Balancing healthy eating habits with all the other demands in your life can be hard—especially with a busy schedule.  But if you’re looking for an effective routine that you can stick to long after the work parties and family barbecues, there’s no reason not to recommit to your health and fitness this summer.

Whether you’re looking for tips to benefit your workout regimen, a more solid understanding of your nutrition or a way to redefine your dietary goals with the help of a professional, here are five ways to jumpstart a healthy plan, thanks to Precision Nutrition. 

Start with one small change.

Diets often fail because they ask you to overhaul your eating habits all at once. What's more effective: many small changes that add up to big results over time. Identify one nutrition tweak you can make today, like adding more veggies to your dinner plate or replacing the burger with a salad. Tomorrow, see if you can do it again, and so on. 

Be active—at any level.

It can be intimidating to begin a new workout routine, try a different class or get out of your fitness comfort zone. But you don't have to make huge changes to support your health and fitness goals. Focus on physical activities that you truly enjoy—whether that's walking your dog or yoga or circuit training. If you love it, you're more likely to be consistent, which is more important than the level of intensity.

Forget the food “rules.” 

Diets come and go. To improve your health and achieve your fitness goals, you need a plan that fits you and your lifestyle. For help creating an individualized plan, consider tapping into the support of a nutrition coach, who can help you eat, move, and live better—in a way that fits into your real, everyday life.

Celebrate your accomplishments.

Even if there’s a lot you want to change about your nutrition, health and fitness habits, make a point of calling out at least two or three things that you're doing "right." Patting yourself on the back for every inch of progress is crucial to staying motivated and on a track toward your goals.

Expect resistance—and push through it.

Real talk: Life gets busy. Sometimes our schedules get in the way. But that doesn’t mean you have to give up on your goals. Challenges and resistance doesn't mean this isn't going to work. It means you have started the hard work of finding a sustainable plan for you!

If you want to live your healthiest life, Precision Nutrition could be the solution. With hands-on coaches, they’ve helped thousands get in the best shape of their lives. Try their body transformation program for a complete nutrition and exercise plan that’ll help you get the lasting results you really want. Learn more here!

MINDBODY has not verified the claims of partner products.

Original publication date: December 12, 2018