10 tips to feel healthier and better about yourself

I am not a health expert of any kind but this is just my take on how to make yourself feel better about yourself and generally feel a bit healthier.
 

Tip 1

Drinking water - I know that everyone goes on about drinking litres upon litres of water everyday but do not get yourself down if you do not drink the amount recommended by experts if you are drinking a litre of water a day and before you weren't drinking any at all this is an improvement and you can build it up as you go.
 

Tip 2

Try to cut down on your sugar levels as sugar can be addictive and it actually has bad health effects on your body as it speeds up aging and bloats you and when the quick hit of sugar and energy wares off you feel extremely tired. Even though fruit has lots of good vitamins fruit juice is very high in sugar and the juice doesn't actually have as many benefits as eating the actual fruit as it has been stored for a while. Adding to this try not to overeat dried fruit as it contains the same sugar content as real fruit but is much smaller and easier to eat so you could be overeating sugar without realising. A good book to read concerning this is 'I Quit Sugar' by Sarah Wilson

 

Tip 3

 Try to eat whole wheat foods as opposed to your processed wheat. Processed wheat is much harder for your body to process and whole wheat has many more benefits for your body so try to opt for brown bread, pasta, etc. For more information on good foods for your body Dr Gillian McKeith's Book 'You are what you eat' is very informative.

Tip 4

Try to eat from scratch as much as possible - making your own sauces and sandwiches rather than buying them as you know exactly what is in them. Make your own healthy snacks rather than buying the "low-fat" "low-calorie" products advertised in the shops as they can often have high salt levels or lots of added chemicals to replace what has been taken out to make the product "healthy".

 

Tip 5

Take your time to enjoy your food as if you eat quickly you body doesn't always register how much you have eaten. As well as this be aware of your food choices and portion control to avoid over eating.

 

Tip 6

Try to increase your exercise levels gradually by making small changes like walking to the shops or a friends house rather than taking the car - small changes can make a big difference.
 

Tip 7

Joining an exercise class or exercising regularly with a friend can increase your motivation and dedication as you can encourage each other and discuss your progress as the week by week.
 

Tip 8

Try not to keep weighing yourself. If you keep weighing yourself and do not see a drastic change overnight you will become disheartened and slip back to old habits so avoid weighing yourself continuously and focus on how you feel – do you have more energy? Has your skin improved? Do you feel less bloated? WEIGHT IS NOT EVERYTHING. You can look extremely healthy on the outside but your body is extremely unhealthy on the inside and vice-versa.
 

Tip 9

Don't limit yourself - if you cut out everything you like from your diet you are more likely to slip out of your healthy eating habits and back into the unhealthy routine so allow yourself a little bit of everything you like. Moderation is key.
 

Tip 10

One of the most important tips which has been touched on in the previous tips do everything in small steps at a time rather than all at once to make it manageable and less likely for you to quit and slip back to unhealthy habits. Try not to push yourself too hard and expect too much.