“Clean Eating Is Just Too Hard.”
“ I Can’t Stick with It.”
“ I Give Up!”
Do any of these statements ring true for you? Maybe you’ve said them multiple times. If you are struggling with clean eating or dieting in general, you are not alone. We all get “off track” or fall off the wagon, even me and this is my profession. Let’s face it, we are not immune to LIFE and the little and sometimes BIG things that happen. It is too convenient to pick up dinner or order in takeout, but let’s dig a little deeper for a moment.
Factors you need to consider:
- Processed foods are loaded with sugars and manufactured to create cravings.
- Old habits are hard to break.
- Learning a new way of eating can be overwhelming. New foods that you are not accustomed to can be challenging.
- Planning and prepping. Because this lifestyle is new, it does take some initial planning and prepping.
So how can you begin to make real, lasting changes?
- Focus on one day at a time – one meal at a time. It will seem overwhelming if you adopt a “cold turkey” type of mentality, or thinking “I have to do this for the rest of my life!” As you are making the change, make a goal to have 1 clean day a week, then 2, then 3. Ease into the lifestyle and it will be sustainable. Saying “just for today, I will…” takes the pressure off.
- Quit the diet mentality. Clean eating is not a diet. It truly is a lifestyle. Eat whole foods that are minimally processed, as close as possible to their natural form.
- Never give up. Because this is a lifestyle, there really isn’t “giving up.” Make choices that benefit you and fuel you. Eventually, it will become a habit.
To your health,
Patti
