Why wait until January to start fresh and integrate more discipline, work towards building a better body, and implementing better habits?
The best time to eat clean and focus on integrating healthy habits is right now.
The next best moments to eat clean and focus on integrating healthier and optimized habits are:
- When you’re stressed.
- When you’re overweight.
- When you’re traveling.
- When the holidays come around.
Why?
1. Stress – The Number 1 Killah
First off, stress is the number one killer.
It’s the one thing you should run away from as much as possible.
It will ruin and wreak havoc on your body.
It also seems to be the source of illness. Many illnesses are the derivatives of long-term chronic stress.
Remove it — quickly!
2. Are You Overweight?
This is an interesting one because there is nothing inherently wrong with eating out, if there are healthy options available and you are choosing these healthy options…
BUT if you are eating less healthy options while you are overweight, you’re spending above your credit limit — eventually what happens is bankruptcy, late bills because you can’t afford the payments, denied access to more credit, denied access to credit period, higher interest rates, and deeper debt loads.
Essentially eating unhealthy foods while you are overweight, and not in your best shape, is like increasing the security while already being imprisoned. Instead of being in a minimum security prison, you’re elevating yourself to medium > high > supermax based on your habits, and here’s why…
Being overweight can do a few things to you:
- It consistently puts you in jeopardy of a decreased lifespan
- It can add stress to your body and life
- It can require your body to work harder to function and manage the extra weight
- It can put you at a higher risk of HBP, diabetes, and other ailments
- It can compromise your ability to move
- It can de-elevate your energy
- It can negatively impact your mood and mental health
Weight Loss Tips
I am not a weight-loss expert. However, my genetic history is overweight. How I’ve combated it? Consistent weight lifting, walking, diet, and discipline.
1) Understanding — One of the best ways to accelerate your weight loss journey is to take time to understand your body, what it needs, what is causing the weight gain, what you need to give up, and what you need to integrate more.
I’ve learned that I do better with very low sugar, very low to zero dairy, and not endless carbs. Do I always eat this way? No, but for the most part I do now.
2) Weightlifting — This is one of the most powerful accelerators to re-shaping your body and fueling your metabolism.
Cardio is great—especially walking—and short powerful bursts can keep the heart strong, but notice what we lose as we get older…it’s muscle. And it’s this thing that keeps us strong, our bodies functioning optimally, and our metabolisms in sync.
3) Sacrifice — When I do any type of intense personal project — whether it’s writing or creating something which can require long hours — I give up the junk because I know it will work against me.
When you’re overweight, you kind of gotta do the same thing.
If you don’t, you’re going to be working against yourself.
You can’t pay down debt if you simultaneously increase your debt.
Pick one path.
Eating out, consuming junk daily, gulping sodas, juices, fancy coffees, and alcohol?
You’re just working against yourself.
3. Traveling
I can go for months at a time traveling without eating shit every day. How? I make better choices and I say, “no” A LOT.
Best things to do when you travel?
- Bring your own snacks (nuts, protein powder, protein packs like tuna or chicken)
- Eat veggies with every meal as much as possible
- Skip dessert — it’s not necessary ALL the time.
Travel does NOT set you up for nutritional success.
You have to make a decision and commit or else, you will be consumed with options to eat whatever and whenever.
Just say “no”
Ask questions to the flight attendants and waiters.
Like, “What does this have in it”? I ask this all the time now.
Or
“I’ll take X dish, but remove all the sauce, NO dairy (this can be a hidden monster for your skin, weight, and hormones — depending on your body type), and no sugar added. Thanks”
Dessert? No thanks
Drinks? “I’ll take a water please.”
4. Holidays
I love a good challenge, and after you say “no” enough, you start to become the master of your body; it’s no longer a challenge to say “no” and integrate discipline, but your new standard of living.
The holidays bring a plethora of opportunities to consume the most amazing foods.
But guess what?
You won’t die if you don’t eat them.
And if you do eat them, you likely won’t die either. Though I do recall hearing ambulances a few times around the holidays during dinner time.
If you’re already in shape and this is your moment, well, bartle doo.
If you’re trying to get on the nutrition wagon, THIS IS NOT YOUR MOMENT.
Prioritize your current and future self by saying “no” and sitting this one out.
You will come out of the holidays in better shape, in more control of your health destiny, and feeling lighter mentally, emotionally, and physically. Moreover, you’ll stop digging yourself deeper into a hole.
I’m not a health expert, but I have been actively working out and learning about nutrition and health along the way. These are tips from my personal experience and not professional health or medical advice. Always consult multiple objective experts before making any health or life-altering decisions.