Recently I've been making a conscious effort to be a healthier person. I've been eating better, exercising more and trying to spend more time outside and less time in front of my laptop. Now I know that a lifestyle change is easier said than done; we can't all start eating Kale and running 10K in a week. However I find that if you make small changes in your life you'll surprise yourself.
- Add Exercise Into Your Routine -
Most people I speak to about exercise say they don't have the time. And I completely understand. Work nowadays has a nasty habit of catching up with you and if you're spending all day in a stressful environment, the last thing you want to do is spend an hour sweating out in the gym after you've finished work. I found the easiest way to motivate myself to exercise more was to ease myself in gently with 1 class a week. I also bought myself a load of fun gym kit including new trainers! If the thought of heading to the gym still fills you with dread though try and include some exercise into your daily office routine; parking a little further away from work or even taking the stairs instead of the lift can make a huge difference! Try and set a goal of 10,000 steps a day. You'll be amazed at how easy it can be to achieve if you make a few subtle changes.
- Quit the Bad Habits -
I know I've said this before but kicking those bad habits really will make all the difference. Now I'm not saying we all have to quit the things we love entirely; I'm never going to give up my gin and tonics on a Friday night! However cutting down on things like alcohol and smoking can be a really liberating experience. If you're a heavy smoker (like I used to be) then maybe try swapping out the cigarettes for e-liquid. I know so many people who have managed to give up smoking entirely just by using these as a safety net for a few months after they quit.
- Changing Your Diet -
Now I really struggled with this. I absolutely love my chocolate fix so giving that up in the week days was super hard. However after a week or so I actually got used to it. I don't find myself craving chocolate and sweets half as much as I used to. I started snacking on dried fruit and nuts which really helped satisfy my sweet cravings and when I was in a rush, microwavable veg was a great healthy side dish at dinner time.
The key to making healthy lifestyle changes is to constantly remind yourself of what you're looking to achieve. If it's weight loss or flawless skin you're after, take a before picture so you can see the difference after a few weeks. The changes you'll see in your skin and body will be hugely motivating. If you're looking to feel healthier in general or if your change in diet is due to a possible allergy or something similar, be sure to keep a food diary and include notes about how you feel after every meal. You can then look back and see if the diet change you've incorporated has actually made a difference!
DML
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