Creating Healthy Eating Habits

From that very first bite of chocolate, your brain is turned on to the wonders of sugar. You (and your brain) then branch out and eventually become obsessed with eating as much of it as possible. Whether it is soda, candy, or ice cream, the instant gratification from sugar is something your brain comes to expect. Eventually, you need more of it to experience the same effect. Before you know it, you'll never have that original feeling of euphoria and sugar consumption becomes a habit.

Like sugar, other foods are easily addictive, such as fat and sodium. These foods lead to weight gain, laziness due to a lack of energy, and emotional instability.

A great number of people struggle with unhealthy eating habits, and they aren't easy to get away from. Today's society consistently puts unhealthy choices at the forefront, which can make it difficult to form the healthy habits your body needs. The faster the pace of our lives, the easier it is to fall into bad habits. Most of us are aware of what we should eat, but how do we actually form those healthier habits?

Be Conscious of What You Eat

Many of us claim we want to eat healthier meals, but we don't actually know what we are currently eating, which makes it quite tricky to change our diets. An easy way to keep track of what you're really consuming is to log it. Try downloading a food tracking app and log everything you eat: breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, and even coffee runs. Not only will your notes be detailed, but you'll have a greater awareness of what exactly you're consuming.

Once you've established that awareness, you need to take the time to determine which foods are the culprits. Figure out what you need to change about your diet and why. Then you'll be able to find meal replacements. You can switch to high protein shakes or bars, which can help you maintain a similar eating schedule while eliminating empty calories.

Finally, meal preparation is key. If you plan your meals out for the week, even those you'll eat at restaurants, you will be more likely to stick to your plan. That will help you break old habits and create new, healthy ones!

Visualization for the Long Term

Your mind plays a huge role in the food you choose and in forming healthy eating habits. An effective technique is called visualization, and its even used by elite athletes. Visualization is the practice of seeing your goals in your mind. It requires focusing on every little detail of what you want to achieve, over and over again. If your goal is to have a strong and energetic body, then visualize yourself that way. Watch yourself move and feel what it would be like to live every day with that sense of vitality. Visualization is an excellent motivator and should help you to choose healthy food options for as long as you are in pursuit of that goal.

We hope this gives you a good starting point on your journey toward better health. For more specific help, give us a call and schedule a consultation today.