Motivating yourself to begin the journey to a healthier you can be a challenge, but there are a few things you can do to guide yourself in the right direction.
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Scroll through for a few tips on how to get started on the road to looking amazing in those summer outfits you and your crew can’t wait to rock at ESSENCE Fest.
P.S. Getting your girls on board with your journey makes it even more fun!
01
Calendar
Get into the habit of marking your calendar with a check mark or an ‘X’ depending on whether or not you met the goal you set for that day. Keep the calendar somewhere visible and look back at the end of each month; you’ll start to see the check marks outweighing the ‘X’ marks in no time.
03
Grocery List
You’ve heard a million times that the key to a healthier you is making a complete lifestyle change, versus binging on a 3-month diet or exercise plan that probably doesn’t realistically fit into your everyday life schedule. Instead of going cold turkey and buying foods that you know you won’t eat, take a different approach by finding healthier versions or healthier substitutes that are similar to the foods you love.
04
Working out
Just because you can’t seem to get in that 30-45 minutes on a treadmill each day, that doesn’t mean you have to cut your cardio altogether. The same goes for any other type of exercise deemed “necessary” for improving your health and/or physique. Finding an activity that’s fun, keeps you moving and leaves you feeling the effects of a full workout afterward is just as good, if not better.
05
Grocery Shopping
Even if it’s just to grab a few healthier items to add to your daily meals at the start of your wellness journey without doing a total fridge makeover, going grocery shopping to add some healthy variety to your kitchen is a crucial first step.
06
Black woman in kitchen
Having meals prepared is half the battle when you’re starting your journey to a healthier you. While the meal prep process can sometimes seem tedious in the beginning, you’ll be glad you did it once the week gets started and grow to appreciate the role it plays in helping you reach your goals.
07
Black women working out
Sometimes it’s a friend or family member, and sometimes it’s someone new that you meet at the start of your wellness journey who shares similar goals. Either way, having an accountability partner can make a world of difference, especially during those times when you need that extra push or motivation to keep going.
08
Black woman working out
Getting started on a health and wellness journey can sometimes feel overwhelming if you have a laundry list of things you think you HAVE to do each day to make true progress. Start out setting one goal at the beginning of each day and commit to reaching it. By the end of the week, you’ll have made progress already.
09
Black woman riding bike
Finding things to do that don’t involve you sitting on the couch or in front of the computer at your house is another crucial step towards seeing a real improvement in your overall lifestyle. This cuts down on the time you’re tempted to over-indulge in snacks that could undo all of your progress for the week in one sitting.
10
Woman in bathtub
Getting to a healthier you is not ALL about eating better and working out. Freshening up your daily routine can also work wonders to energize your spirit or motivate you for the week.