Celebrating Healthy Confident Women on National Women’s Day

Choosing Long Term Health Solutions Over Get Fit Quick Plans

#nationalwomensday #womenshealth #healthychoices #womensnutrition #femaleempowerment

Focusing on a balanced diet filled with nutrient dense foods and a realistic physical activity plan is one of the first and best steps to taking control of your health. Putting your health first and creating a healthy self-image is one of the simplest ways to empower yourself and other women.

Setting unrealistic body image goals can lead to negative and often detrimental eating patterns marked by extremely restrictive caloric intake, removal of a certain food group all together, and punishment for indulging. Learning how to balance food and emotions is key to embracing a healthy self-image.

Set realistic goals for yourself when making a change. What is a healthy weight for YOU? What small daily changes are you willing to make that will have a positive effect on your health long-term?

Following expensive and restrictive weight loss and detox programs that offer a “quick fix” tend to lead to failure due to the lack of variety and extreme restrictions. Even if weight loss is achieved individuals are more likely to gain the weight back quicker and often gain more weight, when compared to those that followed a long-term weight loss plan.

Juicing cleanses have peaked in popularity in recent years for their promise of weight loss and nutrient packed products. Juices are a great way to increase vitamin and mineral intake; they can bridge the gap to help meet recommended daily intake of micronutrients when diet fails. But they should not be used as meal replacements. Juice is high in simple sugars and has virtually no fiber remaining. It’s metabolized quicker due to its high content in simple sugars which leads to a rapid spike in blood sugars followed by a rapid decline; long term affects can lead to insulin insensitivity and diabetes. Grab a piece of fruit instead or a smoothie. They still contain all the vitamins and minerals in juices but with the added fiber which can help curb hunger for longer, maintain steady blood sugar levels for long-lasting energy, reduce LDL cholesterol levels, and promote healthy gastrointestinal function.

Variety is the spice of life! Making a conscious effort to consume a variety foods is important when setting nutrition goals for yourself. Having a cheeseburger and piece of chocolate cake every day is not recommended, having them occasionally is. The important thing to remember is that although simple sugars and saturated fats should be limited in the diet, our bodies still need some to survive! They play vital roles in the function of our body like hormone signaling, cell protection, and energy.

Making realistic, attainable choices when it comes to your diet can lead to positive life-long changes that create a healthy body image and might just inspire other women to do the same!