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A healthier life doesn’t have to be hard. You’re on your way with these 5 Small Changes to make for a Healthier Lifestyle.
So, I’ve been trying to live a healthier lifestyle. I’ve been working out regularly, eating healthier, getting enough sleep, and indulging when I get cravings :) I have no idea how my weight is fluctuating (that’s not my goal) but I am definitely feeling more balanced. Although I still get stressed (it’s kind of part of my daily life), it’s a lot less daunting and much more manageable. I attribute that to working out and eating better, but what do I know?
For those of you who aren’t ready to make a complete lifestyle change (believe me, I’ve been there!), I wanted to share five small changes that you can make in your daily routine to steer you toward a healthier path.
Change #1: Drink a Gallon of Water Everyday
Truth be told I started this about a year ago because I heard it does wonders with your skin. And guess what, my skin did clear up and had a healthier bounce and glow to it! I’m not the only one with those results. If that’s not enough of a reason for you (because you probably already have great skin), how about hydration? Your cells and body NEED water. Let’s make sure it has an adequate supply. And, did you know that most of the time when you have the munchies, it’s actually thirst? When I found that out (way back in undergrad), every time I wanted a late night snack, I’d drink some water and see if the munchies went away. Most (not all) of the time, it did! Yay, for a no-calorie snack ;)
Let me tell you what I do. Every night before I go to bed, I do what I call “water chores”. That’s when I fill the coffee maker with water, make sure there’s water in all the bedrooms in case anyone gets thirsty in the middle of the night, and fill up my gallon of water in preparation for the next day. The next day, I just pour a glass of water from that gallon all day long. That way, I can see my progress as the water level decreases. When I leave the house, I fill up a water bottle from that gallon and bring it with me. No excuses!
I actually got the gallon jug pictured above from my trip to Chicago. Warren and I bought it from a convenient store down the street from our hotel to bring back to the room. I like it because I can just fill it once and know that my goal is to finish that entire jug by day’s end. But if you don’t want to invest in a plastic gallon jug, do what I did before I had that jug. I simply used a 4-cup measuring cup. 16 cups make up 1 gallon. I kept a list on my phone numbered 1-4. Every time I finished a 4-cup measuring cup, I’d tick a number off. To stay on track, I immediately refilled the measuring cup once I depleted it. Drink up!
Change #2: Prepare the Fix-ins for a Fruit Smoothie the Night Before
For a grab-and-go breakfast the next morning, place all the ingredients for your favorite fruit smoothie in a mason jar. The next morning, use my mason jar smoothie hack and make that smoothie! Beginning your day with a large boost of fruits and vegetables will make you want to stay on track all day long!
Not sure which smoothie to start with? Try my green machine smoothie.
Change #3: Stock Your Refrigerator with Ready Pac elevAte Salads
I like to keep these Ready Pac elevAte Salads on hand for an easy weekday lunch, to take along on hikes, and for when we travel to places where restaurants aren’t easy to get to.
With these Ready Pac elevAte Salads, I don’t have to think twice about what I’m putting into my body. They’re rich in antioxidants, high in omegas, and includes plant-based proteins, among many more benefits! It’s guilt-free eating. I also love that they use sustainable packaging and are mindful of the planet. The packaging is fully recyclable, the inks used are soy-based, and the materials are FSC Certified.
There are 8 varieties in all. The one pictured here is the Spinach Pow that I picked up from Costco because I love me some spinach and Costco :) Ready Pac elevAte Salads include everything you need for a satisfying and nutritious meal, even the fork! The Ready Pac elevAte Salads are available as a 2-pack at Costco. Make sure to pick up a set the next time you’re there. You won’t be sorry :D Catch the latest news about Ready Pac elevAte Salads on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram!
Change #4: Park Farther Away from the Front Door
When circling the parking lot while out and about, don’t be on the look-out for the closest spot to the front door or elevator. Park farther away. Not only will you be getting in those extra steps, but you’re also more likely to find a spot quicker AND maybe even help your car avoid some dings and scratches since there’s less traffic in those areas. This seems like nothing, but those steps add up and remember, we’re talking about small changes :)
Change #5: Return the Shopping Cart to the Cart Return
This goes along with Change #4. Get those extra steps in by returning your shopping cart to the designated area. Don’t just leave the cart at your parking spot. In addition to those extra steps, you’ll also be helping out the employee and making it more convenient for the next shopper to pull into the parking spot (be kind to one another – who loves Ellen?)!
Thanks for sticking with me (I know this was a long one). If you’re anything like I was a couple months ago and just wasn’t quite ready to commit to a healthier lifestyle, but know that one day you will, start with these small changes. We’re not training for a marathon here (not yet, anyway), we’re just talking about manageable and sustainable changes.
Love all these ideas! Still working on chugging that gallon of water lol and I keep on buying different water bottles to motivate me (bec they’re cute and go with the season lol). Love the idea of make ahead smoothie fixins. And parking farther away from the door? Ha! I agree. I used to be more fit when I lived in a condo in HI. Guess our garage is making me fat. If not for the hail storms, we would turn that garage into a gym. That’s my excuse. Thanks for the inspo!
Thank you, JD! Yes, I imagine the water is going to be a toughy for most, but good goin’ with continuing to motivate yourself with shiny new bottles :D I guess when you lived in HI there was much more motivation to stay fit, considering the weather and proximity to the coast. Good luck on your trek to good health!
Thanks for all the workable practical ideas. I drink a really lot of water each day; keeping my skin clear & barely catch cold.
My pleasure, Chi! Gotta make the easy changes before making the hard ones ;) Don’t you just love nature’s medicine? :) Cheers to good health and clear skin!
I wish I could eat and drink like a normal person but I can’t. My intestines don’t work due to chronic illness scleroderma. I have no prob drinking water. I luv water but I can only drink so much
Thank you for your comment, Petra. I’m sorry to hear about your illness. I am not a health professional and am only sharing tips that I’ve implemented in my own life. Please consult your physician before making any changes.
WATER CHORES!
;) Going to trademark that!