We aren’t always motivated to eat healthy and workout! Many times, we are absolutely not in the mood, and you should know that is a normal feeling.
We are human and it’s so easy to fall back into our old habits because they are comfortable and make us feel good for the moment. Positive changes are very difficult to stick to long-term, so we have to keep trying, until it sticks.
Also, sometimes we may need fresh ideas to help us stay (or get) motivated to eat healthy and workout.
If you are having trouble getting motivated, read on to find important reasons to get on track today!
What Does It Mean to be Healthy?
Being healthy is a great goal and all of us intuitively want to be healthy. However, what does it mean exactly (and no, it’s not just about your weight!)?
Ideally, it would mean that we are free of any diseases or health conditions. So many common issues today are directly related to our lifestyle choices, including excess body fat, high blood pressure, and high blood sugar.
Unfortunately, these conditions are widespread and most adult Americans have at least one of these issues. The great news is that you can improve these conditions and even put them into remission when you put the right personal health plan in place.
Benefits of a Healthy Lifestyle
For general motivation, you should understand the benefits of a healthy lifestyle, including its positive effect on our energy levels, health status, mood and long term health.
A healthy lifestyle is critical in improving our health and wellbeing for life. It’s not about being perfect; it’s about finding positive changes that are sustainable for your lifestyle to help you reach your goals.
Ways to Improve Physical Health
The great news is that there are many ways to improve our physical health. You don’t have to do it all at one time to see results. Focus on areas that speak to you and spark interest in you. It’s not only about your diet and exercise routine! There are many areas you could work on.
Here are 10 areas that you may want to focus on to improve your physical health:
- Nutrition
There are many diet changes that can improve your health, including working on eating more whole foods, decreasing your portion sizes or drinking more water. Check out this article for more ideas on improving your diet.
- Physical Activity
Physical activity changes could include starting an exercise program or just moving more throughout your daily routines.
- Stress Relief
Stress relief is critical to improving your health. Most of us are under chronic stress which is destroying our diet, activity levels and mental health.
- Sleeping
Sleep is another area that is neglected. When we don’t sleep well, we have less energy, higher stress levels and usually it leads to unhealthy dietary habits.
- Breathing
Deep breathing is a simple technique that can reduce stress and make us feel more relaxed or at peace.
- Supplements
If you are deficient, repleting your body’s stores of nutrients can help you feel your best. There are evidence-based supplements that can improve most health conditions.
- Spiritual
Many people find that working on spiritual fulfillment gives them improved quality of life. Some ideas include reading the Bible, meditating, prayer or listening to worship songs.
- Social Enrichment
Unfortunately, now more than ever people are isolated and lonely. Try to cultivate more friendships with others to help give you the support you need to improve.
- Adequate Sunlight & Being Outside
Some people find that they feel their best when they get some sunlight each day, even if it’s for 20 minutes. Being outside and doing physical activities like walking, hiking or yardwark can give you a feeling of satisfaction.
- Target Your Weak Areas
Perhaps you had an abnormal lab or test or maybe you know you have a big problem with night eating. Whatever area you need to work on, come up with a plan specifically to improve that issue. We are all different and struggle in different ways.
Losing Motivation to Workout (and Eat Healthy)? Read This!
Some specific reasons that you should start right now, include:
- You can save money!
One of the biggest barriers to improving diet and exercise is that it “costs too much”, which does not have to be true. With careful planning, many whole foods can be purchased on a budget. Think of the money you will save in future medical costs!
- You can live longer!
This is great news! When you take care of your body, your body will last longer. Unfortunately, the opposite is also true: when you neglect your body, it won’t last as long.
- You can have a higher quality of life!
Living longer is a great benefit, but you can also improve your quality of life, meaning that you can live a healthier life and be able to do more for yourself.
- You can be more independent longer!
A sad part of aging is losing our ability to take care of ourselves. This is less likely to be an outcome when we improve our lifestyle choices, because we will be in better mental and physical shape for longer.
- You can feel better!
Improving your lifestyle choices is often linked with improved feelings of wellbeing and decreased anxiety and depression.
- You can look better!
When you take care of yourself you will glow. Swelling and bloating can decrease, while skin and hair can look better. Your body composition can improve greatly with proper nutrition and exercise routines.
- You may be able to do more active hobbies and have adventures!
If you can build up your strength and stamina which will help you to be able to do more fun stuff! You won’t have to just sit or lay around all the time.
- You can see benefits, even with small changes!
It doesn’t take much to start to see progress. You do not have to do anything extreme to see results. If you stick with it, and continue to make changes, your results will snowball.
- Your energy levels may improve.
An unhealthy diet, sedentary lifestyle, high stress and poor sleep, tend to cause low energy. Proper nutrition, which supplies the nutrients you need, as well as sufficient physical activity, stress reduction and sleep, can help your energy levels improve.
- You can prevent common cardiometabolic diseases and even put some into remission!
This is one of the best motivations to get started today! You have the power to prevent or delay some conditions, such as heart disease, diabetes, fatty liver, kidney disease and obesity, among others.
Even if you already have those conditions, you can still greatly improve your health outlook and even put some of them into remission with improving your lifestyle behaviors. It’s never too late to get started and change your life.
Get Your Life Back on Track!
I challenge you to get your life back on track starting today!
Go back to one of the focus areas we reviewed and make 2-3 goals to work on each day to get started. It’s okay to choose a small and seemingly insignificant change, as it can give yourself an easy win and boost your confidence.
As you feel more comfortable, add 2-3 new goals. These little improvements can add up over time and give you major progress on your health and wellness goals.
If you haven’t already, sign up for my free Healthy Eating Guide to get started on practicing healthy habits.
If you need more help starting and improving your health, then please join the Wellness Transformation Program!
