A Healthier You: Small Tips For Starting Big Change

A Healthier You: Small Tips For Starting Big Change

Happy Monday friends!

It’s been a wild ride over the last week with Hurricane Florence threatening our beloved state, but we’re safe and our community and state are coming together to pick up the pieces.

It’s no secret here that my interest in healthy living has been growing over the past few years. It started with my introduction to Crossfit that has been going strong for almost two years now. Then, learning more about healthy eating and several Whole30 periods. And most recently I’ve been studying the power of good habits and re-evaluating my own routines.

The biggest problem I encounter when learning about any of these topics is the information overload!!! Am I right? It’s so confusing and overwhelming it makes me want to crawl into a corner and rock back and forth in the fetal position. Please tell me I’m not the only one that feels this way!

Instead of giving up I’ve decided to do my best to simplify the information for myself (and for you) so I can create healthy habits that are manageable and realistic. I do believe that the statistics in our country regarding chronic disease, the food industry and our healthcare system are staggering. It’s a real problem and unfortunately I don’t think it’s going to change unless we adjust our habits and educate our children.

But there is some good news! I think our current culture has shifted more towards awareness about the problems and the life-changing effects that a consistent exercise regime can have on our health. I also believe if we find a way to simplify the process -and don’t freak ourselves out that we’re never going to be able to go to a restaurant again or that we have to be body builders – we can make real change.

I’ve been thinking about this a lot and decided to put together a simplified healthy living plan. If you think you could use a little improvement in your diet or some small changes in your daily habits this is for you! If you’ve thought about doing Whole30 but that term is a little too intimidating these tips can help!

The three components that I’m focused on that contribute to our overall health outlook are: diet, exercise and sleep. Here are my simple tips for jumpstarting greater change:

Diet:

1. Eat more real foods. This means choose less food that come in boxes and bags. It’s a simple concept but I think it’s worth reiterating.
2. Meal prep so you don’t get stuck in a rut or panic when you don’t know what you’re going to cook.
3. If you go out to eat look at the menu in advance and make the healthiest choice you can.
4. Give yourself a reward. For example, try eating healthy most of the week and give your self a treat to look forward to. A friend at my gym just told me that her family eats well all week but on Sundays they have ice cream. I love this!
5. Check the labels; the more ingredients that you can’t read or understand, the worse it is for you.
6. Reduce bad food habits. Any habits that you know probably aren’t the best for you but you can’t quite give up cold turkey, simply cut down. If you drink sugary sodas every day, take it down to one day a week. Eventually it will be easier to give up the habit altogether.

Exercise:

1. Pick a physical activity that you like to do and commit to it. I know this is easier said than done but I do believe your more likely to succeed if it’s something you enjoy! Join a team, get a membership to a gym that has a class you know you’ll attend, or find a free video online that can be done at home.
2. Exercise with your kids. I find this to be fun and so rewarding. Ride bikes in your neighborhood and try to increase your ride each time. Pick a fun spot to visit like a park if your kiddos need a little motivating.
3. Move your body. If you can’t get to a gym on a regular basis, use the extra pockets of time throughout your day to take a walk, climb some stairs or anything else that gets you away from that desk chair.
4. Walk every day after dinner (that the weather allows). I love taking walks for 3 reasons: it gets me outdoors and a little vitamin D, it allows me to spend quality time with my family and it gets my body moving.

Sleep:

1. Try and get 8-9 hours of sleep a night. I know that sounds crazy, but do some research, it matters. If this is a struggle for you start with a few nights a week, then move to every weeknight, then try to add the weekends.
2. Have a good nighttime routine. Turn your screens off at 9pm and your lights out at 10. Read, have some decaf tea or do another calming activity in the hour prior to bed. Also, stop eating as early as you can before bedtime.
3. Have a good morning routine. Start your day off slowly, not in total chaos. (*an earlier bedtime will help with this*) Have a cup of coffee, read the news and/or adevotional or journal before starting your day.

{Photos by Paige Winn Photo}

Even though these are simple concepts I know some of you will still say, “I can’t do that.” But I’m here to tell you that YOU CAN! Especially if you take baby steps. Pick one thing and start with that. Master it, then move on to the next. I’m the biggest night owl (night owl = horrible morning person!) that you’ll ever meet. But I’ve slowly been moving up my bed time and it has really changed the way I feel. Don’t pat me on the back yet, it took me nearly 40 years to actually do it!

I’m very passionate about this topic so I’m planning to bring you more healthy living posts from time to time. Do not mistake me, changing your lifestyle is not easy at least it wasn’t for me. I do believe it’s big change is more realistic if you start small! #keepitsimple

If you’re interest in know more, here are a few resources I recommend:

The Power of Habit

The Joe Rogan Experience (Esp. #1037)  – If you can get through the language and length of this podcast you will learn some shocking information

Essentialism

Getting Things Done: the art of stress-free productivity

The Little Book of Hygge

It Starts With Food

The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up

Bread & Wine

One Year To An Organized Life

A huge thanks to Kristin and the rest of the coaches at Crossfit Cornelius for sparking this passion in me and teaching me things I may not otherwise have learned on my own! If you guys are in the Lake Norman area and looking for a place to plug into a great gym please let me know! And don’t be intimidated by the barbells :)

Cheers!