I know we hear it all the time: healthy eating and exercise are basically the key to living a happy life. Of course, I always ignored that and felt happiest with a burger from Culvers and some cheese curds in my hand. It wasn’t until my freshman year of college when I realized just how important eating healthy and exercising really was. It started out as me just trying to prevent myself from gaining the "freshman 15," but after awhile it was about feeling good.
Now I’m not going to lie and say that turning down unhealthy food and switching to better food is easy, because it’s not. It takes time and a lot of self-discipline. I’ve come to realize that if you don’t want it, you won’t do it, and that goes for both eating and exercising. If you don’t want to change the way you’re eating and you don’t want to work out today, chances are you wont. Sometimes it’s okay to have a burger or some ice cream, and it’s okay to not go to the gym one day; but if you’re doing this everyday then trust me, you will feel more tired than anything.
There are some simple ways to kick off your healthy living routine. First off, get a gym membership! They’re great things to have and the people at the gym are so motivational. It’s a great place to get your workout in and to be inspired and learn from other people. Secondly, try having a mostly plant-based diet. Fruits and veggies are great for cleansing your system and for providing you with a very colorful diet. Once you get the hang of healthy eating, I definitely recommend trying meal prep. Its super easy, helps control your portions and keeps your metabolism burning all day!
Lastly, the easiest part of healthy living that I know everyone can do: drink lots of water! If you’re feeling bloated or hungry all the time you might just be dehydrated. I always try to carry a water bottle around with me and fill it up as soon as it’s empty so I can always have it when I’m thirsty. The best part is you can add fruits and other tasty things to your water, and soon you’ll forget all about soda. All you’ll want is water.
Healthy living is so easy to achieve, especially with help from your friends and family. Encourage your friend group or your siblings to try it with you, set goals, and push yourself to try new things. As Jillian Michaels said, “It’s not about perfect, it’s about effort. And when you bring that effort every single day, that’s where transformation happens. That’s how change occurs.” Have fun, and be healthy!
