It’s nearing the end of January, meaning the time that those who’ve made “get healthy” their goal might be slipping. Just to be clear- it’s fine if you do. Regardless of when you make that goal, at some points it’s really easy to get caught up in one thing or another and before you know it, you’re back to eating those burgers and drinking that soda.
I know you’ve probably heard it a thousand times- healthy eating is a lifestyle, not a diet. I’m not going to repeat this to you, and instead I’m going to share some of my secrets for maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
1.Water: Water helps curb cravings a lot more than one may think. I didn’t believe much of this myself until I actually started carrying water with me everywhere. I’ve never really been into soda, but if you are, I’d recommend getting sparkling soda water. Whenever you feel hungry, just drink some water. If you still feel hungry, then go ahead- get yourself some food. Most of the time, what is perceived as hunger is merely thirst. I have heard that if you actually feel thirsty, it’s usually because your body is already feeling dehydrated.
2.My Healthy Frap: This is my go to drink that fills me up right away and satisfies any craving for chocolate or sweets I may have (not that I’m much of a sugar person). The recipe is very simple and you can whip it up in any blender. You’ll need 1 banana, about 1/4 – 1/3 cup of of almond milk (or regular milk if you prefer), a small spoonful of chia seeds, 1 cup of vanilla protein powder (I personally like the Vega vanilla flavor), about 1 tablespoon of raw cacao powder (raw cacao powder is the purest form of chocolate, and even though a little expensive, I promise it’s worth it), about a teaspoon of semi-sweet mini chocolate chips (cacao nibs also work), and a handful of ice. Just dump everything into a mixer and blend it up, and you’re left with a thick consistency drink that’s very similar to a Frappuccino. I like to top mine with a few mini chocolate chips.
3.Gym gear: Depending on when you work out (I am currently doing it in the evening), you are just too tired to get yourself to hit the gym. Something that has been working for me lately is that after I come in, I dump everything and immediately change into my gym clothes. This gives me no excuse to lounge around in my pajamas, and I will feel motivated to get into the gym as quickly as possible.
These are some things that have really helped me embrace a healthy lifestyle, and by no means was it easy in the beginning. As you keep going at it, you will soon find your own tricks that help you be consistent.
Photo Credit: takopix.com