Eating Healthy Today

When you see the words, “healthy” and “eating”, do your eyes roll?

Do you feel like throwing something at your screen? We understand.

It’s not against us, but the words in general. You can’t help but be frustrated by them, they’re everywhere and always in your face. Yes, we all know we should eat whole, nourishing food because it’s best for our bodies. So why don’t we do it? Why isn’t it as easy as social media and fitness blogs make it out to be? We’ve got a couple of ideas.

First, it’s all in your head. It’s a well-documented fact that we are our own worst enemies when it comes to creating a healthy lifestyle. As the great Vince Lombardi once said, “…(Your) body can withstand almost anything. It’s your mind you have to convince.” There are no truer words when it comes to health. As a society, it’s impressive how well we’re able to talk ourselves out of things, and not in a good way. Roughly 36 percent of American adults are overweight or obese, and the numbers are steadily climbing. Life expectancy is declining, obesity-related issues are rampant and we consume more fast, fatty foods now than at any other time in history.

Let’s spend a moment on the psychology of this situation. Have you ever been on the road and passed a sign with a golden arch symbol, and although you previously did not want a burger, now you’re going to stop and get one? Yeah, I know you’re gasping right now because it’s happened to All. Of. Us. Turns out, our minds have a trigger when we see a sign for a fast food place. We think that we have to take advantage of the “convenience” of fast food, so we pull over and get some. It’s an absolutely brilliant marketing scheme, but terrible for your overall health.

What should I do?

Food is not the only issue. We are now an almost immobile society. The majority of our work is completed sitting down, for several hours at a time. When you finish work for the day, you’re often so mentally tired that the thought of healthy, physical activity is the last thing you want to do. We have expertly trained ourselves to eat food that doesn’t benefit our bodies, and perform work that does the same.

So how do you make that change?

How do you help your brain understand how important healthy eating and exercise is? Two words: baby steps. Cold turkey is not a word in our vocabulary. Why? Because most of the time saying, “I’m eating healthy and working out tomorrow,” doesn’t really encourage a permanent change. The formation and follow-through of good habits will. If you’re unsure of where to start, or it seems intimidating, don’t get discouraged. Start small, be proud of the changes you see, and keep working towards good health.

When you search for healthy eating on the internet, millions of Web pages show up within a millisecond. But the most important thing to remember when creating healthy habits is BALANCE. Listen to your body, and educate yourself on the best foods to feed it. We all know that eating healthy on the go isn’t always easy, but there are people and organizations out there just like you—working towards that balance in healthy eating. Seek them out, do your research and learn what they have to offer.

When it comes to exercise, there are so many ways to be active without having to expend money or a great deal of time while doing it. Check with your local high school and see if they allow nonstudents to use the running track. This will allow you to pace yourself and see your improvement as you continue exercising. Do some research on the internet to find simple, starter workout routines that can be completed in your own home. The most important thing to remember, whatever you start, is to be consistent to be successful.