The food that we consume on a day to day basis can either be medicine or act as our greatest enemy. With the rise of the health movement and people coming up with different eating strategies (think of keto, paleo, and gluten-free), it is not a surprise that the common folk is left confused and unsure of what is healthy and what is deemed „unhealthy“ nowadays. Sadly, poor eating habits often lead to the most horrific diseases known to man such as heart disease and cancer.
Thankfully, there are numerous ways how to start living a more health conscious life right now. By taking care of your own health and putting your own well being above all, you will learn how to eat like you love yourself.
1. Listen to your body
Everyone is different, and we all have different needs when it comes to diet and supplementation. A grown man’s nutritional needs are entirely different than those of a two-year-old child.
Not only does age and sex matter, but lifestyles are important as well. For example, someone who is constantly running around needs to take in more calories than a person who lives a sedentary lifestyle.
Because of the fact that every individual is unique, it is important to take a step back and observe how the body reacts to certain food types. Sometimes, we tend to eat something on a regular basis that might make us feel lethargic and bloated. Common allergens that cause a reaction in the body are sugar, wheat, soy, dairy products and meat.
As a matter of fact, more and more people turn to veganism due to the claims that meat and dairy cause cancer. By keeping a food journal and tracking what you eat for at least seven days, you are able to discover what pantry item is the cause of these health issues.
When you find out what makes you feel bloated, then focus on eliminating it from your diet.
2. Do not skip your meals
Frequently, people simply do not have time to sit down and enjoy a home-cooked meal. Nowadays, due to the hectic modern lifestyle, people are preoccupied with their jobs and responsibilities at home. The truth is, that for proper and healthy weight-loss, eating less does not equal better results.
As a matter of fact, by depleting your body of essential nutrients and relying on one or two salads a day, you are more likely to store fat in the stomach area. Also, starving yourself will only lead you to more frequent binge eating episodes. Instead, focus on eating a couple of smaller meals a day.
The perfect solution for people who are always on the go and who want to blast fat whilst building muscle at the same time are custom made meals like those offered by My Muscle Chef and other reliable professionals. Not only are you able to custom make your perfect dish, but you are also able to have it delivered to your home address. Therefore, looking into freshly made custom meal plans might just help you out in the long run.
3. Treat yourself once in a while
If you are someone who works out all the time and eats clean seven days a week, then it is absolutely fine to have a treat now and then. Think of birthdays and other celebrations that happen only once a year. Of course, if you are not as physically active, then do not worry, because a little indulgence will not lead you away from attaining that beach-ready body.
Actually, treating yourself from time to time will definitely not ruin your progress unless you do not take it overboard! This means that it is absolutely fine if you reach for that slice of chocolate cake, or maybe two.
Most importantly, learn to forgive yourself for stepping away from your diet. A lot of the times, people overindulge only to later feel guilty and depressed. Instead, remind yourself that you will get back on track as soon as the festivities are over.
Of course, do not overdo the cardio, because by punishing yourself you only reinforce the idea that having a naughty treat once in a while is a sin. So, grab a piece of chocolate and smile!
4.Skip the sugary drinks
A lot of the times, people can not imagine having their coffee or tea without a few spoonfuls of processed white sugar. One of the main causes of diabetes and cancer is high sugar intake. Think of drinks such as soda and coke.
By swapping these drinks for more healthier alternatives, or just ditching the added sugar, you will get all the health benefits that your body desperately needs.
As a matter of fact, coffee is an antioxidant powerhouse that has a ton of benefits. Also, tea is amazing for skin health and lowering inflammation in the body. Plus, do not get fooled by artificial sweeteners!
These man-made sweeteners only prime the taste buds, so you will most likely crave sugary foods such as cakes and sweets more often.
5. Strive for progress
Sometimes a person needs to remind himself that perfection is unattainable and that it does not exist. Perfection is only an illusion that we are tricked into believing that it exists.
If you are a beginner to fitness or someone who feels lost, remember to start off by setting a goal. After the goal is determined (such as weight loss, building quality muscle, etc.), you can start looking into ways to achieve this goal by taking one step at a time. It is key to take baby steps and strive for improving each day, week, or year.
The bottom line is, forget about perfection and instead concentrate on learning and improving. This way, you are able to become the best version of yourself.
6. Let go of bad habits
Every single person has a bad eating habit(or a couple of habits) that he or she wants to get rid of. Some people visit fast food restaurants every time after getting out of work, others restrict their calories only to binge eat later on.
Hence, it is important to detect these bad habits and focus on finding ways how to eliminate them from your daily routine. A good idea would be to get rid of a habit and replace it with a new, healthier one.
For example, some bad habits are constant snacking and eating food directly from the box. The problem with eating from a box is that you are more likely to consume twice or three times more calories than recommended on the nutritional label.
Therefore, one may look into ways how to control portion size. Other good eating habits include mindfulness, sitting down at the table, and chewing food more thoroughly.
All in all, healthy eating does not have to be difficult and boring. As a matter of fact, by making sure that you are nourishing your body with all the nutrients that it needs, you will feel happier and more satisfied in life.
