If you’re currently not eating a healthy diet, it can be difficult to start.
However, healthy eating - along with some movement - is very important for gaining and maintaining good bodily function...and goes a long way towards living a disease-free life.
If you struggle with healthy eating, then you know that breaking unhealthy habits can be the most difficult part of the process. Therefore, if you truly want to live the best lifestyle possible, it is important to keep it simple, seek progress not perfection and take it one step at a time!
Oh, and know that you are going to have hiccups and set backs along the way! Just because you "fall off the wagon" doesn't mean you can't get back on!
A great first step to healthy eating is to get rid of all the temptations. Ditch the biscuits, lollies, chocolates, soda...whatever your "thing" is so that it isn't in front of you. Willpower is weak, plain and simple. You will be far more likely to stay on track if those things aren't within your grasp.
Instead, stock up on healthy snacks like seed crackers, veggie sticks, yogurt, nuts, seeds, coconut chips, fresh fruit, etc.
If you find that you need something sweet to help with the transition, try making a healthy treat! There are a ton of recipes that are hormone friendly on the blog...go check them out!
Another step I highly recommend is to learn not only what foods are the healthiest for you, but how they work within the body.
Knowing the what and why will help you naturally make better food choices...Knowledge really is power!
Preparation is a vital! Not only when starting healthy eating, but to maintain it as well.
You have to look at your schedule to plan out your meals and take the time to shop for and prepare them. If you often eat in a rush at random times throughout the day, you are far more likely to grab something unhealthy, like fast food or takeaway.
So, plan ahead!
Instead of grabbing fast food lunch, bring your lunch. I think leftovers from the previous night's dinner is the easiest thing, but you can also make something like a coconut flour wrap loaded with protein, vegetables and healthy fat, like avocado.
Be sure to plan your dinner as well. I like to meal plan for the week ahead on a Saturday morning, so that I can do the shopping for it over the weekend. That way all the healthy food I need/want is there, ready to go.
I, personally, like to cook each night, however, some people prefer to batch cook for the week. Do what works best for you!
Now, I am sure you have heard this before, but please don't go to the shops hungry. You will be more susceptible to buying chips, chocolate, etc...So, fuel up before you go.
Don't be surprised if you find the transition to healthy eating really difficult to start with. That is not a reflection of you! It is a reflection of what is going on within your body. You may even feel worse for a couple of weeks...that's normal! Your body is adjusting to your new and improved lifestyle and is cleansing itself from the unhealthy toxins built up from poor eating habits.
Last, but not least, start with baby steps.
Even if you only replace one soda a day with a glass of water, you are making progress! If you eat fast food every day for lunch, try replacing that half of the time with leftovers. When you start by taking small steps you aren’t cutting out all of the foods you love all at once...and that is 100% okay! Remember, it is all about progress, not perfection!
By taking your time to learn about your eating habits and slowly replacing them with better ones, by taking the time to learn and understand why you should be doing that and making the necessary changes in an orderly fashion, you will feel much better within yourself physically, mentally and emotionally and well on the road to becoming as healthy as you can be!
