I know that most of my readers start the new year with plans of eating healthier and losing weight. But often, after a few weeks, they lose their motivation and start drifting back into old habits. If you've done this, then spring is the perfect time to give yourself a fresh start. New life will be blooming all around you soon. The temperatures will finally start warming up and it's a great time to get outside and just exercise. Recommit to your goals of losing weight and living a fit lifestyle.
Here are a few simple ideas to help you get started.
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1. Snack more. No, not on candy bars and soda. But don't try to get by with only eating three meals a day. Spread your healthy foods over five or six meals. Your sugar levels won't spike and you'll feel full all day. You won't have cravings when you're not hungry. Remember to fill up on protein, fiber, good fats, and whole wheat products. Plan your snacks in advance so you'll always have healthy foods on hand–even if you're at work or running errands.
2. Exercise. Now that the weather is warmer, there's no excuse not to go for a long walk or dig the bicycle out of the garage. The sunshine will improve your emotional well-being, too, even as you're burning off the calories. If you're still having trouble finding the motivation, then find a partner to exercise or walk with. You won't want to let your friend down so you'll be sure and show up at the appointed time. Plus, it's just more fun to have someone to chat with along the way.
3. Drink lemon water. Start your day with some hot water and lemon. This gets your metabolism going strong and assures you start your day out well hydrated. It will also cleanse toxins out of your body.
4. Cut down portion sizes. We all know that during the winter we tend to eat more. We like to fill up on comfort foods to help fight the winter chill. Plus, we usually spend more time indoors watching television and it's easy to mindlessly eat. But try to trim your meal sizes down and feel up on veggies instead of the heavier meat and potatoes route that's so prevalent in winter meals.
5. Add variety to your foods. Make sure your plate is covered with a variety of colors. This helps you cover more food groups. Not sure what to add to spice up your diet? Visit a local farmers market for some inspiration. Seeing all the fresh types of produce will give you a wealth of ideas to change up your meals and give them more zip.
This post was originally published on February 27, 2014.
