Tuesday, January 27, 2009

Happy New Year!

I hope you have set new goals for the year ahead or are continuing to work on those already in place!

Whether you want to lose weight, increase endurance, gain strength or learn to decrease stress, making and keeping fitness and health related goals can be done.


Recruit positive people and surround yourself with things that will enable you to be successful. Make an appointment with your doctor for a check up. Schedule your workouts like you would a meeting or some other important item. If it's in your schedule, you're more apt to follow through.

Fuel your body right. Foods can congest us; make us function poorly and damage our precious bodies. Try to eat clean most days of the week. Are you getting your fruits and veggies, lean proteins and healthy fats into every meal? Probably not. Try to take a look at what you're about to eat and think it through. Will this enable me to have energy throughout my day? Or, is it going to slow me down and make me feel like taking a nap? You choose. Make a conscious effort to improve your eating habits.



Water...DRINK IT! By the time you realize you're thirsty, your body is already dehydrated. Sip it throughout the day. It keeps your digestive track running, your mind working, your skin moist and helps keep you full which keeps you from reaching for a bag of snacks!

Take time out for yourself and learn to let go...yes, let go! You can't control everything and not wind up stressed out. Do you feel your shoulders creeping toward your ears? Are your hands forming fists? Are your toes curled up inside your shoes? RELAX...BREATHE...Ahhh! That's it! Five minutes of peace and quiet will get you through the rest of the day.



Get your zzz's...Try to get 6-8 hours of sleep each night. Create a calming atmosphere that will allow you to drift off and get rest. Our bodies recover and regenerate during slumber. Disruptive sleeps patterns cause stress and wear and tear on our bodies in addition to what goes on to them during the day. Need help and counting sheep isn't doing it? Turn off the tv and lights. Try some deep breathing; focusing on your breathe can relax the mind. Add in some yoga postures such as Happy Baby, Goddess Pose or Corpse Pose. These postures can relieve stress and tension in the body which may enable you to find sleep more quickly.



It is not selfish to take care of yourself. It's beneficial to those around you as well. If you feel good inside and out, you will be a better employee, friend and family member.


So, if you haven't started, start the New Year over TODAY! Recommit to goals already in progress or set new ones. And remember:
"Challenge yourself...EVERYDAY!"