Ways to Stay Motivated to Eat Right
It seems like January 2020 just flew by! Now, we are in the first week of February. Looking back, how did you do in January with your eating habits? If you did well, good for you. Whoohoo! Keep it going! But, if you’ve had some missteps, and even if you didn’t, staying motivated can be hard. Here are some tips and tricks that you can do to help keep you fired up.
Mindset – Progress not Perfection
When setting goals, it is good to remind yourself that goals are things that are worked on and worked through. The journey can take various detours, but you can always get back on track. It’s not about perfection, it’s about progress. If you think about eating healthy as a lifestyle, it can become less of a struggle because you aren’t thinking of how you eat as a diet.
Think of every day as a new day to begin fresh. Each morning, when you open your eyes and thank God for a new day, ask Him for the strength, courage, and motivation to eat healthily. Let’s face it, no one’s perfect. So, ask for help and strive for progress.
Discover Your Why
Know the reasons why you want to eat better. If you desire to be in a healthy weight range and look good in your clothes, that’s great! Or, if your doctor warned you that if you don’t start eating healthy, you can have a stroke, heart attack, and other serious conditions, that’s a big reason for wanting to eat better.
Write your reasons down and put them in a place where you can see them daily. Your list of reasons will help remind you of why you started this journey and perhaps help motivate you to keep going.
True, it takes a strong desire and commitment to keep going. But, at some point, you have to be tired of struggling and wrestling with your weight. Knowing your “why” can help motivate you to stay on track in times of stress and temptation.
Celebrate Small Wins
It’s good to celebrate small wins. It helps to recognize that you are working toward your goals and that every good action deserves acknowledgment. It encourages continued motivation and commitment. Examples of small wins can be:
- Passing up that donut shop when driving to work.
- Skipping the pastries at the early morning meeting at work.
- Saying “No Thank You” to those who offer food that’s not on your food plan.
- No snacking between meals.
- Choosing a healthy meal on a restaurant’s website, before going.
- Eating your meal before you go to an event or taking it with you.
When the small wins become routine, you will reap big rewards! As for celebrations, the field is wide open, just don’t celebrate with food! Celebrate with simple pleasures like getting a manicure or soaking in a bubble bath with scented candles around the tub, or get a back massage. Take the time to do self-care as a reward for staying on track.
Get Support
It’s important to have someone helping you when you need it. If you need a sponsor, a health coach, or a group of people who understands your struggle with food, get the help that you need. As you are changing your eating habits and incorporating this new lifestyle change, it’s important to have support and accountability.
These suggestions are ways to help keep you moving forward in your health journey. Sometimes, it won’t be easy, especially when you will have a slip. But please don’t let that deter you from getting back up and trying again. Remember, every day is new.
You can do this!
If this blog has been helpful to you, please drop me a line and let me know how it helped you.
Stay encouraged!
Cynthia
