Staying motivated! Sticking with it!

Eating a healthy diet and exercising go hand-in-hand. One works well with the other. This rule applies for people who are diabetics as well as people who are not diabetics. While eating wisely is crucial for diabetics, it’s also very important for everyone.

I’ve always wondered, when people talk about someone they know who is overweight, they say, “She always struggled with her weight,” but don’t they really mean, “She’s always struggled with her willpower”? It’s not hard to find resources that tell us which foods are good for us. It’s hard to maintain a long-term relationship with those foods. Life gets stressful, or really happy, or really sad, and food (and drink) come into the affair. Unhealthy foods get associated with comfort. When I’m happy, I don’t want broccoli. When I’m sad, I don’t think about eating cauliflower.

Also, it’s easy to eat healthy foods during the week and then splurge on the weekends. Are there ways to stay away from the junk food? Are there ways to maintain a healthy diet and keep healthy foods in your kitchen? Sure.

The number one rule for me is: never bring junk food in the house. This works well for several reasons. First, if it’s not in the house, it doesn’t call to me to eat it (I’m not kidding!). Second, if it’s not in the house, chances are I’ll forget my craving and my desire for junk food will go away. Third, if I really can’t go on without some junk food, I have to get dressed, get in my car, go somewhere, buy it, and then eat it. That’s a lot of work. Not worth the effort. Bottom line: Don’t bring it in the house.

The number two rule is: go for a walk! Just getting outside in fresh air for a few minutes is a great way to clear your head and forget those junk food hunger pangs. Brisk walking is also known as ‘exercise’ and rumor has it that exercise is good for you. Give it a try.

Spring is knocking on the door and I’m waiting anxiously to open it. I’m ready for open windows, grilling out, and friends visiting. I’m ready for fresh vegetables and fruits from the farmer’s market. With options that good, who needs the junk?