Sorry it has been so long since I posted to this blog. I hope everyone has been doing well and making healthier choices throughout the fall. With a New Year quickly approaching (38 hours to go in 2015 as of publication) I thought I would post some healthy suggestions. Each of these steps are stand alone and don't need to be combined with any others. You can pick and choose a few or attempt all ten.
Here goes the list:
-Cut out alcohol. You can have a party without it and no alcohol = no consequences the next day. No hangovers, no wondering what you did (or who you did it with) the next morning. You will save brain cells and help your liver function much more as it was designed to. You can say "I drink wine for the antioxidants." You can get the same amount from a high quality cup of grape juice. Most domestic violence incidents occur when alcohol is at minimum a factor.
-No Tobacco. Tobacco is so bad for you and your health. It will cost you greatly in the long run. It is one of the only products that has to have a large warning label printed on it. You are basically admitting that you plan to die younger simply to "enjoy" a little "pleasure" now. Smoking is harmful to you and your loved ones. It is one of the most selfish choices you can make.
-No Soda (or at least reduce it). The studies and stats all show that consuming soda is extremely harmful for your health. Stay away as much as possible. Reduce your consumption to a minimum and you will see health benefits almost immediately.
-Exercise More. Exercising will reduce stress, help your body composition, may help you lose weight, lead to a more disciplined life and improve your mood. There are so many options to choose from when it comes to exercising and being active. My favorites are shooting hoops, playing soccer, football or other games. I like to jog and go for walks. You can walk a dog or spend time walking or exercising with family. Golf is a great way. Your options are almost unlimited and you can be extremely creative. Make exercise a priority for a better 2016.
-More Prayer. If you want to up your Health in 2016 consider praying more. Scientific studies have shown that those that pray regularly have lower stress levels and higher levels of general well-being. It has been shown that people who pray (and have people pray for them) heal quicker following surgery and other injuries. Prayer takes the focus off ourselves and helps us to be more centered and focused on the things that matter.
-Less TV. Turn off the TV for 30 minutes a day that you would normally watch. Use that time to implement some of the suggestions above (extra prayer or exercise). Get active, and live a little bit yourself instead of living through the people on TV. 30 minutes less a day translates into 15 hours a month which is like getting back an entire 2 work days each month.
-No Electronics in Bed. Turn off the phone, IPAD, etc. and leave them in the kitchen not in the bedroom. You will sleep better because of the lack of worrying about what is happening on your phone. The light in the device has been shown to affect sleep cycles. Try it for a few nights a week and see how it goes.
-Stretch More. Whether it is yoga or simply doing some stretches that you learned in PE class in school, stretching is a great habit to get into. You can do this in the morning before work, on a break or in the evening. Stretched and flexible muscles will function better. Stretching is a great way to reduce stress.
-Eat Less Processed Red Meat. There is a "war on bacon" as declared in recent magazine articles. Red meat has been shown to raise the risk of cancer and heart disease. My suggestion for 2016 is to drastically lower your consumption of processed red meat. Look at it this way - Did this meat come directly from the cow (Think ribeye, T-Bone and sirloin) or was it processed (think hot dogs, sausages, burgers, etc.) The more steps that it takes to create your red meat, the less healthy it is for. Try to limit or eliminate processed red meat in 2016.
-Get your finances in order. Reduce debt, save more and prepare for the future. Financial issues is currently the number one cause of divorce. Reduce your debt and save for the future to help your marriage and your stress levels.
Good luck as you look to implement a few or all of these suggestions in 2016.
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