Transitioning to a healthy, exercise-filled lifestyle is not easy at all. So many people fail because it requires a lot of hard work and the change of old habits.
Often times motivated dieters set themselves up for failure because they try and reach unrealistic goals. Taking small steps is much easier than trying to take one huge leap.
(In this case taking the “huge leap” was the correct choice. As far as dieting goes, small steps are the way to go.)
Although spending more time at the gym and limiting the consumption of your favorite junk food aren’t easy tasks, not all positive health changes are so difficult to complete. If you want to start the journey of building a better body, but you don’t want to do a drastic 360 degree turnaround, then I recommend starting with the tips below.
1. Wave goodbye to fried, and say hello to baked or grilled
Fish and chicken make up a great portion of my diet and I would never encourage you to not enjoy these two foods; however, it’s the way they’re prepared that makes all the difference.
Frying chicken or fish in partially hydrogenated oils (how most fast food places prepare them) takes naturally healthy items and turns them into processed, fat-loaded pieces of garbage. Grilling or baking can save hundreds of calories from fats without sacrificing flavor.
If you believe that well-seasoned, grill-cooked poultry or fish could never taste as good as the deep-fried version, then I encourage you to look through these recipes.
Eating healthier does not mean you can’t enjoy delicious foods.
2. Don’t waste precious calories on sugary beverages
Stop consuming hundreds of calories a day because of sodas and sugary fruit juices. If you can limit what you drink to water, coffee, and tea, your body will thank you. Coke, Sprite, Mountain Dew, and all other sodas are 100% empty calories and unhealthy additives.
Also, by not taking in so many calories through liquids, you’ll be able to eat much more and save some serious money.
3. Drink your coffee black
Coffee only becomes unhealthy when it’s mixed with milk, sugar, whip cream, and other additives.
Otherwise, drinking a cup of coffee a day can have some very positive effects on your health. I think zero calorie, black coffee is the perfect way to start your morning!
4. Replace ice cream with yogurt
If you’re one of the many people that consume ice cream daily, replacing it with greek yogurt could have a profound effect on your overall health. I’m not saying you can never touch ice cream again, having a scoop or two on special occasions is perfectly fine, but that’s it!
I know this isn’t a perfect replacement for ice cream, but it’s a much better alternative. I recommend going to the supermarket and finding a flavor that interests you. Feel free to cut up some fruit and mix it in for a delicious, nutritious treat.
I understand that this a change that not all of you will be able to do, and that’s OK. If you can stick to 5 or 6 of the tips, then you’re making great progress.
5. Cook more
Fast food is so popular because it’s fast (it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure that one out). It’s much more difficult to buy ingredients and then prepare dinner yourself. Who has the time for that?
If you’re serious about shedding some weight then you need to make time. Cooking allows you to know exactly what you’re eating and how it was prepared.
6. The less processed, the better
Consuming more fruits, vegetables, and grass-fed meats will give you more energy and make you feel much better. This is because man was not meant to eat heavily processed foods.
An easy way to tell if a food is processed is by looking at the ingredients. If there are more than 5 ingredients and many of them are difficulty to pronounce, then you’re holding a processed food.
Look for stuff with only a few ingredients.
7. Drink a shake for breakfast
Beginning your day with a healthy, low calorie shake will make your whole day run smoother. Here’s how to quickly make a healthy, high protein breakfast smoothie.
Final Note
Too many people fall short of getting their dream body because of diet. Following a realistic eating plan is the only way you’ll slim down. Eat Stop Eat by Brad Pilon is a diet plan I recommend because so many people have had great success with it. Intermittent fasting is a very interesting concept and I believe it’s the future of dieting.
Remember, your diet should not feel like torture.
Photo: Fabulous Travel Guide
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Some great simple tips mate, that I am sure that most people can incorporate into their day to day lives. My favourite is cooking more, aside from the fact that you know exactly what you are putting into your body, you will actually be burning more calories by cooking your own food. At the very least you will be on your feet for about an extra half an hour, which burns more calories than driving to the takeaway shop.
-Niko
That’s one of my favorites too. Many people assume cooking is too difficult and they could never do it. If they gave it a try, a lot of them would actually like it.