5 Ways to Stop Dieting and Start Living Healthier

Whether you’re aiming to get that body beach-ready or you’re simply tired of seeing a little extra softness in places you don’t want to, you might be tempted to launch back into another diet. However, if you’re aiming to make real, long-term lifestyle changes, the restrictiveness of a diet can often hold you back more than anything. 

Here, we’re going to look at how you can put the diet behind you, and start really eating healthily.

1. Get More Physically Active

I'm not necessarily telling you to add in more time at the gym. Rather, just about any kind of physical activity will do the trick, whether it’s taking a walk now and then or standing instead of sitting.

​Take the stairs instead of lifts or escalators when possible, walk to your grocery store and carry your bags home, engage in gardening and always see ways in your days to take the more active solution. In brief, stay seated less, move more.

Not only does it burn a little more calories, but it also keeps your metabolism active, meaning your body more effectively converts food into energy.

2. Get a Health Check

While, in general, the body will obey the rule of losing weight when you burn more energy than you eat, there are real health factors that can determine how effective it is at this job.

Hormone imbalances, blood sugar issues, and adrenal problems can all make it a lot easier to gain weight. Getting a check-up that includes blood tests for hormones might be the key for your fat loss success. If you learn that you have a disadvantage, make sure you consult a specialist on how to address those problems and make it a first priority. Just after then you will see the desired results from healthier eating habits.

3. Know Your Temptations

All too often, we’re undone by the things we enjoy the best. Know your temptations and trigger foods.  Aim to remove them all from your home so when the craving monster hits you, you'll have to make a lot of effort to get them. You might find the craving won't be as strong to jump that effort barrier. The next step is to find a healthier alternative to them if you find it hard to quit snacking entirely, but aim to eliminate it from your lifestyle.

4. Know How to Control Your Portions

What you eat is important. The more whole foods, fresh vegetables and fruit, and the fewer refined carbs, the better. Staying away from processed and packaged foods is pretty much always good advice.

However, how much you eat is just as important. Maybe you don't have issues with snacking, but you are not able to gauge how much you should eat at each meal to aid your body composition goals. There are several ways to monitor how much you eat; like using the Eat Well Guide, using your hands as measures or simply stopping when you are about 80% full. 

5. Make Sure You Have a Support System

​There’s no point in making healthy lifestyle changes in secret. Let your family and friends know. Not only can they be supportive, helping you stay motivated, but once you tell people, you’re more likely to stick to it because, in your mind, they can hold you accountable. In the best-case scenario, you will find that your own health kick has inspired others to follow in your footsteps and join in to give it a try, themselves.
 
With the tips above, you’re going to have more than a diet aimed at helping you lose weight. You’re going to have a range of dietary habits that both manage your weight and ensure your body is fully stocked for all its nutritional needs, which is much better than any diet can offer.

If you feel you'd like to discuss your fitness goals and dietary habits with a fitness professional with no commitments, feel free to get in touch.