People go on a diet for different reasons. For some, they do it to live a healthier lifestyle. Others are ordered or encouraged by their doctors to avoid diseases. There are those who go on a diet to improve their physical appearance.
Whatever the reason is, it always comes down to whether an individual is successful or not when going on a diet. For most people, the top two factors to focus on when going on a diet is exercise and food. However, there are three more we believe are also very important.
1. Mental Health & Diet
According to the American Psychological Association, 38% of adults in the United States consume unhealthy food or overeat to distract themselves from stress. The report also said that there are people who skip meals more than once a week because of stress.
The condition of your mental health can influence your motivation towards your diet. Dealing with stress, depression, anxiety, and other medical conditions can hinder you from achieving your goal.
That is why always be mindful of your mental health. Learn how to better take care of yourself. When your mental health is strong and positive, then eating a healthy diet and exercising are much easier.
2. Sleep
Just like with mental health, sleep can impact your diet either positively or negatively. For example, people who do get not enough sleep tend to feel sluggish throughout the day.
Are you familiar with the hormone Ghrelin? It is known as the “hunger hormone” meaning if your Ghrelin goes up, there is a good chance that you would eat more. Your sleep pattern affects your Ghrelin. “Sleep-deprived adults tend to have higher Ghrelin levels, more hunger, and less feeling of fullness compared to adults who get seven-to-nine hours of sleep,” as per the experts of Brigham Health Hub.
Make sure to get enough sleep or start establishing a better sleep pattern.
3. Work
If you are a professional, tend always take into consideration how your work can affect your diet. These days, more and more employers are being more mindful of the well-being or wellness of their employees. That resulted in more investment and programs that motivates employees to better take care of themselves.
If you work for a company that does that, then great. But if not, then you need to do something about it. Your work can bring you joy or stress. Those can then influence your daily routine exercises and diet plans.
A successful diet can also be achieved inside the office. There are many way you can do this. Eat healthier, encourage your colleagues to go on jogging or walking meetings. There are many ways to do so.
These three factors can either make or break your diet venture. So, before you do it, consider everything that can have an effect on your plans and what you hope to achieve. Another great tip is to talk to experts and people who are experienced in this kind of thing. Learn as much as you can and always think ahead.
