What you do affects those around you. Like when you snack on carrots instead of cookies or order a grilled chicken sandwich instead of a burger … Making great choices for your health may also encourage your family, friends and even your coworkers to make better choices for their health.
So take pride in your positive influence – and take responsibility for the little things you do. You may end up making a big difference.
Want to shed some pounds? Set yourself up for success with the right goals. You may have a long-term goal for your scale. But, in the short term, start with two or three simple goals. These could be adding fruit to your breakfast, not eating after 8 p.m. or walking for a half hour during lunch. Make sure your goals are realistic and healthy.
If you have a bad day, take a deep breath and start fresh the next day. Need help with your goals? Go to choosemyplate.gov and check out SuperTracker. This tool from the United States Department of Agriculture can help you figure out how much and what to eat, how to track what you eat and lots more!
Are you pumped and ready for action? Not so fast! You should always warm up before you exercise. Warming up loosens your muscles and increases your heart rate, breathing, blood flow and temperature. All of these changes help prepare your body for activity, so you can enjoy the full benefits of your workout and help protect yourself against injury. Don’t take shortcuts to getting in shape. For the best outcome, ease your body into a healthy routine.
If you’ve ever taken a gym class or jogged a few miles, you know how music can take the edge off … or add an edge! Music works as a distraction when things get tough. It also helps you focus when physical activity requires a certain rhythm or pacing, such as when you’re timing exercise repetitions to the beat of a song. You can choose your music, depending on how intense you want your workout to be.
Don’t sweat in silence! Add music to your fitness routine for less pain and more gain.
Stress goes hand-in-hand with modern life. While we can’t always avoid it, we can figure out how to cope. Some people find positive ways, like exercise, community service or relaxing hobbies. Other people struggle and turn to escapes like junk food or drugs and alcohol. It’s very important that you find support from friends, loved ones or professionals who can help before your stress feels overwhelming.
You can also prepare your mind and body to handle stress by taking care of yourself. This means eating healthy, exercising regularly, getting plenty of sleep and having a routine to your days.
You may be counting calories for every bite you eat, but are you keeping track of what you drink? Water is the perfect calorie-free beverage. Fill a clean, reusable water bottle and toss it in your bag or brief case to quench your thirst throughout the day. If you’re gulping down regular sodas and other sweet drinks, you may be adding a lot of unnecessary calories to your diet.
Next time you go for a sugary drink, look at the calorie information on the label. Also, check out the serving size. A single serving might only be 100 calories, but if the bottle holds 2.5 servings, you’re up to 250 calories. So make sure it’s worth it!
Americans are heavier today than they were 20 years ago. We also spend a lot more time eating while staring at a screen – on a cell phone, computer, personal digital assistant (PDA) or TV. Plus, we’re choosing screen time over being active. And when your body takes in more calories than it burns, you end up with extra pounds.
So be aware of how you eat and use your time. Skip your online chat and meet up with a friend for a walk instead. Take a lunch break from your laptop and enjoy a healthy meal and good conversation with your coworker. At home, make TV time your physical activity time. You can work out without missing your favorite show.
Is stress affecting your mood and sleep? Then, it’s time to push back. While being active and having hobbies can help, you can also do simple things – like take frequent breaks throughout your day.
Learning how to relax is very important, too. One technique is imagining a peaceful place in your mind and, then, thinking of all the sights, sounds and smells of that place. Or you can practice deep breathing, with a focus on slow, deep and regular breaths, or tensing and relaxing the muscles in your body. If none of these strategies work for you, find a way to relax that does. Whatever you do, take time to de-stress.
Fruits and veggies are low in calories and full of vitamins, minerals and fiber. How important are they to your diet? The United States Department of Agriculture and ChooseMyPlate.gov recommend making them half your plate at mealtime.
If you’re having trouble getting them fresh, use frozen, canned or dried fruits and veggies. With the canned option, watch out for too much sodium or salt. Save fruit that’s too ripe for smoothies with fat-free milk or low-fat yogurt – or bake muffins or bread with it. If your family isn’t crazy about fruits and veggies, try adding them to casseroles, salads, soups and sauces, where they’ll be harder to taste.
Many of us are trying to get more fruits and veggies into our diet. Want to make it easier? Try planting your own! It can be a garden in your yard, raised beds or pots on your patio. And if you don’t have room, get your neighbors involved. Community gardens are a great way to grow healthy food and bring people together. They can be set up on empty lots or in parks and schools.
Another benefit to having your own garden or a shared one is being able to keep everything pesticide-free. Some flowers and herbs even act as natural pest control. So have fun, enjoy the “fruits” of your labor and plant safely.