You hear a lot of health and fitness influencers, and coaches talk about tracking all their calories and performing intense, daily exercises in order to stay healthy and fit. The problem is, you really want to be healthy but that schedule just doesn’t correspond with other aspects and wants for your life.
Chances are those same influencers and coaches that you see, workout for a living. Their job is to be as fit and ripped as possible. They can spend 2 hours in the gym a day and track every ounce of their food and water. And they probably love it. But most of us don’t want that and aren’t going to be happy in that environment.
Luckily for you, I have the perfect solution.
Start working toward a healthy LIFESTYLE.
Diets and workout plans usually imply that it’s temporary. A lifestyle is long term. And in order for it to be maintainable and long term, there has to be balance.
It all comes down to a gradual shift in your lifestyle.
Living a healthy lifestyle means you incorporate healthy habits into your daily life while still being about to enjoy the things that are labeled as “not healthy”. Listed below is 7 things you don’t have to give up in order to have a healthy lifestyle.
But before we get into what you don’t have to give up, let’s talk about what a healthy lifestyle really looks like and now you can start making a change now!
Balanced Healthy lifestyle
A healthy lifestyle is simply doing things that make you feel good and feel happy. It’s all about taking care of your body and mind so it can perform to the best of its ability and feel good!
Understanding that a healthy lifestyle doesn’t mean you have to give up the things that you enjoy most is a key factor for your success.
In fact, it’s actually the opposite.
If I love brownies and they make me happy. I’m going to eat brownies. And as long as I maintain balance by also eating vegetables and protein, I know that my body will feel good and nourish. I can still eat the brownie and enjoy it without any guilt. A healthy lifestyle is truly all about balance.
A healthy lifestyle looks different for everyone. So, while there are a lot of universal tips and tricks that you can do you improve and maybe spark some interest and healthy living, it all has to do with you, your body, and your feelings.
Stop and think to yourself, what makes me feel good? What makes me feel strong? And what makes me feel happier than ever?
Achieving a Healthy Lifestyle
There is a negative, unachievable, and unrealistic stereotype toward anything health and fitness related now, especially with some of the influencers and people on social media with insane bodies that workout for 2 hours a day. If that is what you want and you have time for, by all means, you go get it! But the truth is, that it not the case for most people wanting to be healthy, happy and confident.
I’ll tell you right now, just because you are living healthy lifestyle doesn’t mean you are going to have a six pack or zero fat on your body. But it does mean that you will have a healthy balance between taking care of your body and taking care of your heart and mind which is worth way more.
Working toward a healthy lifestyle can help you get to your weight goals and allow you maintain all your progress.
So, how can you do this?
Slowly.
Little by little, start making habits.
And soon these little habits will turn into a lifestyle and your body, mind and soul will feel the benefits without feeling like you spend all day paranoid by working out and tracking calories.
If you want to know more about some small habits you can start doing now that will change your life and allow to you start building the healthy and happy life you deserve, be sure to check out Healthy Eating Habits To Lose Weight.
Nutrition balance chart
Take a look at the nutrition balance chart below and you may also want to click the save button so you can look back on it.
You want to avoid what we call ‘binging’.
Binging happens when you completely restrict yourself from the foods you love and crave and eventually end up eating an unhealthy amount all at once. When people start a restrictive diet in hopes to lose weight, it is common for them to keep it up really good during the week, but then the weekend comes, and an excessive number of calories are consumed losing all progress from the week before.
A better solution is to eat the foods you crave throughout the week but spaced out and in a much smaller portion.
So, you’re telling me I don’t have to give up the foods I love most in order to be healthy?
YES! That’s exactly what I’m saying.
Being healthy doesn’t mean you have to give up the things that bring you happiness and joy.
80/20 Rule
The 80/20 rule for nutrition is quite simple. It means that 80% of the food you eat should be fresh, nutrition, and un-processed food. This meaning focusing on foods like whole grains, fruits, vegetables, lean protein, and healthy fats. The other 20% of your calories can be more flexible.
A few key rules when it comes to the 80/20 rule for eating is portion control and moderation. This form of eating allows wiggle room each day so you don’t have to feel guilty about eating a certain food. Just be careful because too much of anything will push you over that 20%.
7 things you don’t have to give up in order to have a healthy lifestyle.
