Every day we hear our friends and family members talk about going on a “diet”. The desire to shed unwanted pounds can lead to people doing some crazy things. Ever heard of the cabbage soup diet? The baby food diet? I think most of us have fallen prey to some of the crazy fad diets and/or diet pills during our life. While “diets” can help lose weight in the short term, real long-term weight/fat loss, and more importantly, health, comes from persistent and healthy LIFESTYLE changes. That’s right, LIFESTYLE. While diet implies short-term fixes, lifestyle changes mean you have actively chosen healthy habits that you will keep for the rest of your life.Will it be easy? Maybe, maybe not. That often can depend on your personality and the motivation behind the change. But the good news is, it works! Some people can decide to make a change and go all in, cold turkey while others will truly only find success when they make small changes over time. For the majority of people, I advocate making those simple changes until they become habit, even if the weight loss is slower. This is much healthier than crash diets that may shed big numbers on the scale, but damage your body. Because ultimately, isn’t your health, aren’t YOU worth it? Of course!

So what are a few of the simple changes you can make to get on the road to better health?

1. Stay hydrated! While water will not magically make you lose weight, drinking half of your body weight in water daily (more if active) can help avoid overeating. More importantly, water is vital to our organs! *be sure to maintain a proper electrolyte balance, as well.  http://draxe.com/electrolyte-imbalance/
2.  Shop the perimeter; that’s where all of the healthy, whole food options are! Studies show that eating more fruits, vegetables and whole grains are great for a healthy heart, brain and waistline.
3. Start your day with a brainy breakfast with protein, fiber, healthy fats (like Omega 3s) and antioxidants (fruits and veggies)
4. Get moving! Add in a minimum of 30 minutes of exercise (walking, dancing, weights etc.) at least 4-5 days a week.

Your health is in your hands. Choose to love yourself enough to make good choices!

Image courtesy of Countrygirlfitness.com

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