Healthy Life: Some Things I've Learned

I've been working on a healthy life for quite some time now, and during this ride, I've traversed up the mountains and down into the valleys. It's hard to break old habits, do things the right way, and work against yourself when you've been doing things the same way forever. I'm finally on the right track towards getting my health where it should be and I've learned some things along the way. Today, then, I'm going to share what I've learned on my journey so far.

1. Getting healthy is hard.

No doubt about it, getting healthy is a battle, and the battle is with yourself. You are your own worst enemy when it comes to getting healthy. Start small and work your way up.

2. Over-eating is an addiction.

Constantly over-eating is an addiction, much like smoking and alcohol abuse. No matter the root cause, you have to deal with it whether that's mentally with yourself or if you need to seek the advice of a professional.

3. It's okay if you eat too much once in a while.

Denying yourself indulgences doesn't serve any good purpose. If you never indulge you're more likely to fail. So, if you want to eat a bunch one day once in awhile, go for it. Just don't make it a habit.

4. Dieting is temporary.

Dieting is temporary but being healthy lasts forever. Stop dieting and re-train yourself to be a healthier version of you.

5. Consumption of alcohol should be kept to a minimum.

Whenever I drink too much, I'm in terrible physical shape the next day. I find it hard to get any exercise and most often will just skip it. On top of that, I find myself feeling super-hungry and will turn back to all my old eating habits. Lastly, drinking alcohol just adds plenty of excess calories.

6. Getting a good night's rest is vital.

Not getting enough sleep does the same number on my body as the day after drinking, just not quite as pronounced. It also throws your entire bodily clock out of whack.

7. Discipline is key.

My secret weapon to getting healthy? Discipline. I have to be my own coach, guide, cheerleader, and drill sergeant. If I'm not disciplined, I find that I fail.

8. Nothing beats diet and exercise.

The key to long-term success is eating a well-balanced diet and getting regular exercise. All the fads, pills, and crazy diet infomercials cannot compete with treating your body correctly. Your body needs a healthy balance of foods that provide it with sustenance and regular exercise to keep your heart and lungs functioning healthily. This mindset doesn't stop when you've reached your goal. This is your goal...for life!

9. Avoid stress if at all possible.

Last, but not least, stress should be avoided if at all possible. Stress is a trigger and having good mental health is just as important as physical health. Avoid stressful situations and try to make time to decompress from everyday stressors.

And, that, my friends, are some of the things I've learned on my path to a healthy life. As for myself, here's my progress thus far:

• I'm now down a total of 90 pounds from my heaviest. 
• While I still have days where I indulge a bit more than I should (and that's okay), I typically eat three regular-sized meals and skip snacks. 
• I walked/hiked 119.01 miles in the month of May, and am 15.67 miles up for June so far. 
• I've dropped a total of three sizes from my heaviest and I finally bought some new clothes. 
• Last year I bought a swimsuit off of Amazon that I couldn't get past my stomach, but when I tried the other day it fit perfectly! I bought a swimsuit coverup to go with it and am attending my first ever pool party in a few weeks.
• While I'm proud of my achievements so far, I still have a ways to go. Even so, I'm finally happy with myself and how I look. Having come as far as I have - combined with conquering some of my food/exercise demons - has been a great boost to my mental health as well.

Are you working towards a healthy life? If so, what are some of the things you've learned? Let me know in the comments.