Eat Chocolate, Don't Diet and More Rules to Live By
Eat well. Exercise. Get enough sleep. You've heard this all before. Well, the experts are right. In order to lead a healthy, vibrant life you do need to master those key concepts. But it's not so easy, and it's not so fun. There's more to life than kale and dumbbells. The following are 5 rules that I live my life by and also teach my clients to adopt as well. The result? An even more fulfilling, rewarding, and FUN way of living life.
1. Eat chocolate. I bet you're surprised that this is first on the list. But yes, I'm telling you to eat chocolate. High-quality chocolate is essential in my daily life. Just be sure to go for the dark stuff (over 65% cocoa content) and keep it to a small square per day. Dark chocolate is loaded with antioxidants that can help lower both blood pressure and cholesterol, stimulate endorphin production (making you feel good) and act as an anti-depressant. So no more guilty feelings around chocolate.
2. Practice Extreme self-care. This is extreme with a capital "E." Honestly, this should really be #1. I know it's cliché, but your body is a temple, and you have to take special care of it. Taking time to nurture yourself sounds deceptively simple, but trust me, it's not (I've cracked ribs in the past by not treating a cough fast enough). Whether it's saying "no" to friends or a business project, skipping an early morning spin class to sleep in, or just taking a walk outside, it's your right as a human being to make yourself a priority.
Poll: Do you have a hard time saying "no"?
3. Love yourself the way you are … Right NOW. Listen: you don't have to love every single part of yourself. We all wish we could change something about ourselves, but let's face it, we've got what we're born with. The sooner you accept and begin to truly love yourself, the more wonderful your life will be. Sounds hokey, perhaps, but it's the honest truth that's taken me over fifteen years to learn. (And I still need a reminder every now and then. That's what family and friends are for). As an added bonus, you can use the time you spent hating on yourself for more productive self-care activities (see #2).
4. Let go of what doesn't serve you anymore. You know the saying, "Out with the old, in with the new." What are you clinging to that you need to let go of? Perhaps it's those size 4 pants you wore five years ago that just don't fit anymore and make you feel awful each time you open your closet. Maybe it's old makeup, tired shoes and even unsupportive friends. In my life, I'm selling my apartment, which I adore and feel comfortable in, to step into a bigger, juicier life in another state that's filled with uncertainty. Sometimes it requires letting go in order to move on to the next chapter in life.
5. Don't diet. There's a reason why it's called a "die"-t. It's because they're a killer to maintain. Unfortunately a multi-billion dollar industry has got us thinking otherwise, but as a health professional, I promise you: a diet is something you go can't keep and breaking your diet can lead to feelings of failure, emotional eating and more weight gain. And … you guessed it … another diet. If you're ready to get off the "hamster wheel," try eating intuitively. Eat when you're hungry, stop when you're full, and select foods what your body craves.
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About the author: Amanda Goldfarb is a Certified Holistic Health Coach (CHHC, AADP) and Master's Candidate of Nutrition & Dietetics. In addition to counseling clients on living a healthier lifestyle, Amanda coaches women of all ages around body image, empowering them to love their bodies and step into their fullest, juiciest lives. Her blog is cakeandcarrots.com.
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