Here are 5 ways to create new healthy habits

Creating new healthy habits sounds simple enough but it’s a lot easier in theory than it is in practice, especially when you’re a mum.

You might start off with the best of intentions but then after a few weeks, you slip back into your old habits of finishing off the kid’s peanut butter toast or inhaling a packet of chips without blinking an eye.

Developing and sticking to new healthy habits is not for the faint-hearted, it’s tough and it can be a little boring, especially when you realise you can no longer smash back a snickers bar at the check-out while you’re waiting to be served.

The benefits, however, will be a healthier and happier you, we promise.

5 simple and practical ways you can create new healthy habits.

1. Keep it simple

All the clichés in the world aren’t enough to adequately describe how important it is that you should not try to change every single bad habit you have in one sitting.

Be specific and simple in your goals, make it drinking more water, stopping chocolate and wine during the weekdays or reducing your coffee intake. Remember, Rome wasn’t built in a day – sorry I couldn’t help it!

2. Preparation is paramount

As you throw together school lunches and feed fighting kids in the morning, it’s so easy to eat whatever is in front of you – often that’s rejected toast, cereal or leftover pizza (yum).

The trick is to have your Healthy Mummy Smoothie all ready to go in the morning so you’re not tempted to indulge in other foods. Fresh fruit for your smoothies can be packaged the night before and frozen.

If you need some tips on smoothie prep read Meal Prep Queen Sascha’s time-saving hack.

Setting a day and time each week for meal prep can save you so much time during the week and help you stay on track with your healthy eating plan.

3. Come up with a ritual

You don’t have to wear a feather in your hair and chant around the house every time you’re about to make yourself a salad, but make it the same way every time and soon your healthy new habit will stick.

It will become second nature and become embedded in the way your brain. Having habits save time and energy which is perfect for busy mums.

4. Swap out a bad habit for a good one

It’s super easy to lie to yourself that you deserve to eat six chocolate biscuits or drink some wine because you’ve had a crappy day, but you’ll feel worse afterward.

When the urge hits you like a ball to the head, down tools and head outside for a walk around the block or do some star jumps or plank for 10 minutes instead.  Remember, a bad day does not make a bad week.

5. Ignore the enablers

We all know that well-meaning person who tells us we look great and should not feel guilty about having some treats because we deserve it. These people are enablers and when you’re trying to create a healthy habit they should be avoided at all costs.

This might be hard if you’re married to one, but remember that they aren’t doing you any favours, so stand strong or remind them to join your team and help to reinforce your new healthy choices instead of giving you a ‘get out of jail free’ card.

Stephanie lost 22kg after changing her bad eating habits

This mum says she decided to change her lifestyle habits three days after her daughter was born because she felt overweight, uncomfortable and embarrassed.

Stephanie Marriott, who is a Healthy Mummy community member, has lost an incredible 22kg* following the 28 Day Weight Loss Challenges and drinking the Healthy Mummy Smoothies.

“I signed up to The Healthy Mummy 28 Day Weight Loss Challenge three days after the birth of my youngest and started changing my habits when she was just one week old,” she says.

“I lost 16kg* easily in the first six months with limited exercise. The following four months I lost another 6kg* by adding in some regular exercise.

I have now been maintaining my weight loss a while now, which has been quite easy because I still follow The Healthy Mummy 28 Day Weight Loss Challenges.”

Stephanie says she was overweight before she joined the 28 Day Challenges and had “tried every diet under the sun with no success.”

“I was uncomfortable, embarrassed and completely unhappy with my body. A good friend introduced me to The Healthy Mummy, and I decided to sign up to the quarterly membership,” Stephanie says.

“I told my husband that if I didn’t see any results in the first three months that I would stop and try something else – safe to say I will never NOT be a 28 Day Challenge member.

“The Healthy Mummy has changed my life in so many ways. I’m an energetic, happy mum and a good role model with eating and exercise to my children.”

Stephanie says her recent goals have been to eat less dark chocolate, to do the 28 Day Challenge exercises every day and to only have a wine on the weekends.

“The Healthy Mummy gives you all the tools you need to be successful, and you have the support of over 100,000 other ladies in the Facebook support group. If I can do it, so can you!”

Stephanie’s top tips for making good habits:

• Move your body in the mornings. The longer you delay exercise, the less likely you are to do it. Even just get out and go for a walk.
• Shop online. If you don’t go to the grocery store you are less likely to be tempted into buying products that you don’t need and that don’t benefit your journey.
• Be proud of yourself for every choice you make that is a good one. If your scales don’t change or your cm don’t move, focus your energy on your good choices instead. Results will follow! You didn’t put on all of your weight in one week, so you’re certainly not losing it that quickly either.
• Buy meat in bulk and portion into single or double serves. It defrosts faster and prevents overeating as it’s already portioned.
• Trust in the process. It works and it will change your life too.

Join our 28 Day Weight Loss Challenge today and change your life!

Our 28 Day Weight Loss Challenge is an affordable, customisable program designed to help mums reach their weight loss goals and tackle their health.

Our 28 Day Challenge entails: