Happy Monday! Today I’m joining the girls at The Blended Blog as they talk about Health Tips. Now I’m no expert on health, but I do try my best to live a healthy lifestyle.
There are all kinds of thoughts on healthy living out there, and the first two that come to mind are:
1 – All things in moderation
2 – The 80/20 rule. Eat healthy 80% off the time and splurge 20%
AND
a healthy lifestyle is 80% diet and 20% exercise.
This rule applies in both places.
Along with eating well, exercise is an important component to a healthy lifestyle. I have been what I would consider an avid exerciser for the last 20 years. I’m one of those odd people who is self motivated and works out at home by myself. I do some form of cardio and combination of weights 5-6 days a week.
Last year I did a round of The Faster Way To Fat Loss. You can read about that here. The Faster Way is a program based on intermittent fasting, carb cycling and clean eating. Before ever starting the program I already pretty much practiced the intermittent fasting part, but I learned about tracking macros and balancing fats, carbs and protein during the process. I now try to implement parts of this into my life daily. If you are looking for a way to jump-start a healthier lifestyle, the Faster Way to Fat Loss is a great place to start. There is a new round starting today and it’s not too late to join. You can use my affiliate link and get started.
So what are a few of my personal healthy living tips?
- Clean eating are two buzz words in the health and fitness industry. What is clean eating? Eating whole, unprocessed foods.
- Drink water. This one is hard for me. I am not a water drinker, but I’m trying my best.
- Eat fatty fish like salmon, which is loaded with omega-3 fatty acids and various other nutrients
- Snack on nuts like almonds. Despite being high in fat, nuts are incredibly nutritious and healthy and they are loaded with magnesium, vitamin E, fiber and various other nutrients
- Get enough sleep.
- Try to limit refined carbs like those found in bread and pasta.
Here are some examples of how I am trying to eat clean.
Roasted vegetables with a little salt, pepper, Italian seasoning and olive oil
Eggs with spinach, tomatoes, feta and Aidelle’s Chicken Apple Sausage
Scrambled eggs with Columbus organic turkey and thin cheddar cheese
Shrimp Scampi with zoodles
Eating clean, unprocessed foods isn’t hard, but it does take a little more thought and planning. It’s so easy to go to the pantry and grab a handful of pretzels for a quick snack (and I still do that from time to time), but I also try to opt for fruit, nuts, and cheese as alternatives.
I also like to add chia seeds to yogurt and oatmeal for some added nutritional benefits. Chia seeds are high in fiber and protein, loaded with antioxidants and omega-3 fatty acids, which are so good for heart health.
What are your thoughts on healthy living? Do you have some tips to share with me? I’d love to read them in the comments.
Hope y’all have a wonderful, healthy week.
Thanks for sharing ! I needed a reminder to eat clean ! I’m a huge snacker. I went to the doctor last week and my cholesterol levels aren’t great and the levels continue to increase. Not a good thing, so eating healthier is what I need to DO !!! Have a fabulous day ~
Thanks Tammy! It’s hard to eat clean!!!!! Eat oatmeal! My dad had cholesterol issues and that really helped. It’s so easy to whip up for lunch and add some frozen cherries or saute some apples with a little brown sugar. Delicious. Happy Monday!!!! XOXO
I do think that what we eats makes such a difference in our lives, Lisa!! We started clean eating about 10 years ago and have never looked back!!
XOOX
Jodie
http://www.jtouchofstyle.com
That’s so awesome Jodie! I never even thought about it much until last year when I did that program. It’s hard to make a total change, but we’ve sure made a lot of adjustments! Happy Monday! XO
I enjoy this way of eating.. but with Gastroperesis, I have mini meals. I LOVE fruits and vegetables and boy, those pics look yummy. I am hoping to make a vegetable flatbread, roasting some great squashes.. I have a water bottle from Simply Modern that keeps ice water cold for 24 hours, so I drink enough as I love ice water. Sounds like you do well!
jess xx
Mini meals are great for so many people. I’m a just can’t eat one bite kinda girl for the most part though. LOL Here’s to more H2O XO
Your thoughts on healthy living and eating is exactly how I live by life and how I try to cook for my family. Yes, I like my sweets, but only in moderation. So important and sometimes just a bite will do ya! Great post GF!
