1. Ditch the sugar - I am a sugar addict, and that's not me just being dramatic. I have now gone a whole week sans the white stuff, and after a pretty horrendous few days of withdrawals I'm now feeling pretty darn good. Ditching the sugar will instantly help assist in the lowering of body fat percentage, will stop those horrible afternoon sugar slump periods and stabilise your mood.
2. Get more sleep - Not only will you feel happier and more refreshed, studies have shown that lack of sleep can actually stifle weight loss by slowing your metabolism down. The more sleep you manage, the more energy you will have to face the day ahead and your mind will be clear to make better informed decisions.
3. Remove negativity - Whether it comes from negative people in your life or from your own mind, negativity is not an ingredient for a healthy and mentally fulfilling life. The less you respond to negative people and situations the more peaceful your life will become. Surround yourself with people that are only going to lift you higher- a negative mind will never lead to a positive life.
4. Don't give up - 'Courage does not always roar. Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying "I will try again tomorrow"'. I know all too well that the journey to both mental and physical health is a hard one, and there are times of plateau where the struggle and effort you are putting in doesn't seem to equate to the results coming out. If you ever find yourself close to giving up, take a moment to remind yourself why you started the journey in the first place.
5. Plan meals - When you're busy this is so vitally important. This is something that I have only recently started doing, but the difference it has made in my diet is amazing. When I had a day jam packed full of lectures and meetings I had a bad habit of skipping lunch and instead would reach for a suggary pick me up (or twelve). Now I always know everything that I am going to eat that day, and by removing the temptation it is much easier to stay on track.
6. Be honest - Remember that you're only cheating yourself. You are doing this for yourself and no one else so denying failure and slip ups will only hinder your progress. We all have blips, the best thing to do when these happen is to face it and move forwards learning from your mistakes.
7. Ditch social media - Social media sites are full of people projecting the most 'perfect' version of themselves they can be. The negativity starts because you are constantly comparing yourself to other people without being aware of their full story. I read a quotation recently that really stuck in my mind; 'The reason we struggle with insecurity is because we compare our 'behind-the-scenes' with everyone else's highlight reel'. The only person you should ever compare yourself to is the person you used to be.
