Too often I hear my friends talking about how they plan to start living a healthier life after the first of the year. But putting off our healthy-living goals to the New Year could be setting ourselves up for failure.
A 2009 study from the University of Hertfordshire in the UK found that more than 75 percent of New Year’s resolution-makers gave up. The success stories are those who broke down their goals into small, achievable steps.
Our lives are an investment in our future. If we fuel ourselves with junk food and fall into poor exercise habits, we won’t have the reserves to draw on for energy and good health. Consider each day an opportunity to make an investment in good habits so we can withdraw stamina, strength and resilience.
Here are six ways to push the reset button on our healthy habits – starting now! Even if we’re already on a health-track, there’s always room for improvement.
- Sleep it off. A 2009 study from the University of Chicago found that people who don’t get a full night’s sleep are more likely to gain weight and have more difficulty losing body fat when they are dieting. Stick to a regular bedtime and wake-up time, even on the weekends. Ideally our bedrooms should be dark, cool and quiet.
- Drink smarter. Ditch the conventional wisdom that our daily fluid intake should only consist of water. Drink vegetable juice, assortments of teas, coffee (not too much), and diluted fruit juices, if you want, but be mindful of the calories.
- Lose the hidden pounds. We can’t underestimate the importance of elimination. To keep our colon healthy, we need to increase our fiber intake to 25 grams a day.
- Make it a 5-veggie day – everyday! The darkest leafy greens help keep our bones strong so don’t skimp.
- Shrug off sugar. Every time I cut back on refined sugars my energy level rises and stays there. It’s easy to fall into the trap of grabbing a sugary snack for a quick boost; but the crash that follows is never fun. Simple substitutions, like choosing a piece of fruit over a glass of juice, or sparkling water over soda, can do wonders for our mood, energy, and waistline. A study of more than 50,000 nurses found that women who had just one sugary soda or glass of juice a day weighed more than those who drank less than one a month.
- Grab different grains. Many people have gluten sensitivities that wreak havoc on their digestive systems. Bring a variety of grain choices into your diet such as steel-cut oat meal, quinoa and brown rice.
And of course we do have to move our bodies! A minimum of 10 minutes a day will help keep our bodies on course. Even if we workout just 10 minutes a day I have a warning for you – it will become addictive! Work out a little longer, focusing on different body parts, and you’ll really start to see a difference in how you look and feel! Schedule the time and you’ll have a healthy new habit that’s a keeper!
Between Saladmaster helping you with all of your cooking needs and me helping you with all of your exercise needs you will not only have a healthy December but you will have healthy habits already in place as you head into 2012! Don’t wait – start now – your body will thank you!
Click on the picture below for information on Kathy’s Body Blast Solution DVDs and equipment is designed to take the guess work out of setting up and sticking to a healthy workout and nutritional lifestyle.
Makes a wonderful holiday gift!
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