10 Best Tips to Start a Healthy Lifestyle, Today

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Most blogs posts or tips on Pinterest will tell you to start out small when it comes to living healthy. I definitely agree with this thought process! However, the hardest part is knowing where or how to start taking step to being the healthiest YOU that you can be.

The biggest hurdle for myself (and probably many others) when I took the “healthy living plunge” was changing my mindset. I had to shed the temporary, quick-fix (microwave) mentality and transform my mind to create a long-lasting, fulfilling lifestyle. This wasn’t done overnight and looking back, I see that for me, it worked better to start creating habits and those, in turn, helped change my lifestyle. I found if I daily made small, mindful decisions regarding food, body and cleaning products, movement, I was slowly able to change my lifestyle. There are a lot of new things I have learnt that I am practicing now, and I still use that same method so I don’t get overwhelmed and quit!

What is a Healthy Lifestyle?

This is a very broad question, but it honestly comes down to what you make a healthy lifestyle to be for yourself. I see it as living your best life possible by fueling it with what God gave us: real food, sunshine, movement and nature’s bountiful remedies.

The penny pincher in me hears the supposed negative side a living healthy: “it’s too expensive to eat healthy” or “I can’t afford a gym membership”. A lot of others feel that this lifestyle is too time consuming because there is more DIY involved regarding cooking, cleaning, products, etc. I hear those concerns and I have felt them before too, but for me, this is another mindset switch that needs to happen.

Why do We Need to Live a Healthy Lifestyle?

For me, this question is “answered” with another: why are we sick all the time? And I don’t mean the sniffles or gross coughs, I mean as a society, we are physically or mentally sick with something. The number for Autism and ADHD have skyrocketed among children, the amount of woman who have PCOS and infertility blow my mind, and men (and women actually) consistently test low for testosterone (and these are only a few examples)!

Our terrains (or bodies) have been eating artificial/pre-packaged everything, toxins from the soil our food is grown in or sprayed with, chemicals from the air and water are absorbed on a daily basis, and then we are prescribed a lab-created pill to treat the symptoms (this only adds to our toxic load). Getting to the root cause of a major illness AND even something minor, starts with helping our bodies with its toxic load so that it has a chance to heal itself. Some may need extra help through supplements or a regiment from a holistic practitioner, while others may start healing by cleaning up their diet and ridding their household of chemicals. This is just a summary of the host of problems we face in our world today, but I hope it can shake you even just a little to make some changes in your life–it really is important!

I’ve been on this healthy living train for many years now, but in the last couple of years, I’ve been hit with some roadblocks. One of those issues has been chronic insomnia, which I have somewhat dealt before being a mother, but something is different now. Researching my root cause has shown me I have some other issues to address and that continuing to unburden my body of toxins is crucial. My mind is more focused than ever on healing myself and continuing to “clean up” my house so my children can grow up happy and truly, healthy.

I really am not trying to overburden or scare you with some of the reality we face, and I hope my passion is apparent! My tips below are surface-level and I believe starting with the basics is simple and effective. I truly want you to live your best life and at least one (hopefully more) of these changes can start you on your own wild wellness journey.

10 Best Tips to Start a Healthy Lifestyle, Today

Tip 1: Drink More Water

• This one is a given right? Of course, we know, “you have to drink water to be healthy and hydrated”. This is the truth, but drinking enough water not only keeps you hydrated, it also gives you energy for the day and can curb hunger (you still need to eat enough, but that’s another tip). A lot of research has shown that sometimes when we think we are hungry, we are actually thirsty! The body is crazy isn’t it?
• Get an app that will remind you to drink water–this has helped me so much! The app I have has fun water sounds to remind you when you need to take another drink. You can also edit how much you would like to drink a day as well as how often the reminders sound.
• What has helped me achieve my water-drinking-goals is to use a large water bottle (24oz or more) and try to make it a habit to drink 1 full bottle a day. Then, work up to 1.5 bottle a day, 2 bottles a day, etc. This is totally doable during the course of a whole day. Before you know it, you WILL crave water! More recently, I have started using a 32oz mason jar with a straw so that I can see that I am drinking my water consistently. This has made an enormous difference!

