So many people I talk to say they don’t know where to start. How do they get into shape? Or eat right? Where can they get motivation? Whether it’s a workout plan, the dreaded “diet”, or a mental space - it can be difficult to see where the starting point is. It may even seem overwhelming. Don’t worry. It’s not! Take a look at these mini steps for you to start living your best version of you.
Mini step # 1: Veggies all day, every day.
Being healthy means eating healthy. The only way to eat healthy is by eating LOTS of fruits and veggies. With the American Heart Association setting the bar at 4 servings of fruit and 5 servings of vegetables per day, we have to make that a huge bulk of our food intake. Every meal is the goal. Don’t forget about veggie snacks too! If you can sneak in veggies all day, your doing your body a HUGE favor. There will be plenty of ideas, recipes, and grocery plans I will share with you if you are looking for inspiration.
While it does take some work to prep your food, the veggie part can be extremely easy. Eating raw or frozen veggies cuts down on cook and prep time. Remember, upping your veggies actually enables you to eat more food and gives your body the nutrition it needs. Eating veggies gives you more energy, helps you get over illness more quickly and helps you regulate your weight. How could you not love them when they do all that?
Mini step # 2: Plan your grocery trip.
To make the aforementioned easier to attain, it is crucial that you plan out our meals and prepare your own food. There is that famous expression. 20% in the gym. 80% in the kitchen. It’s true! What we eat directly impacts how our bodies look. In order to eat healthy foods, we have to make them. It’s practically impossible to eat healthy take out consistently. If you are able to find healthy food on the go, it will be expensive. Trust me. Having a fridge full of food options makes healthy eating easier and cheaper.
Those of you who know me personally, know that I have a love / hate relationship with food. Let’s be honest, does anyone really actually enjoy going to the grocery store? Regardless, we have to do it to eat correctly. It saves money too. Win - win! Being creative in the kitchen is actually, dare I say it, enjoyable at times! So let’s look face the facts and get cozy in the kitchen. First decide the meals. Then make the grocery list from that. Meals come daily. Same things for snacks!
Mini step # 3: Get moving!
Eating healthy is one of the biggest things we can do for our health and body. In addition, moving and challenging our body is a must if you want to see further results and be your ultimate best. Being healthy means moving your body. Most people sit for the majority of their day. We need to break this cycle in order to be the best version of ourselves. If you have physical work you do. Great! Your body is already used to moving. We’ll add to this.
30 minute sessions a couple of times per week is a great start. You could take Vixen classes with me (shameless plug). Vixen is a kick butt HIIT dance workout that feels more like dancing on stage than a workout. Whatever it is, find something that you enjoy and do it. If you enjoy what you are doing, you are more likely to maintain the habit. Remember we are creating a lifestyle. That means it is something you have to do on a regular basis.
Mini step # 4: Forget “diets”.
What?? Did I mean to put that there? Yes. I did! Diets are short lived. With the change of fads comes a change in diets. Sometimes they produce results, but the restriction from the diet is unsustainable. Time and time again I have seen people start diets, only to rebound back to their old eating habits.
First of all, we are not restricting ourselves when we eat healthy. We are opening up our options. When we look at the entire food spectrum; veggies, whole grains and lean proteins, we can start to realize how wide our selection really is. Second of all, a healthy “diet” is really just a lifestyle of doing the right things for our body. That’s it. It’s a way of life. Which leads nicely to the last mini step you can start working on.
Mini step # 5: Change your mindset.
This is a way of life. Our lifestyle involves being mindful of what we eat, how often we move and what we occupy our time with. That’s just the way it is. Plan for the time to get the food you need. Experiment to find out what works for you. Aim to get moving with something that inspires you. Once the correct habits are in place, it’s easy to maintain a healthy lifestyle and be the best version of you.
These are some small steps to get you on the right track. You’ll see more from me with tips, tricks, and various fitspiration periodically. Life’s a journey. Sometimes it’s easy to get lost. A little inspiration can go a long way. Enjoy being the best version of you!