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It is the last full week of January, and how are you measuring up to your New Year’s resolutions? If you find yourself back in the thick of struggling with old habits that you are not proud of, then this blog post is for you. This week, I want to highlight on some things that I want you to consider not only in January, but for all of 2016.
Focus on what you CAN eat, not what you cannot.
When you turn the tables and really celebrate all the food choices still available to you, rather than focusing on those foods you cannot enjoy, your whole mindset makes a positive shift. By beginning each day in a state of gratitude, you will start to see how endless nutrient-rich food possibilities actually are, and in time you will start to get excited for plain Greek yogurt topped with berries and walnuts and craving less for a piece of double chocolate cake for dessert. By keeping your focus positive, it will become easier and easier to eat healthy and really enjoy the benefits of a nutritious diet.
Make being healthy a happy and friendly contest and make sure that there are rewards!
This is a great way to motivate all the people who live in your household. If you live alone, then get some friends in on the contest. Make a chart to record whenever people engage in physical activity. At the end of the month, the person who has the most time clocked for doing exercise, receives a reward. The only caveat to the reward is that it is nothing with food. It could be a trip to the movies or finally getting that new piece of exercise clothing or a massage. The reward possibilities are endless, so have some fun. Not only will it keep you motivated, but you will gain the benefit of exercise which is the goal in the first place.
Consider the “fork trick” to help slow down your eating and decrease the risk for overeating.
Believe it or not, there is actually a trick that you can do to help you slow down your eating. It is simply eating with your non-dominant hand. By taking more time to eat, you will allow yourself to eat until you are comfortably full. This in turn, helps you not to overeat. Over a period of time, you can help yourself shed those unwanted pounds and relieve yourself of the constant feeling of being overly stuffed after meals.
Guess what, it is OK to splurge every once in a while!
It is important that as you strive to eat more healthy 80-90% of the time, but it is also equally important that you allow yourself to indulge in your favorite foods every once in a while. Everything in moderation is SO true. It not only helps keep your waistline in check, but it also gives you opportunities to still enjoy your favorites every once in while too. By allowing indulgences, you will decrease the feeling of deprivation. The key task is to make sure that you keep your portions in check and that your indulgence is only once a week vs. every day. So go ahead and enjoy the piece of chocolate cake or side of french fries every once in a while.
I hope that these tips have given you some helpful insight into how you can keep up with your nutritional goals for the rest of 2016. Remember slow and steady, balanced nutrition wins the “race” every time. If you wish to schedule a free 10 minute consultation with me, please contact me.
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