Are These Habits Getting In The Way of Your Health Goals?

Habits are ways of repeating a certain behavior so frequently that they're done without consciously thinking about them. Often it's the small habits getting in the way of your health goals and it isn't until someone points them out that you think about changing them.

Whether your goal is fitness or health related, ask yourself if one of these 7 habits are getting in the way of your health goals. Then ask yourself if and how you're willing to fix them.

Habits Getting In The Way of Your Health Goals

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Skipping Breakfast

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Your body has spent hours resting and repairing, not it needs nourishment to be active throughout the day. Breakfast regulates metabolism keeping blood sugar levels stable. People who skip breakfast generally crave sugar and carbohydrates because they haven't fueled their body properly.

Breakfast should be balanced with complex carbohydrates, fiber, a healthy fat and protein to maintain blood sugar and provide satiety.

Lacking Protein

Protein isn't just for the weight room guys. It's the building blocks of the body. Muscles, tissues and bones need protein to repair and rebuild. Regardless of whether you're trying to lose weight, gain weight, run a marathon, lose weight or maintain weight, everyone needs protein in their diet and enough of it.

Contrary to popular belief, most people are lacking protein in their diet. That is, good quality protein. Lean meats, dairy, eggs, beans and avocados are excellent sources of protein. The average active person should aim for .8-1 grams of protein daily for every pound of weight. For example, if you weigh 140 pounds then 112-140 grams a protein should be consumed daily.

On a side note, while protein supplements are one way of getting protein, they are no replacement for eating {whole} foods.

Not Eating Enough Healthy Fat

Consuming meals and snacks containing healthy fat stabilizes blood sugar. Fat can help you surpass sugar cravings, keep you full and avoid over consuming carbohydrates.

Omega-3 fats in particular, have been shown to aid in weight loss and athletic performance. They also protect the body from developing disease. Good sources include extra virgin olive oil, coconut oil, hemp seed oil, raw nuts and seeds. Hemp seeds are an easy add to soups, salads, yogurts, smoothies and baked goods and can with so many health benefits.

Eating Too Many Processed Foods

While you can lose weight eating 100 calorie packs or run a marathon on gels, most of these foods are highly processed and contain chemical additives, sweeteners, food colorings and other toxins. Too many processed foods places added strain on the liver to filter them out on a regular basis. This is in addition to the liver's already high demanding job. Too much strain on the liver can lead to hormone disruption, insulin resistance, obesity, diabetes, liver disease, etc.

Checking the ingredients on food labels should be the first thing you do. Know what's in your food before you buy it as it could be chemically interfering with your health goals.

Not Eating Enough Fiber

Fiber is important especially for weight loss and maintaining weight loss because of its ability to rid the body of fat and cholesterol. Most people fall short of the daily fiber requirement though. Women need at least 25 grams per day while men need 38 grams. Fiber comes in the form of fruits, vegetables, seeds, nuts, beans and whole grains.

You can do something as simple as adding 1-2 tablespoons of flax or bran to yogurt, protein shake, smoothie or pancake batter to boost your fiber. You can also get more fiber by adding a daily fiber cleanse to your drinks.

Doing The Same Thing Over & Over Again

Just as you develop habits over time, your body adapts to the things you do and eat, and it does that very easily. Whether your goal is weight loss or fitness related, you need to vary what you do and what you eat to keep your body in the mode of trying to adapt to new things. Long term this will get you the best results. Not to mention eating the same foods over and over again puts you at risk for nutritional deficiency.

Too Much Stress

Work, exercise and life place stress on the body. Chronic stress over time can lead to a myriad of problems affecting metabolic hormones. When the production of hormones is disrupted, it can adversely affect mood, nutrient absorption and trigger sugary food cravings. Those cravings can easily become a chronic cycle of stress and sugar binging which will negatively impact your health goals.

You have to plan to manage stress the same as you plan for other aspects of your life. Plan to get enough sleep, plan to eat well and plan to manage your caffeine intake.

If you you're having a hard time managing stress, adding a magnesium anti-stress drink to your nightly routine can help. Most people are magnesium deficient. A supplement will help you wind down and improve your quality of sleep.

Related: What Your Sugar Craving Is Telling You About Your Health, Is Sugar Making You Fat?, Why You Need To Plan Ahead To Lose Weight

About Megan

Megan is a certified nutrition practitioner, author, freelance food photographer and fitness instructor living in Phoenix, Arizona. On her blog, Skinny Fitalicious she shares EASY, gluten free recipes for weight loss. Follow Megan on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram for the latest updates.