Simple Everyday Healthy Habits to Manage Your Weight
Even when you might think you are doing everything right, the scale refuses to budge. You might be tempted to take up the next fad approach or quick fix that promises miraculous results. But if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Or, at the very least, it’s unsustainable and unhealthy.
If you want to shed that tummy fat, have more energy, have glowing skin and generally be healthier, then you need to shift your mindset from short-term dieting approaches to making long-term lifestyle changes.
“Adopting #healthyhabits may not be easy, but Rome wasn’t built in a day, and most things that are worthwhile take time.”
Your #health is definitely one of those things that is worthwhile taking care of…you will be stronger in yourself, be providing a good example for your kids and when you take care of yourself, everybody else around you is indirectly taken care of and happier too. And there are lots more benefits, such as you will have more energy to play with your kids and get out during your leisure time (rather than being tired on the couch).
With all the opinions out there, it’s easy to get overwhelmed and confused. Not to mention, misled with non-scientifically proven information.
I want to help you sort out scientific fact vs fiction and give you simple everyday approaches to reach your goals. So I have listened to everyone of you that come through my clinic door and noted the most common everyday mistakes that are sabotaging most people’s ability to lose excess tummy fat and be as healthy as they can be. These same mistakes are also more often than not preventing you from achieving your weight loss goals in a healthy way that will be maintainable in the long-term.
Common Complaints I Also Hear
“I eat healthy so why am I tired all the time, have excess tummy fat that wont budge, and just don’t feel quite right”
If this resonates with you, take a look at the list below and see if you are regularly carrying out any of the following unhealthy habits.
UNHEALTHY HABIT
CHANGE TO
Food shopping whilst hungry, tired or upset. This usually results in unhealthy food choices.
Shop when you are fed, alert, and otherwise in a good mood.
Whilst out shopping, putting junk food in the trolley just in case you might feel like it later.
Only put food in your trolley which you intend to eat. When it is late at night and you want a snack if there is no chocolate around well then you just wont eat it. Make sure there are healthy snack options in your house instead such as frozen fruit, Greek yoghurt (not ice cream)
Going food shopping without a list – you will end up buying food that you don’t need. Households throw out on average 30% of food because it goes off or is out of date.
At the beginning of the week take time to plan you weekly meals and write a list. Check your pantry to see if you already have a particular item before re-buying it.
Putting more food on your plate than you need.
Use a smaller plate (if you cannot help but fill it up) and only put on your plate what your body needs for energy. A good place to start is 1/4 plate lean meat + 1/4 plate starchy veg or grains + 1/2 plate non-starchy vegetables. #portioncontrol (Read more in my article on my 4 Principles of Nutrition)
Going back for seconds, or adding food to your plate after you have started eating (1/2-way through) – one of the signals to stop eating is emptying your plate of food. But your plate won’t be empty if you keep filling it.
Portion out an appropriate amount of food on to your plate. Pack up the leftovers for lunch the next day before you sit down to eat.
Drinking calories when you are thirsty. There are so many ‘healthy’ smoothies and other “good for you drinks” on the market now. Yes, they taste good and often have some nutritional value but they are often loaded with unnecessary calories. Then, of course there are drinks that have no nutritional value that are also loaded with calories, such as alcohol & soft drinks.
Just drink water when you are thirsty, and save the calories for when you are hungry and need to eat. #eatrealfood #nourishyourbody Our bodies are 60% water, so the benefits of drinking adequate water are huge such as more energy, glowing skin.
Opting for fast food when you are time-poor and haven’t planned ahead.
You are human, it is normal to not be so planned and organised for every single meal or you just might feel like a lazy night, so take-away may be the easy option. But lets be smart about the “fast-food” option. Instead of pizza, Chinese food, McDonalds or something equivalent (which are loaded with excess calories, fat, sugar & salt), drop in to the supermarket on your way home, pick up a #roastchicken, a bag of ready-to-steam #vegetables, and a microwaveable bag of brown rice and dinner will be ready within 5 minutes of walking in the door.
Note the unhealthy habits that you do regularly
Start with one and think about how you could change it for a healthier habit, then once you have incorporated this new healthy habit in to your lifestyle move on to another. Before long you are certain to reap the benefits of adopting these new habits. You will also be able to teach your kids how to manage their health as they grow up.
