Why A Healthy Lifestyle Requires Solutions Not Excuses

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The difference between people that live a healthy lifestyle and those that just talk about it is the solutions that they put in place. Yes, changing the way you eat or adding more exercise into your daily schedule can be difficult. But to succeed you need to stop making excuses for how hard things are and commit to doing them. But that doesn’t mean that you just have to plow on regardless through any difficulties you encounter in living a healthy lifestyle. In fact, it’s a much better idea to be aware of possible pressure points and implement solutions for them before they arise. You can do this with the help of the advice below. Remember there’s always a solution or a way around a problem that will let you live a healthier life.

Problem: Not knowing what to eat

Everyone knows that a healthy diet is essential to a healthy life. But there are so many diet plans out there that it can be very difficult to identify what eating healthily actually is. There are some common factors that you can keep to. But when you are making a change to your diet it is likely to work differently in practice from person to person.

For example, the basics of a healthy diet include all the major food groups, in the right proportions. Also, some people choose to add a higher amount of protein into their diet and reduce processed foods which can be high in fat and sugar.

The key thing here is to educate yourself about food. Read books, or join a diet group. Just make sure that you know more about what you are choosing to put into your body. Then you can improve your diet bit by bit to get the results you want.

Problem: Access to healthy food

Another problem that people say can stop them from living a healthy lifestyle is the access that they have to healthy foods. Some people argue that they can’t get some fresh items in the grocery stores near them. Or they would have to go out of their way to get some of the items they need for a proper diet. Others argue that it is cheaper to continue to buy poor quality food and they cannot afford to raise their meal budget. Still, others have to deal with eating in mass catered situations like cafeterias. Where unhealthy choices are too tempting to pass up.

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Well, each of these issues can be solved individually. First not having access to healthy food isn’t really an excuse anymore. You can order pretty much anything online now like protein powders and supplements, or even get gourmet seafood delivery. Then they come straight to your door! It’s more a matter of planning it into your weekly or monthly routine and getting used to buying it in that way.

For those that argue that unhealthy food is cheaper. Yes, sometimes it is. But you have to remember that you are investing in your body. It’s like an engine if you put poor quality fuel in all the time, you are not going to get the best performance out.

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A way of dealing with this is to plan healthy meals and then just put the ingredients on your list. This means you can be sure that you have enough money to cover the cost of your shop. It also leaves less of a budget for unhealthier items like cookies and chips.

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For those that are eating in mass catered situations, it can be a bit harder. But, of course, there is a solution or two, that you can employ.

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Firstly you can choose to eat what is on offer, just in a smaller portion. Have a slice of pizza, but just one and bulk out the rest of the meal with a salad. Or you can take your own homemade meals with you. Then you know that they will be as healthy as possible, no matter what is on offer.  

Problem: Not enough time to cook healthy food

Another common gripe about eating healthily is that it takes a lot of time to prepare and cook meals this way. Well, if you are used to eating only ready made items it can be a big change. But there are ways of making it easier.

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You can try food prep. Which is when you cook meals for the entire week on one day. Then you portion out the meals and store them in the fridge or freezer, ready to be heated up when you need them. This ensures that there is always a healthy option on hand, even when you can’t be bothered to cook that evening.

Another way of doing things is to just do the prep part of the meal and freeze it. Then all you have to do is take it out of the freezer in the morning before you go to work. Then you get to come home to a fully prepped meal. All you have to do is stick it in a pan to cook it. Easy!

Problem: No motivation to work out

Of course, while eating makes up a big part of a healthy lifestyle it is not the only thing that you need to address. You also need to factor in some exercise too.

There are many problems that people come across that can act as a barrier for working out. But with some clever thinking and a bit of determination you can work your way through these and achieve a successful exercise habit.

One of the biggest issues that people face, especially when they first start to exercise is that they have little or no motivation. In can be hard to break through that initial inertia you get, when you are working hard but not seeing many of the benefits.

But the way that you approach your exercise routine can help with this. It is important to not start off too hard. You need to pick some gentle exercise to do, for a short amount of time.

It makes sense really. If you haven’t worked out in a while, going to an hour long high-intensity spin class is not the best idea. Not only are going to feel exhausted, but it is also going to make you feel bad because you can’t keep up with the rest of the class. This is the negative cycle of thinking that you need to avoid if you are going to make exercise a long-term habit.

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Problem: No confidence to workout

Another major hiccup on the road to fitness can be confidence levels. If you don’t feel confident in your body, then working out can seem like torture, especially if you are surrounded by lithe lycra clad gym bunnies! There are different ways to handle this, and you need to pick the one that is right for you.

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Firstly you can choose to workout in a non pressured situation like our own home until you are feeling a bit better about yourself. Or you can treat yourself to some new gym wear and accept that everybody starts somewhere are not let it get to you.

Another way of dealing with this is by joining a workout club or take a friend along for moral support. This can help alleviate anxiety and provide  support to see the activity through. For example, beginner’s running clubs are great as everyone is on the same level. Or how about roping in your friend next door to get outdoors and go on a hike with you?

Problem: No time to work out

Another common issue that gets in the way of truly healthy lifestyle is that people often feel like they have no time to workout. If you work full time or have kids to look after, adding another hour or so onto the end of your day, when you are already exhausted, can seem like a step too far.

But let’s look at this in more detail. For example, if you are tired all the time working out can help boost your energy levels. Also, your time exercising can be your ‘me time’, when you don’t have to focus on anyone else’s need but your own.

If it really is that you are so busy in the day that you will struggle to find that extra hour, then there is something that you can do to solve this problem. You can build exercise into your routine as part of your day, instead of viewing at as a separate thing.

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You could walk or cycle to and from work. That’s an hour right there! Or you could get a mini cycle or an up-down stepper and place it under you desk at work. Then you are burning calories as you get on with your day!

Or, how about ditching a soggy sandwich at your desk every lunch time and getting out for a walk, or even trying out a local exercise class? Many gyms and fitness centers offer 30 min sessions at lunch time, so you have enough time to get there and back in your hour break.