This post is sponsored by Orchard Valley Harvest.
Have you recently fallen off the healthy living wagon? It happens to the best of us, right? If you’re looking for a little motivation to get you back on track, look no further! These 5 tips below will help you jumpstart a healthy lifestyle!
Create a plan of attack
When I need a little motivational boost, creating a plan of attack with regard to my eating and exercise routine always makes me feel more in control of the situation. I typically start by planning my workouts for the week by scheduling them into my Google calendar. I’ll usually pick a few CrossFit and/or spinning classes and schedule them just like appointments that I can’t miss. Same goes for running. Even though it’s not a set class, I’ll schedule “3 miles” into my calendar, so I’m less likely to skip it when I see it staring back at me. Plus, I can’t make excuses when I know it’s been on my calendar all week!
On the food front, I’ll search for nutritious recipes online (hello, Pinterest) and plan a few healthy meals and snacks to amp up my motivation and keep me on track. When I take the time to sit down and plan some healthy habits, it helps me see these things in black and white, which helps me stick with them!
Find some healthy inspiration
When I’d rather sit on the couch than exercise or eat cereal for dinner instead of something more nutritious, I always look to my favorite sources of healthy inspiration to get me out of a funk. My go-to resources are typically food and fitness blogs, but I also love motivational Pinterest boards and Instagram accounts to keep me on track. I almost always find a recipe, new workout, or some words of advice that make me want to change my tune. Seeing others at their healthiest and happiest motivates me to get my butt in gear!
Do one healthy thing IMMEDIATELY
Instead of waiting to start my healthy eating or exercise routine on Monday, I make a change right away. Some of my favorites: I throw on my sneakers and do a quick workout, I search for nutritious recipes online, or I plan my workouts for the upcoming week. Jumpstarting these habits boosts my motivation to get on track and keeps me from falling further into bad habits that got me off course in the first place. And doing that one healthy thing almost always keeps the ball rolling with my motivation.
Use a little bribery
I’ve recently discovered one of the best ways to motivate myself is with a little bribery, especially when it comes to my workouts. For example, if I buy a cute workout top or download a few new songs onto my iPhone, it always seems to motivate me to exercise. And, hey, if that’s what it takes to get me back to the gym, I consider it money well spent!
Eat a delicious, nutritious, and satisfying snack
Fueling my body with healthy foods always makes me feel good””both inside and out””so when I need some healthy living motivation, I always make sure this is something I do. My favorite snacks are the ones that include a good mix of healthy carbs, protein, and fat, so I stay satisfied for a good amount of time. Nuts and trail mix are some of my go-to (and bonus: travel-friendly) snacks.
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Orchard Valley Harvest recently launched a line of mini stand-up bags that help make delicious snacking even more convenient for on-the-go consumers. Whether it’s for added protein or to satisfy a sweet tooth, their minis are the perfect grab-and-go snack. Local friends, you can find them at Market Baskets in the Boston area.
Minis are available in the following varieties:
- Dark Chocolate Almonds
- Cranberry Almond Cashew Trail Mix
- Chocolate Raisin Nut Trail Mix
- Cashew Halves & Pieces
- Roasted Salted Almonds
- Whole Natural Almonds
- Dry Roasted Pistachios
Giveaway time!
To celebrate the arrival of Orchard Valley Harvest mini stand-up bags at Market Basket stores, one lucky CNC reader will win a prize pack that includes:
- Variety of Orchard Valley Harvest minis
- $250 Market Basket Gift Card
- Define Bottle Water bottle
- Fitbit Flex Wireless Activity + Sleep Wristband
To enter: Just leave a comment on this post about your #1 tip for living a healthy lifestyle. I’ll randomly pick a winner on Monday to win this prize pack.
Good luck!