Every one of us, regardless of our age, can make plans and set goals. Each new year is a new beginning … a time to start fresh and hopefully get it right.
Write down what you would like to see happen in the year ahead. It’s a way to solidify your dreams and desires, and move into the new year with an upbeat, positive attitude.
The top New Year’s resolution is to lose weight and live a healthier lifestyle. We all start with good intentions and then seem to fall back into bad habits. Experts say it takes 21 days for a new activity to become a habit and six months for it to become part of our personality. It doesn’t happen over night, so be persistent and patient. Obsessing over the occasional slip won’t help you achieve your goal. Do the best you can each day and take one day at a time. The key is to start small and set realistic goals for yourself.
Here is a list of things you can start doing today to feel better and move toward a healthier lifestyle in 2014.
- Start each day with a 8 oz. glass of water. Water has many benefits. It carries nutrients to our cells, flushes the kidneys, lubricates joints and prevents constipation. The goal is to work up to 1 to 2 liters a day.
- Eat more fruits and vegetables. Start by adding a salad to your daily diet or making yourself a green smoothie. Fruits and vegetables protect your body from disease and help fight cancer cells. The goal is 3 to 5 servings a day.
- Eat a handful (1 oz.) of raw nuts every day. Walnuts, macadamia nuts, almonds. Healthy proteins and fats are important for preserving muscle and brain function.
- Move your joints every day. Moving helps keep and improve function. Start at your neck, look left to right and then up and down. Go to the shoulders, arms out to the side, palms up and make small to large circles from the shoulder joint. Go both directions. Same with the wrist. Work your way down the body.
- Try not to sit for longer than 15 minutes. Sitting for long periods slows the metabolism and can raise insulin and cholesterol levels. Taking a 10-minute walk every 2 hours can improve your health dramatically.
- Practice taking deep breaths. Breathe in through the nose and out the mouth. This clears the lungs of toxins, increases energy, calms the mind and allows you to think more clearly.
- Educate yourself on staying healthy. For example, Dr Oz came out with an updated version of YOU: The Owners Manual. It contains a lot of great info on health and longevity.
Remember empowerment comes from doing!
Join Diane online at www.shapingup808.com,
or call 808-221-3905; email shapingup@hawaii.rr.com.
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