It's that time of year when the "New Year, New Me" mentality starts to become a distant memory as we slip into old habits and lose motivation.
Your discipline declines, and you fall off track because life happens. You beat yourself up and ultimately throw in the towel, only to feel defeated by healthy living.
Maybe you say to yourself, "It's just one more cookie," until it's four more, and before you know it, the box is gone. Now you have a stomach ache, the numbers on your scale have risen, and you feel deep regret...sound familiar?
This "all or nothing" attitude is a surefire way to get nowhere fast. And it's this same attitude that keeps you stuck and stagnant in old, unhealthy patterns.
So, what can you do to break the cycle? Keep reading...
1. Cleanse Regularly
First and foremost, it's essential to cleanse regularly. Cleansing consistently puts your body in a state of optimal health. As the holistic nutritionist at Raw Generation, I recommend cleansing with the changing seasons (4 times a year) and more often if weight loss is your end goal.
The reason for this recommendation is that our bodies are exposed to chemicals from processed foods, air pollution, household and beauty products, and more all the time. We are bombarded with toxins from every which way. These very toxins can be the reason why we can't lose weight or are suffering from chronic health issues, like fatigue, inflammation, low energy, and skin issues, just to name a few.
Depending on your health and wellness goals, you can check out our offerings, from weight loss to detox to protein. There is something to fit every need,.
What Are The Health Benefits Of Cleansing?
The juicing process is when whole foods, like fresh fruits and veggies, are juiced into liquid form. This fresh juice becomes a vibrant elixir of health benefits. Our juice recipes consist of generous servings of fruits and vegetables, from dark leafy greens to citrus fruits, which contain vitamins and minerals, like vitamin C, vitamin A, and antioxidants...the list is endless.
Antioxidants present in these whole fruits and veggies help your body remove toxins by ridding it of free radical damage and helping with cell rejuvenation. Supreme hydration from flooding your system with fruit and vegetable juices also helps your body promote detoxification. While antioxidants go to work, digestive enzymes in fresh fruits and vegetables help you better absorb nutrients, giving your digestive system a break from these hard-to-digest and very processed foods.
Drinking juice consistently, combined with healthy eating, means you'll likely lose weight, cut cravings, eliminate bloating, improve digestive health, boost your Immune system, promote detox, experience glowing skin, improve your energy levels, and kickstart better dietary habits.
When you cleanse regularly, you give your body a chance to detox the gunk from your tastebuds, stomach, and body, which results in an overall healthier you. But, keep in mind that while drinking juice is a good source of nutrients, it's still important not to be extreme in your approach.
2. Don't Be Too Extreme
One thing psychologists, dietitians, nutritionists, and healthcare physicians can agree on is that being extreme doesn't work. Those deprivation-focused, low-calorie diets do not work. Read that again... Deprivation and Low-calorie diets do not work. As a matter of fact, these diets have a 95% failure rate [1].
You can count all the calories and limit the fruit, sugars, and carbohydrates if you want, but this dated methodology of dieting only works in the short term. That's because it's not sustainable, nor is it healthy. As humans, we were designed to thrive on plenty of calories, from healthy carbs to the natural fructose found in fresh fruit and lots of vegetables, without limitation.
The issue is that most Americans get their daily calories from fast food drive-thru’s or heavily processed junk food. As a calorie-obsessed society, let me put this simply... 150 calories from strawberries is much different than 150 calories from a slice of cake. One has nutrients, fiber, vitamins, and minerals and gives you sustained energy without blood sugar spikes, and the other does not. It's not about the number of calories you consume; it's about the quality of calories you consume.
It's important to note that you can become too extreme on either side of the coin. One side referring to those who never eating healthy, and the other referring to the concept of overly depriving yourself without enjoyment. Neither are healthy.
And here's a secret—it's okay to have the comfort foods you love in moderation (keyword: moderation), which leads me to the 80/20 rule.
3. Adhere To The 80/20 Rule
The 80/20 rule is straightforward. 80% of the time, you eat healthy, and 20% is carved out for life: parties, date nights, get-togethers, birthdays, etc... guilt-free.
Your "80%" means that the majority of your meals will consist of plenty of raw fruits and vegetables. Start your day off with a cold-pressed juice. Have a smoothie for lunch. Eat plenty of carbs from healthy whole grains, quinoa, oatmeal, beans, or baked sweet/white potatoes. Enjoy steamed veggies of your choice.
Avoid cooking in any fats, even the "healthy" kinds. Oil is not healthy when heated. This is a huge component of how I help my clients to lose weight. Stay away from seed/vegetable oils, refined sugar, artificial sweeteners, refined carbs, food dyes, and any other ingredient that sounds like a science experiment.
Your "20%" is blocked out for enjoying life. Because life is about balance. So, have that slice of cake at your son's birthday party or enjoy those tacos and margaritas with the girls. Have pancakes on Sunday morning. Whatever your "20%" is, do that. It's about balance here.
Want a system that is flexible with your life? One that isn't depriving, but rather works to help you lose weight and keep it off? Try the Stay Skinny Method™ , my tried and true method to helping people lose weight without compromising the foods (and drinks) they love.
The Stay Skinny Method™ is realistic, and that's why it creates real results. You'll get 30+ recipes, an eating-out guide, and expert nutritionist advice along the way to help you succeed.
Get Real Results With The Stay Skinny Method™
4. Drink Green Juice Daily
Drinking green juice daily is a simple, effective way to cultivate healthier habits and achieve your wellness goals. If you have a hard time getting in your daily greens, these green juices taste anything but green. With a delicious blend of vegetable and fruit juice, you won't even realize you're drinking something green... they're THAT good.
When you're not doing a juice cleanse, a great way to maintain a healthy lifestyle is by starting your morning with green juice on an empty stomach. It works wonders for your entire body from the inside out. From clearer skin, more energy, better digestion, and gentle detoxification drinking this green elixir daily is unmatched.
The hero ingredient? Chlorophyll. Chlorophyll is the green pigment found in green plants. And it's known to eliminate cravings and support the digestive system.
Best of all? You'll get the full benefit of juicing without scrubbing your juicer or driving to your local juice bar. It's a win-win!
Get Green Juice Delivered Straight To Your Door
It's About Balance
Drop the "all or nothing" mentality and approach your health with a balanced mindset.
Restricting and depriving never works, so try something that does.
Instead, cleanse with the seasons, apply the 80/20 rule, drink green juice daily, and enjoy your life guilt-free.
This is the secret to successful, long-lasting weight loss and healthy living.
Sources:
1. That Diet Probably Won’t Work Long-Term — Here’s What To Focus on Instead
