Health Tip Reminders for Autumn!

Though an overall fitness plan involves better eating and more physical activity, as well as setting aside some time for self-care, the most important thing you can do to get yourself moving in the right direction is to get your diet under control. Food is your body’s fuel, and how you feel and what you look like is a direct result of what you eat. If your goal is to lose weight and feel better, it has to start with nutrition.

Here are some tips to help keep you on the path to healthy eating, presented by Mosaic Fitness and Nutrition.

Switch to water

This is probably the simplest way to cut out unnecessary sugars from your daily life. Instead of reaching for soda, sweet tea, juices, or milk - drink water. The amount of calories you’ll save will add up over time. If you’re absolutely sick of just drinking water, try drinking beverages that are mostly water, with no added sugars. This includes hot tea, sparkling water, and coffee.

If you find that you’re struggling to switch to water, don’t beat yourself up — giving up something you love for the sake of your health can take time. After all, according to Zen Business, it can take a month before your new healthy habits become a full-blown routine. So, take baby steps at first, and allow yourself to indulge every once in a while.

Be prepared to be hungry

You’re going to get hungry throughout the day. Limiting yourself to two or three normal-sized meals per day will likely leave most people hungry. Snacking isn’t the enemy - bad snacking is.

You should be prepared to feel hunger. This means stashing healthy snacks like almonds and apples at your desk, so you’re not tempted to drop money in the vending machine for those Doritos. It takes a bit of preparation, but if you already have fruits and vegetables cut up and portioned out, you’ll be more likely to reach for them when you feel a hunger pang.

Replace red meat with seafood

Whenever you can, it’s worth it to get your protein from fish and shellfish. Seafood has protein, minerals, and omega-3 fatty acids (heart-healthy fat). It also tends to have fewer calories than red meat. Try replacing one protein a week with salmon or shrimp — and go from there.

Know your fast food

Sure, home cooking and meal preparation is the best way to lose weight and maintain a healthy body. But life is life and people are busy. There will always be times when you forgot to pack a meal, you’re working late, or the kids’ practice ran over and you’re starving. Maybe you’re even just too tired to cook.

According to Health.com, eating fast food is inevitable for many busy people. It’s important to know that not all fast food is created equal. You can actually find healthy or semi-healthy dishes at many fast food restaurants. One tip is to check out the menus of restaurants near your home and place of work. This way you’ll know what to get when the time comes.

Eater better sources of carbs

Many people want to cut out carbs to lose weight. This is a fine strategy, as lower-carb diets have been shown to facilitate weight loss. But if you’re going to eat fewer or better carbs, make sure you’re eating good ones - the type packed with fiber, protein, and other nutrients. Good sources of carbs, to name a few, include quinoa, steel cut oats, and breads that are made with sprouted grains.

Remember, eating healthy is a process, and exercise should be taken just as seriously. The more small changes you can make in your everyday life, the better. Take a yoga class. Get a gym membership or upgrade your home gym. Get a water fitness belt, and head to the pool. Don’t try to do everything at once, and if you slip up with your eating habits, don’t beat yourself up — hop right back on the track.

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