Although my deep affinity for Whole Foods and organically local produce shopping tendencies has landed me the butt of several jokes from my friends, I do pride myself on eating healthy foods and maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
It didn’t happen overnight. I used to eat terribly – think: mac’n’cheese and ramen for dinner all. the. time. And I considered potatoes a vegetable suitable for everyday eating. But last summer I realized that if I wanted to live a really long and fruitful life, I would need to change my habits to be more sustainable. Sustainable is the key word here – diets don’t work long-term. Choosing a healthy lifestyle means picking up habits that you can actually keep up forever.
Below are some changes I’ve made in the past year that have made me feel awesome. I am by no means a doctor or a health expert, but these are a few things that have helped! These rituals won’t work for everyone, but they sure work for me.
- I drink 2-3 glasses of chilled water right when I wake up.
- There are, like, millions of articles out there that say how great this is for you. While at first it felt weird to drink water that early in the morning (especially before food), I soon started craving some h2o as soon as my alarm went off every morning. Drinking water first thing in the morning has a myriad of benefits, such as purging toxins from your blood, renewing cells, and purifying your colon (ew, sorry).
- I make smart switches whenever possible.
- Ex: Switch black beans for pinto at Chipotle, almond milk for creamer in coffee, 70% dark chocolate for any other candy.
- I only drink alcohol once a week.
- Unless I’m on a date, because that’s awkward.
- My FitBit is my best friend.
- I get super excited every day when I’m notified that I reached my step goal! I’m also pretty competitive, so I participate in step challenges with my friends.
- I set an alarm for drinking water and taking a break.
- My FitBit comes with an alarm feature, and I have it set to vibrate once every 2 hours to remind me to get a glass of water and take a walk around the office. This may seem excessive, but I reeeeeally like drinking water.
- I take daily stretch breaks.
- I’m lucky enough to work in an office where afternoon yoga breaks are encouraged. But if you don’t, I highly recommend finding an empty conference room and stretching it out a bit for a few minutes each day!
- I set reasonable workout expectations.
- Every year, I used to make the New Years Resolution that I would work out every single day. Every single day?! Who even has time/energy for that? And then when I didn’t achieve that, I would feel SO guilty about it. Now, I tell myself I’ll hit the gym at least 3 days/week. Given that I walk pretty much everywhere in the city and live in a 4th floor walkup, that’s pretty good for me. Setting yourself up for failure is the worst.
- TIP: If you can’t afford a gym membership, check out your local Lululemon store. Most of them offer free weekly classes in store!
- Every year, I used to make the New Years Resolution that I would work out every single day. Every single day?! Who even has time/energy for that? And then when I didn’t achieve that, I would feel SO guilty about it. Now, I tell myself I’ll hit the gym at least 3 days/week. Given that I walk pretty much everywhere in the city and live in a 4th floor walkup, that’s pretty good for me. Setting yourself up for failure is the worst.
- I prep my lunch every week.
- Every Sunday, I do a grocery haul and prep my lunch for the week. I eat pretty much the same thing every day, but I’m a creature of habit so it works for me. My daily lunch? A beet, spinach, arugula, and goat cheese salad with cherry tomatoes and baked chicken and some kind of veggie on the side (usually sweet potato). I also typically add a hard boiled egg for extra protein, and pack healthy snacks for the rest of the day (usually an apple, bell pepper slices, and sweet potato chips).
- I don’t keep unhealthy foods in the house.
- I don’t buy dessert items or junk food when I go grocery shopping. Temptation is a bitch, and I would rather not feel guilty about giving in – especially when it’s something I could definitely avoid! That being said…
- I keep a bar of dark chocolate at work and at home at all times.
- Sugar cravings attack, and viciously at that. If I’m going to give in, it’s with a piece (or three) of 70% dark chocolate, or a Justin’s Peanut Butter Cup. If I didn’t have that chocolate lying around, I’d be angry. Very angry.
- I take a women’s daily multivitamin and extra Vitamin C.
- Some people will argue that you don’t need vitamin supplements, but I like to cover all my bases just in case. I also take extra Vitamin C because I just hate getting sick (doesn’t everyone?).
- I avoid dairy (except goat cheese).
- I’m lactose intolerant. Dairy sets my stomach off like a gurgle-y bomb, which means that it’s causing inflammation in my body. Inflammation, over time, can lead to dozens of diseases associated with aging and disability, including heart disease, diabetes, stroke, cancer, and Alzheimers. Does this mean I don’t eat ice cream or pizza every once in a while? Please. Treat yo’ self. But 99% of my meals don’t have a trace of dairy. On that note…
- I give myself a freaking break.
- It is nearly impossible to be 100% healthy all the damn time. If I want a piece of cake at a birthday party, I’m going to eat it. If I want to drink a mocha for a treat on Friday, I’m going to drink it. I don’t kick myself for making not-so-good health choices every once in a while – life has to be a little fun, right? Everything in moderation. Your mental health is just as important as your bodily health.
What other sustainable healthy habits should I adopt? I’m always open to more advice! Let me know in the comments.
