Before you start another diet, try this
Thinking of trying another diet? What if you could learn a few habits that would help you look better, feel better, and perform better? Keep reading for the six simple habits that you can start at anytime to dramatically improve your health.
1. Sleep. Most people need 7-9 hours of sleep a night. While many of us manage on 5-6 hours of sleep a night, we don’t function as well as we would with 7-9 hours of sleep. When you are getting adequate sleep, you should wake up refreshed a few minutes before the alarm goes off. You shouldn’t need 3-4 cups of caffeine to make it through the morning, and you shouldn’t be tired by afternoon.
2. Exercise. Plan to exercise for 150 minutes a week. If you take a 30-minute walk five days a week, you’ve done your 150 minutes. Find an exercise that you enjoy doing. You could try Pilates, kick boxing, yoga or swimming. You don’t have to buy any equipment or join a gym. You can find exercise DVDs at your library and you can find exercise classes on YouTube.
3. Water. Drink at least 7 glasses of water a day. Your brain, cells, and organs need water to function. Sometimes when you feel hungry, you’re dehydrated. Before you grab a snack, drink a glass of water. Once you get into the habit of keeping your body well hydrated, your skin will look better, and you will have more energy throughout the day.
4. Focus on what you should eat for optimal health. Dieting forces you to think about what you can’t eat, instead, think about what you get to eat. Healthy foods include dark chocolate, wild salmon, almonds, walnuts, and berries. There are dozens more.
5. Monitor your associations. Decide who you will eat with. You pick up the habits of the people you spend time with. If you regularly overeat when you dine with certain coworkers, friends or relatives, reduce the times that you eat with those people. Instead of going out to lunch with coworkers five days a week, go twice a week and make your lunch the rest of the time.
6. Self-talk. Think about what you think about. Instead of chastising yourself, think positive thoughts about yourself. Think about being healthy, happy and whole. Envision yourself walking up four flights of steps. See yourself comfortably lifting 30 pounds. It doesn’t take any more effort to think positive thoughts than it does to think negative thoughts.
As you implement these habits, you will feel better, look better and perform better. You will have more energy, and your focus will improve. As a bonus, you might lose weight. Before starting a wellness program, check with your health care provider to make sure the program is appropriate for you.
