Losing interest in exercising and eating a healthy balanced diet can be easy, especially during the winter months. Maybe you had a burst of motivation that lasted a few weeks, or maybe you lasted a while and it’s starting to fade - this is completely normal. There are some easy ways to change this cycle for good, through small tweaks in how you talk to yourself and how you treat exercise as a whole.

Many studies show that health and weight loss have the best chance of lasting when there are minor, doable changes. The goal is for you to take small, positive steps and move ahead consistently, rather than the initial burst of motivation and then the drastic decline - which happens to everyone! 

Feel Good About Yourself Now 

Although you are trying to get into a healthier state, be sure that you are admiring and appreciative of what you look like and who you are today. Be sure the people around you make you feel good about yourself, no matter what you look like. Surround yourself with people who support you and support a healthy lifestyle - this will make your transformation much simpler. 

Know What Makes You Overeat

The key to staying motivated is to know your triggers. Know what your problem areas are, and understand how you can deal with them. When you are stressed do you overeat? Or maybe when you feel bored you decide to start eating. Brainstorm healthier ways to cope with these different emotions rather than going to food - most people do it, but it’s definitely easy to beat. In addition, control your environment to avoid bingeing on high-calorie foods when you do feel disappointed, rejected, or bored. Keep your kitchen stocked with lots of healthy options such as chunks of vegetables, high protein meats, flavored waters, and sugar-free gum.

Make Simple Daily Changes

Something that many people struggle with is the all-or-nothing mentality. But living a healthier lifestyle doesn’t have to be all or nothing for everybody. You can start small and make a few simple changes each day. Here are some ideas:

• Drink three more glasses of water each day

• Add 10 minutes of walking to your daily exercise regimen

• Take a break every hour at work and walk 500 steps in place (2,000 steps burns 100 calories)

Never Go Hungry

Believe it or not, restricting what you eat is never a good thing and in most cases leads to weight gain. Katherine Tallmadge, MA, RD, author of Diet Simple, states that  “people go too long without eating, and then pig out when they are ravenously hungry," and that the biggest trigger of overeating is undereating. Rigid diets don't work, and breaking that mentality is critical in starting your health journey. Incorporate snacks into your daily diet so you don’t overeat at mealtime, make sure you allow yourself treats once and a while - you deserve it!  

Visit Sheehan Personal Training in Mansfield, MA 

Incorporating this advice into your daily routine will help motivate you to get back on track within your health journey. At Sheehan Personal Training, we can help you get back on track with your fitness journey. LeAnna Sheehan can help you get back on track when it comes to your nutrition with her latest business Sugar Me Not - learn more here! Get started with Sheehan today.