The Nutrition Nook ~ How to Keep Your Motivation for Eating Healthy

The Nutrition Nook is a monthly column featuring nutrition information for healthy eating from Renee M. Simpson, RDN. Renee is a registered dietitian who loves good food herself AND she has had her share of battling the bulge. Renee?s corner of the web is located at the Soul Food Therapy blog, which ?provides recipes, articles, and encouragement for anyone who has a love affair with food, and desires to live a healthy lifestyle.? I pray that you are encouraged by what Renee has to share. * Remember to consult your primary care physician or dietitian before beginning a new nutrition regimen.*

Recently I sent out a survey to the readers of Soul Food Therapy, asking for input on how I could be of better service to them. One of the most popular requests was to know how to stay motivated when attempting to change your diet for the better. So, here is the list of my top 5 ways to keep eating healthy long enough to make it a lifestyle.

1. Identify why you are making a dietary change for the better. For me, I know that I am the temple of the Holy Spirit. I know that I live in this temple and I am here to do a particular job. How can I do that job if I neglect to care for my one and only temple/home/form of transportation? Many people say they make changes for the better so that they can take care of their family. However, ultimately, I believe that you must care enough about yourself to make changes last for the long haul.
2. Consider the risks of not making the changes. You don?t have to wait until your blood pressure, or your weight, is sky high to decide that you want to be your healthiest. Just know that the bad habits you replace with good ones will bring you the reward of a healthier outcome. It?s much better to change your diet sooner than later, and certainly much easier to make healthy changes before you?re forced to.
3. Consider the benefits of making healthy changes. Improvements in your diet can reverse diabetes symptoms, relieve constipation, lower blood pressure and cholesterol, clear up eczema, and so on. And let?s not forget that a new and improved diet can lead to feeling better, not just physically but emotionally as well. Haven?t you known someone who lost 20 or more pounds and turned into a different person? (Hopefully they became a better person to be around, but if not, that?s another subject.)
4. Take ownership of the fact that you and only you are responsible for your health. God has placed you in charge of taking care of you. It?s amazing how we as moms take such care for our families, making sure the kids eat their veggies, and that everyone has a good healthy meal. Then we turn around and give ourselves a snack for a meal because we are too busy for ourselves, or worse, we ?don?t feel like cooking for just me?. That has got to stop. If you are doing this you must recognize yourself as one of the team that you take good care of, and love you just like you love them.
5. Remember that every time you eat something healthy, you are telling your body ?thank you? for serving you, for getting you to where you have to go, and for providing you with a comfortable place to live. You are directly influencing the quality of your health with every decision you make concerning what you put in your mouth. That is powerful, isn?t it?

Which of these sources of motivation will you meditate on to keep yourself on the right track?

Renee M. Simpson, RDN

Like this:

Like Loading...

Source: http://my-faith-and-fitness.com/2013/08/the-nutrition-nook-how-to-keep-your-motivation-for-eating-healthy/

Best Song Ever Deanna Burditt Joseline Hernandez red sox phil mickelson von miller nate robinson