Categories
Acai Berry dieting exercise weight loss

Swap It, for a Better You

Woman Running Barefoot (IMG_1153)Losing weight is not an easy feat especially if we cannot seem to do the big lifestyle changes that weight loss programs demand. But as any process, starting small can go a long way and is a fantastic start to the journey to a better health. One of these baby steps that you can easily adhere to is setting your mind on choosing better alternatives not just on matters of picking out food, but of daily activities as well. Remember that eating healthy and moving helps you lose fat while decreasing your risk to heart disease, diabetes, and some types of cancer.

These changes may seem small but overtime it will pay off if you stick to them and successfully train yourself to the “swap it” mindset. Encourage your family and friends to do the same. Here are some swap it ideas that are easily incorporated in your lifestyle.

1. Bigger portions to smaller portions.

If it is hard to stop eating your favorite dishes regardless of how unhealthy they may be, then go ahead and eat it, just in a smaller portion than usual. Then eat slowly so you can recognize it when your stomach is full. Avoid going back for seconds. When eating dessert, divide it into two and share it with someone. Make this a habit and gradually you’ll start managing your appetite better.

2. Frequent to Sometimes.

Control the number of times you go for take-away foods or eating out. You don’t have to  put a stop to it right away as again, we are doing baby steps here. Otherwise, you’ll just be resistant to change and readily fall back to bad habits. So instead of passing by the fast food every Friday, do it every fortnight instead.

Keep a tab on your diary to help. Instead of having soft drinks every dinner, make it every other day, cutting them down further over time and choosing water instead. Same goes for treats such as ice creams and lollies. You’ll find it easier to remove it altogether in a matter of weeks with this method.

3. Inside to Outside.

When you find yourself sitting in the couch having nothing to watch really, then make a swap for the outside. Grab your runners and walk around your neighborhood instead. You’ll be burning fat and get your heart pumping, definitely way better than doing nothing important.

Encourage children to do the same, choosing outdoor games at the park instead of sitting and playing video games. You can also work out your social life this way by inviting friends for a walk instead of having coffee at home. Go for a tennis or bowling game instead of watching a movie. Swap inactivity to activity.

4. Diet to Healthy. One of the main reasons people fail in their quest to lose weight is their false mindset of “dieting”. They avoid and stop eating altogether so they often bounce back to their old habits. Swapping it instead to a healthy lifestyle mindset is more effective as you will be convincing yourself that the priority is improving your health to avoid diseases.

Losing weight will follow nonetheless. And striving to be healthy makes swapping choices easier. Picking up a fruit instead of a chocolate bar, having a cup of tea instead of snacking, and buying low-fat instead of full cream milk. Do the tips mentioned above as they point out to a healthier lifestyle.

Dieting fads are hard to live by. But learning how to live a healthy lifestyle is more likely to stick with you as it becomes a habit.  So start making simple everyday changes and the benefits will follow.

Jessy blogs on health dieting, frugal living and eco-friendly gadgets. Her most recent blogs are fiber weight loss and carb diets. You can follow Jessy on Twitter as @JessyTroy

Swap It, for a Better You by
Rating: 5.0/5. From 1 vote.
Please wait...

Comments are closed.