6 healthy lifestyle habits to start incorporating today to help you on your weight loss journey
It’s that time of year where everyone is ramping up their exercise regime and trying to get their bodies summer ready! It can become quite obsessive, unhealthy and unsustainable.
Outlined below are my top tips on creating healthy and simple lifestyle changes for the long run and not just a quick fix for that summer holiday you have coming up!
- Exercise and nutrition – First things first, you can’t out train a bad diet so make sure you combine nutrition along with exercise. It really doesn’t have to be complicated, go back to basics and make smart decisions. Don’t wreak havoc on your system by drastically cutting back on your food intake or trying to get to the gym twice a day leading up to your holiday. Start by moving more throughout the day and being aware of what is on your plate, eat more whole foods and avoid any packaged, deep fried or highly processed sugary foods!
- Drink more water – Don’t underestimate the power of water, our bodies are made up of 60% water making it an essential component to our diet. Staying well hydrated can provide us with many health benefits such as glowing skin, well-functioning organs, healthier teeth, bones and joints as well as maintaining a healthy urinary tract and digestive system! Drinking sufficient amounts of water can also help curb hunger as most the times when we feel hungry we are in fact thirsty.
- Portion control – This is one thing I struggle with big time – I think most of us do! It is so easy to over eat. A few of my tips are to serve yourself dinner then pack away any leftovers you may have immediately to prevent you from going in for round 2. Use a smaller plate, eat slowly and be mindful of your food – It really does make a difference to your satiety if you actually acknowledge your food rather than inhaling it! Lastly use the rule of palm when serving your meals so you don’t over do it.
- Eat protein with every meal – Protein is essential for a good body composition as it sustains lean muscle mass, it can also help keep you fuller for longer as the body takes longer to digest protein. Try and eat protein first thing in the morning and with every meal/snack thereafter. Protein is found in an array of foods, not only animal products. If you are vegetarian or vegan, read the following blog post I did on vegan protein sources, I try to include these into my diet each week as not only are they packed with protein they also contain many other vitamins and minerals we need for optimum health! https://lifestylelucy.net/2017/04/05/top-5-vegan-based-protein-sources/
- Meal prep – Cooking at home and preparing your meals in advance allows you to portion control and know exactly what goes into every meal which can provide an array of health benefits to help nourish your body and keep you on track. It is also a great way to save time and make smarter choices about what goes into your body. Check out the following blog post for all things meal prep – https://lifestylelucy.net/2017/03/11/the-benefits-of-meal-preparation-part-1/
- Never skip a meal – 9 times out of 10 skipping a meal will generally backfire. You may think you are eating less calories but randomly skipping meals can cause a lot more harm on your metabolism and create a hormonal imbalance. If you don’t enjoy eating breakfast then start your day with a handful of nuts, a small yoghurt or even just a small piece of fruit. Make time for each meal, even if you are busy at work – set aside 15 minutes to eat your meal to help fuel you for the hours ahead!
I hope these tips have been informative and will help you along your journey, try your best to apply the above points into your daily routine today and let me know how you get on. Small changes and creating new habits are the key to weight loss, don’t go yoyo dieting or get sucked into the fad diets.
Create a healthy sustainable lifestyle than you can maintain forever!
