It’s January (again!) and just like in previous years, we’re all feeling motivated to make a change to improve our health, fitness, and well-being. Only this time it’s for good! But how do you make that lifestyle change? You know, the one that you turn into a habit and stick to from now on?
For example, usually, when we think about getting more exercise, we assume that means joining a gym or committing to lengthy workouts.
It’s not always easy to lose weight, get fitter, or feel healthier, but here are our three simple steps to a new you.
Step 1: Work out why?
Your motive is what keeps the fire burning inside you. This will be a huge factor in whether you achieve what you set out to. Try and attach your goal to something emotional so that it’s stronger than the desire to quit. Don’t expect to feel an unstoppable determination every minute of the day -that will come and go – but when the tough moments come (and they will), you can remind yourself why you’re going after this goal in the first place and that is often enough to get you through.
Here are some examples that you can attach to your health and wellness goals:
- I want to be a good role model for my children.
- I want to inspire my friends and family.
- I want to make a difference to those in a struggle.
- I want to have the energy and health to play with my children and grandchildren and see them grow up.
- I want to look after myself in the best way that I can
Tip: Grab a drink and find a quiet place. Write down the most important things in your life. What do you want to achieve? What makes you feel good/satisfied? What makes you feel happy? What do you want to prove to yourself?
Step 2: Register for a motivating event
Depending on your character, you may want this activity to strike a bit of fear into you. In other words, it should be something you never thought your existing self could achieve and that little bit of trepidation will drive you to improve your health and fitness.
Alternatively, you may want to choose an event that feels very achievable to get you going – either option is fine. Just make sure it supports you in achieving your goal, excites you and it is a way of you expressing the motive you outlined in Step 1.
It could be a 5km run, obstacle challenge, walk, climb, swim, or anything you fancy. Choose something that you take joy in, for example, if you don’t like running, don’t run!
Tip: See if you can rope a friend into doing the event with you. It’s always good to have a training partner and it is human nature not to want to let anyone down!
Step 3: Give your body what it needs
What we put in our bodies has a huge impact on how we feel. It fuels our workouts, supports good recovery, and gives us the building blocks for a good day.
What is the best food and drink for your body? Some of us react well to certain ingredients, like yeast, whilst others don’t. The foods that we react to can result in things like weight gain, lethargy, migraines, bloating, and skin issues. After all, everyone has their own food ‘fingerprint’.
One way to find out is through a credible at-home food intolerance program which includes a simple finger-prick blood test. It’s easy to do, you get the results quickly and we can help you make changes based on your results.
Tip: Choose a blood-based food intolerance test that covers all 4 of the IgG (1-4) spectrum. Only measuring reactions to all 4 subtypes will give you meaningful results.
You can do it!
So, there you have it, our three simple steps to a healthier, happier you.
We’re not saying it’s easy, BUT you do have what it takes!
Committing yourself to a healthy lifestyle isn’t necessarily about adopting radical new routines, it’s about incorporating healthy choices into your everyday activities. Changes in lifestyle often begin slowly, with small actions that eventually become healthy habits.
Try to build yourself up slowly. In other words, if your goal is to lose weight and you’re doing a 5km run as an event to enable that, don’t set out to run three times a week straight off! Start with a few lunchtime walks, plus one walk or run session a week, and build up from there.
Also, please keep one thing in mind if for whatever reason you fall off the wagon, there’s no need to feel bad, you can get back on track! It’s about consistency, not perfection. Calming your stress levels is as essential to good health as exercise and nutrition.
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