It’s that time of year again for spring cleaning! I can hear the groans at the prospect of doing the work, but just think about how great you will feel when everything is in the best shape it can be!
When you take the time to look at your home in the spring, you notice the things you have let go. You see where work needs to be done – sometimes a little, sometimes a total revamping. But spring is all about rebirth, about starting fresh, about a lighter step and anticipation of a new season and summer to come.
This makes it a great time to assess your health, to take a look at what needs a little tweaking and what really needs some devoted focus. So while you are spring cleaning your house, let’s look at how you can spring clean your body.
First, don’t fall into the trap of a “quick fix.” Quick results oftentimes lead to quick failure, which will then send you spiraling into yo-yo dieting and fad diets that are both ineffective and unhealthy. If you deprive your body through cleanses, long periods of fasting, and detoxes, you also deprive yourself of foods you really need to operate at full function. Quick fix methods are not sustainable over time, leading you to return to your old habits.
Second, focus instead on eating foods that dietitians and nutritionists universally applaud – fresh, seasonal fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins. One concern I often hear from clients is that eating healthy is expensive, but that is not true! If you buy your produce when it is in season, it is at its lowest price at the same time that it offers its height of flavor. A bundle of asparagus right now costs 77 cents and tastes like heaven! Seasonal shopping also provides a natural rotation of produce so you’ll never tire of eating the same fruits or vegetables.
Third, make an effort to cut back on sugar, especially the processed kind. Sugar is addictive – the more you eat, the more you want. I love sweets, but when I indulge, I follow the three-bite rule: Three bites is all you need to satiate your craving for sweets and to not feel like you are depriving yourself of something you love. Try it! You’ll quickly discover that you don’t need to eat an entire piece of pie or 6 cookies, and you’ll learn how to naturally moderate your cravings. I recommend keeping a bar of dark chocolate (over 70% cacao) in your house for when you need a little somethin-somethin, but be sure to hold yourself to a square or two.
Fourth, prepare your own meals as much as possible. This allows you to control your ingredients and the manner in which you cook them – roasting fresh vegetables with a little olive oil, salt, and pepper versus restaurant vegetables swimming in butter and too much salt, for example. At home, you know exactly what is going into your meal and what a true portion size should look like. You control the salt, the sugar, and the spices that all contribute to your overall health.
If you employ just one of these tips into your daily living, you will see and feel the results. So be as good to yourself as you are to your home. Spring clean your body and give it a fresh start, and I promise you will feel great when you see the results.
For your own personal meal plan catered to your goals and lifestyle, contact me at pattyrd.com
