Become a healthier you with these 5 common sense tips

I have such a happy heart from all the positive feedback I received from my post yesterday. Keep them coming! I can't wait to e-mail you all back, especially those of you with questions.

As I mentioned yesterday, today I'm sharing easy things anyone can incorporate into their daily lives to become healthier.  I said I'd share recipes too, but this post ended up being longer than I thought, so I'll share recipes tomorrow.  It will just be a week of health here on The Bargain Blonde!  (FYI - Friday I will have Friday Favorites)

1. Cut out all artificial sweeteners.  I know this isn't the first time you've heard artificial sweeteners are bad for you and can even cause cancer.  I've heard it for years, but disregarded the advice.  Finally I'm listening and I've switched to using Truvia (brand of Stevia, which is a natural sweetener made from plant derivatives not chemicals) and a splash of skim milk instead of flavored coffee creamers and Splenda. I used to drink a Diet Coke or Coke Zero every afternoon, but now I have Green Tea or water and I am perfectly content. I know some of your love for diet drinks may run deeper than mine, but I promise you can give them up if you really want to. Drink carbonated water if your need the fizzle.  

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2. Drink lots of water.  Again, how many times have we heard this?  We all know water is good for our bodies, hair, skin, etc., but a lot of us don't drink enough of it.  The Tone It Up (TIU) girls recommend dividing your body weight (in pounds) in half and drinking that many ounces of water.  So if you weigh 150, you should be drinking 75 ounces of water a day. 

If you really hate drinking water, flavor it with fresh fruit or lemons.  Keep a big bottle on your desk at work and know how many bottles you need to drink to stay on track with your water intake for the day. 

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3. Have fresh fruit and veggies available always. Say bye bye to processed snack foods.  A little bit of prep can make a big difference in choosing healthy options over junk.  I've made sure I have fresh fruit and veges cut up in my fridge in the event I'm hungry but in between meals.   This way I have a smart, healthy option at my disposal.  Pre-cut fruit in your fridge is an easy snack you can grab instead of something like chips. The Tone It Up girls live by the motto, "A piece of fruit never made anyone fat."  So make the right choice!

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4. Limit starches and dairy after lunch time.  I'm not saying don't ever have them at night, but if you are trying to slim down, it's best to limit these when you can in the evenings.  On the TIU plan, your evening meal essentially consists of veges, unlimited green veges and lean protein.  I've started do this and feel so much lighter and "cleaner" in the mornings.  

5. Move your booty.  Small changes add up. Instead of taking the elevator, take the stairs. Park your car in the farthest spot from the door and walk.  Yes it's summer in Texas it is hot as HELL but a few extra steps aren't going to kill you.  You'll just burn a few extra calories.  Go for a walk with your dog/roomie/lover after dinner instead of just sitting on the couch. Wake up 30 minutes earlier than normal and walk 15 minutes away from your house, turn around and walk back.   Just be more active!  The more active you are, the less likely you are to be bored and eat out of boredom.  Win-win, right?

Whatever you do, don't give up.  Your body isn't going to change over night just like you didn't gain extra weight over night.  You have to take it one day at a time and if you slip up, it's not the end of the world. We all cheat and we should.  But if you are making smart nutrition decisions the majority of the time, you WILL feel a difference and eventually see a difference.  Trust.

How do you motivate yourself?  Have any "healthier you" tips not included in this post? Share them below!