1. Being able to eat the foods you love
I touched a little on this earlier in the article but, you don’t have to restrict your diet. In fact, you shouldn’t. That’s not an enjoyable, realistic, and maintainable way of living.
Life gets in the way.
There is always going to be holiday, birthday, dinner, etc. Those are the moments that you will remember and should enjoy. You shouldn’t spend every holiday worried about everything you put into your mouth.
It’s okay to eat more than you normally do or have an extra piece of pie, but it is also important that your next meal is back to normal and nutritious.
2. Enjoying nights out
If you enjoy going out to bars or parties and staying out until 3am, don’t think you have to give that up.
A lot of people think that when they decide to get healthier, that means that you can’t have as much fun are stuck in your house every night.
Don’t get me wrong, if you are drinking alcohol every weekend, multiple times, you probably aren’t going to see much progress or feel as good each day and that it just a proven fact. If you want to learn more about the affect’s alcohol has on your body and health, click here.
But that doesn’t mean you have to give it up. Remember, it’s all about balance and moderation.
3. Taking rest days
Your rest days are just as important as the other days.
I’ll say it again.
Your rest days are JUST AS IMPORTANT as the other days.
Our bodies need time for ourselves. If we are constantly going and going all the time, you are going to start to feel tired and moody all the time.
Taking a day and some time to take a bath, binge watch an entire tv series on Netflix, put on a face mask, cook a good meal, read a book, and completely escape responsibilities is so enlightening. Read more about 10 Best Self-Care Tips After a Long Week.
Not only if you feel better during the day, but you will also feel better the whole rest of week.
4. Using Sunday to relax
I’ll be honest, some of my Sunday are really productive. I use that day to do laundry, clean my apartment, do any homework, or work I have to do, run arrands, and just get my life together. However, some Sunday, I lay in bed and watch Netflix all day.
However, my body feels usually depends on what type of Sunday it will be. Sometimes I need the rest! My body feels tired, and I use the day to recover. Some days I’m feel really good and ready to start the day.
The most important thing to do is listen to your body.
5. Not making your bed everyday
I’m all about making your bed and whenever I do, it makes me want to continue to be productive and complete all my tasks for the day. It’s such a simple task that create a good start to the day.
However, some people just don’t like making the bed. A lot of wellness bloggers and influencers always tell you that you must make your bed. I understand why they are saying that and all the benefits you can get from it, however, everyone is different.
I probably make my bed maybe 2-3 days out of week.
The task of making your bed is not the key to everything, and you don’t have to make your bed everyday if that is not something you feel benefits you.
6. Sleeping in late
Let me start by saying, I am a big morning person. I always have been and probably always will be. The morning is when I usually get the most things done and have the most motivation to do so. I usually can’t sleep in much later than 9am on a normal day.
In addition, I currently get up between 4:30 and 5:30am most days of the week to workout. This is during the school year when have practice super early in the morning. I also understand that this is the time most adults would have to get up in order to workout before work or other responsibilities start.
I’m not going to lie, it’s hard!
It’s hard and you need to have a lot of motivation to get up and you need to want to continually get up early. And that’s just not the case for everyone.
A lot of people advocating for a healthy lifestyle preach getting up early. The truth is, it’s just not necessary.
It’s really up to you. When do you do your best work? When are you motivated? What do you like to do?
It’s not about the time you get up, it’s what you do directly after waking up that will set you apart from others and allow you to have a feel-good, productive day. Whatever time you get up, do it fast. Don’t lay in bed for an hour on your phone. I know we are all guilty of this, including me sometimes. But you will feel way better if you get up and immediately get your day going and start your morning routine.
The Best Way to start the day MOTIVATED.
7. Being Different
It seems as though there is a very distinct idea around what a healthy lifestyle should look like. You have do one step after another and be on a continuous cycle of activities.
Let me tell you, that is not the case.
Everyone’s lives are different and you don’t have to change the unique habits you do, unless they are causing your body and mind to suffer. Be different. Do what you like to do.
At the end of day, living a healthy lifestyle is so important and yet so simple. It doesn’t require a lot of continuous effort after you have created those healthy habits and you will feel and look so good!
What’s one thing you will never give up? Let me know in the comments. Mine is probably chocolate. I have such a sweet tooth. I like to keep a bag of chocolate chips in the pantry and have a little bit each night after dinner. Something small and something sweet. 😊
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