Happy 2019! New year, new you, right? Great! If that’s what you want. But how are you framing it? Are you saying you want to lose x number of pounds or BMI? Are you saying you want to fit into size x? That’s all well and good, but I don’t think that’s necessarily the right way to look at it. You should never attribute your value to a number. Never ever. I love the body positivity movement that has been gaining following, but it still has a long, long way to go.
Instead of just trying to achieve a weight loss goal of thirty pounds (or whatever), why not make a resolution to change your lifestyle? I’m not saying you can’t touch a slice of pizza or bowl of ice cream again. I’m saying shifting a few things in your day-to-day life that could make a bigger impact than you might first think. I’m not going to give a direct list of what you need to do because everyone will need a different plan of action, but let me give some overall advice.
Open your mind. People are so resistant to a “healthy” lifestyle because they see it as a bowl of kale and a treadmill. There are so many different pictures of health. That’s the beauty of it. You get to paint your own. If you want to eat kale salad and run on a treadmill, do you. If you want to box and eat like a viking, also great. If you want to do yoga and take long walks, still fantastic. CHOOSE YOUR OWN PATH OF HEALTH. It’s like a choose-your-own-adventure and who doesn’t like those?
Move more. Go for a fifteen minute walk in the morning or at night a few times a week and I guarantee you’ll see a difference. Try a few different exercises or classes: yoga, boxing, cycling, swimming, tai chi, weight lifting, etc. I know some people say they hate exercise, but I want to challenge those people if they haven’t tried everything. And even if they have tried everything, then just go for a walk or get up from your desk more.
Incorporate better foods. I hate diets. They don’t work. We might eat pizza every week or at least every other week. But generally, we eat pretty healthily. Don’t feel fat after four slices of pizza. Know that’s okay because you’re going to incorporate more leafy greens, veggies, and “good” carbs into your diet. Do a little research, look for recipes that use healthy foods you enjoy. Embark on a fun new journey.
Listen to your body. If you are “unhealthy,” you’re probably not in tune with your body. Time to start listening. This is honestly one of my best tricks, but I didn’t gain this ability overnight–and you can lose it too! After you eat “good” food, pay attention you how your body feels after. Same goes for “bad” food. Keep practicing. Also try to sense how your body feels after certain types of exercise. For example, if I don’t exercise for a few days, my muscles go all twitchy and I get restless. If I eat really greasy food, my stomach will tell me almost immediately.
Even if you want to ignore all the advice I’ve given you, maybe listen to one thing. Look for changing your lifestyle instead of a number. And as always, stay hungry and fit!
Great read! I’m working on changing my lifestyle by doing monthly goals so first month is to try to do exercises each day and blog about it. I missed Friday and Saturday but today I did a mini workout in my apartment and plan on going for a walk later this evening. Also been trying to incorporate more veggies and healthier foods into my routine. I’ve also went from drinking soda all the time to now only drinking water but the occasional soda.