Maintaining Your Healthy New Year's Resolutions
by Patricia McDougall
It’s that time of year again. Brand new calendar, holidays are a memory, it’s time for a fresh start. Perhaps the most common New Year’s resolution is to lose weight, often attempted with unused gym memberships and diets that quickly fade. The term “diet” has Greek roots,meaning “way of life.” Rather than“going on a diet” this year, which implies later going “off” the same diet, try employing a new “way of life.” When the goal is to get healthy and appropriate lifestyle changes are made, the weight will naturally melt away.The simplest tips for living that healthy new lifestyle every day:
1. Eat more veggies. Yes, mom was right about this one. Eat loads of vegetables that grow above the ground (with the exception of corn).
2. Drink more water. Forget about counting glasses; drink until urine is clear. Easy.
3. Eat “real” food. Eat only food that is grown, not manufactured. If it comes in a box from a factory, even if advertised as healthy, avoid it.
4. Limit carbohydrates, even “whole grains.” They can wreak havoc on blood sugar and result in cravings for unhealthy foods.
5. Get moving. Find something fun. Dance around the living room, race the kids up the stairs or join a class. Keep in mind, exercise is essential for healthy bones, can be as effective for mild to moderate depression as medications, and increased muscle mass helps raise metabolism, so the body burns calories even while at rest.
6. Manage stress. Cortisol, the stress hormone, is a cause of stubborn belly fat. Prayer, play meditation or simple daydreaming are absolute necessities for good health. Remember that taking time for one’s self is not selfish. Rather, it is a gift to one’s self and others.
Patricia McDougall, RN, BSN, CRS, is an RN Health Coach at Medicine in Balance, in Langhorne. Connect with her at [email protected] or 215-741-1600. January 2014.
