My 5 Tips to Stick with a Healthy New Year’s Resolution

I am posting this article as I’ve already gotten a few questions from followers on Facebook on how to lose a few pounds and which diet works best. I personally believe that there are way too many diet trends on the internet that it sometimes gets people (even myself) confused.

Honestly, I don’t believe in any of them. Apart from the facts that they are expensive and so hard to stick to them, they all have ONE thing in common – promising you to lose weight in a short time, gain energy and fix all of your health problems. Et Voilà, such a lie! Remember the old saying that things that seem too good to be true usually are? 🙂

My advice to all of you is that you stop dieting right away and start eating fresh, wholesome, unprocessed foods and exercise more.

I hear people all the time saying that sticking to the “let’s be healthy from this year” commitment is not an easy thing. Yes, you’re right, it’s not unless you stick to a few healthy tips in the long run – I like to call them “baby steps”.

Before we go on with the baby steps, I would like to mention one last thing. Lots of friends have lately asked me if I eat chocolate, bread or chips (because I am in good shape all year round)?
The answer is YES guys, I sometimes eat those, too. My point is to be balanced and don’t forget that what you eat consistently matters.

Now going back to the point, I would highly recommend that you set a few realistic baby steps. That way, you will get a better self-esteem and more confidence. Setting crazy goals that seem insurmountable makes it easier for you to procrastinate, cheat or avoid working towards your goal. If the goals are realistic, with small and measurable steps, it will make it easier for you to follow through and when you start consistently doing the work (working out, preparing healthy snacks instead of chips, etc) it will boost your confidence which in turn motivates you to keep pushing through.

1. Don’t skip breakfast.

We all already know that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. I am guessing that a lot of you have been skipping breakfast a few times so you can snooze you alarm another 15 minutes, right?!
However, you must have noticed that skipping breakfast gives you the munchies later on and slows down your metabolism, too.

Bottom line: Stop skipping breakfast. It is the most important meal of the day because it boosts your energy levels and maintain a constant body weight.

Here are a few breakfast recipes you might enjoy.
1. 5 Healthy Breakfast Ideas that Reduce Afternoon Food Cravings
2. Oatmeal with fresh Berries, Chia Seeds and Walnuts
3. Super-creamy Scrambled Eggs with Spinach

2. Eat several times a day.

Try to eat at least a few times a day (NOT just 1 or 2 times a day). You must have also noticed that if more than five hours go by between meals, it leads to lack of energy and overeating later that day.  Of course, you’ve done it, we all have.

However, that’s not the healthy solution. Try to eat healthy snacks between breakfast, lunch and dinner (so you eat more than 3 meals a day) and you will be less likely to grab junk food once you get home.

Contrary to popular belief, eating less may actually make you fatter as your body thinks it’s starving and must store whatever it gets for later use you will also not have enough energy to exercise effectively and it’s all a downward spiral from there. If you exercise and want to be fit, you need to give your body ample fuel to burn.

Bottom line: Fruit, seeds and nuts will provide you with much-needed energy and nutrients that any other crappy snack bought.

Here a a few healthy snacks recipes you might enjoy.
1. Bite-sized Eggplant Munchies
2. A Mini Snack with Aubergines and Goat Cheese
3. Roggenbrot Sandwiches with Salmon & Turkey Breast

3. Exercise at least 30 minutes everyday.

Wait, wait, I am not saying that you have to go to the gym for 30 minutes. Just walking to catch the bus instead of driving to the shops or taking the stairs instead of the elevator will also do.

What’s important is to keep in mind that any physical activity will help you lose some weight, improve your cardiovascular system and make you sleep “like a baby” (I mean better, I hope you won’t need diapers now). 🙂

Bottom line: Be active everyday in order to stay healthy!

4. Cut back on sugary soft drinks and increase your water intake.

I am guessing you know that a bottle of cola is full of sugar which will add up to your weight, right?! Well, water, on the other hand, helps balance your body fluids, controls calories and hydrates your muscles, just to name a few.

Bottom line: Go ahead and carry a bottle of water everywhere you go. And drink it! Drink it!

5. Make a shopping list when you are not hungry and stick with it.

I know I know, I heard you – you have limited time. All the more reason to be organised about your shopping, then.

However, if you plan your meals for the upcoming week and make a shopping list with that in mind, you can do grocery shopping on the weekend.
I can hear you … this is not going to take so much of your precious time and energy!

Bottom line: If you have lots of healthy food in your cupboards and in the fridge, you will more likely cook and eat at home more often.

It’s all about commitment, self-discipline and effort in the long run. There is no magic diet that will give you the body you want without working for it.

Good luck and stay healthy!
With love, Cris