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Motivating myself to stick to healthy habits.

Helen

I know a lot of the things I need to do for myself and that they work with persistence - drink lots of water, walk 40 mins every day, eat healthy, do stretches, but my problem is motivation.  I put myself on a program but things always seem to go off the rails after a little while, especially if I have a big glass of wine with my dinner!

I am like a kid at times - sneaking chocolates during the day, even though I know it's bad for me!  Sometimes if I get on a good streak I can be quite healthy - but this year is a bit of an annus horribilus for me.

Any tips?  Anyone out there know how to motivate themselves in maintaining healthy habits? 

Parents

  • Like others have suggested I find having a list helpful so I can cross things off. If I have something to do I am not keen on I set myself a goal like when it's done I can have a coffee break or aim to finish when there is something I want to watch on TV.

    Trying to keep fit and healthy for me started in lockdown. I have a pint glass of water near most of the time and as it holds more I don't have to go and fill it up so often.

    For a while I tried having orange juice with water instead of coffee, but in the end missed the coffee. I also tried to reduce the amount of dairy and meat I eat and experimented with having meals with variety of vegetables and chickpeas or beans. I found adding pepper (vegetable as well as black pepper), onion, vegetable stock etc improved the flavour. I would have this with pasta, small potatoes with skins left on or crunchy bread. I put a variety of vegetables with this. I now might have a meal like this once or twice a week. If I make shepherd's pie substituting some of the meat with lentils makes it healthier. If I am doing a roast I add water and plenty of seasoning, but not fat. I make gravy from stock cubes but don't add fat. I cook roast potatoes with skin and little or no fat.

    I think it is important too to eat meals that make you feel full as this makes it less likely to be tempted to snack.

    I now try to walk most days, either in my lunch break or early in the day. I often go early so I don't go off the idea later. I used to use a health app to collect heart points which motivated me to go further, but since having Covid I find this harder so just aim to walk for at least 20 minutes as often as possible. It depends on where you live, but as far as I can I try to walk in areas where there are gardens, green areas and as little traffic as possible. This makes the walking more enjoyable.

  • in reply to Homebird

    Oh this is a great reply too Homebird, thank you!  It's making me hungry actually, I'd better go and have breakfast.

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