Thanks Andrea! I do think we have so much in common and I LOVE that. Happy Monday doll!! XO
Clean eating is so important! Great tips
Thank you Sarita! Happy Monday!
I think finding out that you didn’t drink water everyday was the most surprising thing I discovered about you, Lisa, in Nashville. I knew you were active and exercised regularly, so I just assumed you were a water girl. I’ve only been on the water bandwagon since April, but it has gotten a lot better for me! Happy Monday, Girlfriend! ?
Yeah, we didn’t grow up drinking water, so I was never in that habit. Up until about 5 years I lived on diet coke/pepsi. I cut back drastically because I was worried about the artificial sweeteners and what it was doing to my mind and body and I heard J-Lo said it was bad for cellulite. HAHAHA! Crazy I just heard that and took it at face value. I go through spells of being better at it, but it’s not easy for me. XOXO
I am all about that healthy lifestyle! I walk 5-6 times per week and had slacked off on classes at my gym so today I made it my mission to start back to doing 2 classes of pilates per week plus my 5-6 miles per day (5- 6 x week!). I am also a lifetime WW member so I really try to stay within my points each day. For me it HAS to be a lifestyle. I have yo-yo’d all my life but NO MORE! Way to keep it healthy friend! Oh and I drink about 3 liters of water per day!
You are a rockstar! You are 100% right that it has to be a lifestyle. I have always watched my weight, but since the big M I’ve had to be even more diligent. (it stinks?). 3L of water is a lot. I’m proud of myself if I get in 32 oz..hahaha.
Well, I’m probably not all that healthy of an eater but I’m big time into moderation and I drink a lot of water. Have a great healthy week!
That sounds good too. Both of those are important. ?
How did I miss this the other day? I am so sorry! I swear you have the best healthy recipes and the pictures of all the veggies make my mouth water. That fish taco salad is to die for and I’m thinking I need to make that again soon. You shared all the great tips my friend!
Love ya!
xo,
Kellyann
I probably had it posted wrong. LOL I was going to get some Napa cabbage at the store last week and of course they were out. What the heck. I go to the neighborhood mkt (walmart) and they are always out of 50% of what I need, yet I keep going back. XO
The FASTer Way really did help me a lot and I still do it on my own. I’ve come a long way with eating healthier, but I could still do better. For some reason, I have a hard time eating almonds… they are just so bland to me! I also need to try to get myself to like salmon better. I’ve never been a big fish eater, I prefer scallops, shrimp, etc. which isn’t bad! I do love zoodles. I need to get better about drinking more water again. I can drink a lot if I add lemon. I’ve been drinking a lot of unsweet tea lately on the low carb days! Thanks for sharing these recipe!!
Carrie
curlycraftymom.com
Have you bought the lightly salted Kirkland almonds at Costco? They’re pretty good. I couldn’t eat just plain unsalted ones. The smoked version are also pretty good by Blue Diamond. My parents don’t like salmon and I absolutely love it. I go back and forth with how much to restrict myself to clean eating. It’s soooo hard and it’s just not really worth the little difference it makes to give up everything. I really think I’m just trying to do my best, practice moderation and live my best life. The older I get the more stuff I have to give up and it totally stinks, so my advice to you is don’t give up too much now, while your body can still handle it. (Amanda would prob die if she knew I was giving you that advice. HA!)
One of my favorite snacks is roasting unsalted raw whole almonds in oven on 350 until medium brown. They are so yummy and crunchy and with the toasted flavor I don’t need the salt. I also roast raw sliced almonds to sprinkle on my fruit and yogurt so good!
These are all delicious! Shrimp scampi is a great way to use zoodles! I need to try that!
It really is good and a good substitute for pasta. 🙂
The hardest part of clean eating for me is giving up bread and pasta! All of these recipes sound delicious! Thank you for sharing!
Jill – Doused in Pink
Oh I know it! I think I’ve had pasta 3 times in the past year. WHAT? I don’t eat much bread, but I can’t go cold turkey on that. I love me some carbs.