Healthy Lifestyle vs. Diet

With so many diets on the market why do so many people still struggle with leading a healthy lifestyle and weight problems?

I believe is because the weakness with most weight loss programmes is that they only focus on eating healthily.

A healthy lifestyle depends on a number of factors

  • stress
  • diet
  • weight
  • exercise
  • hereditary factors

If we only focus on what we eat, our weight usually see-saws because all we are doing is “dieting” and to many people the word diet is synonymous with deprivation.

We need to stop thinking about diets equally deprivation but rather look at health, wellness and happiness.

In other words to improve our health we need to modify our lifestyle. A healthy lifestyle cannot guarantee health, however it can reduce the risk of

  • high blood pressure,
  • heart attack,
  • diabetes,
  • bloating,
  • lack of energy etc

Often when illness strikes we rely on our doctors to “cure” us. We get medication to take but often the medication is treating the symptom and not the cause. What we fail to realize is the role we can also play in the cure.

I always find it so sad when one hears about people who on hearing that they have a serious health problem, change to a healthier lifestyle. Often when it is too late. We have to go back to basics and take an active part in the maintenance of our health. We need to look at preventing illness and promoting our health.

The solution is to lead a healthier (and more balanced) lifestyle.

To lead a healthier lifestyle (for your body) you need to look at

  • Nutrition – the food you eat (the choices you make and the quantities you eat)

      And

  • Exercise – Diet cannot be looked at in isolation, we also need physical activity. You need at least 20 minutes of aerobic exercise 3 – 4 times a week.

So rather than going on yet another diet change to a healthier lifestyle! It’s much more fun – and has so many health benefits!

Healthy Lifestyle vs. Diet

Making Healthier Choices More Often

Having struggled myself for so many years to lose weight, I really do understand the process and how difficult it is to begin. Life is not about perfection – So don’t set yourself up to fail by trying to be perfect. Your main goal should be to

MAKE HEALTHIER LIFESTYLE CHOICES MORE OFTEN.

Here are some practical steps to help get you started.

DO

  • Set yourself small achievable goals
  • Make healthier lifestyle choices more often
  • Exercise – walk the dog, do something you enjoy
  • Focus on a healthy lifestyle not just on diet / food
  • Practice saying NO (The more you practice the easier it gets)
  • Learn a new technique to alleviate stress

DON’T

  • Aim for perfection
  • Skip meals
  • Weigh more than once a week
  • Eat fast and allow interruptions during a meal
  • Read and eat
  • Make excuses

If these lists look daunting then pick just one point from the Do list and focus on that for a month. Write the point down and put it in a prominent place where you will see it every day. Focus on that point daily and practice until it’s a habit! Then start on the next point.

Making Healthier Choices More Often