A Healthier You... Starting Now
Here's a great idea: Take just a few minutes of your day, starting today, to jump start your healthy eating and exercise regime.
As you head off to holiday gatherings, family get-togethers, and celebrations with friends, you may be concerned about the deliciously rich foods you‘ll encounter...and what they might do to your waistline.
Here's a great idea: Don't wait until after the new year to start getting into shape. Take just few minutes of your day, starting today, to jump start your healthy eating and exercise regime. These four tips can help you get started with your healthy habits.
- Manage your portions at family dinners and holiday gatherings. One of the easiest ways to help yourself eat less at holiday parties is to make sure you're not hungry when you get to the party. Before you go, eat a piece of fruit, some carrots and celery sticks, half of a sandwich, or a glass of milk. Once you‘re at the party, choose only a few of your favorite dishes to eat, and keep your portions small.
- Keep your new healthy habits simple. Start out with something quick, easy, and almost mindless...like five jumping jacks a day or an apple every day as a snack. Don't feel you have to add more to that right away. Just do that for three weeks, and then add a bit more. That way, your mind and your body will have an opportunity to get used to these new things and make them long-term habits.
- Remember this: Even a few minutes matters. Recent studies indicate that just five minutes of activity at a time can promote a healthier you. If you're just starting out, build a few extra minutes of walking into your day whenever you can. Park further from your destinations, use stairs instead of the elevator, and walk around the block on your morning break at work. These small steps will help you make exercise a daily habit.
- Forgive your missteps. If you get off track, don't tell yourself that you failed. Don't dwell on the little hiccups along the way. Just pick yourself up, review your plan, and make adjustments to it so that you'll succeed in the long run. Don't resolve to change your whole life to make up for past excess. Instead, try to return to basic healthy lifestyle routines.