We've ALL heard the phrase "You are what you eat", but honestly, is there any truth to that saying?
Millions of Americans each year set out to start new diets, flush our systems with the latest detox, or sign up for the newest trending weight loss program. In order to be successful in any of the above mentioned, changing the way we eat , and more importantly, WHAT we eat is critical. In the end, is it really worth it? Research and science shows it is.
Medical news today quotes that with changing your diet ...
" it is possible to prevent up to 80% of premature heart disease and stroke diagnoses with lifestyle changes, such as increasing physical activity and healthful eating." among many other benefits listed.
Don't believe me? Check out their full article which details even more about the benefits of a healthier lifestyle. ( click picture below )
So now that we have established how changing what we eat affects how we feel, the question is why is it so damn hard to keep going at it? It's not just as simple as our body's needing the food we are craving, it's our bodies telling us we WANT it in a physiological way.
Psychology today states "These three components (trigger, behavior, and reward) show up every time we smoke a cigarette, eat a cupcake, or check our newsfeed when we’re stressed. Each time we reach out for something to soothe ourselves, we reinforce the learning, to the point where it becomes automatic. This is how habits are formed." (https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-craving-mind/201908/the-science-behind-bad-habits-and-how-break-them)
Well that information sure makes it easy to understand why sticking to healthy diets and lifestyle changes are so difficult! With all of that said, I made this article to simply point out and encourage anyone who is on the struggle bus to lifestyle changes of a few things.
Any diet or lifestyle change is HARD, pat yourself on the back for starting the journey to any change in your life.
Don't get discouraged if it's harder than you thought, or you have a couple of set backs. The more you push through those psychological barriers the easier it gets!
That small, or big , change you made WILL be worth it. Changing the way you eat cant be solely baised on how many pounds you loose or how well you'll fit into your jeans - it's about feeling better, having more energy and being able to be the best version of yourself. YOU are BEAUTIFUL just the way you are- eating healthier foods is just like putting on a super hero cape and enhancing all the best qualities you have.
Lastly, I believe in you! The beginning is the hardest, but we know all too well , the harder the journey up the hill the more beautiful the summit is at the top!!