Transitioning Into a Healthier Life

You’re starting to adjust how you eat for the better, improving your daily activity level and choosing to move rather than opt for another hour of Netflix. Your body is changing, but consistently sticking with such a big life change can be challenging. There will be times when grabbing a burger feels like a good alternative to the healthy meal you had planned.

How can you stay the course? Go through your reasons for embarking on this journey in the first place. You are seeing short term benefits - what will the long term benefits look like? Why is this important to you in the first place? The only person who can answer those questions is you, but here are some things to bear in mind as you move forward on your journey.

When you look at a restaurant menu or walk down the aisle at the grocery store, think of each option as either an energy enhancer or an energy drainer. Try to choose foods and meals that are made with natural ingredients that will deliver nutrients that boost your immune system to help ward off illness. As long as these foods aren’t deep fried or overcooked, they will increase your energy level so that you feel better throughout day.

Fresh organic fruit would be placed in the energy enhancer category while processed snacks like muffins would fall under energy drainer. When eating out, look for menu items marked as healthy or lean options. Don’t be too shy to ask questions if you aren’t sure what ingredients are included in a meal.

Comfort foods and other generally unhealthy foods are used to combat stress or low emotional points, but opting for exercise (even a brief walk around your neighborhood) can be a better fix for your emotional state. Going a little further, intense exercise causes the release of endorphins that act as natural mood elevators and pain relievers. A workout may be tough, but the sense of accomplishment and happiness afterwards is always worth it.

Regularly choosing nutrient-dense foods will also make it easier to maintain a healthy body composition, and that increases your chances of feeling self-confident. Being overweight comes with its own set of restrictions and problems that clouds your mind from knowing you can achieve the goals you set out for yourself. Having a sense of confidence increases your chances of achieving your most ambitious goals.

We have a tendency to minimize the effect and influence we have on other people when we should be embracing it. If you have kids, they learning from your actions. They may even begin to mimic your eating and exercise habits. You don’t have to have children to be a role model to someone. You could inspire a parent, friend, coworker or neighbor to reclaim their health or to begin their journey.

Let others see you make sacrifices for better health and a better life. Giving up on your journey and goals sends a message to those looking up to you that it wasn’t worth the work you are putting in. Inspire them to want to improve their own lifestyles.

Challenge yourself to take your game to the next level and improve your life and results even more. Do something today that positively impacts your health, your future, and those around you.