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Embarking on a health journey is often synonymous with trying out the latest diets, especially this time of year! 🙂
But true transformation goes beyond the fad! True transformation and long-term results, occur when you cultivate lasting habits not short-term changes.
I often find people start a strict regime because they want quick results but if anything, it prolongs your whole health journey, sometimes actually undermining your health. Maybe you have tried every diet under the sun, or keep starting and keep getting derailed.
The health and fitness industry is a multi-billion-pound industry and growing worldwide but people are getting sicker and fatter. That has to tell you something!
A strict regime may leave you constantly thinking about forbidden foods, and feeling deprived, increasing stress, and taking a toll on your wellbeing. The restrictive nature may limit essential nutrients leading to fatigue, irritability, and your metabolism actually slowing down 😱.
You should feel good on your new regime and enjoy the food in front of you. There should be no guilt, just healthy habits that support your body at a cellular level. This is what creates long-term health and wellness!
Just a few of my very profound thoughts! 😊
🌻 Limitations of Diets
They are temporary Solutions: Diets are often seen as short-term fixes, promising quick results. However, the restrictive nature of many diets makes them challenging to maintain over the long haul. Simply put, diets do not work in the long term. We will always default back to old habits if we don't tackle the underlying cause!
They miss the Root Cause: Diets address surface-level issues but often fail to delve into the root causes of unhealthy habits. Sustainable change requires a deeper understanding of the behaviours and triggers that contribute to poor health.
🌷 The Power of Habit Changes Instead
Helps you build sustainable Routines: Unlike diets that prescribe specific foods for a set period, habit change is about incorporating sustainable routines into daily life. This could be as simple as eating more protein, planning your meals, or setting aside time for exercise.
Helps instil mindful Eating Practices: Habits around eating go beyond what's on the plate. Mindful eating, focusing on the experience of eating and listening to your body's hunger and fullness cues, fosters a healthier relationship with food.
Gradual Progression: Habit change allows for gradual progression, making it more realistic and achievable. Small, consistent adjustments over time are more likely to become ingrained in your lifestyle than drastic, unsustainable changes. The results can still be pretty dramatic after just a few weeks.
🌸 Some tips for helping you develop sustainable health practices.
Identify your Trigger Behaviors: Recognise the behaviours that contribute to poor health. Whether it's mindless snacking, not exercising, emotional eating or succumbing to peer pressure, understanding your triggers is the first step.
Set Realistic Goals for yourself: Small victories create positive reinforcement, making it easier to build on initial successes. Those small habits build up into pretty big results!
Create a Supportive Environment: Surround yourself with a supportive environment that encourages healthy habits. Think about who you spend your time with. This may involve enlisting the support of friends, and family, or even seeking guidance from a health professional.
💐 And lastly, Aim to Shift your Mindset From Restriction to Nourishment
Rather than viewing food as the enemy, shift your mindset to see it as nourishment. Choose foods that contribute to your overall well-being, and nourish and support the health of your whole body. Eating food that suits YOUR individual needs.
Embrace Flexibility: Habits are more sustainable when they allow for flexibility. Instead of rigid rules, adopt a more adaptable approach that accommodates life's inevitable changes., holidays, birthdays, stressful periods...
The real results occur when you commit to the process, and commit to tackling the ups and downs, successes and inevitable failures that will occur. Commit to tackling the real root cause of why you struggle with your weight or health. Diets may offer temporary solutions, but the real magic happens when we cultivate lasting habits.
It's not about a temporary fix; it's about embracing a lifestyle that supports your well-being for the long term so you can truly live your best life!
This is freedom! 💫
And if you want any help finding freedom be sure to get in touch. 🤗
Julie x
Helping you live a healthier, happier life