I used to be an “all or nothing” type of person when it came to diet and exercise. I’d start with a clean slate on Monday morning, monitor every morsel I put into my body, and plan my workouts for the entire week ahead. I was convinced I had to maintain this regimen to reach my personal goals.
Well, in reality, things weren’t so orderly. Usually about halfway through Tuesday (if not by Monday evening), I’d give in and eat something that wasn’t on my “allowed” list or skip a scheduled workout. From there, I’d slack off in other areas, promising myself that I would do better the following week. As the pattern repeated, it became exhausting.
My Personal Revelation
I knew I needed to shift my mindset to combine healthy eating with moving my body in a way that would make diet and exercise a happy part of my day.
I started by recognizing that we’re all human; it’s part of our genetic makeup to have cravings for indulgences. And it’s fine to allow a few “cheats” within our diet as long as we practice overall self-control. In fact, maintaining a balance between a sensible diet and the occasional treat is important – not just for physical health, but also for mental health.
I’ve found that maintaining an enjoyable and somewhat lenient diet contributes to improvements in energy, sleep, exercise, and daily tasks. If you follow a similar approach, you’ll know whether you’ve discovered the right mix of diet and lifestyle by monitoring your mood. Struggles with mood swings, anxiety, or other behavioral issues will signal a need to calibrate what you’re putting into your body so stress isn’t interfering with your happiness.
Read more about thought patterns that keep you from happiness
Creating a Healthy Lifestyle
One way to keep negative energy in check is to apply the 80/20 rule to everyday living. By this, I mean sticking to 80 percent of your nutrition and fitness targets 80 percent of the time. Reserve the other 20 percent to create a guilt-free space for experiencing life – even if that means savoring your favorite dessert or giving yourself a break in the gym.
It’s important to develop awareness of what your body is asking for. Here are three straightforward ways to put that philosophy into practice:
1. Set up diet and exercise routines that make you happy. Find healthy foods that you enjoy, and keep them handy. Similarly, experiment with different exercises until you discover a way to work out that feels more like a release than a responsibility. In my case, I don’t feel complete each day until I’ve gotten in a good sweat. But instead of dragging myself to the gym for another annoying exercise routine, I’ve started running, surfing, and doing hot yoga – things I look forward to each day.
2. Allow yourself to have some wiggle room. Once you’ve nailed down your diet and exercise plans, it will become almost second nature to carry them out – as opposed to a daily struggle to do the “right thing.” Don’t berate yourself for straying a bit outside your boundaries from time to time. For example, eating as organically as possible is a great objective, but it’s not the end of the world if you dine out with friends and share something that’s not organic. In fact, trying different foods that aren’t a part of your normal diet can actually spike your metabolism.
3. Know how to get back on track. Pay attention to key indicators, such as performance at work, social interactions, and relationships. If you feel like diet and exercise are dampening any of those areas, it’s time to realign your routine. For instance, if you get cranky when others are enjoying sweets, recognize that total deprivation simply isn’t sustainable. Indulging to take part in a special celebration can be a part of a sensible weekly meal plan.
Read more about 5 diet rules you should never follow
At the end of the day, leading a healthy lifestyle is all about being nice to yourself. Don’t shy away from putting good foods into your body to fuel the activities you truly enjoy. When you take care of yourself in this way, you’ll find that it’s easier to live life to the fullest.
Stephan Aarstol is the CEO and founder of Tower Paddle Boards, an online, manufacturer-direct brand in stand-up paddleboarding. The San Diego Business Journal named Tower Paddle Boards the “Fastest Growing Private Company in San Diego 2014.” The company was also invested in by Mark Cuban on ABC’s “Shark Tank,” named one of the show's “Top 10 Success Stories” by Entrepreneur, and featured by PEOPLE Magazine as one of “Shark Tank’s Biggest Winners.” Stephan is an entrepreneurial thought leader and online marketing expert, and he welcomes anyone to reach out to him on Google+.
Image via Bob ~ Barely Time
