As you continue to focus and move ahead with staying on track to a healthy lifestyle you are sure to hit a few bumps in the road. It is important to remember that you are on a journey, not running a race. Life is always changing so it’s important to keep an open mind and be flexible.
It’s hard to believe that it’s already spring! If you haven’t been staying on track with your healthy lifestyle choices, now is the time to get a fresh start. After being trapped in the house, surviving the holidays and shoveling lots of snow, it’s time to refocus and get moving. I don’t know about you, but winter is when I have the hardest time staying on track. Cold weather and snow makes me think comfort food an when I think about comfort food, I usually end up eating it.
Be Realistic
Finding a plan that works for you and helps you be successful at staying on track is important. Don’t focus on gimmicks, extreme diet fads or lose weight quick schemes. You want to make long term lifestyle changes! Setting yourself up for long term success is more important than dropping the weight as quick as possible. Eating less and moving more will be the keys to staying on track and living a healthy lifestyle.
Plan Ahead
Take time once or twice a week to plan out your meals and your workout routines. Knowing what meal prep you need to do around work or kids schedule will make staying on track easier than ever. Planning a workout routine in to your daily or weekly calendar can help keep you focused. Moving more can keep your body healthy and add some much needed stress relief to your days. Just schedule it!
Be Prepared
We all have social obligations to uphold. If you need to attend a function that involves food, you can prepare in advance to prevent back sliding. Check out the menu and have a few healthier lifestyle choices in mind. Drink plenty of water, eat slowly and focus on the company your keeping, not the food. If you are prepared before you arrive, chances are you will do much better at staying on track when you are out with friends or family.
Have A Backup Plan
Let’s face it life happens, even more so if you have kids. Have a backup plan of what you will eat if things don’t go as planned. My plans falling apart often happens on days that I am running late at work or have a lot of errands to run. Know your options at fast food restaurants and grocery stores for a quick grab and go, so you don’t end up just grabbing anything in sight and derailing you from staying on track. Keeping a list of low calorie foods or point plus breakdowns in your purse or car makes it easier to make informed decisions on the go.
Take Measurements And Track Goals
It’s important to be consistent in recording how your body is changing. Body measurements as well as weight measurements will help you see the good and even the bad. On weeks when the scale doesn’t budge or on the weeks your weight hits a plateau, you will often see results in other areas. Doing body measurements once a month is great to keep your mind focused on the weeks the scale is stubborn. There will be weeks that your body is not losing fat, but toning muscle thus seeing lost inches instead of lost pounds.
Have A Motivation Partner
Find someone you can reach out to when you are struggling. There are a lot of online support groups as well as social media and forums that focus on healthy lifestyle choices. Being able to talk through what is holding you back or what you are struggling with can assist you in staying on track. Having someone to tell you to keep going and not give up is sometimes what you need to keep going and stay focused. Feedback from others can be a great motivator!
How successful have you been at staying on track with your healthy lifestyle goals?
Michele Brosius
@just2sisters2
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