I’m a natural born problem solver. Seriously, I love a good puzzle. So if I identify a problem in my life, I’m going to figure out how to solve it. I share this to say that my healthy habits were all born out of a need to solve a problem. Hormonal acne? Brain fog? Feeling tired all the time? No idea how to listen to my body? All of these issues resulted in me creating healthy habits to solve problems. So today, I’m going to let you in on how I did it. Besides lots of research + trial & error, there’s a reason that some habits have stuck while others have fallen away. And if you’re on a journey to create your own healthy habits, I hope these tips can inspire you too!
Identify My Issues
There’s about a million and 10 diets on the market or so it seems. So how do you find one that works for you? Truthfully, diets don’t work. We use them as a temporary solution to a problem and eventually we wind up in the same place. Unfortunately, for many of us it feels like a hamster wheel we keep jumping back on only to find ourselves falling off the wagon. In order to make an impact I had to recognize that healthy habits are what change the game.
I knew that my hormones were out of whack. I was very prone to snacking throughout the day and not getting a balanced diet. And I felt like I just wasn’t my best self. Eventually, I landed on Body Love by Kelly Leveque and decided to give it a go for 30 days. But I knew that if I could push through and see how much better I felt, I could build healthy habits for a lifetime.
And I’ve done well so far. The fab 4 lifestyle has helped me maintain my energy, manage my hunger levels and given me significantly better skin. But before I could even begin to create healthy habits, I needed to know why I wanted to do it and where I was going. I also had to be desperate enough to want to change.
Fix My Relationship With Food
I swear to the high heavens I want to scream when I see the words guilt free on packaging. YOU SHOULD NOT HAVE TO FEEL GUILTY FOR EATING. Yes, there are some foods that are going to make you feel better than others. But if you’re choosing to eat something knowing it’s going to hurt you, own that sh*t and move on.
What I’ve learned that most people don’t realize is how most of us are taught to have a terrible relationship with food. And what’s worse, our bad relationship with food is a luxury we don’t even realize we have because we feel guilty for breathing around a slice of chocolate cake.
If you’re going to create healthy habits, it’s time to do the mental work and take the power back from food. The sooner you realize that telling yourself you can’t have half of the things is part of the reason you’re binging, the sooner you can get healthy. But the battle for this all starts in your head. And it’s time to do the work.
FOCUSing ON THE GOOD OVER WHAT I COULDN’T HAVE
Listen. I love you. Everyone single one of you babes is fabulous. But you are better than your complaints about what you can’t eat. An attitude of gratitude is the major mental change that makes us happier humans. So it’s time to focus on the amazing foods you can eat and stop worrying/giving power to the ones that are causing you physical pain.
I gave up dairy several years ago. It was causing me severe stomach pain and I was truly happy to just be able to fix the problem. Maybe you have to give up gluten or soy or corn or chocolate. Yes, it’s not the ideal party you want to be invited to in life. Nevertheless, we will have so many wonderful foods we can enjoy and be thankful for. Take the time to remember those as you’re building your healthy habits. It will make a world of difference.
BE INTENTIONAL ABOUT MIXING IT UP
I am more than capable of being a lazy chef. Food prep has helped me get to a point where I can just chuck things in a bowl and have dinner in under 10 minutes. But if you’re still feeling deprived or like you don’t have all the foods in your life you want, be intentional about mixing it up.
I know it’s not good for my body to eat the same things all the time. It means I have a tendency to develop a random sensitivity. So instead of letting myself get bored, I try to test new recipes every few weeks. There are a few books I go to time and time again: It’s All Good*, Against All Grain* + Eat What You Love* are on the list.
If you think eating healthy is boring, don’t let yourself get bored. Once you’ve picked an eating style, following people on Instagram who post recipes or have blogs. There are so many amazing content creators out there who would love to help you with your healthy habits. You’ve just got to find the ones that work for you!
SPEND TIME WITH OTHER PEOPLE WHO ENJOY BEING HEALTHY
I’m an incredibly stubborn human being. On any given day, I’ll happily pick the tough path because I like a challenge. So when I was vegan and carting my food around for years, I didn’t realize that not everyone was like me. Also, I have amazing friends who always let me check a menu before we went out.
It’s not always easy to change your entire diet overnight. You’ve spent years building habits of eating a certain way and it can feel incredibly isolating to make these changes alone. Finding friends who are on the same path as you makes it easier to navigate creating your healthy habits. It’s the reason why Weight Watchers has worked for years. Not everyone is good at keeping themselves accountable. And sometimes we all need a little help. If you feel like you need some back up in creating your healthy lifestyle, don’t be afraid to phone a friend. I promise they would love to have someone to swap instant pot recipes with this week!
What about you? What have you found helpful for building your healthy habits? I’d love to hear from you! Be sure to leave me a comment below and let me know. And feel free to share this with someone you want to encourage. Until next time. Xoxo, Savvy
These are excellent suggestions!