How to ace your #HealthyMe goal to eat healthier
| 3 min read
Have you set your #HealthyMe goal but finding it tough to stay on track? You aren’t alone. It’s hard to accomplish your healthy goals (according to Forbes, only eight percent of people actually achieve their New Year’s resolutions every year). But there’s a way for you to get into that small group who does what they set out to do. This is the first in a series of blogs helping you make it to the finish line of your #HealthyMe goal. First up: How to stay on track with goals that center around eating healthier.
- Don’t deprive yourself. Moderation, not deprivation, is key when you’re trying to incorporate healthier foods into your life. Try the 80/20 rule to make sure you’re staying on track while indulging (in moderation!). Eighty percent of the time, eat fresh, whole foods. Then allow yourself to have ice cream or french fries every once in a while so you aren’t obsessing about what you can’t have. A great way to satisfy your sweet tooth is keeping dark chocolate in the fridge – when you feel a craving come on, snap off a square and enjoy!
- Keep a food journal. Writing down everything you eat in a day is a proven way to help you shed weight and keep the weight off. We often consume foods mindlessly in front of the TV or computer, so the journal acts like a mirror to reveal what you’re putting in your body. The Cleveland Clinic recommends that you create space to record date, time, place the food was eaten, quantity, feelings while eating and physical activity for the day. After a week or two analyze your food intake for patterns; Are you snacking late at night? Skipping breakfast? Then try to alter these behaviors.
- Master the art of meal preparation. Making a big batch of quinoa, washing and chopping veggies or preparing crock pot meals on Sunday are a great way to make sure you don’t come home to an empty fridge and thus opt for fast food. Set aside an hour or two on Sunday to prepare meals for the week. Here’s a great guide for meal prepping on the weekend.
- Start your day healthy. Do you ever wake up panicked from missing your alarm or with a big work project on your mind? Instead of allowing yourself to get wrapped up in the day immediately, it’s important to ease your body and mind into the day. Start with a glass of warm water with lemon to cleanse and hydrate, move your body (this can be anything from gentle stretches and yoga to a cycling class) and eat an energizing breakfast (we’ve compiled our favorites on Pinterest). When you start the day out positively, you’ve got a better chance of keeping on the healthy train all day long.
How do you keep your goals on track? If you haven’t already set your goal(s) in #HealthyMe, it’s not too late. Do it now!
Photo credit: Martin Cathrae
