You are probably overwhelmed with daily “diet” advice if you’re anything like me.
I have discussed my overall nutrition philosophy in detail before. But ultimately, I want to keep it simple: eat real, nutritious food. Water is better than other beverages. Get at least one hour of exercise each day. Get at least 7-8 hours of sleep each night. Reduce stress.
It’s easier said than done. I do. As you embark on your health journey, I thought I would share five habits I recommend you eliminate.
And do note, I said health j-o-u-r-n-e-y. People, this is not a sprint!
Light breakfast, mainly sugar )
A granola bar and nonfat yoghurt. A fruit smoothie. Oatmeal with brown sugar and raisins. These seem like healthy breakfasts. Wrong! They are wrong! You will almost always need another breakfast or mid-morning snack after these meals.
TIP: Balance your breakfast with less sugar and carbs. Balance your breakfast by eating protein first. Think hard-boiled eggs, lean breakfast sausages, and leftovers from last night’s chicken dinner. Then add healthy carbs such as a piece of fruit and nuts for satiating fat. This will help you feel full until lunch and give you the energy to get your day off to a good start with blood sugar.
Healthy fats are in abundance.
Although you’ve probably heard that healthy fats are good for you, did you know there was more to it? You might have noticed that overeating is not the best option. For example, a small amount of nuts, nut butter, or olive oil is enough to make a healthy snack. You may eat nuts in large quantities and then pour oil all over your salad, not measuring.
TIP: Measure it! Please take a few nuts out of the container and put them in a baggie at your desk. You can also use olive oil to make salad dressings. Pour a little olive oil over your salad before adding it. You can see exactly what you are eating, even if you use more olive oil than you need or eat more nuts than you normally would.
Use gum-chewing to freshen your breath.
Your body knows that chewing is food coming. Your body begins to look for food when food is heading your way. Have you ever chewed gum and heard your stomach rumble? Your body has a hardwired mechanism that associates chewing gum with calories. This can stimulate your appetite and make you hungry all day.
TIP: For fresh breath, try simple spa water. You can choose from bubbly or flat. You can add some mint leaves and cucumber slices to it. This will give your body more of the freshwater it craves. It’ll also keep your breath fresh and your mouth busy.
All-day coffee?
It can be a wonderful way to start your day. While that may be fine, if you drink coffee all day or all day, the caffeine can cause you to feel hungry.
TIP: Switch from coffee to herbal tea immediately after your first cup of coffee. This will prevent you from feeling hungry and sending you to the kitchen every night. You don’t have to stop drinking coffee. But, after your first cup, make the switch. Make sure it’s not more than 16 ounces. Then, you can see how your appetite changes. You can enjoy chai, peppermint, ginger, or any other tea you like.
Do you binge-watch TV late at night?
It’s no secret that Real Housewives’ upcoming season will make us all look a little worse. You might not know that if you don’t get enough sleep, you will be hungry for sugar and carbs all day. While sleep is essential, sugary foods that boost your energy are a better choice.
