here's a simple tool for making healthy habits

 

I think we've all marked a specific day for when we overhaul our life and get our shit together. 

For it to completely fall through within a day . Within a week, the life overhaul has gone and you are back to the 'old you', waiting for the next big day to try again.

Often, as part of these life transformations, we pledge to be healthier. But we set absolutely unrealistic (and unhealthy) expectaions and rules on ourselves, that we are just obviously not going to be able to stick to; like cutting out carbs, because Chad at the gym said you should? (P.S. please do not listen to Chad).

N.B. Being healthy doesn't make you a better person morally. It doesn't increase your worth. You do not need to be healthy to feel worthy. But, I do think that the pursuit of health, or whatever that means to you is something that everybody should have access to with suitable resources, non-stigmatising information and skills to facilitate behavioural change. 

People often use 'being healthy' and 'losing weight' interchangeably. But they do not mean the same thing. They can sometimes go hand in hand. But, despite what diet culture tells you, your weight is not representative of your health. 

So going on a 'new year, new me' diet is not 'being healthy'. It increases unhealthy relationships with your food and your body, creates a distrust with yourself and your bodys signals. 

I believe that prioritising your health is a form of self-care. 

That does not include starving yourself, eating foods that you don't want or feeling guilty for eating certain foods and the amount.

 

It's near impossible to build a lasting habit by going balls to the wall. I like to think of it like planting a seed. Take a small action - the seed; plant it and water it every day. It will grow stronger and stronger. 

Maybe as part of your pledge to be a health guru, you want to drink 2L of water per day. Start by drinking an extra glass in the morning, maybe just after you've brushed your teeth. Do it every day. Build it up. The next week you could try your morning glass and adding a glass after a morning snack. Do it every day. Keep building it up. Soon you won't even have to think about it. 

 

Other healthy habits may include: 

 

Goal: 

Eating according to your body's hunger/fullness cues -----> try staying mindful at mealtimes, by eating slowly and checking in with yourself 1/2 - 3/4 way through the meal. 

 

Stop grabbing snacks from the vending machine ------> try packing a couple of nutritious snacks in your bag. 

 

Meal prep ----> Try meal prepping just one meal, at the weekend, ready for the week ahead. 

 

Exercise more ----> Take a quick walk on your lunch break at work.

Eat more fruit and vegetables -----> Try to incorporate a new vegetable, that you haven't tried into one meal per week. 

Nurture and water these consistently and you won't even have to think about it. 

Kate Xx 

 

I'd be grateful if you shared this post so others can enjoy it too. It's simple, just click the 'share' button below. 

Be sure to subscribe using the 'subscribe' button at the top of the page, so you're the first to know when I post next.

 

 I post regularly on here and Instagram with self-love, body positivity and recipe ideas so that you can bloom into your best self, with me.