It's natural that many people struggle to achieve and maintain motivation for healthy eating. After all, most comprehensive diet plans take lots of effort to establish and follow, so it's easy to veer off track and go back to habits of eating what's convenient and tastes best. Lasting motivation is one of the most helpful tools for people who are trying to eat healthy diets, so it's worth learning more about how to find such feelings of inspiration and stick with them.
Step 1
Design or find a healthy eating program that is appealing and inspiring to you. Dozens of possible plans are available, all of which have positive and negative points. The Mayo Clinic emphasizes the importance of choosing one that fits your lifestyle, budget, preferences and schedule. It can be tough to find the motivation to follow even the simplest plans at certain times, but you're more likely to stick with a program in the long run if it's customized to your personality and objectives.
Step 2
Find and keep a partner or group of friends who are following similar programs and also need support in sticking to their health goals. According to HelpGuide.org, sharing meals and snacks with others can help inspire people to model healthy behaviors and be more mindful of the composition and amounts of what they eat. Working with a support group, no matter how small, also demands accountability for your own actions and a sense of responsibility and commitment that you may not be able to achieve or sustain on your own.
Step 3
Keep a food journal in which you can write down goals, record what you eat and track your improvement over time. The Mayo Clinic suggests that the process of writing down goals and looking at recorded results over time can increase motivation for healthy behaviors. Make sure the journal isn't a burden--write in it only as much as you want, and don't feel obligated to track large amounts of information. However, getting into the habit of jotting down just a few daily notes can go a long way toward inspiring accountability.
Step 4
Reward yourself for a job well done. After you reach a goal or make a particularly healthy choice, celebrate with a small treat that is not related to food. The Commonwealth of Virginia Employee Wellness Program suggests getting a pedicure or facial or doing something else that makes you feel good about your continued progress. Fitness- and health-related rewards, such as new running shoes or a healthy cookbook, are examples of fitting rewards.
References
- Mayo Clinic: Fitness Program--Seven Tips for Staying Motivated
- HelpGuide.org: Healthy Eating--Easy Tips for Planning a Healthy Diet and Sticking to It
- Mayo Clinic: Weight Loss--Choosing a Diet That's Right for You
- Commonwealth of Virginia Employee Wellness Program: Top Five Weight Loss Motivation Tips
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