Have you ever heard someone say, “I will eat this now and just work it off later?”
Or maybe you have even said this before. I know in my past, I thought this way until I truly got to the point that I wanted to live a healthier lifestyle.
When my mindset shifted from just wanting to look a certain way to wanting overall wellness, I got better results with my health goals.
If you are only focused on looking a certain way, then once you achieve that look then your motivation will diminish. You will then find yourself right back where you started eventually.
Now don’t get me wrong, feeling comfortable in your skin and looking a certain way is one of the best benefits of exercise but it shouldn’t be your only goal.
Why????
There are tons of people in this world who may look good on the outside but on the inside they are very unhealthy. When you consume a diet that is high in fried fatty foods and refined sugar it puts you at risk for high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease and type II diabetes.
And Guess what…..you can appear perfectly healthy on the outside but also have any of these chronic conditions.
My main purpose for exercising is that it makes me feel a certain way. I feel energized, happy, strong and confident in myself.
By combining exercise and healthy eating you can:
- Reach your goals that much faster because you are not running an uphill battle of eating bad then having to work that much harder to burn off those extra calories plus more if you want to lose weight.
- Increase your energy levels by eating foods that fuel your body and keep you regular. Being regular is a key component in feeling energized as it eliminates toxic wastes from the body.
- Decrease your risk for chronic diseases such as high blood pressure, heart disease and type II diabetes. Many chronic diseases can be prevented if we take the time to improve our eating habits.
I know that changing your eating habits can be difficult, but the end result is so worth it! Focus on making small changes over time until you get to the point where your diet is well balanced and not so healthy foods are consumed in moderation.
Remember that it is okay to have the occasional indulgence, you just don’t want to do it every day. It’s also important to note that one bad day shouldn’t deter you from having a fresh start tomorrow.
Every day is another chance to eat better and to live healthier!
So, the overall take home message is that Instead of focusing on how you look, you should focus on your health and how you feel.
When health is your focus you will inevitably get to the point where you get to your desired look!
Love your body and it will love you back, we only get one so let’s treat it right!
Find Health in Every Day!
Dr. Lindsay