Having a healthier, happier life starts with letting go of the things that are holding you back. Believe it or not, before you can add on happiness, you need to subtract a few things from your life. Some are more abstract than others, but all contribute to your overall well-being, physical and mental health, and feelings of joy. These are the things you need to NOT do in order to truly seize the day (and seize the healthiness).
Did your weight drop 0.2 pounds in the last two hours? Probably not. But guess what — it doesn't matter. Yes, your health is important, and yes, quantifiable goals are important, too, but the number on that scale does NOT define you. It also doesn't determine how much or what kind of food you're allowed to have. And if you're letting this cold, inanimate object ruin your day — or life — then it's time to make a serious change.
Easier said than done, right? But by removing stress from your life, you'll sleep better, work better, be a better friend and family member, and stay healthier. Create a meditation space at home, try acupuncture, do an anxiety-relieving workout, practice some self-care, or do yoga to boost your circulation throughout the day.
Do you hate kale? Stop eating it! We're not saying indulge in crap foods to your heart's content — what we are saying is that there are plenty more healthy foods in the world than kale. Literally thousands. Find the ones you do love and you'll be more inclined to eat healthy, all the time.
Your body is beautiful, and you're built in a way that is unique to you and your genetics. Can exercise make you healthier and possibly leaner and lighter? Yes. Can it give you the arms and abs of that supermodel you sort of stalk on Instagram? No. It cannot.
Work out because you love your body, not because you hate it. Going for an unrealistic goal and going into your fitness journey with feelings of hate toward your body or a part of your body will only serve to set you up for failure.
Negative thoughts and negative self-talk can sabotage your fitness and wellness goals. If you wouldn't say it to your friend, don't say it to yourself. It's that simple.
Not all calories are created equally. Your calorie intake doesn't always paint an accurate picture of how healthy you ate. You could have 1,200 calories of candy, or 2,000 calories of nutritious vegetables and lean proteins. See what we're getting at? Don't vilify foods by how many calories they have, especially if they're natural and healthy, though it's still important to be mindful of caloric intake (especially if your goal is to lose weight).
No one has a perfect week of eating. No one is a perfect weight. No one has a perfect workout. No one has a perfect body. Yes, this includes you. Striving for an unrealistic expectation will cause you to stress more, hyperfocus on the scale and calorie counting, and talk negatively to yourself . . . and we've already been over those!
One of our favorite quotes is: "Food is food, it can be used for fuel or for pleasure, but it doesn't define who I am." Using food as a "reward" after working out actually creates an unhealthy relationship with food itself; you can start to think you "don't deserve" food if you don't work out or limit your calories, etc. The food you eat is a choice — and that's it.
If you hate running, that's OK. Same goes for bootcamps and HIIT classes, yoga, and barre. Find the one you love. If you don't love it at first, try another instructor or studio. Try at-home workouts. Try them all. But whatever you do, stop doing the ones you don't love. If you don't feel joy or if you don't feel empowered and strong at the end of your sweat sesh, then something is amiss and you need to make a change.
While we always encourage rest days, if every day is becoming a rest day and your diet seems to always have a start day of "tomorrow," then you need to take a moment with yourself and decide what you want your life to look like. If you want this year to be healthy, it's time to take action and start being good to your body. We all get tired. We all have tons of work. We all have a show we love that we just can't miss, or plans with friends, or travel coming up — but there are ways to get your exercise done and make better meal choices regardless of where you are. Empower yourself, don't excuse yourself.