and increases blood flow to your organs. There are many options available and if you need that extra motivation leash up your furry friend or walk to a local coffee shop! Related post on Exercise at home for Beginners.
Adopting Healthy Habits
Once you are able to identify some of your unhealthy habits, you can begin to turn them around and replace them with healthier habits in their place. Being healthy involves a lot of traits that all need work on a daily basis, but can be a simple change that will make all the difference. Some of the best habits to adopt that can make you feel your best are: getting enough sleep (6-8 hours), not eating late at night, and becoming more active. These small changes can make a big difference over time and will be shown through your mood, productivity, and may help you reach your goals faster. Want to know more healthy habits? Check out this post 5 Wellness Ideas during Covid.
Creating Positive Environments
This is essential for increasing self growth, because you are surrounding yourself with the tools in order to become your ideal person or achieve your goals. If you have ever felt stuck or unable to reach your goals recognize that some things in your life may be creating a negative impact and be influencing your mindset which can cause a blockage. Removing these negative environments from your life whatever it is: messy home or workspace, family members, friends, social media, can really change how you feel about yourself and are forms of making healthy choices. Some ways to increase a positive environment are plants, animals, meditation, decluttering and surrounding yourself with people who build you up and encourage you to be your best self. Related post on creating a calm home.