GET TO YOUR HEALTH GOALS - TIPS ON ESTABLISHING YOUR HEALTH GOALS AND OVERCOMING BARRIERS AND LIMITATIONS ALONG THE WAY.

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Many chronic diseases are a direct result of diet and nutrition. Cleaning up what you are putting in your body should be on the top of your health goals list. Did you know that food can affect your mood? According to experts, those who regularly eat stuff like greasy burgers, hot dogs, and fries are 51% more likely to develop depression than those who do not indulge.   Conversely, a diet consisting of whole foods, fruits, nuts, and vegetables will leave you feeling energized with a clear mind. Taking care of your body is a form of self-love as our physical form affects our mental health and vice versa. This is something I remind myself often. It helps me make healthier food choices.

As such, I always suggest being intentional when establishing health goals related to your diet. Even when things get tough and a bacon cheeseburger from Whataburger is calling your name.  

I will share tips on establishing a strong foundation when setting health goals and how to overcome limitations and barriers while taking actionable steps towards your health goals. 

Establish Goals

1. Define what you want, reflect on the why, and write it all down. Whether you want to achieve an ideal goal weight, wean down your blood pressure medications or reduce your hemoglobin A1C. Writing out your goals will help increases self-accountability. Reflecting on the things and people that will help and encourage you when things get tough. If writing is not your thing. You can also make a voice recording stating your commitment to your goals, create a health vision board, type a note on your phone and even email the note to your accountability partner. 

2. Be realistic. The best intentions easily go awry when we make unrealistic lifestyle changes such as quick and extreme weight loss or exercise goals. These can be detrimental to the body. Consistent incremental action steps are key. Slow and steady wins the race sis. 

3. Focus on one behavior at a time. Too many factors are difficult to track and can become overwhelming. I often encourage my sistas to begin with mindset. You’ll be surprised how much you can holistically heal your body when you actually believe that you can or call out your negative, self-imposing thoughts.

4. Reflect on and understand your eating habits. Much of our diet is based on learned behavior from our family and friends. Think about your family’s recipes. Grandma's buttery-pound cake? Your cousin’s creamy smoked gouda mac and cheese? While delicious, the foods you love can sometimes be a cause of illness. Especially when consumed regularly.

5. Track your health and habits. This can help increase self-accountability and help you see your health goal wins more clearly.

Overcome barriers and limitations

1. Listen to your body. Not everyone's metabolism and digestive systems are the same. Eat slowly and take the time to enjoy your food. This will give your stomach time to process and signal to you that it is full. Hurried eating can often mean that your food has not been sufficiently chewed, leading to stomach pain and digestive issues. 

2. Be intentional. I do not usually believe in “cold turkey”  or extreme dieting methods. Simply choosing healthier preparation options makes a difference. For example, if your family usually likes to enjoy fried chicken on Sundays for dinner at big mama’s house, try baking it instead. If you want to stay true as possible to what you are used to, consider swapping out ingredients such as butter for avocado oil. Use less salt, or saltless seasonings and replace sugar with alternatives such as agave nectar, stevia, or monk fruit.  

3. Find the right diet for you. I know, it's much easier said than done. Maximize your chances of success by trying different foods. The Mediterranean diet, for example, is rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, olives, herbs, seafood, and beans. It is low in sugars, red meats, and saturated fats. It offers diverse food combinations that are nutrient-rich. 

Plant-Based / Vegan Diet benefits include weight loss, increased energy, decreased inflammation, diabetes, heart disease, and high cholesterol.

Do you need help keeping track of those healthy habits you need to adapt into your lifestyle in order to reach your health goals? Make sure you download my daily habit tracking tool.

If you need more clarity on how to establish your health goals, I want to share with you my free live workshop.

In this workshop, we will work together to get clear on your health goals, brainstorm, and create your action plan. We will work to discover possible limitations/barriers and identify your support system, helping you to establish health goals you will conquer.

You won't want to miss this one. I will be packing this workshop with lots of useful information and I will be announcing a new product launch. 

Click here to register!