9 yrs, 4 mths ago

Healthy living motivational tips?

Can anybody shed some advice on some tips and inspiration for healthy living (eating and exercise).

With summer here, I feel as though I need to be eating healthier and exercising more, but I just find myself constantly heading for the junk food, and sitting down watching TV instead of being active outside.

Any tips on how to get motivated or tips for small changes to daily routine would be much appreciated 🙂

17 comments 32 voices

Replies

  • Bronze
    8 yrs, 12 mths ago

    I make delicious fruit smoothies in the morning with strawberries, kiwi, banana, chia seeds and blueberries. It’s full of fibre, keeps me full and gives me lots of energy. I also found that whenever I listen to music I am more motivated to work out. Even if it is just walking. Music helps make the time go by faster and makes working out more enjoyable!

    Thanks for sharing this nice tip

  • Make sure you are eating breakfast before you leave the house too. I previously never ate breakfast and would be starving by lunch time which lead me to reach for bad foods or to over eat.

    I now have a breakfast rotation such as almond, oatmeal & egg pancakes (plus berries or banana), scambled eggs on wholemeal toast or weetbix. I don’t have sugar but will use Rice Malt Syrup on my weetbix or drizzle it lightly over my pancakes.

    Also I agree with reni, shop the perimeter of the supermarket. That’s where all the healthy food is.

  • 9 yrs ago

    Try doing your grocery shopping on the outer aisles of the supermarket as all the fresh produce is there, as it’s all refrigerated or your fruits and veggies. Don’t shop on a empty stomach, even when doing house chores/cleaning attach some of those weights to your legs or arms. Even while watching tv on the couch place some weights on your lower legs and lift your legs to your ability. I find little things like this have an impact instead of spending hours at the gym. Before bed do some stretching and you will have a better night sleep. Or make a planner for when your allowed to have junk food and tick it off as you go so you know what you are putting in your body.

  • 9 yrs ago

    I’ve started running when I feel stressed or angry or just want to clear my head. I find that I actually look forward to runs now, and don’t think about them as a way of getting fit, even though it is certainly helping.

    That sounds like a good idea!!

  • 9 yrs ago

    I’ve started running when I feel stressed or angry or just want to clear my head. I find that I actually look forward to runs now, and don’t think about them as a way of getting fit, even though it is certainly helping.

  • 9 yrs, 1 mth ago

    I find it really helpful to do some 30 day challenges! This will only really work if you don’t mind it taking a bit longer to get your desired results, however, on the plus side the results will last and healthy won’t just be a phase!

    By 30 day challenges I mean this:

    Exercise: I usually just google a 30 day workout challenge and try to stick to that for the whole time. But try not to get too ahead of yourself like I do and attempt more than one at a time. It might seem easy to begin with but it will only make you more likely to give up as the workouts get harder!

    Food: I pick something that I eat too much of and give that up for a month (for January I’ve given up chocolate!!) or, alternatively I choose something healthy and try to eat it everyday for 30 days (say, an apple or a smoothie).

    The main benefit of doing this is that you’re getting your self into a routine and not just a ‘quick fix’.

    Some great apps can also point you in the direction of sucess.
    I love ‘my fitness pal’ (for tracking food intake and exercise), ‘pedometer’ (for, obviously, counting steps, kilometres & walking/running speed -this can be hooked up to myfitnesspal if you wish), and ‘seven’ a 7min workout that combines 12 30second exercises.

    Good luck! And remember:

    “If it doesn’t challenge you, it doesn’t change you.” – Fred Devito

    Awesome tips!! I will be taking some of those on board. I reallllllly need some motivation to get back into clean eating.

  • 9 yrs, 2 mths ago

    I find it really helpful to do some 30 day challenges! This will only really work if you don’t mind it taking a bit longer to get your desired results, however, on the plus side the results will last and healthy won’t just be a phase!

    By 30 day challenges I mean this:

    Exercise: I usually just google a 30 day workout challenge and try to stick to that for the whole time. But try not to get too ahead of yourself like I do and attempt more than one at a time. It might seem easy to begin with but it will only make you more likely to give up as the workouts get harder!

    Food: I pick something that I eat too much of and give that up for a month (for January I’ve given up chocolate!!) or, alternatively I choose something healthy and try to eat it everyday for 30 days (say, an apple or a smoothie).

    The main benefit of doing this is that you’re getting your self into a routine and not just a ‘quick fix’.

    Some great apps can also point you in the direction of sucess.
    I love ‘my fitness pal’ (for tracking food intake and exercise), ‘pedometer’ (for, obviously, counting steps, kilometres & walking/running speed -this can be hooked up to myfitnesspal if you wish), and ‘seven’ a 7min workout that combines 12 30second exercises.

    Good luck! And remember:

    “If it doesn’t challenge you, it doesn’t change you.” – Fred Devito

  • 9 yrs, 3 mths ago

    I have found slowly replacing foods in your diet really does (eventually) make a huge impact. I’ve been going everywhere with a water bottle for years so that was no big thing. So it was more the changes at home and being more prepared being my focus. I bought a soda stream to cut out the soft drink. That was such a brilliant investment. Then I started the water infusing like imalittleteapot. Then I started learning more about salad dressings, and how to make my own yogurt. Now I can make sour dough starter, kombucha, water and milk kefir, soft cheeses and whey all from scratch. It’s completely changed my life and the way I digest food alone.

    It ultimately came down to this: whole foods vs. the unpronounceable.

    I’ve always been a “scratch” cook, however learning different methods of cooking passed down over the years and knowing just what an impact some preservatives, processed foods and labels have on my stomach, has completely changed my perspective. No, I’m not your atypical hippie. I believe in whole foods, flavour and names you can pronounce (vs. labels that twist your tongue). And if all else fails for you, there’s always blood, sweat and tears.

  • 9 yrs, 3 mths ago

    Eat more often & eat lots of protein so it makes you feel full. I think being organised is the key to eating more healthily. Fill your fridge with salad, veges & lean meat. Make chicken salad’s for lunch etc.

    Also drink lots of water and green tea. If you want to add flavour to the water, look for a Citrus-Zinger water bottle (see pic). It has a juicer in the bottom so that you can squeeze lemon/lime or whatever straight into your water.

  • 9 yrs, 3 mths ago

    If you are prone to snacking and craving sweet things, summer is a great time to start replacing the processed sugar with natural sugar. Pre-wash your fruits and cut them up to be ready for when you crave snacks. I have a container filled with blueberries and cut up strawberries sitting in my fridge. I only buy them when they’re on sale and if there’s a lot that I don’t want to put in the fridge they get put in freezer bags for smoothies (frozen strawberries and bananas with a dash of honey, cinnamon and chia seeds – OMG).

    Buy a bag of carrots, some cucumbers and celery, wash them, cut them up and pop them in the fridge too. If you need a bit of extra flavour, get some hommous or tatziki to use for dip.

    I cut out my daily (over)intake of Coke. I’m down from a 1.25lt bottle a day to a 375ml can. I’ve lost 7kgs and not added any physical effort. I now drink plenty of water which keeps me feeling “full” for longer.

    If you find that you can’t get into exercise incorporate a bit of effort into your day. If you go to the shops park further than normal away. Get off a few stops early if you take a bus. Take the stairs instead of the elevator. Walk up the escalators/travelators etc. I am hopeless at exercise but I found that adding a 15 minute walk in the evenings was the best way to start. I use Run Keeper to track how fast I walk and I vary my route.

    All the best to you Ally_xo 😀

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