Building any new healthy habit will require some effort, and eating clean is no exception. That’s why it’s so important first to determine what’s inspiring you to change. Maybe you signed up for a race or have a reunion coming up and want to look your best. Maybe you’ve been feeling sluggish and want to increase your energy throughout the day. Perhaps you’re thinking about your long-term health and what you can do to stay healthy in the future. These are examples of intrinsically motivated, positive reasons to aim for cleaner eating. And that’s a good thing.
Research has shown that the best motivation to inspire change comes from within, and is rooted in positive thinking. Cleaning up your diet because someone told you to do it, or because you feel guilty about your current eating habits just isn’t as powerful.