Yes, quitting a habit is no walk in the park. The good news is that through proper planning, sheer diligence, and utter determination, one can give up these health hazards and be on set on the road to a healthier life!
1. Smoking
Remove any reminders of smoking in your home and office. Dispose of lighters, ashtrays, stashed packs of cigarettes, and matches to reduce your chances of feeling the urge. Remember the saying " Out of sight, out of mind. "
2. Stress / emotional Eating
Find ways to ease out your stress through non-food-related activities like getting a massage or reading your fave mag while getting a mani-pedi. Just think of doing anything gratifying to get your mind off food.
3. The "Instant" diet
Do your groceries in advance. Preparing healthy snacks and packed meals can help you consume more of the healthy, good stuff everyday compared to what's available in your nearby fast-food joint or 24-hour convenience store.
4. The "Extra" Eating Plan
Order your extras only after you consumed what was initially served. Wait for 20 minutes after you've finished your meal to confirm if you really need second servings, as your brain can only recognize fullness only after that amount of time. Additionally eat in course style; this will make you eat more slowly, so you'll feel fuller faster with less food consumption.
5. Skipping Breakfast
Eat breakfast and start small. Try preparing easy-to-eat stuff the night before so you won't have to hassle yourself in the morning preparing your food, or you can stock up on easy-to-grab food items like individually packed bread or yogurt so you can eat it on the road.
6. Green-Less Eating
Make sure to have at least a half a plate's serving of fruits and veggies with every meal. If they're not available in the cafeteria or at home, try to buy enough provisions for the week to ensure you have ample supply. You may also opt to pack you own veggies or fruits so you can eat them along with your resto-bought meals.
7. Sleep Deprivation
Try to train your mind and body to sleep at a fixed time every night so you'll have a regular "sleep" schedule and pattern.
8. Laid-Back Workouts
An exercise or workout routine means working hard for the body that you want. Hence, remember the age-old gym mantra: Go hard or go home. Schedule your workouts early in the day so that you have a good amount of energy to encourage you to work harder.
9. Poor Time Management
Write your plans and projected schedule for the week. Organizers help keep structure in your day and promote efficiency.
10. Finish-Your-Plate Habit
Listen to your body and stick to recommended portions for your ideal weight and height. Practice leaving 1/4 of your food and save them as a snack or eat it as your next meal. You'll realize you can be satisfied with less.
Break the habit. Change your life. Improve your health. Live better and happier.
