You Say You Want to Get Healthy, Do Ya?
So…
You want to change to get healthy and on track with your health, but you are not sure what to change.
To that I say welcome to the second post of five related to the 5 Keys to Getting Healthy Eating and Exercise Back on Track.
In case you missed it, the first post of five, What is Key to Losing Weight? Knowing Why, dealt with knowing why you want to change. If you missed that post, go back to it by clicking here.
There is a link back to this post. No need to worry about losing your place.
I encourage you to go back to that post because knowing why you want to change makes this step and the three that follow clearer. Also, when you know why you are changing you will be more focused on making the appropriate changes.
So let's go about the task of helping you change to get healthy and on track with your health.
What Should You Change?
Now that we have established why you want to change (I am assuming you checked out the previous post), let's focus on what to change to begin getting healthier.
- Change what you eat and drink. This is something most people know, but for some people that change equates to eating only a salad everyday. You don't need to do that. Depending on where you are in this journey, what you change will vary. If you drink sodas or juices, start by cutting back. Replace what you cut back with water. Instead of eating fast food or eating while on the run, prepare your own food using lean meat, veggies, whole grains, and fruit.
- Change your physical routine. In order to see weight loss results, if that is your goal, you need to move your body consistently. That means determining a time throughout your day that you will dedicate to exercising. If you are just starting out, start with as much as you can do in the time you have allotted to working out. You do not need to workout for hours at a time. Make what you do manageable, yet challenging.
- Change your sleeping habits. You can gain weight from not getting enough sleep. Adjust your schedule to get more sleep. Remove nonessentials from your life and delegate more. This holds true for the above as well.
That was Only the Beginning – There's More
You probably pretty much knew much of the above. Have you considered ways to make your quest to get healthy more of a success? If not, here is what makes a world of difference: I call it P&P – planning and preparation.
You want to be certain to plan and prepare every area of your life. Here are some areas to help get you started.
- Pack your own meals. Whether it is for work, class, or travel, pack your own meals. That way you control what you are eating.
- Read menus in advance of going out to dinner. Some people have careers that require dinner meetings or you may be like me and hate cooking. To get healthy, be sure to check out the restaurant menu before arriving. Look for healthy options or ways to ask the wait staff to make modifications.
- Prepare a grocery list and go shopping after eating. Never go grocery shopping without a list and never go while hungry. Having a list protects you from making unhealthy choices.
- Determine in advance when, where, what time, and how frequently you will workout. If you fail to plan this, you more than likely will not get in that exercise. Make it a priority by having both a plan and a back up plan.
What Can You Change to Get Healthy and on Track?
The best way to change where you currently are is to change what you are currently doing.
In the case of being sure to get healthy and on track, do the following:
- Review what you are currently doing.
- Go back to the previous post in this series and assess why you want to change.
- Modify your eating habits. Eliminate sugary and salty foods and foods that are processed and lack healthy nutrients.
- Change your exercise routine, even if that includes starting one.
- Plan and prepare what you eat, when you will exercise, and when you will rest.
The next post in the series will take this post further by focusing more on how you will implement your change.
If you are chomping at the bit and cannot wait until next week, you have options.
Do web searches for “how to get healthy”. An alternative is my best selling book, Diet-Free Me: How to Stop Struggling, Lose Weight, and Embrace a Healthy Lifestyle. It is armed with comprehensive solutions as to how to implement changes to get healthy and on track.
Get the conversation started: What changes will you make to get healthy after reading this post? Share in the comments, on Facebook or Twitter.