5 tips for healthier eating

1:water, water, water

make sure to hydrate!  water is one of the best things for your body.  drinking the recommended amount in a day can also help you loose weight by flushing out your system.  it can also reduce hunger and improve skin!

2:portion control

if you notice yourself constantly munching/eating a lot on large portions of food, take a step back and ask yourself a couple of questions.  do you eat when something significant happens regardless of if it's positive or negative?  are you actually hungry when you go to grab a snack?  is the food you're eating filling, or do you get hungry soon after?

3:cliche, i know, but don't forget your veggies!

many of the foods we eat nowadays contain a lot of chemicals that our body doesn't naturally process (like corn syrup).  eating vegetables gives our bodies the fiber we need to cleanse our different organs.  eating greens also pulls fat out of your arteries. for more ideas on how to eat green, try the beauty detox by kimberly snyder.

4:switch-a-roos

if there are some foods that you feel like you are absolutely not ready to live without, try swapping them with healthier versions.  

for example:

white bread = wheat bread

2% milk= organic 2% milk

goldfish=whole grain goldfish

frosted flakes=cinnamon life cereal

red meats=fish

5:don't be afraid to try new things

expanding your food choices is a great wait to spruce up your healthy eating.  this was one of the hardest steps for me since i'm naturally extremely picky.  do it in baby steps! start with simply changing an ingredient in a food you already like.  when you are comfortable with that, change to a full meal that you aren't accustomed to!   

5 ways to boost your self esteem

according to jack canfield:

#1: believe in yourself:

it's up to you to find that inner self concept and confidence to do what you want to do with your life

#worth/#abilities/#talents/#potential

#2: identify 9 major successes:

acknowledge your past successes

research shows that the more you acknowledge them, the more confident you become with future issues/projects

#3: keep a victory log:  

recall and write down your successes for each day

whenever you need a boost, write down what you have previously written down

#4: display success signals:

what is in your environment impacts your psychologically

#moods/#attitudes/#behaviors

create a special home in your place for things that remind you of your victories (no matter how small)

#5: keep your agreements:

keeping your word

your brain processes agreements as commitments

if you don't follow through, you learn to not trust yourself

loss of integrity and faith

don't undermine your sense of personal power