5 Simple Tips on How To Stay Consistent With Diet
Goodness knows it can be tough to stay on track with diet, particularly when trying to get into the best shape of your life. Have you wondered how to stay consistent with your diet? The key is to begin with clearly identifying your “WHY” behind the changes you want to make and explicitly understanding the impact your choices have on your progress. To help you on this quest about how to stay consistent with your diet, I have compiled 5 simple tips that will skyrocket your resolve and make things significantly easier.
#1 TIP ON HOW TO STAY CONSISTENT WITH DIET… STOP THINKING OF IT AS A DIET
The worst thing you can do when trying to limit your calorie intake is to think about your food as a “DIET”. The moment most women list out the foods that are totally off-limits, the cravings begin.
I don’t want you to feel restricted by the food that you are not allowed to eat; rather I want you to feel empowered by all of the delicious food you can eat! Diets are associated with all sorts of negative feelings, so replace the word diet with “new healthy lifestyle” which is much more positive and refers to a continuous nourishing lifestyle.
Instead of saying, “I can’t eat that, I’m on a diet”, think of all the fantastic dishes and snacks you can create with healthy ingredients.
2. HAVE A PLAN
One of the main reasons that people fall off the wagon is down to convenience. You arrive home from work so hungry that in a few moments, your better judgment has gone out of the window, and you automatically grab a huge bowl of cheesy pasta.
Eliminate the thought process of cheating on your healthy-eating plan by making those decisions in advance by creating a meal plan. Write down seven dinners, lunches, and breakfasts you would like to eat over the next week and only buy ingredients for these meals so that you can’t be tempted to stray.
3. DON’T GO FOOD SHOPPING WHEN YOU ARE HUNGRY
Once you know what you want to eat, then it’s time to hit the supermarket, but don’t even set foot in the door if you are hungry. Your willpower will be lower, and suddenly all the food you have been avoiding will be irresistible, and you’ll end up with a trolley full of guilt.
Better yet, order home delivery of your groceries. You will be able to take your time and pick exactly the right ingredients, plus as the food won’t actually be in front of your eyes, it will be easier to say no.
4. CURB CRAVINGS WITH EXERCISE
Cravings come in waves that don’t last long, but man, are they difficult to control! While eating a healthy alternative is one way to curb cravings, it won’t eliminate the urge in the first place, so occupy yourself with something non-food related to banish cravings once and for all. Try doing some quick circuit exercises like squat jumps, press-ups, and burpees for five minutes or until the cravings have subsided.
5. EAT AT SPECIFIED MEAL TIMES
Create healthy eating habits that don’t include snacking, which is where you may fall off the wagon. Set specific meal times for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and make sure you stick to these. Choose five or six smaller meals if you feel as though you’d rather eat little and often.
BONUS: To be clear: consistency ≠ perfection
Getting healthier and hitting your fitness goals does not require perfection. Making changes does not require you to flip your entire world upside down.
Right!?! (Insert big sigh of relief here.)
Putting in any effort beyond what you’ve been doing, counts!
Moreover, focusing on putting effort into small, manageable changes instead of “crazy-change-everything-all-at-once” changes is the best long-term strategy for health!
If you can consistently be a little better every day, week, or month…you will build LASTING habits and a lifestyle that supports your health and fitness.
Many like to think of dietary changes as all or nothing. What we need to do is work on becoming better, not perfect. Failure is normal, but getting back on track again is not. Strive to get back on track more often than not, and you’ll see your health change and your attitude towards it as well.
