If you ask them, many people will say that they want to stay healthy or get healthier, but in order to do so, they likely will have to make some changes in their life.
Changing your lifestyle is never easy, no matter how large or small the changes are. You've gotten comfortable doing things the way you are, so, even if you feel like you want or should change things, actually putting those plans into action can often take some hefty doses of motivation and a bit of discipline, as well.
To get a better handle on why people decide to get healthier, INSIDER spoke with seven real people to learn what motivated them.
Rachel Kasab resolved to get healthier to become happier with herself — inside and out.
Looking in the mirror and not liking what you see is a commonly cited motivator when it comes to getting healthier. You may have felt motivated by this yourself in the past.
"I've always known that I needed to lose weight and went through a yo-yo cycle my entire life, but it really started to dawn on me that I couldn't be happy for other people in their lives — careers, relationships, etc. — because I wasn't happy with myself," Rachel Kasab, a freelance publicist, told INSIDER. "Once I realized this, I knew I had to start my journey towards health and wellness and make a change. I've never looked back."
Kasab has lost nearly 60 pounds since 2013 and launched an Instagram account, website, and blog to hold herself accountable and share her story. "You are in a constant state of learning — your limits, your triggers, your strengths, your weaknesses," Kasab added. "You ask yourself a lot of questions like, 'do I want to go to this happy hour with coworkers if it means messing up some of my progress?’ You have to learn how to balance your new healthy lifestyle with your relationships, too. Not everyone is going to be 100% supportive all the time, and I had to learn how to deal with that."
Because a weight loss goal requires maintenance, even after meeting your goal, Kasab said that if you take a challenge like this on, you quickly learn that it’s a lifelong commitment, not a quick and easy fix.
Leslie Fischer resolved to sleep better so she could tackle the day.
Healthy sleeping habits are very important. Unfortunately, many American adults don’t get enough sleep. About 35% of American adults over the age of 18 reported sleeping less than seven hours a night in 2014, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Sleep can affect your health in numerous ways, so it’s not something you should just shrug off if you’re one of those adults who’s not getting enough.
"I am a mom of four little boys and the responsibility of it all can be overwhelming, especially if I am not well-rested," Leslie Fischer, a sleep and wellness blogger, told INSIDER. "I remember having the thought one morning that 'if only I had slept more last night, I could deal with whatever life throws my way today.’ What was I doing at night when I should have been getting to bed earlier? Watching Netflix, scrolling mindlessly, etc. While everyone should have time to relax and unwind, I decided to set a firm bedtime and go to bed earlier."
In an effort to put her plan into action, Fischer banned electronics from her room and installed blackout shades. She also started to prioritize going to bed earlier to ensure that she could get enough sleep.
"I wake up feeling much more rested. I wake up feeling ready to take on the day instead of exhausted and wanting to stay in bed," Fischer said. "I love it that when I am well-rested, I show up as my best self for my husband, kids and friends. Sleeping well will pay you remarkable dividends yet it is a passive, inexpensive activity. I have come to realize that it is of the greatest gifts we have been given as owners of human bodies."
Elinor Kugler embraced a healthier lifestyle to feel less stressed.
The things you eat likely have a direct impact on how you feel, not just how you look or what kinds of conditions you're susceptible to. For Elinor Kugler, a former pastry chef and blogger, feeling anxious and stressed was what motivated her to make some changes.
"My motivation to embrace a healthier lifestyle started after having worked for many years as a pastry chef. I was baking hundreds of cakes, cookies, and pastries every day, and had to taste each variety to ensure they were 100% up to standards," Kugler said. "Due to the fact that my diet consisted of processed junk, coffee and Coke and a lot of it, I felt empty, and stressed to the point of break and meltdowns."
Kugler decided to cut out processed sugar and flour, eggs, "unhealthy fats," and more — a big change for a pastry chef. Her blog, Let's Brighten Up, focuses on vegan foods.
"Choosing to embrace a healthier lifestyle and eat clean, real food wasn't easy, but I was determined to succeed and knew I couldn't continue down my current path, as it would have serious consequences for me in the future," Kugler said. Big life changes can have big impacts on your wellbeing, but they're not always easy to make, even when you're motivated.
See the rest of the story at Business Insider