Healthier and Happier You

Everything we do should put us closer towards the healthiest, happiest versions of ourselves.

This is how I try to live my life- with exercise, food, activities...

Working to be my best isn't about deprivation. I put it this way:

...Binging on pizza while standing in my kitchen because of a stressful day= NOT GOOD

...Eating pizza with friends at a big, fun party= GREAT

See the difference?

This is why I've found that obsessing over anything just isn't good for you. You will be left blind slighted to everything else! And life is too short to miss out on pizza with friends because of calories and fat grams.

It's about balance and striving toward the healthiest, happiest versions of ourselves. Sometimes that will involve pizza- and sometimes it will be a nice big salad instead. But that is something only you can decide for yourself.

Because of this I want to clarify the After-Dinner Challenge.

I am not saying everyone should eat an apple or nothing after dinner.

I am not saying anyone should deprive themselves if a special treat comes up.

I am saying that after-dinner munching is a big sink of empty and unnecessary calories for me and it's a habit I'd like to lose.

I am saying that if there is a change you'd like to make in your life for the better, do it!

Do what works for you and makes you healthier and happier. If you are on board for the After-Dinner Challenge, great! I am so excited to have you embarking on this 21-day challenge with me! We can definitely do it and it helps to have the support of some great bloggers.

Also: On some weekends I will go out for a treat with my family and friends. During these times my challenge will be put on hold! But on normal nights at home I will definitely go for an apple... and then shut the fridge door.

An After-Dinner Challenge

In response to my last post on Habits quite a few people agreed that limiting after-dinner snacking is a big one for them. So Julie said "Let's do it!"

Since 21 days is standard to create or break a habit, today begins a 21-day challenge to not snack after dinner- other than an apple.

To help us along the way:

- Make sure to include enough protein and sweeter veggies in your dinner to keep you satisfied.

- Drink plenty of water to avoid confusing thirst for hunger.

- Make a list of things to do after dinner to keep your mind busy.

- Keep apples stocked in your kitchen and have one after dinner if you need something.

- Tape an inspirational photo or note on your fridge to remind you of your challenge.

April 7-27 to banish after-dinner snacking.

Are you in?

Leave a comment on this post to tell us!

Edited to add: Do what works best for you. If you eat a steak as a snack right before bed, go for it! I know I mindlessly snack and eat too much when I'm not even hungry at night due to habit. So that's a habit I'd like to break. Some of you are like me and some of you are happy where you are. But do what fits you!

Habits

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Looking around my kitchen you'll see plain yogurt, unflavored soy milk, healthy cereal, healthy one-ingredient nut butters and plain oatmeal.

If you looked around my kitchen today you would never be guess I was a total sugar-addict a few years ago.

In the past I though plain yogurt tasted too sour, would never touch oatmeal and would only drink tea with cream and 5 packets of some kind of sweetener.

What changed?

Little by little I changed. First I outlawed Splenda altogether. I went from 3 packets to 2 to 1 in my tea. I mixed plain yogurt with microwaved fruit to sweeten it myself. Little by little.

Now I don't miss the old habits at all. I'll try sweetened yogurt and twinge and regular peanut butter tastes like candy. Little by little.

They say it takes 21 consecutive days to break one habit and form another. Your healthy habit might take a year. But you can change habits.

ZenHabits has a great post with 5 steps to effective habit change.

On that list:

2. Create a Plan and Write it Down. It is not enough to say to yourself, “I am going to get more done at work.” Think about it this way: What if you asked a randomly selected working-person, “Are you trying to get more done at work?” Almost everybody would say, “Yes, of course.” And the response would be the same if you asked about exercising more often, eating better, or paying more attention to international affairs. It’s in our nature to want to do better. We almost always want to do better. But wanting isn’t enough. You must make a plan. Write it down. Be as specific as possible. Does Jim plan to go into work early or stay late? Will he eat at his desk? Will he exercise good email and phone discipline? Jim needs to create a plan and write it down.

Still about 10 pounds above my happy weight, I am working on making small changes. I don't always have an after-dinner dessert, but I do nibble a lot after dinner. My new habit change is to either not snack after dinner at all or to just eat an apple. If I am truly hungry I can eat but otherwise I will squash a calorie-heavy habit.

Have you successfully changed any habits in your own life? Any tips? Are there any habits you want to change? What are they?