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Building a Fit Lifestyle

Do you have some health goals in mind, but are feeling overwhelmed with where to start? Here’s a hint… start small. Change is not an easy thing, especially when it comes to changing certain eating and lifestyle behaviors that have been habits for years and years. Starting small can help to keep things manageable and realistically achievable. Stick to one goal at a time and focus on achieving that before moving onto others. If you try to do too much at once, it can become very overwhelming and incredibly difficult. And what happens when you fail to achieve something? You feel down, critical of yourself, unmotivated and a whole mix of other unhelpful emotions! On the other hand, achieving tasks- no matter how small- can make you feel awesome, it can boost confidence and increases motivation to keep on making changes. I just think about the satisfaction I feel on a daily basis from crossing things off of my to-do list! That being said, be sure to write your goal down. Not only will it be so satisfying to cross that goal off of your list, but also it will also serve as a tool to hold you accountable.

Here are some ideas on how to start the change process…

•  Use smaller plates and bowls to help manage portion control. Place the ‘large’ dinner plates on the top shelf, and instead opt for the smaller salad plate for meals.
• Aim for a 10 minute walk each day. Put this in your calendar and treat it like a business meeting- something you cannot miss! Work on incorporating more activity throughout the day for longer periods of time.
• Wait 20 minutes before going back for seconds… it takes this long for your body to recognize fullness cues! If 20 minutes is too long to start off, begin with 10 minutes and work up from there.
• Put everything you eat on a plate or in a bowl. Avoid mindless eating out of the bag or container.
• Swap one ‘unhealthy’ snack for a fresh piece of fruit once or more times a day.

Looking to learn more about building a fit and healthy lifestyle? Join Healthy Living Nutritionist, Victoria Bruner, MS, RD, and Physical Therapist, Sue Dodge, MS, PT, for a FREE learn by tasting grocery store tour! Wednesday, April 8th from 5:00 – 6:30 PM. Come with questions and an appetite! Sign up HERE!