How many times have you heard someone say, “If I could do it all over again, I’d take better care of my health”? Or have you heard people say, “If I get rid of this disease, I’ll eat right and exercise more frequently”? Unfortunately, we don’t all receive that second chance.
Most of us do not appreciate the importance of our health until it is failing. Cookies, lollies, chips, ice cream, french-fries, alcohol we run to them for comfort and solace. Many of us, myself included, form habits around them. Our minds then tell us these foods make us feel better, but this is an illusion. These foods, and many others like them, are slowly killing us. Every time you “indulge” you are putting your health at risk. So, does this mean stop eating french-fries and ice cream? Maybe. Would you live longer if you stopped eating the cookies, the lollies and the ice cream? Probably. If you lower your intake of the foods that rapidly increase your blood sugar, kill your brain cells, increase your cholesterol level and blood pressure, you will probably have a healthier and longer life.
So how do you lower your intake of these foods when they are frequently on sale in bright seductive packaging at the grocery store and readily available on almost every street corner? Here are a few suggestions:
- Exercise. It will give you a natural energy boost and deter you from eating more calories than you can burn off. Click here for exercise inspiration.
- Drink more water. The more water you drink, the less hungry you will feel. Click here for our tips on drinking more water.
- Don’t stop eating these foods ‘cold turkey’. Gradually reduce your intake. If you currently eat french fries five times a week, start by reducing them to four times a week. Try this for a couple of weeks and then reduce your intake to three times a week.
- Stash healthy snacks in your car so you won’t be tempted to stop in at the servo.
- Set a specific goal. Goals will let you see your progress and can be a source of inspiration.
Be strong when you crave food that is not good for you. You will thank yourself later. Remember, you are your most valuable asset, invest in it and it will pay dividends. Now, if you’re thinking “you can’t teach an old dog new tricks” I’m here to tell you that you are wrong. It takes the human mind 8-12 weeks to form a habit, no matter what your age. We have developed a 12-week habit-forming program using this principle. We hear all the time from participants the big difference small changes can make when consistency is achieved.