Lifestyle Overhaul Checklist
November 15, 2021As Christmas and the New Year is looming, it’s usual for our thoughts to turn towards getting the best out of the coming year. This can mean different things to different people. For many, an overhaul of their lifestyle, with a focus on health and appearance, is long overdue. For some it might just be a few tweaks here and there to feel at your best.
There’s so much we can do to influence our health and outward appearance, and often the best place to start is from the inside. Whether you have a big change in mind, or you’re just looking to improve certain aspects of your lifestyle, here are a few things to consider that could bring about the changes you desire.
Table of Contents
How Do I Improve My Diet?
A simple internet search will not disappoint when you are looking for tips on how to improve your diet. You will be spoilt for choice, which is not necessarily a good thing. There will be promises of immediate success with lasting results. You can choose from shakes, intermittent fasting or simple low-calorie options. A quick look at the NHS website will advise you to focus on healthy, medium sized portions of each food group, in order to achieve a slower, but longer lasting result. The choice is yours, and it will most likely be guided by the amount of weight you have to lose. Ultimately building better habits that last is the most effective route in the long term. Fruit, vegetables, fibre, protein, dairy and healthy fats are vital to maintain a healthy body. And you should notice that you feel so much better too. Speak to a nutritionist or your GP before you embark on anything drastic, they will be able to advise you according to your current lifestyle.
How Do I Add Exercise To My Daily Routine?
The quick answer is, ‘slowly.’ It’s tempting to throw yourself into a rigorous exercise regime with all the enthusiasm you have at the start of a new lifestyle plan. But this can be hard to maintain, and you may find yourself having trouble keeping up with your new programme. The risk here is that it is likely that you will give up altogether and you’ll be back at square one. Find a form of exercise that you enjoy – it’s not all about running for miles and lifting weights. Try beginner dance classes, indoor climbing walls, even take up roller skating! As time goes on, and your fitness levels improve, you will be able to do more vigorous exercise for longer periods of time. You might even surprise yourself by investing in some running shoes and signing up for a £5K. It’s all exercise, and the likelihood of you sticking with it is greater if you’re enjoying yourself.
How Can I Mentally Prepare For The Changes?
Mindfulness is one of those words that has been attributed to so many areas of life in recent years. But how does it help when you’re planning a complete lifestyle overhaul? You’ve got the diet and exercise covered, so it’s important that you give as much time to your mental well being too. Mindfulness will help with that. Research has shown that it has incredibly positive effects on the relationship we have with food, as well as our eating behaviours. Slowing down your mind and trying to be mentally ‘present’ when you’re eating has great benefits in helping you to stop overeating, to recognise when you’re full, and to allow yourself to appreciate the flavours and textures of every meal. Research shows that consciously thinking about these things will not only help you to lose weight, but also allow you to keep the weight off in the longer term.
What About Any Excess Fat Or Skin That’s Left After I’ve Lost The Weight?
When you’ve done all the hard work of changing your diet and incorporating exercise into your life, you deserve to be delighted with the results. But diet and exercise can only take you so far, and you might want to compliment your new shape with a bit of help from a cosmetic surgery provider. It’s not unusual for there to be some excess skin and stubborn fat that you just can’t shift, following mild to moderate weight loss. Some of the more popular procedures in these cases are liposuction and tummy tucks. These procedures are not designed to help you to lose weight, but they are successful at shaping and sculpting your new figure, which will help to highlight your hard work. A tummy tuck is a good procedure if you find yourself left with sagging skin in the abdomen area. It will remove the excess skin and tighten it so that it shows off your new shape. Liposuction on the other hand is designed to remove fat cells. If the excess fat you have is subcutaneous, this is an ideal procedure to sculpt your silhouette and provide the finishing touches. You should find that clothes fit better, and your self-confidence will soar.
Should I Change My Entire Wardrobe?
This is the fun part! You may find that your fashion sense is different now that you are the proud owner of a new figure. If your weight loss has been dramatic, you could find a personal shopping experience useful. Most large department stores offer this facility now, and they will be able to suggest outfits and accessories that highlight your shape to perfection. Take your time to get used to your new figure. You still want what you wear to reflect you as a person. Don’t be tempted to drastically change your style straight away or you might end up with a wardrobe full of clothes (albeit a few sizes smaller), that you don’t really like in a few months’ time.
In essence, the main message here is to take things slowly and allow yourself to adapt to the changes you are making. You should find this to be a successful, long-term plan if you allow yourself time to get used to a new way of life. Lots of small changes could add up to something rather spectacular. And you deserve no less!