Whether you are joining us in the 30 Day Life By Design Challenge right now, just testing the "Eat By Design waters” or are a seasoned veteran at eating real food, I want to show you how to make it sustainable.
Many of our nutrition clients have come to us after embarking on their own journey into a healthier lifestyle and told us they began with vigor, ready for change and with high expectations.
Change came quickly. They felt incredible. They had more energy, better sleep, and they shed some fat and gained more muscle.
But after a few weeks, they suddenly realized that they had no idea how to make this all work in a peaceful, enjoyable way without being a slave to their kitchens, constantly between groceries, dishes and cooking. They were tired. The sparkle wore off...
Their grocery bills increased, their laundry was neglected and they were no longer “allowed” to eat their favorite foods.
None of their “quick-fix” meals fit the bill anymore and they were tired of everyone questioning their new lifestyle.
Can you relate?
Eating healthy requires a lot of changes. They do not have to happen all at once unless you want them to. It is a journey. Every step you take in a forward direction, no matter how small or large, will accumulate over time to have a positive impact on your health. You decide whether you are tip-toeing or leaping.
Plan
You can make the journey a lot more simple on yourself and your family if you learn how to be a good planner.
Choose a time slot that you can jot down your meals for the week and another that you can shop. Then, make sure you follow through every week.
Those two steps alone will help you avoid three quarters of the slips you would otherwise take. Oh, and always have a snack with you. ALWAYS!
Decide where YOU draw your line
Another great hack to help you avoid gorging out on junk food is to take a few minutes (yes, it only takes a few minutes) to sit and decide what foods you absolutely choose not to live without and which ones you will never eat.
I choose to include my granny’s apple and strawberry rhubarb pie. If either of those is on the table, I’m eating them. I choose not to drink pop. Ever.
This does not mean you can never eat any treats other than those you’ve declared as “on this side of the line.” The truth is, you can eat whatever you want, whenever you want. It just means that you have taken the time to decide what non-nutritious foods are really worth the negative consequences. You’ll be able to make fast decisions at dessert tables without eating one of everything!
Dealing with friends and family
Sometimes they are asking out of genuine interest, sometimes they are worried about you (because they are sure you missed the “well known fact” that grains are healthy and saturated fat will kill you) and sometimes they just want to downright challenge you.
Friends and family can be one of the toughest groups to please when you are making a lifestyle change, so remember this:
YOU are making a lifestyle change for YOURSELF (and possibly your children). You only have so much energy. Use it on getting healthy, not changing other people’s minds.
If eating nutrient dense, whole foods make sense to you as part of an excellent strategy toward creating an extraordinary life, it is safe to say you are on the right path.
Let the results that you experience - abundant energy, clear skin, increased strength, better ability to cope with stress and increased confidence - be their teacher. Those changes will be unmistakable and speak for themselves.
You are not alone
If you are one of the lucky ones, your partner will be totally on board with eating By Design. They will get just as excited about your newest rice substitution as you do.
For those of you who are doing this on your own and live with people who are not on board, you are not alone.
There are many people following our 30-Day Life By Design Challenge, thousands of people coming to Life By Design offices every day and individuals and families working very hard to make healthy, purposeful living the norm.
Come out to an Eat By Design Coaching or Life By Design event. Like us on Facebook to keep up with our event listings, get our favorite recipes and join others who can totally relate to you.
For more simple By Design recipes why not pick up your copy of the Eat By Design Cookbook. I’ve created it in the form of a 28-day meal plan (plus grocery lists!) so you don’t need to think about what’s for breakfast, lunch or dinner for the next month. Or you can grab the first 7 days FREE by clicking here.