Yesterday I fell off the clean eating wagon. Not a very positive way to begin this blog but perhaps a realistic one!!! Normally I would go down the shame spiral of beating myself up, but now i’m realising, it’s ok to have a little break now and then. I’m only human after all! Just as long as it doesn’t become a habit it’s ok (and realistic) to indulge in a nice meal and a few drinks on a special occasion.

So in response to last night, here are my 25 reasons for eating clean and exercising which I have personally experienced. At first I thought, oh god this is going to be really hard, but the more I got into this task the more things I thought of! Just goes to show there is every reason to eat clean and exercise and none not to!

1) Both exercise and clean eating gives you more energy
2) Both give you more self confidence — feeling sexier in your own skin
3) Clean eating gives you greater awareness and self education of what food and chemicals you put into your body, to make informed choices
4) Clean eating makes you feel ‘full’ for ages and satiated in a way you don’t feel in a white carb heavy meal
5) Exercise increases general life motivation by attention achieving goals
6) Exercise gives you increased mental stamina to get through difficulties and the working week (I draw on the same mental strength when I get through a tough workout, as to get through stressful times at work)
7) Exercise gives you increased physical stamina and endurance
8) Natural flavours and sugars in food become enhanced and natural foods taste ‘tastier’ as your tastebuds adapt to eating foods without heavily laden additives and sugars
9) Exercise is an amazing form of stress release. (I would underline this about 50 times if I could)
10) Relief from digestive problems like IBS
11) Feeling good after a meal instead of feeling bloated and uncomfortable — drawstring pants anyone?
12) Clean eating gives you regular and healthy bowel movements (you know what I mean — toilet contents after an all night drinking session?!)
13) Exercise is a good excuse to get out the house and get some fresh air, or be sociable
14) Exercise and clean eating both regulate your moods (important for someone like me who’s up and down like a yo-yo!)
15) Exercise pushes your limits every day and gives you a sense of achievement
16) Exercise fights depression through endorphin release! Those people who have got that post exercise feeling great feeling, know what I mean! Research has indicated in some cases it is as effective as anti depressants.
17) Eating clean helps ward off diseases like cancer and diabetes by eating a diet high in anti-oxidants and nutrition (Ok so I haven’t personally experienced this one, but the research speaks for itself here).
18) Both things help to boost your immune system (as someone who has suffered with a low immune system for years — it definitely works)
19) Good for your sex life. Exercise increases your libido
20) Exercise is a great time to listen to music you love
21) Both give you clearer skin, nails and hair
22) Working towards goals — be it losing weight or training for a 5k fun gives you greater focus and ambition
23) Look less tired! Research has shown that very sugary, refined foods such as donuts make your skin more tired and sunken
24) Look younger — sugar has been shown to age people
25) `Live longer! Clean eating means you’re not putting harmful toxins in your body which will increase your longevity in the end