Being healthy isn’t only about how many push-ups you can do. Your health and fitness goals should take the WHOLE YOU into consideration… body, mind and spirit… and then try to bring it all into balance. A lot of small steps can create a big change in your life. Rome wasn’t built in a day, but it was built one day at a time. Here are 15 small changes you can make, one at a time, to create a healthier and happier you! 15 more tips will follow in my next post!
#1 Tell yourself each and every day how absolutely amazing you are.
It’s the truth! Every one of us is special and awesome in our own way and sometimes we really need to be reminded of that. Instead of chastising ourselves for our weaknesses, we should focus on our strengths and remember that we all have something great to offer the world.
#2 Go to a Farmer’s Market.
This is a great way to fill your kitchen with healthy produce and natural meats as well as support your local farmers. It also makes for a wonderful morning outside in the beautiful fall weather!
#3 Ditch the artificial sweeteners.
Artificial sweeteners are nothing but chemical poison. Do yourself a favor and get them out of your system. For white sugar substitutes, try stevia based sweeteners or agave nectar. A little goes a long way.
#4 Turn off the TV and close the laptop.
Yeah, yeah, I know I’m typing this on a laptop, but as soon as I’m done, I’m taking the little one outside to play in the yard. TV and computers are a regular part of our lives these days, but just remember that every minute spent in front of either equals one minute of you sitting on your rear… sitting still…. doing your body no favors… usually eating. The artificial light we get from both also drains us of our much needed energy. So keep the channel and internet surfing to a minimum. Get in, get out and get on with your day.
#5 Plant a garden.
I learned myself this year that you don’t have to have a green thumb or a lot of space (believe me, I don’t) to actually grow some of your own food! This is a fun and cheap project to do with your kids and a great way to get yourself outside. It’s also a good way to experiment with new fresh herbs and produce. It’s an amazing feeling when you can take food from your yard straight to your kitchen. How cool! Start small and work your way up one plant at a time.
#6 Purge your pantry.
Why torture yourself? What is the point of surrounding yourself with food that will constantly test your will power? Go through your pantry and your fridge and dump the junk. Throw it away or donate it. You don’t need it and neither does your family. Treats are fine once in a while, but to have them on hand every single day isn’t doing anyone any favors. They are no longer treats, but are now a regular part of your diet. Neither kids nor adults need that. Only bring in the treats for special occasions, enjoy them and then get rid of them. Don’t put yourself through that.
#7 Clean out your closets and/or your garage.
Not only will this create more space in your home, but it will burn some calories! If my BodyBugg taught me anything (and it taught me a lot), it was that performing household chores like this burn a ton of calories. Physical clutter creates mental clutter. This is something I struggle with myself… I’m a clutterer by nature. Let’s tackle this one together and bust through the junk! Get it out of there and donate it to someone else who may actually need it.
#8 Stop buying “fat free” garbage.
“Diet food” is usually terrible food and I’m not only referring to the taste. If you’re trying to lose weight or just live a healthier life, ditch the fat free foods that are full of chemicals, preservatives and hidden sugars. If you look at the list of ingredients on a fat free bottle of salad dressing versus a bottle of regular, you’ll find about twice the number of ingredients… just use your noggin and start reading the nutrition labels and stay away from ingredients you don’t understand. Think “whole ingredients” when you shop. The less processed the better. One exception is non-fat dairy because you’ll see there are no added ingredients, which brings me to my next tip…
#9 Incorporate Greek yogurt into your diet.
Fat free plain Greek yogurt is an amazing thing to keep in your fridge. You can eat it as a snack with a sprinkle of granola and agave nectar or you can really get creative with it. It’s a great substitute for sour cream (I’ve actually come to prefer it because it’s thicker) and you can add it to dishes you want to be creamier. It’s super high in protien and a great way to get your calcium as well.
#10 Try a new fruit or vegetable.
Next time you go the grocery store or farmer’s market, pick up something you’ve never tried before. Get creative and get out of your rut. Don’t know what to do with it? Look online for recipes… my favorites are foodnetwork.com and epicurious.com. It’s fall now so there will be lots of yummy squash around! Spaghetti squash and butternut squash are my faves! Mmmm…
#11 Make a donation.
This goes back to my earlier suggestion to clean out your closets. Keep a box in your garage especially for donations and as you come across things you no longer need, toss them in the box. Once it gets full, take it to Goodwill. Not only are you helping out someone else and clearing your home of clutter but you’re doing something good for your spirit as well which brings us to…
#12 Perform a random act of kindness.
This one is great because you have to think of someone else to do it. We think about ourselves too much. Whether or not you believe in karma, in being a nice person, or just the good ol’ Golden Rule, I’ve heard it said that when you do nice things for others you’re putting coins in your soul bank. I like to think of it that way. Think of something nice you could do for someone today. Then do it. It could make their day and how awesome would that be?
#12 Drink lots of water!
It’s been said that if you’re thirsty, it’s too late. You’re already dehydrated. The best analogy for a body that hasn’t had enough water is a wilted plant. That’s the same thing that happens to us when we don’t drink enough water. Drink a big glass as soon as you wake up in the morning and keep it with you all day long. Drink at least 64 ounces a day and more if it’s a workout day.
#13 Take your vitamins.
Even if you eat a very healthy diet, you likely aren’t getting 100% of the vitamins and minerals your body needs every day. Taking a daily multivitamin will help you fill in those gaps. Getting rid of those deficiencies can also help relieve food cravings, which in turn can help you on your track to weight loss.
#14 Learn something new.
Our brains need exercise, too! Take yourself off of auto-pilot and put that baby to good use. Learning new skills and keeping your brain active helps it stay sharp later in your life. Read a lot, solve puzzles, learn new recipes, hone a new skill at the gym, take a different route to work, get creative! There are many ways to play with this one. Have fun!
#15 Go outside.
Get out into the world and enjoy some fresh air and Vitamin D. Now that the weather is finally starting to cool (it feels AWESOME outside today!), get out and enjoy it! Take a deep breath of fresh air and soak up some rays (just wear your shades and sunscreen). Go for a walk, a hike, a bike ride, to the playground or just have a seat out on your back porch.
Well, this is it for Part I of my 30 Tips for a Healthier You. You can take some and leave some but I hope you will consider each point and think about how you could incorporate it into your life. Remember, a lot of small and simple steps can equal one big change. Go for it! Please leave a comment if you have some tips of your own that you would like to share. Part II soon to follow!
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