For anyone looking to begin their journey living a healthier and more balanced life, it can be overwhelming. There’s always a new diet, workout trend, or “rule” that everybody seems to be following. Let me let you into a little secret: there is no one “right” way to eat. Likewise, there is not a universally effective (or enjoyable) workout. Over the course of discovering how I can become a healthier version of myself, here is what I recommend for someone who feels lost in the oversaturated world of health and fitness.
- Focus on Adding Foods in, Not Taking Them Out.
-
Try to stop labeling foods as “bad”. Sure, there are foods with better nutritional profiles than others, but no food will single-handedly make or break your progress or should be completely off-limits. Instead of thinking about what you need to cut out, (which is all that diets seem to scream at us…) think about foods you can add IN. Once you start focusing on adding more fruits & veggies to your plate, you stop thinking about what you need to get rid of! It is exciting to learn about the benefits of certain foods, like adding a handful of spinach to your smoothie. Remember, everything in moderation is okay.
- Eat Whole, Non-Processed Foods.
-
So, what foods should you be adding-in? Whole, non-processed foods! The diet industry has 100 different narratives about what to eat (low carb, low fat, no sugar…) when in reality we should really just go back to the basics. There is a stigma that eating healthier is more expensive. Sure, a customized salad from Sweetgreen may cost more than a BigMac, but filling up your grocery haul with raw fruits, vegetables, and grains (rice, quinoa, etc) will likely be a lot less expensive than prepared meat and processed snacks!
- Get In Touch with Your Body.
-
Again, let’s go back to the basics. Pay attention to your body’s cues. Are you hungry? Is it physical hunger, or emotional hunger? What foods make you feel fueled and energized? Which ones make you feel tired and bloated? Begin to take note of your eating habits without any judgment. Sometimes we get wrapped up in trusting diet books and so-called experts on what and when to eat, that we forget to simply honor our own body. Try eating your next meal without any distractions (TV, homework, Tik Tok…). How do you feel?
- Make Your Workouts Simple.
-
Working out can feel overwhelming. I know the feeling of walking into a gym without a clue what machines to use, and quickly becoming discouraged. Movement can come in many forms – that can mean doing 10 minutes of yoga a day or taking a walk to the grocery store. Feeling lost? Try walking on the treadmill for 30 minutes at an incline (it’s harder than it sounds). You don’t need an elaborate routine – start with something manageable that you can commit to doing a few times a week! If you try to jump into an intense weightlifting program, you are likely gonna never want to do it again. Start small – any movement is better than no movement!
- Stop Comparing!
-
Finally, there is no one size fits all diet or workout, or lifestyle that will work for everyone. Just because your roommates are eating Keto and weight lifting every day, does NOT mean that lifestyle will work for you (or that you will enjoy it)! Don’t ever feel like you have to conform your idea of health to someone else’s. Bottom line: do what feels good. Stop focusing on what you are “supposed” to eat, and simply eat foods that make your body feel energized and satiated.
So many young women feel overwhelmed by the amount of information in the diet industry. In a world full of influencers, we are constantly seeing countless versions of a so-called “perfect” way of living a healthy lifestyle. Remember, at the end of the day it’s YOUR body – you should eat what makes you feel good, and move in a way that makes you feel confident and energized. After all, health shouldn’t be that complicated!
