How to Measure Progress in Your Diet
By Genevieve Cunningham
Getting healthy and losing weight has so much to do with your diet. A healthy diet is key to leading a healthy life, and it's one of the most important aspects of a weight loss plan. But if you've made some changes to your diet, it can be hard to determine whether it's really working. Weight loss takes a while, so how can you be sure that your diet changes are for the better? To get a grasp on your new diet changes and your body's response, take a look at these ways to measure diet success.
Pay Attention to Your Body
Your body gives you signs about its current state of health all day long every day. If you've recently changed your diet, your body is definitely going to respond in one way or another. If it likes the changes that you've been making, you may notice less inflammation, weight loss, clear skin, and similar positive side effects. When your diet is healthy, your body just feels better. If yours is beginning to feel better overall, then chances are good that your diet is moving in the right direction.
Compare Your Cabinet
If you've been working toward positive diet changes for a while, open your cabinet and take a look. How does it look compared to before? Are there fewer packaged snacks -- like chips, sweet treats, or sugary granola bars? Is there more fresh food -- such as raw vegetables and fruit? If you're serious about making changes that last, your cabinet and refrigerator should definitely transform over time. If it's transforming in a positive way, your diet is likely going to be successful.
Take a Look at Your Grocery List
A grocery list can tell you so much. Before your next trip to the store, study your list. If your list is full of nutritious foods, then you're probably doing pretty well. If your list is still full of junk, then you may need to continue to make some changes. How does your list look? Are you confident about its contents? If you're still struggling with creating a healthy list, don't be afraid to reach out and get help from the internet, a nutritionist, or someone skilled in healthy eating.
If you're taking the time to change your diet, then you definitely want to feel success. But besides weight loss, it can be hard to determine whether your diet is moving in a positive direction. Use these tips to measure your success, make future changes, and get in the best health of your life.
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Nashua, N.H.