14 simple ways to enjoy being healthy

Are your efforts to stay healthy and fit flagging slightly? We asked the experts for their advice when it comes to seeing food and exercise in a whole new light

Being healthy isn’t all quinoa, kale, body-bruising bootcamps and green juices that taste like swamp water, despite what Instagram and social media would have the majority of us believe – and they’re hardly the most motivating of images to keep us on the health wagon long-term.

So what do the pros recommend for viewing “healthy” in a whole new light? These are the mind and body boosting mantras that they live and train.

Here are some tips to enjoy being healthy

Use healthy movement to energies

Healthy movement and exercise will make you feel energised, happy and confident. Healthy movement is about introducing the right balance and finding something that you really enjoy doing; that is how you create a strong, lean body. A good example of this would be taking part in a yoga class a couple of times a week with a really intelligent lifting and resistance programme to keep your bones, muscles and ligaments strong. It doesn’t have to be about being screamed at on a treadmill by someone in hot pants until you throw up, or lifting weights in a class with 30 other people until your knee breaks.

Engage yourself with people who are on the same journey

So seek out friends with the same goals, try new classes where you can build a strong community with likeminded folks. The more the merrier! Hang out with people who priorities their health and who understand what you are trying to achieve. We all need support especially when we are trying to make changes.

 Have a healthy mindset

Though It isn’t difficult to enjoy being healthy but the issue is that people have forgotten what being healthy actually means. The first thing to remember is that healthy is delicious and doesn’t have to mean going on a diet; we all know that diets simply do not work! Healthy certainly is not a steamed chicken breast with a bowl of dust on the side. What healthy actually involves is an abundance and variety of delicious foods flavoured with herbs, spices and a good blend of fruits, vegetables, meats and fish. Clean and Lean has been so successful because that is exactly what it’s about.

Combine it up by working at home

I like to put on a free size gown workout at home. It means I can shower at home, save gym travel time and the weather will never get in the way!

Clear your brain to focus your mind

Try to adopt a positive mindset through meditation and breathing techniques or simply write down your thoughts and emotions to help restore balance and clarity to the mind. With a clearer mind we’re more likely to stick to positive, healthy habits. Do you ever get that knotted feeling in your stomach when you’re stressed? If your body is reacting in that way to stress then in the same way, it’ll almost certainly be reacting to negative thoughts by negatively impacting your physical wellbeing.

Find healthier alternatives that you’ll actually enjoy

When it comes to being healthy And when it comes to pasta, well, you can’t go wrong with chickpea pasta or courgetti. Who wants to live without cake and pasta? I definitely don’t! I like to swap my regular afternoon tea treat for a raw energy ball or gluten free chocolate brownie.

View as a really, not a race

Making lots of changes all at the same time can lead to feelings of deprivation so go easier on yourself, and remember that slow and steady wins the race! The best healthy eating fix is one that you’re going to stick to in the long term. A positive body starts with a positive mind. Embarking on a healthy eating plan or even making just a few changes to your diet is never easy so breaking down your goal into week-by-week tasks or changes can be a much more bite-sized and manageable way of improving your diet and lifestyle.

Don’t go it alone

Find a friend and arrange to do a workout together. Knowing that you are both going through the same thing will motivate you both to push on and get the work done as a team. Working out with someone is often a lot more fun than training by yourself. You are also less likely to cancel a session if someone else is relying on you to work out.

Be your own guru

No matter how well qualified or experienced an expert is, they’re still not you. This means ultimately, you get to decide what your own version of healthy looks like. Try going on an information detox for two weeks and using that time to really ask yourself which rituals suit you and which don’t. If during this time you decide that starting a tradition called ‘Chocolate Cake Breakfast Mondays’ is fun and will keep you inspired to be healthy the rest of the week – go for it.

Know why you are doing it and what you are doing when you are working out

Following a programme that you know will help you reach your goal will help you to enjoy what you are doing even when the going gets tough! Having a purpose to your training is key. Training aimlessly in the gym because you feel you ‘should’ can be demotivating.

Be guided by joy

The only way to lasting health and happiness is through authentic joy. So why do anything that makes you less happy in hopes of getting there? What does this mean in practical terms? Don’t try and be the girl who loves green juice if the sight of it makes you wanna gag. Instead, let your personal taste and preferences guide you. It doesn’t need to be so heavy. Think about it: we want to look our best because we think it’s going to make us happier.

Focus on the positives

When we try to stick to being healthy, we often think negatively about starting our workout when it is far better to focus on the many positive feelings you will experience when you have finished. The mental benefits are immediate such as a sense of achievement, less tension, increased energy, happiness and confidence. Let’s face it – whoever regretted a workout.

See it as ‘me time

You don’t have to go to the gym; in fact, it is far better to choose activities you enjoy and that fit your schedule in an environment you feel comfortable in. You may prefer to make exercise social such as a yoga class followed by a juice catch-up. Exercise is a great opportunity to focus entirely on yourself and have a little ‘me time’ to capture your thoughts and take a break from the hustle and bustle of your day.

Don’t try to do everything at once

Be patient with yourself. Set new goals for each month and pat yourself on the back with each one you achieve. We’re not robots, we are humans and we can only change so much at once. One thing at a time! Being healthy doesn’t have to be overwhelming.