But sometimes we say these things, but then enacting change feels like one of the most difficult things in the world. Often this is because we set ourselves goals that are somewhat unrealistic. If you donât really regularly exercise, expecting yourself to suddenly be in the gym five days a week and have the body of an olympian in a month is not a helpful goal. Equally, if you enjoy certain sugary or rich foods, being extremely strict and saying youâre going to cut everything out that isnât a vegetable is honestly more of a punishment than a realistic achievement.
But donât take this the wrong way! We are definitely not trying to deter anyone from trying to live better and be healthy. In fact, we want to actively encourage this kind of behaviour. However, sometimes it can feel like youâre fighting an uphill battle in the bid to live a healthy lifestyle. Weâve compiled a list of the top 10 easy ways for you to be healthy in a sustainable and attainable manner.Â
10 easy ways for you to be healthy in a sustainable and attainable manner:
Eat from a smaller dish đČ
The phrase âeyes bigger than stomachâ actually applies to a vast majority of us and we just donât realise. When we have a plate of food in front of us, we donât realise that we are in fact full before we have finished. There is a part of our brain which tells us to keep going until the plate is empty. This is why sometimes as soon as youâve finished your final bite of food, you realise that you feel absolutely stuffed. A review of 72 studies, carried out over 40 years, found that people consistently ate more food when using larger plates and when offered larger portions.1 Additionally, a 2005 study found that people who used bigger plates and bowls consumed a considerably larger amount of calories than those using smaller plates.2
As shocking as this research might seem, the answer really is quite simple and is right in front of you. Next meal time, try using a smaller plate or bowl. Adopting this habit means that you donât have to starve yourself in any way, if youâre still hungry after finishing whatâs in front of you then, by all means, help yourself to more. But take a moment to think about whether you are eating because you are hungry or just because the food is in front of you.
Add some fruit to your days
đđđđđđđ„
Drink green tea đ”
Avoid sugary drinks â
Make sure youâre drinking enough waterđ§
Consider supplements đ
Look after your skin âš
Plan your grocery shopping đ
Go for a walk during your lunch break đ
Reduce evening screen time đ€
(1)Â https://www.cochranelibrary.com/cdsr/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD011045.pub2/full
(2)Â https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/article-abstract/200673
(3)Â https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16968850/
(4)Â https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22190027
(5)Â https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/fullarticle/1685889
(6)Â https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25559067