Mastering Flexibility and Balance in Your Diet
It’s difficult to make changes to existing habits and routines that have been a part of your life for years; when something becomes a habit, many times you may not even realize you’re doing it or think about how that habit impacts your health. When trying to better your life, you often have to break the cycle of existing habits to form new ones that support your goals. Getting in the routine of filling your diet with nutritious foods while also allowing flexibility and balance will help you create lifelong changes with lasting results.
One way to start mastering flexibility is to practice something called “food forgiveness”. Food forgiveness is simply the idea that if you have a day of eating that you feel wasn’t aligning with your goals, you won’t punish yourself and let it hinder your progress; you continue on your journey and appreciate that no day of eating is considered perfect! Practicing food forgiveness will also help you practice being consistent while also being kind to yourself and your emotions along the way.
Another trick to master diet flexibility is to learn to actually appreciate balance. Setting unrealistic expectations for yourself – like going to the gym every day or never eating “junk food” again – is only going to hurt you in the long run because it isn’t attainable long term! By appreciating balance and allowing yourself to eat your favorite foods while also filling your diet with the nutrients it needs, you can form healthy habits that will become second nature to you.
Third, mindfulness is also a great thing to add to your wellness toolbox. Mindfulness is being able to recognize what your body is craving and listening to the hunger and satiety cues your body is sending you. Your body will tell you when to eat, how much to eat, and even what to eat! So, try slowing down and listening to these cues!
When making wellness changes, it’s easy to get caught up in striving for perfection and eating clean at all times. However, when you take a step back and assess what is achievable long-term, you will see that changes are made with consistency and balance! Again, no day of eating is considered to be “perfect”, so by practicing food forgiveness, appreciating balance, being mindful, and setting realistic goals for yourself, you can make changes that can last a lifetime!