How and why rewriting your idea of “healthy eating” will help you stick to your New Year’s resolution this year.

By Leslie K. Hughes

It’s a new year and, if you’re like the mass majority of people out there, you told yourself that in 2020, you’d be healthier. 

I’m not judging because I did the exact same thing.

However, the sad truth is that 6 weeks into the new year, 80% of the people who wanted to swap out their fast food for fresh fish have already lost their mojo in their new and improved lifestyle.

But it is so 2019 to say you’re going to change, and not actually follow through with it (for more than a month). I have a love/hate relationship with the adage “actions speak louder than words,” mostly because I hate that this annoying phrase is true, in every aspect of life. 

So instead of giving someone the opportunity to hit you in the face with “actions speak louder than words” yet again, how about we make a promise to ourselves to just do the damn thing? 

And in this case, that’s be healthier.

The Foundation of Healthy Eating and a Healthy Life

I love a good Pilates class just as much as your average L.A. girl, but I’d be a fool to think that putting on my grip socks and getting my ass handed to me by a giant machine 4-5 times a week is enough. Because it isn’t. 

To set things straight, this does not mean you need to work out 6-7 times a week. Rather it means that working up a sweat is only one part of being healthy. Pushing your body to its maximum and regularly doing two-a-days will never give you the results you’re after if you don’t change the other major component of being healthy: your diet. 

How to Be Healthy With The Anti-Diet Diet

Now let’s talk about the word “diet.” I hope it makes you cringe, because the concept of a diet is something you should do more than shy away from — it is something you should run away from. 

“Vegan,” “Keto,” “Paleo,” “Whole30,” etc. These are all diets that many of us have heard about, maybe considered, probably even tried. Again, no judgement here because I’ve dabbled in all of the above. But guess what? Whatever did or didn’t work for me may or may not work for you. (FYI — none of them worked for me.)

The bottom line is this: There is no one-size-fits-all when it comes to being healthy because every. body. is. different. Sally at the office may be in the best shape of her life thanks to ditching all meat and animal products and going full vegan, but you may try the same and find you pack on 15 pounds. 

Shop on the Outside Edges of the Store

Instead of adhering to a strict diet that allows no x, y, or z, instead focus on making the food you eat be whole, natural, and unprocessed food (or as much of it as possible). 

Here’s how I conceptualize it: when I go to the grocery store, I purchase as many items as possible from the outside edges of the store. The further you work your way into the middle isles, the more processed the food tends to get, and that’s what you want to steer clear of. 

The more natural food you have in your diet, the more (over time), you’ll find the cravings for the crap decrease. Natural food feeds your mind, body, and soul in the short-term and long-term in ways that a bag of Doritos just never can. 

Be Mindful, But Not Obsessive

Healthy eating is not about avoiding foods that are “bad” for you and instead opting for things that are “good.” Rather, it is knowing what foods are going to benefit your brain and your body more than others, and making your decision on what to put in your belly based on that. 

But heed this warning: Be careful about how much you let thoughts about food control your life. We are looking to achieve a healthy relationship with food, not an obsessive one that has you questioning every little bite you take. 

Curb Cravings

When hunger strikes (literally), you need to be prepared for it.

How do you do this? Here are some ways:

• First and foremost, avoid any fad diets that say you “can” eat this and you “can’t” eat that
• Put in the time to plan meals and foods that will fulfill you and your cravings
• Recognize that everyone has cravings and that if you put your mind to it, you can control them

But guess what? We are all human, and we’ve all had those times when we just cannot, for the life of us, walk away from that donut. And just know you will survive. Eating one bad meal isn’t going to derail your life, just like eating one healthy meal isn’t going to save you.

Just don’t make a habit of it.

(And if you’re craving some sex, we don’t think you should curb that — instead reach for these foods.)

Chug Water, and Then Chug Some More

I am the first to admit that drinking enough water is hard. It feels like a full-time job, and one that I absolutely hate.

But drinking water is a non-negotiable if you are wanting 2020 to be the year of your best self. Water is how you clear out all the junk (a.k.a. toxins), and make way for the good stuff.

Water is also what keeps your mind and body energized throughout the day, so yeah, it’s pretty important.  

How much water you should have depends on your body, how much you’re working out, your age, and more, but a solid goal to set is to drink half of your body weight in ounces. That sounds like an impossible feat, but get yourself a fancy new water  bottle and chug away as much as you can. 

While the easiest way to get water is by drinking it, you can also get some water from foods that pack a lot of hydration — celery, strawberries, pineapple and more.