Just healthy eating or a lifestyle? So, what really is a lifestyle? I feel like that word gets thrown around a lot on social media…. Oh, it’s just me? Okay. Let’s talk about it. Dictionary.com defines lifestyle as the habits, attitudes, tastes, moral standards, economic level, etc., that together constitute the mode of living of an individual or group. So, from that we can gather that individuals or groups with interests in health, wellness, and fitness communities individually or together in whatever match you prefer (ex: health and wellness, health and fitness, etc.) can all be lifestyles. However, I think what’s even more significant from that definition is that it lists a multitude of factors that create the “lifestyle.” Which tells us that it’ll take more than one thing to really convert just eating healthy to a lifestyle. It’ll take a change in our habits, attitudes, and standards based on the definition. And that might not be so easy.
Tips for Making Healthy Eating a Lifestyle
- Figure out your why
So, here’s the thing. Your why is exactly that, YOUR why. Let it be genuine to you. I won’t spend too much time here or on the second point because I talk about them in “The Art of Sacrifice & How to Persevere for Success“. If its not real, it wont stick. And sure, it can change and grow along the way, but you have to start somewhere. Its kind of like what pastors say at church… or at least what I’ve heard, “that might have brought them here, but this will make them stay.” Kind of like how the wings and lemonade was an incentive for me to attend the church’s teen choir or the waffles served on Sunday’s was an added treat lol, but I digress.
Your why can be swimsuit season, looking good naked, or maybe just wanting to be healthy lol. But the point is, its yours. Plus, if you see it through, the end goal results in a healthier lifestyle. That, is what matters. The “swimsuit body” might be what started you on the journey, but you ended up on a healthier lifestyle journey.
2. Build your mindset
You have to be all in. Let your why help you with this. Engaging in a healthy eating lifestyle is a process. It will require strength. Know that it will require sacrifice and a lot of it.
Learn how to stick it through with “The Art of Sacrifice & How to Persevere for Success.”
Take the time to really think it through and plan it out by using the steps from “The Art of Sacrifice.” Spend some time on the reward section because this is one of those goals with no actual end. Hence the term “lifestyle.” It also won’t be easy in the beginning. So, you may need to reward yourself for staying on track often. Unfortunately, with this goal, a sweet treat can’t be it no matter how once in awhile it is because it goes against the goal itself.
3. Choose health
Choose health; not diets, health fads, etc. I’m alkaline vegan, but the first thing I tell people is that you don’t have to be anything. You don’t have to label it. You just have to choose health. Choose to be someone interested in healthy eating. Now it is very possible that choosing health will lead you to a more specific, labeled lifestyle due to the research you’ll naturally be doing (we’ll get into that next), but starting out, you just have to choose health.
What does choosing health look like? Well, that varies based on mindset and strength level. Choosing health can look like passing on one piece of candy because it has too much sugar and getting the one with less. Or it can look like doing away with sugar altogether because it’s bad for you.
The shortcuts won’t cut it (flat tummy teas, skinny teas, detoxes, etc.) And let me let you in on a little secret. When it comes to the fads and the gimmicks, I won’t say that they don’t work, but you can do it on your own for cheaper. So, let me emphasize, it definitely works for what its supposed to do. If you read and then research the ingredients, it all makes sense. The packet usually warns about (or should) using the restroom because that’s what those ingredients most likely cause you to do. They make your tummy flatter by fighting bloat. You can do that on your own making your own teas and detoxes, and you can cut out a lot of the filler ingredients that may be used. But doing away with the bloat is nowhere near half the battle depending on what the root of your health journey may be…. that is if its anything other than just being healthy. Which leads me to my next tip.
4. Do your research
I can’t say this enough. Healthy eating will require you to do some research. How else will you know how healthy what you’re eating really is? As someone who went to school for seven years, trust me, I get. Who wants to be studying and researching when they don’t have to be. Heck, I didn’t take an offer for a position because it was researched base and that’s not my thing. But how else can you figure out what’s right for you. I mean you may not know right off bat, and what you try your first go at it may not be right, but that’s all a part of the process. Everyone is different. So, adopting everything someone else does may not always be the answer whether it worked for them and others. For instance, sea moss is a wonderful supplement, but as I mentioned in “8 Benefits of Seamoss & How to Add it to Your Lifestyle,” it’s not recommended for those with thyroid issues. Research will also be important when it comes to continuing your life as you please. Going out to eat doesn’t have to stop, it just may take a little more research and preparation.
5. Live it
This is the most important point. You know the information, but now you must put it into play; put some action behind those words. Let me warn those who are action takers but want to just do it, this part is crucial and is a lot easier with a plan in place. So, you may want to plan this one out.
It can’t be a lifestyle if you’re not actually living it. Living it involves integrating it into all aspects of your life. Create a plan that covers YOUR lifestyle. Start with initial adjustment steps for this lifestyle. Your environment, where you live, is a big part of your life that may need to change based on your new lifestyle. This may be challenging if you live with others who don’t share the same lifestyle, but that’s not an issue. It just means you’ll have to be stronger. The steps from “The Art of Sacrifice” will be a lot more crucial for you. Little things like throwing away all foods that don’t fit your new lifestyle or how you will separate your food from others are important to include in the plan. Preparation for how you’ll eat throughout the day (meal prepping, allowable restaurants, etc.) need to be included. How often you’ll grocery shop, your budget, and exceptions for when you don’t have food in the house need to be included. If you travel a lot, what exceptions you’ll allow need to be included.
Story Time
When preparing for a vacay to the Virgin Islands I researched and found a plant-based restaurant there. My boyfriend hadn’t really given it any thought and already said we could eat whatever we wanted because we probably wouldn’t find anywhere that would fit our lifestyle. I don’t know if I was more interested in being right lol or actually wanting to stick to how we eat. When we touched down we wanted our taxi to take us to the place I found, and our driver didn’t know where it was so we ended up a at decent place. For some reason we asked again for our next meal and that driver was very familiar. Baybyyyyyyyyyyyyyy! We ate there every day of our trip. I’m talking breakfast, lunch, and dinner. There were plenty of options, and it was delicious. Planning helps.
Do know that this lifestyle change doesn’t have to be the end of being a “foodie” or all things tasty. Or going out and enjoying the world just because you may not be able to indulge in any of the finger food or light refreshments served at the event. Healthy eating doesn’t stop anything. You’ll have to research new recipes, new brunch spots, and how you’ll handle your sweet tooth.
A lifestyle change is a big step, and it won’t be an easy one. It’s not a goal you achieve and then move on to the next. You may also fall off the wagon often. But if you remember your why… All the changes necessary to convert eating healthy to a lifestyle may be challenging in the beginning, but the changes in habits, standards, and mindset that begin to stick with you as it actually becomes a lifestyle make it easier to stick to. This is why making it a lifestyle is the best option all the way around.
And remember…
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