Easy Lifestyle Changes I am Loving and Sticking to

At the beginning of the year, I shared 7 easy lifestyle changes I am loving and sticking to and in this post, I hope to share the reasons why. I am not someone who is a fun of ‘big lifestyle’ changes but often, some happen outside your control and I have learned to roll with the punches (so to speak). This year has been an unusual year, to say the least, but it has also been a year of learning and adaptation.

Often people struggle (for a bit) with how to handle lifestyle changes that are outside your control. I went from being an avid traveller to being a travel blogger than can’t travel – how ironic. Even though that is unusual, I made a decision early on to adapt and accept what I can not change. Thanks to this mindset shift I have found a way to still keep up with these 7 easy lifestyle changes I am loving that I made at the beginning of the year.

7 Easy Lifestyle Changes I am Loving and Sticking to

When it comes to making lifestyle changes, this more often than not is a very different thing for most people to to stick to. I am one of those people who used to struggle to stick with certain lifestyle decisions that I made because I did not have systems in place that supported by desire to implement the changes I wanted to see in my life. Most of the lifestyle changes I wanted to improve were focused on good health and routine.

When to comes to improving one’s health, most of us often set unrealistic goals that end up failing because we do not have the right systems in place and the correct mindset to be able to achieve your health goals. I found a number of books that have helped me with setting the right intentions and having the correct mindset to achieve any goals that are I set regardless of the type of goals I am setting for myself.

With that being said, I want to share the 7 easy lifestyle changes I am loving and sticking to and reasons why I am sticking to them. These are simple lifestyle changes I implemented at the beginning of the year, modified as the year went on and now love, I am sticking too and recommend for those looking to change their lifestyle.

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A post shared by ◦•●◉✿ Miranda-Anosa ✿◉●•◦ (@ajulydreamer)

#1 Eat Breakfast and carry healthy snacks

I am someone who often skips breakfast and would much rather brunch than prepare breakfast in the morning or the night before. Those who know me also know that I am a serial snacker and my issue was always snacking on ‘unhealthy’ foods which lead to unwanted weight around my waist. I decided to adapt this lifestyle change I was proposing and introduced a new habit that fits into my current lifestyle.

Whilst I do not recommend this for everyone, I decided to start intermittent fasting as a way to be healthier and in the long run lose some weight. I decided to shift my goal from losing weight and going back to size 10 to become much healthier and losing weight will be a byproduct. This is how I was able to adapt my initial goal to fit into my current lifestyle. I hope there are some health goals you can adapt to suit your lifestyle.

#2 Cook homemade meals

This goal was easier to accomplish once I changed my strategy for the first goal and started intermittent fasting it fit perfectly into my current lifestyle. In order to be healthier, I have opted to make more meals at home than eat out or ordering as I did before. I can not remember the last time I ordered food which a big feat for someone like me who used to order almost daily.

Eating for me as essential as it is, its a social activity that I enjoy most with friends and family and over the last months I have had to reconnect myself with eating alone. One of my biggest struggles was making dishes for my personal, I was also bad with portion sizes and it took a while to relearn this. But, somehow doing intermittent fasting has helped me manage this.

#3 Reduce sugar consumption

I have a confession to make, I am a sugar addict who, every now and again I struggle with letting go of my high sugar consumption. When I think back to the first time I tempted to cut our struggle from my diet, I completely failed because I did not have the tools to help me manage this addiction nor did I have the insight into why I consumed so much sugar and how I could change this.

Last year, in order to combat my sugar consumption which was only adding to my waistline, I decided to give up drinking soda. Those who know me know I lived on soda (sweet fizzy drinks) and I drunk those more than I did water. But I realised this wasn’t good for my health and need to find alternatives and to combat my sugar addiction I set a plan. I reduced my soda consumption from 5 cans a week to 3 then 2 then 0 and replaced that with water.

This was not an easy thing to do but somehow I was able to change my mindset and I set myself simple daily habits that helped me focus on the bigger picture. I no longer drink soda or fizzy drinks and when I do, its as a chaser and I am never tempted to drink more than I need for a particular drink. I have also reduced my sweets consumption although this is still a work in progress but slowly does it.

#4 Personal Training

So, the way things panned out this year definitely changed the landscape of personal training especially at the gym. Last year I saw the benefits of working with a personal trainer to support my personal goals so I made a decision to continue this year. What I did not anticipate is not only how the year unfolded but I realised the type of personal trainer that I need in order to support my end goals. I realised a personal trainer whom I chat with too much will not push me hard enough to work harder.

With the changing landscape, I made a decision to continue with personal trainers both virtually and in person. I have also found the virtual classes are also a great way to workout in my own home thinking I am working out with a personal trainer. It might not be ‘personal training’ if the full sense of the word but it has worked for me and my change in mindset has helped me progress further than I have ever done since joining a gym.

#5 Follow a strict exercise Programme

This lifestyle change is closely tied with all the changes above and more closely with the idea of being healthier. As a past yo-yo dieter, I found it hard to find motivation to drag myself to the gym and workout. Working out at home is less challenging especially on cold winter mornings when all I need to do is switch on my device. Before I introduced a new habit, I looked at my current lifestyle and looked at ways I could fit in exercise within my current routine.

I chose to buy a Peloton bike, I am someone who prefers to workout early in the morning but hate dragging myself out of the house that early. This was the best investment I have ever made and a great adding to my current routine which meant I introduced little changes to my everyday routine and I was able to succeed with this new lifestyle change which doesn’t actually feel like a change.

#6 Attend the gym 3-times a week

Prior to the current happenings, I used to visit the gym 4-5 times a week but often found it draining. When I spent 3-times a week at the gym, I found it easy to manage and because it did not strain my current lifestyle it worked and I chose to incorporate that duration. Because of the covid situation, I have found myself spending more time workout at home more than the 3-times a week I had declared.

#7 Follow a simple routine

Those who know me know I love routines, I have routines for a lot of things in my life. I have a routine for clothing, for working, for the face and daily, weekly, monthly life. Sometimes it can get easy to be bogged down in routine hence why I recommend a simple routine – one that doesn’t turn your current lifestyle upside down but works with it.

I am an early riser naturally so working out early in the morning fits into my current lifestyle with straining it. Working a 9-5 corporate gig means I am often on my backside and have fewer breaks in between – I workout early and relax after work. After work, I often use that time to cook my meals for the night and the next day lunch. I am an insomniac so often when I work up – I drink something warm and read a book.

There are so many lifestyle changes that people often want to make in their lives and good for them but make sure you have the systems and tools in place to be able to accomplish or fulfil your end go. I hope my 7 easy lifestyle changes I am loving and sticking to will be helpful to someone, I hope they will educate and empower you to make lifestyle changes that benefit you in the long run.