50 Easy Tips for a Healthy Lifestyle

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So, with the new year upon us, I’ve made some pretty interesting goals for myself. I have some overall ones for the blog and some for my family, but the ones that pertain specifically to me have to do with my health. I recently started seeing a personal trainer. There were lots of reasons for my decision to do this, which I’ll get into at a different time, but I’ve come to find that taking baby steps towards a healthy lifestyle as opposed to changing the way you eat completely upside down {like on crash diets, fad diets, etc.} is definitely easier to do and will last much longer. Here’s a list I put together of 50 healthy eating tips. Feel free to give one or two of these a whirl and see how they work in your life! Once you have those down, add in one or two more. One little change can make a huge difference.

I’ll be doing more updates on my healthy eating and fitness progress with *gulp* before and after photos. I think…..insert nervous laugh here.

1. Drink more water!

2. And while you’re at it, quit drinking soda. It has absolutely no nutritional value. My husband promised himself he would quit drinking soda four years ago. And believe it or not, he’s never had a sip since. What a show-off, right? Lol! I will have a diet soda pop once in a while when we go to a restaurant, but that’s pretty much it.

3. Try sticking with water and milk. Don’t buy juice. I used to think it was healthy, but holy mama mia the sugar in juice is a little ridiculous.

4. Don’t eat while standing.

5. Or in front of the TV! {I’m a notorious mindless eater, so this is something I need to work on.}

6. Incorporate more protein into your diet. More protein will help keep you fuller longer.

7. Try eating a salad a day. {I’m going to be trying this!}

8. If you don’t like salad, try throwing a bunch of veggies into soup. It’s a different, but still delicious way to get a bunch of veggies into your diet.

9. Try satisfying your sweet tooth with fruit. Apples and all-natural peanut butter is one of my favorites.

10. Try natural sweeteners like honey, maple syrup and agave instead of white sugar.

11. Switch over to whole wheat flour or white whole wheat flour {like the albino version of whole wheat flour…so you can trick your kids easier!}

12. Try dark chocolate instead of milk or semi-sweet.

13. Try 1% or non-fat milk over 2% or whole.

14. Try greek yogurt over traditional low-fat, flavored yogurt varieties.

15. Choose unsalted nuts instead of salted.

16. Try using olive oil instead of vegetable oil.

17. Try coconut oil in place of butter.

18. Try eating your complex carbs at breakfast and lunch.

19. Don’t eat dessert every night.

20. Find and try foods higher in fiber.

21. Try to go 1 week without eating sugar.

22. Then try to go 1 week without eating artificial sugar.

23. Purchase low-sodium versions of the original versions.

24. Go to bed 30 minutes earlier.

25. Watch 30 minutes less of TV each day.

26. Choose one meal per week to splurge. But don’t go all buck-wild.

27. Incorporate more foods high in anti-oxidants.

28. Don’t skip breakfast.

29. Replace brown rice for white.

30. Replace white bread with whole wheat.

31. Replace pasta with the whole wheat version or make zucchini noodles.

32. Try baking instead of frying.

33. Try sweet potatoes or yams over white potatoes.

34. Try one new spice/herb per week.

35. Take a sack lunch to work instead of eating out.

36. Eat out 1 time less per week.

37. Try roasting or steaming your veggies.

38. Do jumping jacks or burpees during commercial breaks.

39. Find an activity you love like hiking, dancing, sports or zumba. That way exercising won’t feel like exercise.

40. Start saying to yourself “I want to work out” instead of “I have to workout”.

41. Keep a positive attitude even when you want to eat all the cookies and cupcakes in the world. {This is totally hard for me!}

42. Try dipping bread into olive oil and balsamic vinegar instead of smearing on the butter.

43. Learn what portion sizes are right for you and try to stick with it for 1 week.

44. Don’t eat 2 hours before you go to bed.

45. Try portioning your meals and snacks out the night before using ziploc bags and sharpies.

46. Hold yourself accountable no matter what–when you are successful and when you go off the rails.

47.  Don’t finish all the food on your plate at a meal. It’s ok not to finish!

48. Try eating slower.

49. Get to know your body and do what works for you. {Gluten free, paleo, vegan, vegetarian, etc.}

50. If you have a bad day, get back at it the very next day. Don’t sabotage yourself!