Calorie Counting is a great way to keep track of your diet, and eat with moderation. However, calories are not the only factor to consider when it comes to dieting. And extreme, rigorous calorie counting has proven dangerous for way too many people.
This isn’t something that you want to become obsessed with in your lifestyle journey or change. You want to set yourself up for success in the beginning so the odds are for you not against you.
If you’re looking to adopt a healthy lifestyle for the long-run, and not give up halfway – here’s a few tips you can follow:
Don’t Set Drastic Goals
Too often, we watch headlines about people who lost 15 lbs in xyz days, or added 10 lbs of muscle in xyz weeks. Well, your life is not a clickbait title! Just like trying to find a partner who meets your exact standards, trying to reach a specific weight is a tough, often unattainable, goal. On the other hand, flexible goals are much more sustainable, which in turn boost your sense of accomplishment and encourage you to stay driven.
Exercise The Way *You* Like
Incorporating physical activity in your daily life is incredibly important – but exercise is not meant to feel like an obligation. If you enjoy certain types of workouts more than others – go for it! Yes, dancing to Beyonce on the lounge mat does count as a workout. Would it burn as many calories as a HIIT treadmill session? Probably not! But as long as you’re actually enjoying the workouts you do, there’s nothing wrong with choosing *less intensive* workouts.
Some other things you can incorporate into your daily life:
- Use a standing desk instead of a regular desk
- Instead of watching Netflix for some me-time, walk the dog or take a walk with a loved one.
- Walk to work instead of commuting (don’t get late everyday, though!)
Get More Vitamin N……aka Nature!
Another great principle to live by is to stay as close to nature as possible. This means eating more nuts and plants, more organic foods and less processed foods. Aim for eating more fruits, nuts and vegetables and skip the bacon, cereals and cheese etc.
Apart from eating natural – you should also make sure to spend more time in nature. This way, you also get to soak in more vitamin D due to sunlight. It’s a win-win in all departments!
Cut Down On The Sugars
We’re not saying you need to lay off the cookies and doughnuts altogether – but it’s important that you minimize the refined sugars you consume. Regularly consuming drinks and foods high in sugar will increase your risk of obesity, as well as tooth decay.
What we don’t often realize is that packaged foods and drinks often contain staggeringly high amounts of free sugars. These include:
- fizzy drinks
- alcoholic drinks
- sweets and chocolate
- pastries and puddings
- biscuits
- cakes
- canned or packaged fruit
- Flavored yogurt
- Protein bars
- Fruit juice
- Dried Fruits
- sugary breakfast cereals
What you can do:
Keep an eye on the food labels while shopping. Check how much sugar your food items contain and find alternatives for sugar in your food items. Try to resist the urge to buy anything that’s excessively sugary – no matter how tasty it looks!
Love Yourself And Enjoy The Journey!
There’s a very close link between physical health and mental health, and it’s important you’re focused on both at the same time. So, love yourself more in the process of getting healthier. You don’t have to beat yourself up for having an extra cheat day, or succumbing to your cravings on a Monday. So long as you’re making an effort to stick to your health goals consistently – it’s important to love and accept every inch of your body as it evolves.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d9jIUqVbEsU
Remember to put the *heal* in healthy. Focus less on calories, and more on your overall health. That’s the only way to achieve long-term success with your fitness lifestyle! And don’t forget to join us on our new mobile app. We have a group for Health and Wellness where you can share what works for you with other women in our eco-system. Let’s put our heads together and cheer each other on to be our best ever.
Download the app here.