Tip 2: Eat Enough Protein, Fat & Fiber

• Implementing more protein into my diet was a game changer for my healthy living journey. It has been extremely helpful when it comes to staying full in between meals, and with cravings I would have when I wanted to snack. People need an ample amount of protein to fuel their bodies, even more so if they are heavily active. If eating eggs for breakfast, cook as many as you can hold in one hand. When cooking up a chicken breast or steak, aim for the piece of meat to be about the size of one hand.
• Fat and fiber are also extremely important for staying satiated between meals which helps with those pesky snacking urges! Sometimes I like to replace my meals with shakes, but I always make sure to include protein powder, fat and fiber along with any fruits/veggies so I stay full until the next meal.
• A great step to take in learning more about eating enough of these three staples is to check out Autumn Bates’ YouTube channel and website. She is a nutritionist with an insane amount of knowledge about what we need to fuel our bodies and an ample amount of super yummy recipes.

Tip 3: Cut Back, Then Eliminate Sugary Drinks

• This is one is so difficult for many people, myself included. I love carbonation which usually equals soda, juice, or energy drinks. My weakness is sugary drinks because I love having something tasty to sip on ALL THE TIME. (This is why keeping your water bottle near is so important!) There are time when I can quit the drinks cold-turkey for months, but somehow ONE sneaks back in and then I’m hooked again and can’t stop. So, know that I do feel this struggle!
• The best thing I have found to stay off sugary drinks is to drink more water and not shop when I’m hungry (keeping the water bottle in my cart). I also infuse my water with fruit sometimes to change up the taste and occasionally sip on herbal tea.
• If you really love the bubbles, switch to sparkling water and add some lemon or frozen fruit to it. A few of my favorite flavored sparking water brands are LaCroix, Spindrift and Simple Truth.

Tip 4: Eat Wholesome, Real Food

• Again, no duh right? This statement is so simple but seems so hard to do sometimes. People think it is hard to always eat healthy, and perhaps it can be. But I still contend it is the mindset about food that makes people think this way. People also spend money on what they want to spend it on. If eating real food is important to you, you will move things around or give something up to make it happen.
• It is so much cheaper to buy whole proteins, fruits/veggies, etc. than anything processed, period (because you get more food for your money). Maybe it will take more work to chop your whole foods up and then cook them, but think of the bigger picture. You are fueling your body with whole, unprocessed foods full of nutrients our bodies need. This can be a big step for some people and that is AMAZING!
• Find a meal online or in a cookbook that focuses on using mostly whole, unprocessed foods. At first, try to make enough so you can eat that for 2 meals. Then, find another recipe and do the same thing. You can incorporate healthy and tasty recipes into your week that will fuel your body and make your feel great.

Tip 5: Meal Plan

• This is a big one for me because it is so helpful for staying on track when it comes to eating healthy. It also gives you the opportunity to find and try some great recipes and even new foods. Creating a meal plan is also essential for knowing what you have to buy at the store which helps with a budget and possible food waste.
• Collect some great or favorite recipes, assign them to days of the week, and go shopping. Only buy what is on your list and pertains to those meals. That way there are no foods around for you to “slip up” on during the week. You can implement this plan into creating a whole week or month of meals. I keep a master list of my favorite recipes in my kitchen so that when it comes time to meal plan, the process will be quick and painless.
• Some weeks, I feel uninspired or “stuck” because I have been making the same thing every week. This is when I take to Pinterest, my cookbooks or some of my favorite healthy food blogs for inspiration. I can find 10 recipes in a matter of minutes that look amazing, and then I spread those out through the next few weeks along with my regulars. If a new recipe is a hit with the family, I add it to my master list!

Tip 6: Make Time to Exercise

• Our bodies let us know when we need to eat, but our muscles don’t twinge when we have been sitting for too long (usually). When I say exercise, all I mean is some form of movement. You don’t have to go get a gym membership or join a Crossfit class (unless you want to). Get up early and take a brisk walk or ride your bike.
• I love to work out at home and collected a number of online video programs or Youtube videos to use throughout my week. Over the years, I have also purchased some small workout tools such as a bench, dumbbells, weighted vests and bands to give my workouts a boost. More recently, I have been struggling with insomnia and fatigue, so all I have been able to do is go on walks. When it is too cold, I follow walk at home videos on Youtube.
• There are endless ways to get movement into your life, but you really do have to actively choose to make time to exercise (I know I do). Figure out how much time you have to spare (even if it means getting up 30 minutes earlier), schedule it into your week, and try as hard as you can to stick with it. Your body and your mind will thank you for years to come.

