Model Behavior

Healthy habits you can start today from co-authors of MODELS DO EAT

The first step you can take on your journey to a healthier lifestyle is likely one that you’ve heard before, but Courtney James, a model and health coach from Los Angeles, can’t stress enough how important it is to drink a lot of water. She suggests that you start your morning off with a warm glass of water and a squeeze of lemon. “It’s one of the most simple things to implement into your life and it can really do a lot to improve your overall health.”

By drinking water right when you wake up, not only do you replenish your body from the hydration it needs after you sleep, but you create a mindset that it’s an important habit that should be practiced throughout the day. It can be challenging to start making changes, but try to keep a reusable water bottle with you to encourage yourself. If you’re leaving the room, bring it along with you. If you’re running errands, toss it in your tote. As long as it’s always near you, you’re on the right track.

When it comes to food it’s important to ask yourself what your body needs, and a great way to practice this is by eating mindfully. Jill de Jong, a personal trainer, health coach, and author of Models Do Eat, recommends that you pay attention to the food you put into your body every single day. Think about how a meal made you feel when it was complete. Did it give you energy or make you tired? Did you feel satisfied or bloated? Are you happy about what you ate or do you feel guilty?

When you take a step back and focus on the way food makes you feel, it becomes easier to make healthier choices the next time around. Fresh vegetables are much more likely to make you feel better than a bag of chips and a hearty bowl of quinoa and chicken will keep your energy level higher than fast food will.

To start making healthier choices, try cooking at home or meal prepping for the week ahead so that you can see first-hand what ingredients are going into your meals. “Working with food, like washing fruit and chopping veggies, makes me appreciate what I put into my mouth so much more. I’ll eat better quality food that’s organic and non-GMO because I source it myself,” says Jill.

Aside from inspiring you to reach for healthier ingredients, cooking serves as a great outlet for stress after a long day. You’ll find it satisfying to put wholesome food on the table for yourself and your loved ones.

We’re certainly living in a face-paced world, so it’s understandable why some people say that they don’t have enough time to exercise, but we’d really like to file that thought away. No matter how busy your schedule is, you must focus on creating the time you want for yourself. “If you’re looking to improve your health, you have to prioritize yourself over anything else,” says Nikki Sharp, a model and wellness expert.

Making time to exercise is essential to your overall well-being, but it shouldn’t be something that you dread. “Think about what makes you happy. If you enjoyed tennis in the past, start there, or if you know you like spinning, sign up for a group class.” If you’re trying to start an exercise routine, take things slow and participate in activities that bring you joy so it doesn't ever feel like a punishment.

If you can’t squeeze in a good chunk of time each day, start by making small changes like taking a walk on your lunch break or waking up ten minutes earlier to stretch. Any way that you move your body counts—all that’s important is that you start to put yourself first.

Many of us are guilty of going throughout our day thinking about what’s next on our to-do list, only putting so much focus on the current task. We get so wrapped up in our responsibilities that we often forget how important it is to take time to do the things that we love. Try to dedicate at least an hour to yourself every day and you’ll find that you feel more balanced, inspired, and overall happier.

Take time to finally read that book that’s been sitting on your desk, learn how to make a new recipe, or simply watch a movie with a friend. As important as it is to eat well and exercise, it’s also vital that you make time to relax and reflect on a regular basis. As a result, you’ll go back to your routine feeling refreshed and ready to take on whatever comes next.

Making changes can be difficult, so if you set these goals and find that you can’t reach them right away, don’t get discouraged! As long as you’re thinking about what your body needs and are actively taking the steps to improve things, you’re off to an amazing start. Focus your energy on finding out which foods, workouts, and hobbies make you feel good and you’ll be sure to find your happiest self along the way.