Breaking Free from Unhealthy Habits so You Can Lose Weight

Dieting is hard and being on a diet is even harder. The weight loss struggle is more than just a number on the scale. It’s a struggle to break free from unhealthy patterns.

Anyone who has been on a diet can tell you that it takes concerted, conscious effort. You might be repeating the same unhealthy behaviors over and over again that were passed to you by family and friends since childhood. That’s a hard habit to break.

The first step to making a mind shift is to make a plan. What needs to change? The answer will be different for everyone.

• Do you lack information on how to nourish your body in a healthy way?

• Have you developed a junk food habit?

• Do you need to put some thought into shopping, food prep and storage of healthier snacks and meals?

• Are addictive habits getting in your waylike having drinks after work which make you feel hungry and leads to an unhealthy food binge?

• Is not owning exercise clothes stopping you from exercising?

• Do you need more support in your corner? Are you surrounded by people who encourage eating to excess and don’t talk or know a lot about nutrition and fitness?

Figure out how to blow through all of these problems. Once you have a plan in place, implement it.

Fad diets and why they don’t work

For most people, the idea of a healthy diet is one that is best achieved by going on a fad diet that promises quick weight loss.

However, the reality is that this approach doesn’t work. Why? Because as soon as we reach our target weight, we return to our usual habits and foods that we used to enjoy before dieting. This is the quickest way to put back on all the weight you lost.

The key to a lasting weight loss is one that takes time. It may seem impossible, but remember what you’re working for is a better life.

How to break free from unhealthy eating patterns

It’s easy to fall into unhealthy eating patterns when you’re busy. You might not be able to change your diet as much as you’d like, but you can change how you think about food, and how you approach eating in general.

There are many ways to change your thinking and stop destructive patterns. One effective way is to develop a food plan that you follow. You might not be able to eat healthy all of the time, but you can still identify a few foods that you can eat every day.

When you introduce these foods, you’ll find that you’ll have more energy, feel better, and be able to better care for yourself and your family.

Another way to change your thinking is to be aware of the triggers that make you want to eat more.

For example, you might eat more when your work is particularly hard, or when you’re feeling down. You’ll be able to identify these triggers, and trade the eating part for another stress-relieving activity –like exercise.

The most important thing to remember is that unhealthy eating patterns cannot be changed overnight. In fact, trying to force a change in your eating habits may have the opposite effect. You will feel more stressed, leading to a desire for comfort food, which will then make you reinforce your habit of eating unhealthy food.

The key, therefore, is to take small steps.

Let’s say you’ve gotten into the habit of ordering a burger or pizza for lunch because that’s the most convenient way to get food to you. Choose vegetables and lean protein, instead. Something like a healthy, fresh salad topped with grilled chicken could be a good way to fill your belly without the extra baggage that comes from fatty and / or processed foods.

Or if it’s chilly out, a nice bowl of hearty vegetable soup with some meat and nutritious beans, can be your healthy go-to when it’s time to sit down to a meal.

Where will you obtain meals like these? You have a few options.

• Prepare healthy meals on a Sunday to pack and go that will last you through the week.

• Seek out restaurants and grocery stores that offer healthy choices.

• Order healthy food from one of the many companies now offering this option for busy, health-conscious people.

Take it slow, make a plan, and you will surely be able to break free from unhealthy eating patterns. Over time and with practice, this can lead to a complete mind shift that will have you eating healthy for the rest of your life.