What is the best way to start a healthier lifestyle without it seeming to be overwhelming?

Answer 1

don't try to change everything at once, add one thing in at a time.

For instance, take a walk three days a week.
later, you could increase the number of times you walk, or how far/long you walk, or turn it into jogging or running.

Then you could address your diet; maybe start by cutting out fast food or sugary sodas, and progress to adding in more veggies and fiber.

Answer 2

I have battled with trying to live a healthier lifestyle for the past few years. The main thing you MUST do is set no specific rules like eating fast food only once a week. The idea seems logical but the more rules used initially can result in being greatly overhwelmed and causing you to stop. Instead, try to start out by eating out less (one is good) a week or in my case reducing the amount of soft drinks you take in a day. The changes do not need to be major but instead just SMALL things at first. The main thing is to keep a healthier lifestyle easy at first so it is not overwhelming or impossible to accomplish and maintainable over time. Remember, a healthier lifestyle is long term and can't happen over night. Also, don't feel like you can't go eat out or drink softdrinks. Instead, think of it like this; I can have all the fast food and softdrinks in the world but I just don't choose to because I feel much better when I do not eat or drink those things. The whole idea is to change your attitude from a having to do it to a true wanting to do it state of mind. While you work on reducing the amount of not so good foods or drinks you also should setup some type of work out routine. I would suggest running on a treadmill or walking every other day at the start. It is improtant to do cardio exercises (anything to get the heart working) for at least 10 to 15 minutes each workout time. Not a lot of working out at first but a consistant routine. I can't stress enough that a true healthy lifestyle only works if the person stays with it. This is why it is key to start out easy and gradually get healthier over time. I have tried more times than I can count to jump right into "getting healthy" and in two weeks I am worn out and can't keep it going. K.I.S.S. - Keep it simple stupid and you will find yourself being able to MAINTAIN a healthy lifestyle instead of having one for a few days.

Answer 3

just start off with having a healthy diet, salads veggies and fruits,and it is okay to make things like tacos burgers spaghetti, etc. and if you do get fast food try getting salads everyonce in a while. then try and sign up for a gym(inshape is a great club or 24 hr. which is a little more expensive than in-shape) or if you dont want to spend the money just walk or jog around your neighborhood when you have a chance. do some excersizing at home(buy some dumbells or try to invest in a work out machine for your home like a treadmill) my personal trainer told me that all you have to do is start out by making slight changes in your diet and excersize routines and then increase it as you go, that way you wont go into it and feel like you are starving yourself, you can create you own diet and excersize routines to fit your lifestyle, budget and time.

Answer 4

The first and most important thing to do is change your diet to a healthier one. Replace all of the "bad" foods with good foods that you enjoy and stock up on them.

Once you are comfortable with a good diet then you can decide if you want to begin walking, doing aerobics or yoga, or perhaps exercising.

The key is to not change everything all at once. Pick an aspect and work improving that. Once you are comfortable with it then fix the next aspect.

Good luck!

Answer 5

Start small, baby steps is key. Like first you could stop eating candy and eat dried fruit and nuts instead Then once you get used to that go to the next step. Then you could start drinking less soda, like if you drink a can a day, you could cut it down to 4 cans a week, then 3 cans, then you could swich to diet. Then you could start eating healthier breakfastes. Then you could start on lunch, Then dinner. Remember BABY STEPS

Or if you eat fast food 4 times a week, try eating it only 3 days, then 2 , then 1 go down untill you eat it about once a month!

YOU CAN DO IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

As for excercise, start with 20 mins three times a week. Then the next week increase by 10 mins. Then 2 weeks later increase by 10 mins, slowly do this till you get to one hour!

Answer 6

have a long time go dont go for the quick fix , 6 months to 1 year remember it`s not a diet it`s a lifesystle , try to lower your calories to around 1500 cal. it`s easyer then getting into a diet just eat less calories ,

no junk food , no fast foods,

work out 2-3 day a week to start , if you miss a workout or a week of working out no big deal just go back to it , also if you shitty for a few days get back on the diet

just because you went off your workout & diet for a few days doesnt mean you have to stop , remember long trem

Answer 7

I agree with green eyed girl or whatever she calls herself on most points.

Sleep is essential for a healthy body.

I would recommend that if you are to have unhealthy food you actually go to a proper restaurant rather than a fast food joint or you cook it yourself and griddle or grill it rather than fry to reduce oil/fat content.

Exercise can easily be incorporated into your daily routine. For example, rather than going to the coffee shop close to your office during your lunch hour you could go to the starbucks a block or two away. Or even a shop just another 100 yds away. You could also go on leisurely walks in the evening to unwind and work off your meal.

If you are going to exercise do so before you eat so that you are actually using up your stored fat rather than your recent meal. Before breakfast at around 5 or 6 am is a perfect time as no-one is about (no teenagers to laugh at you or people to bump into). Also you cna come home feeling very awake, have a shower and go to work feeling refreshed. After work is a bad time as people are usually feeling tired after the days work and less motivated.

Eating dinner early is a must to give your body time to digest and start to work off your food. Also eat a good breakfast as it helps you concentrate and stops snacking (most snacks are high in sugar which will be broken down into glucose by your body stored as fat if not used). A chicken salad or a sandwhich for lunch is a good option. You should ideally have 3 good meals and two snacks a day to keep your body happy. A minimum of 5 fruit and vegetable portions per day is recommended (CANADA asks for 9).
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I would also recommend using smaller plates as you will eat less even if you stack it high. Your brain will also see a full plate and you will be less inclined to overeat!
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If you eat a healthy and varied diet vitamins shouldn't be necessary. I cannot say what you need as it varies with age and sex. For example teenage girls need lots of iron and growing children and teenagers need lots of calcium. I must say that even if you a vegetarian you can get enough iron from beans and pulses.
Supplements are sometimes a necessity but remember that it is scientific belief that vitamins in their natural form actually work better than those in pill form.


Don't give up is very good advice. I would also advise that a sport or social exercise(Such as swimming or running) is good as if you get bored of the exercise you still have the people or the thrill of the game to keep you coming. If you choose the gym route make it regular, perhaps every monday evening (to work off those calories from the weekends excesses). Also choosing a gym instructor is very helpful as it is an appointment and you don't want to let them down, also they can push you on when you get demoralised.









I started just when this was on for like 4 minutes, when just green eyed girl was there. God, I took ages!
Yes i agree with all the other submissions since i started that small steps help you to adjust and stay healthy for life.

Answer 8

exercise a few days a week. eat fast food only once a week. take vitamins daily. get 8-9 hours of sleep a night. DON'T GIVE UP!!