Today’s Balance Your Life tip focuses on balancing diet and exercise and healthy food vs treats! After all, we always say “It’s all about Balance”!

Over four years ago now, I wrote a blog titled “85-15, yes really (https://gobelmont.ca/Blog/ArticleID/94/85-15-yes-really) !”. It talked about how, when it comes to weight loss, your success is 85% what you eat, and 15% exercise. This is why so many struggle with weight loss, because many people (and I used to be one of them!) think “well if I’m exercising regularly, I should be able to eat whatever I want.” Unfortunately, that isn’t the case. While it is possible to lose weight without exercising, it isn’t possible to lose weight without moderating your food intake.

This 85-15 guideline works great for balancing not only your ratio of food to exercise, but types of food as well. Here are a few other areas in which you can utilize 85-15:

85-15 each meal

You can 85-15 each meal you eat as well. For example, if you know in advance that you’ll be eating a dessert, then tailor the rest of your meal to allot for the extra treat at the end. Add more vegetables and lean protein, and steer away from the sauces and the breads.

85-15 your daily food intake

Any seasoned dieter knows that the all or nothing approach is a sure-fire way to set yourself up for failure. Instead, approach each day thinking to yourself “Today I’m going to eat 85% of whole, natural good-for-you foods, and 15% not as healthy (this can be a treat, or even toppings and condiments you may use with your healthy food). Be sure to jot down the things you eat; often people think they are following 85-15 but may be eating unhealthy things more than they realize.

85-15 your weekly food intake

It’s happened to all of us: you have a day where it seems you can’t eat enough junk food, and you completely go off the rails of your eating plan. All is not lost! Apply your 85-15 principle to your week. If you have a day of splurging, work to ensure the remainder of your week is clean eating. (And if you splurge on a Friday or Saturday, don’t be tempted to tell yourself “it’s ok, I’ll just start back on Monday!)

Another trick you can do: aim each day to get your 10,000 steps (or whatever personal goal you have set for yourself). If you have a day where you’ve eaten more than you intended to, as a counter-balance aim to take 5000 more steps than your normal goal! If anything, it may help with those pangs of guilt you’re putting yourself through. Find yourself struggling to reach your step goal? Try Housewalking (https://www.hungry-girl.com/ask-hg-q-and-a/housewalking-summer) ! (Yes... it’s a thing. And, walking in place counts!)

This Balance Your Life™ tip is brought to you by Belmont Health & Wealth. Contact us today for information on group retirement, group employee benefits, personal savings and insurance and even wellness strategies!

 

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