Many people are eager to set new health goals in the first couple of months of the new year. You may be looking for a fast way to lose weight and there’s no shortage of ‘fad diets’ around. These ‘diets’ may provide short-term results, but they are difficult to sustain and, ultimately, they deprive you of the essential nutrients that only balanced eating can offer.

Remember, habits take time to build. Take it slow, give yourself grace, and be consistent.

Below are 5 habits that can help you transform your health!

1. Fluff With Veggies: If you can get in the habit of fluffing your meals with high fiber, low carb, low-calorie veggies, you can likely achieve a moderate calorie deficit without counting, tracking, or cutting out anything.

2. Sips Not Chips: The sips instead of chips mindset allows you to keep the comforting and mindless behavior of having something to keep your hands and mouth busy if you want to, while staying true to your energy and food needs for the day. Sips can be coffee in the AM, herbal tea, low sugar hot cocoas, decaf unsweetened lattes, or naturally flavored water.

3. 10-Second Breather: By allowing yourself those 10 seconds, you get to dial in, ease stress and anxiety, and make a choice about what would really feel good for your body and get you closer to your goals.

4. Do the Little Things: Get in the habit of doing the little things that make you move more. It’ll do more than just get you moving; it’ll keep you alert and decrease the chance of you getting sluggish and tired throughout the day.

5. Talk Kindly to Yourself: Talk to yourself the way you’d talk to your best friend. The self-doubt and self-loathing that follows a dietary misstep lead the individual even further from healthy eating and self-acceptance.

As nutritionist and health expert Leena Abed puts it, with my clients, I focus on shifting habits without restricting or counting calories to achieve sustainable weight loss or weight maintenance. We use practical nutrition so we can live life and feel our best.

For more information follow her on Instagram @Practical.Nutritionist and check out her YouTube channel to stay up to date on the latest health tips and recipes.