Tip 7: Become a Label Reader

• I am a label-reading fiend, and I honestly can’t remember a time when I wasn’t because it has become such a big habit. Glancing at the label of any food item, cleaning product or beauty supply is so informative and educational so that you truly know what is in the item you will purchase and use. With endless information at out fingertips, you can easily look up an unknown ingredient to find out what it is.
• My general rule of thumb with food labels is the fewer ingredients it has in it, the better. Some things like barbecue sauce have complex flavors so they have many ingredients but most of those are spices! I steer clear of food items with preservatives, artificial sweeteners/flavors/dyes as much as I can, and try to buy organic because these tend have less or no “junk” in them.
• I take the same approach to label reading when I buy cleaning products and beauty supplies. Since we aren’t eating these items, there tend to be a lot more chemical (lab created) and toxic ingredients in these products. More often than not, I opt out of buying cleaning product and DIY it (oh the power of vinegar, baking soda and essential oils). I am very picky about skincare and makeup for the same reason so I make sure to heavily research brands for these items.

Tip 8: Begin Removing Toxic Products from Your Home

• Since we are working on that healthy living mindset, it needs to transform more of your life than in the kitchen. Eliminating toxic ingredients in the kitchen is important, but so is ridding yourself of nasty cleaning/laundry products, household items like candles/air fresheners and beauty/body products that do more harm than good.
• Most don’t know about all the ingredients that are in these household products, but once you do, it’s hard to continue using them. What we touch, breathe in or put on our skin is something to take very seriously. A great resource to utilize when learning about household or beauty products is the Environmental Working Group. They have analyzed thousands of these products and given them a grade based on their tests so it easy to see what you should or shouldn’t use.
• This can seem like an insurmountable task–I get it! However, slowly but surely you will be ridding your life of these items and finding healthier replacements. Pick one group at a time to ditch, whether that be cleaning products or makeup or something else entirely, then move on to the next.

Tip 9: Start Looking for Healthier Products or DIY

• While you are busy ditching, you should also be busy switching to clean, safe, beneficial products for your home and body.
• This is the fun part (for me anyhow)! You get to research what products work for your cleaning needs, but are also not harmful for you or your family. Then…you get to shop! More and more companies are jumping on the “green” or “clean” bandwagon and that is why it is important to be discerning and know the ingredients to weed out these products. Branch Basics is a great option for all your cleaning needs if you overwhelmed by options. A favorite of mine is using Young Living’s Thieves cleaning concentrate because it is so versatile.
• Or, if shopping isn’t your thing or isn’t in your budget right now, there is always the DIY option. I’ve had a lot of success using ingredients I already have at home to concoct bottles of all-purpose spray or a jar of body scrub. Check out Pinterest for great recipes and recommendations for cleaning supplies and body care–you will be amazed by what you find!
• A few companies that are favorites of mine for skin and body care are Arbonne, Peach & Lily, Young Living, Acure and Crunchi. My list is way longer, but that will have to wait.

Tip 10: Get Outside More

• This last tip is simple AND free! Get outside. Enjoy the fresh air. Look around at some nature or enjoy the weather (yes even if it is cold). Being outside is revitalizing and refreshing, not to mention the benefits the sun gives us in vitamin D.
• I make it a point to get out as much a possible and obviously more of this happens when it is sunny and warm. Even if that is a rarity depending on the season or you location, being outside and disconnected from technology (also important) can help in so many ways.
• Think of an excuse TO go outside, instead of not. Maybe you want to soak up some rays, read, meditate or ground–all of this can happen outside. Perhaps a short walk around the block could help get your energy up in the middle of the day. Do your kids want ride their bikes or run around? Go out with them to enjoy time with them and be outside at the same time. The options for this really are endless!

Conclusion

• The biggest thing I hope you takeaway from this is that having a healthy lifestyle doesn’t have to be hard, expensive or stressful. It is about changing your “quick fix” mindset to a steadfast one, and then making small changes to different areas of your life.
• What are your favorite healthy living tips? Are there any not listed that have helped you on your healthy living journey? Share in the comments below so we can tackle this venture together!

Ta-ta For Now,
Stephanie