Just to clarify, I don't eat perfectly clean 24/7 and I definitely am not a professional dietician (these tips aren't for solely losing weight!). If you're trying to transition from an unhealthy lifestyle to a healthy one, the process is NOT quick, so don't be discouraged if you're not instantly seeing amazing results within a week or two.
These are ways that I personally found were extremely helpful towards my journey to better eating habits, which leads to a healthier and more fulfilling life! I'm still on the road to better eating but have noticed amazing changes in my health along the way thanks to a few of the tips below.
- WATER = HOLY GRAIL -
Instead of gravitating towards sodas and juices for your choice of drink, grab a nice, tall glass of water to quench your thirst! Water is an essential component to our bodies, meaning if you don't drink enough you won't be able to function your best. A common complaint from people that refuse to drink water is that it tastes plain, flavorless, or boring. A few ways to make your water more tasty is by infusing fruits, like strawberries or lemons, and adding cucumbers and basil. Strawberries are a natural antioxidant, along with lemons, cucumbers, and basil. Just make sure to drink 8 glasses a day!
- GOODBYE TO DAIRY -
I'm sorry to all the cheese lovers, but if you really want a good change in your body internally AND externally, you gotta limit the dairy intake. Before I decided to cut out dairy products, milk and cheese were literally my entire life. I added cheese to everything: pasta, veggies, meats, burgers, basically all of my meals. I never thought of ever giving it up until I noticed how horrible my skin was getting and how bloated and sluggish I felt after every meal. I began reading up on the cons of dairy from numerous reliable websites and sources and decided to give the cleanse a try. My dairy cleanse made my skin the best it has ever looked, especially since I've dealt with moderate acne since middle school, and my bloated tummy decreased each day (goodbye boating!). I still get pimples, though it is definitely not as bad as it used to be and I'm now full of more energy. A good alternative to dairy is almond milk and cashew cheese, both vegan friendly!
- EXERCISE -
This one is pretty self explanatory, but if you're trying to get healthy, you gotta incorporate some daily exercise into your regimen. Now you don't have to go hard into exercise if you've never really exercised a lot before (like me), but slowly start working harder and longer each day. One extremely simple way to initially get yourself moving is by parking your car far away from the store you're headed in. Yes, it sounds super easy because it is, and it also forces you to walk farther distances and get in that daily 10,000 steps a day. Of course this isn't the only form of exercise you should be getting. Start taking walks outside when it's nice out, get a gym membership and jog on a treadmill, or even join a beginners exercise class! An amazing workout "class" I've started is Cassey Ho's (Blogilates on YouTube) PIIT28 online workout. I know it's initially difficult to start exercising, but motivation is key and with a new healthy diet, a healthier mindset will make you WANT to be active.
- GOODBYE TO (PROCCESSED) CARBS -
This one definitely hit me the hardest, especially since I love all things carbs: pastas, cakes, breads, desserts, the list infinitely goes on. I noticed before I decided to eat cleaner that all I ever ate was processed carbs because yes, it tastes amazing. But if you're really trying to get into clean eating, one of the first thing you have to starting cuting out is carbs. That means choosing banana and oat pancakes instead of flour buttermilk pancakes, brown rice instead of white, and carrots with hummus instead of tortilla chips and salsa. Of course occasionally if I want to treat myself or if I'm celebrating a special occasion, I will have a small dessert or eat some pancakes, but you should only do this when you start having better control of what you eat. With a lack of control, you'll instantly want to go back to eating carbs every single day, which would completely negate the whole eating clean thing.
- BE YOUR OWN CHEF -
Here's some food for thought: If you're making your own meals, you are in control of what you put in your body. Amazing, right?? When you eat out at a fast food joint or diner, the meals tend to be extremely salty and fatty, so imagine how unhealthy those foods are for your body. When you cook your own meals, you are the chef in control of how much salt, oil, and other ingredients are added into your dish. Not only is cooking a really fun hobby to pick up, but it's also extremely helpful if you're a college student (like me) that is trying to become healthier. I'll probably end up writing a more in-depth article about my favorite cookbooks when I become better at cooking, but picking up a healthy cookbook is definitely one of the easiest ways to start!
- SMOOTHIES GALORE -
My last and final tip of this article: GET INTO SMOOTHIE MAKING!!! If you don't have a blender already, buy a cheap one from Amazon or something, just make smoothies! This tip is one-hundred percent the reason why my health has never been better, especially since I've been dealing with a chronic (hereditary) autoimmune disorder for over a year now. The first step to wanting to change my health was by buying a Magic Bullet and following some basic green smoothie recipes. By the next month, my doctor noticed how much healthier I've become and how the symptoms I used to suffer from were fading away. So if you want an easy way to get into healthy eating, blend a green smoothie for breakfast to start off the day while ALSO consciously making good food choices. Here is a recipe I constantly use from one of my fave doctors, Dr. Brooke Goldner. Make sure you incorporate a lot of veggies (kale, spinach, etc.) into the smoothie because too many fruits can actually spike up your blood sugar level!
Being healthy is a lifestyle choice, no one else can force you to eat better. It took me 19 years to want to start helping myself and I have honestly never felt better. So remember to always #eatyourveggies!!!
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