KAWARTHA LAKES-We’ve all heard of the many fad diets out there touting amazing results. If you’ve been on the planet longer than myself, I am sure you’ve seen even more come and go.
Cabbage soup diet, anyone?
However, learning to take excellent care of the vessel you live in is about so much more than just counting calories or counting grams of carbs.
I’m sure you’ve heard many professionals say that it is your lifestyle that needs a long term change. But what does that mean? And how do you get there? And how to you reinforce the change to become a lifetime habit?
Today, you’ll learn the ten signs that your lifestyle might need some tweaks and how to navigate this ‘healthy lifestyle’ thing once and for all.
1)You are always grabbing convenience foods.
So many of us are guilty of this. We’re busy and there’s no time to pack a lunch or prepare snacks. You swing by the vending machine for a quick bite of something or you pick up something small at your local shop, but the kicker is these little things add up-and not just calories. Packaged and processed foods are full of chemicals, preservatives, and hidden sugars. They are not friendly to your waistline whatsoever. So nixing this habit will make a huge difference in your health and life.
2)You are always running from one obligation to another Sometimes we overschedule ourselves. Which is all well and good until our self care falls to the bottom of the priority list. For you to do you absolute best at your job, in your relationships, and just feel good, you need to make yourself a high priority! If you find yourself saying “I don’t have time” to relax, to work out, to go for a walk, or to make dinner; you are too busy. There are ways to delegate some of these tasks and lighten up-both mentally and physically.
3)You stop working out for longer than 2 weeks
If you start working out and stop again and start and stop, you won’t exactly see consistent results. This constant stop and go, programs your brain to think that maintaining an exercise regimen is difficult and can’t be done. But it can! There are countless ways to fit fitness in. It doesn’t have to be an hour long session every single time, nor do you have to have a gym membership or fancy equipment. It can be a simple as 3 daily 10 minute walks that add up to 30 minutes. Do yourself a favour and do LESS! Once you’ve stuck with that routine for longer than one month, add on.
4)You don’t make sleep a priority
Sleep is important. Would you prioritize sleep if I told you that by sleeping 8 hours per night you will finally lose those last ten pounds? I bet you’d start hitting the hay early! When we are sleep deprived, we look for energy from food sources. This leaves us hungry and peckish and does no favours to our waistlines. Rest up and your body will thank you!
5)Your social life is booming
This may seem like a good thing, but can be detrimental to your lifestyle because with all those parties and happy hours, there are many poor choices lurking-alcohol, salty and fatty foods, and late nights. It might seem difficult at first, but learn to say no to certain outings that aren’t at the top of your priority list. A party lifestyle tends to lead to poor health, so let’s start shifting gears when we think about those social gatherings this fall.
6)You are really, really stressed
Stress leads to an increase in cortisol, our body’s stress hormone, and cortisol leads to that spare tire around your middle. Self-care should be our highest priority for optimal health. You can’t fill someone else’s cup if yours is empty and this is something I teach time and time again in my health coaching programs.
7)You have sporadic grocery shopping habits
If you fail to plan, you plan to fail. Go grocery shopping and invest in cupboards and a fridge full of healthy food. It is an investment in your own health that pays off in dividends! If your house is full of healthier options, you won’t be dialing that takeout pizza every other week night.
8)You don’t pack a lunch
Back to our last point, you MUST plan ahead. Bring a lunch and you won’t be ordering to your desk. This saves you endless calories and fat grams, and chances are you’ll feel a lot better the second half of the day.
9)You catch every illness, cold, and flu going
This is a huge sign your immune system is really suffering. All of us are born with immunity to disease. If your gut health is sub-par, and your immunity is lacking, you’ll catch every cold that breezes through your office. If you have strong gut health, and strong immunity, you should have the tools you need to fight off illness. A healthy lifestyle is your BEST defence against germs, hands down.
10)You can’t seem to reclaim your energy
If you are run down and can’t seem to catch up, it’s another major sign your immune system needs a reset. You should wake up feeling rested, and not hit the 3 pm slump every single day. If your energy levels are constantly dropping, it’s time for a lifestyle reboot.
So, do you need a lifestyle reboot? Great news! The Sweat Happy Wellness 21 Day Lifestyle Reboot is starting on September 23, 2019 for $57. It’s an online holistic health coaching program that will help you make long lasting habit changes to help you feel your absolute best!
Want to know more? Check out www.sweathappywellness.com
 photo credit: jolynne_martinez cnc_08102019_25 via photopin (license)
Becky Sheehey is a Holistic Health Coach, and a Pilates and Movement Expert with a background in Kinesiology. She lives in Lindsay.
