You commit to eating well, taking better care of yourself with exercise and meditation. You’re going along just great. In fact, you might feel like you’re on a roll, and then, bam, life gets busy.When this happens most people abandon the healthy habits they are trying to create.
After all, it takes time and energy, and it’s often uncomfortable, to transform new behaviors into habit. It’s human tendency to fall back to what’s familiar rather than keep up with goals that seem increasingly difficult to employ. This is exactly the time old eating habits, and foods, creep back into your day.
Here’s a little secret: Almost everything comes down to planning. In the wise words of Benjamin Franklin:
“When we fail to plan, we plan to fail.”
Here are some useful tips to help you create healthy habits and new eating patterns:
- Stock up on plenty of your allowed foods and beverages — Foods that don’t serve you don’t have as much appeal when you have healthy food options ready to go. Have lots of fresh veggies and fruits washed, cut and ready to eat. Or, buy pre-washed veggies. Do whatever you need to do to succeed.
- Take food with you when you go out for the day — Could be a meal or could be healthy snacks. Just be sure you have fuel!
- Plan your meals for the next few days — We get into trouble when the fridge is bare and the big question is, “What’s for dinner?” We tend to do what’s familiar until we have an ingrained new habit. That makes pizza night pretty darn tempting!
- Eat out with a plan — Check out the menu online and know what you will eat before arriving at the restaurant.
- Never skip meals — The temptation of skipping meals is an unhealthy habit, indeed. You slow down your metabolism, and set yourself up for overeating.
- Set firm limits and boundaries – Protect the time you need to care for yourself. Say “No” to people or events that prevent you from planning, eating well, and taking the time you need for self-care, whether it’s exercising, going for a quiet walk or meditating. You first!