The “Secret” to making a permanent lifestyle transformation.

If you’re reading this article. you’ve probably been searching for a way to lose weight. You may have tried several diets in the past, or perhaps you’re at the beginning stages of your search. Well look no further, you’re in the right place my friend. I’ve spent hours and hours searching for ways to lose weight and keep it off.  I know how you feel. It took me years of research and trial and error to figure it out so that you don’t have to. 

So what exactly is the “secret”?…

Well, you have to make your new healthy lifestyle so enjoyable that you’ll have no problems sustaining it. Yup, there it is.

I understand that concept sounds almost too easy and also somewhat unrealistic and unattainable. In fact, if I heard someone say that to me several years ago, I probably would have laughed. “How could eating healthy possibly be more enjoyable than eating whatever you want whenever you want?”. 

I know it sounds too good to be true, but it is possible. Have you ever experienced the aftermath of overindulging? It’s all fun and games until your stomach feels like it's going to explode. 

One of the reasons a healthy eating lifestyle becomes enjoyable over time is that you get to eat great tasting food AND you feel amazing afterward. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not talking about perfection (what does that even mean anyway??!). I still enjoy delicious treats like ice-cream and pizza. I just believe in the importance of eating healthy most of the time (80/20 rule). 

So how do you create a sustainable, healthy lifestyle?

There are a few ways to make that happen:

1. Eat delicious! 

It’s important to make sure the food you’re eating tastes so delicious that you look forward to eating it, and it would be a serious struggle to give away your last bite. It took me a while to figure out how to make healthy eating taste amazing, but now I look forward to my delicious tasting food (shout out to my favorite kitchen gadgets, the air fryer and the instant pot). 

In fact, I can resist any temptation at work, (yes, even pizza and donuts) because I’d rather eat my yummy, tasty food! You may say “well, it’s probably easy for you. You’re a doctor. Not the case. I’m human just like you, and I used to binge on cookies, cakes, pizza, ice-cream, and chocolates for days at a time until I learned to make healthy eating enjoyable. Trust me. You will get to this point in your life one day. It just takes experimentation, practice, and a commitment to make it work. If you have a strong “why”, it’ll make it easier for you to make the necessary changes (check out my blog post “Finding your ‘why’”).

Action step…

Brainstorm ways to upgrade traditional healthy meals so that they taste delicious.

For example, you could have Baked chicken breasts with broccoli OR you could make a delicious chicken and broccoli bowl. Season the chicken with black pepper, pink Himalayan salt, chili lime seasoning and sauté it in avocado oil. Steam the broccoli, top with cheese then bake it in the oven. Remove the broccoli from the oven once the cheese has melted. Top with bacon, sour Cream, and sautéed chicken. Do you see how I was able to upgrade a simple, plain dish like chicken and broccoli.  Let me know what ideas you come up with or if you need any suggestions. 

2. Only eat the healthy foods you enjoy.

For example if you love salmon, make sure you incorporate it into your meals. Research new salmon recipes, and experiment with sauces. Don’t force yourself to eat food you don’t enjoy- even if it’s considered “healthy”.

I’m not your typical health coach. I’m not a fan of the taste of Kale at all. Trust me. I have tried to prepare it in many different ways, and I still don’t care for it. I also really dislike Brussel sprouts (yes, even the candied ones covered in bacon). So guess what?  I don’t force myself to eat those foods. There are plenty of vegetables available, so there's absolutely no need to force yourself to eat the ones you don’t like. 

Action step…

Research ways to make healthy alternatives of your favorite foods (e.g. bacon cauliflower mac “n” cheese).

3. Move your body in ways you enjoy

For those of you who don’t really “enjoy” exercise, move your body in ways you don’t hate lol.

You don’t necessarily need to join a gym or start running to get in shape. In fact, I’m not a fan of running; however, I do love dancing, mountain biking, hiking, and weight lifting. 

Action step…

Write down any forms of movement you’ve enjoyed in the past, and find a way to incorporate one of them into your schedule at least once this week.

For example, if you love dancing, search for a dance class in your area or download a new playlist and dance for 20-30 minutes in your home.

Simple, but not easy.

These concepts are very simple; however, you do have to be intentional about implementing them into your life. If you take the steps to do so, you will be so much closer to reaching your goals and sustaining your results.

I’d love to help!

Schedule your free consultation today if you need help figuring out how to make a healthy lifestyle enjoyable. I have lots more ideas for you!