Top 5 Tips for a Healthy Life
The beginning of the year is fresh and filled with promise.
But no pressure because each day is filled with promise. It doesn’t matter if today is January 1st or December 31st. Your body loves you unconditionally so no matter what you did yesterday, today is all that matters.
Today you can choose an avocado In place of a hunk of cheese, an apple for dessert. From small things big things come.
YOU MATTER AND EVERYTHING YOU DO MATTERS.
There is no action too small. You are important to many people. Your family, your coworkers, your church, and even people you don’t know.
One simple smile can make someone’s day. One kind gesture of letting someone pull in front of you. It all matters.
You matter and with this in mind I want to gently remind you to do something kind for yourself each day.
The more you take care of your needs the happier you will be. Happy people contribute more to life. So what are some small steps you can take to take better care of yourself? I’ve got a list of 5 things.
Chances are YOU already know a lot of what I’m talking about today. The thing is we all need a reminder from time to time. I know I do. So if there is a pearl here that really resonates for you, then make some small changes around it.
HERE IS MY LIST:
1. EAT RIGHT
Food is your gasoline, put high quality gas in your body and hold on for an amazing ride.
3 square meals, one more vegetable or fruit per day. Look for ways you can avoid low nutrition snacks and replace with power packed snacks.
Food is the foundation that your body builds from. How can you possibly expect more from your body if you aren’t feeding it nutrient dense food?
I joke around and say that your body can’t repair itself on donuts and coffee it needs vitamins and minerals to build hormones, enzymes, your hair, your bones, and keep your skin hydrated and youthful looking.
Your Food choices can bring you closer to aging and disease or towards a longer, healthier more vibrant life all based on what you pop into your mouth.
PSST…Looking to boost your health in a big way? Juice your a$$ off. Start simple with a 3 ingredient blend: spinach, celery, Apple. Or spinach cucumber Apple. Drink 12-16 oz per day at least 5 days per week.
2. MOVE YOUR BODY
Your incredible body is designed to move. New studies show that 3, 10 min walks are more effective than 1, 30 min walk daily. If you walk one mile per day and maintain the same diet you will have lost 10 lbs at the end of a year. Time to step it up, get moving and shaking.
3. DRINK WATER
You know who you are.
About 25% of my patients admit to not drinking enough water. Ok so close your eyes and picture this: You are on a gondola in Venice, you are being serenaded by a deep beautiful baritone and the breeze is blowing through your hair as you drift down the interconnecting canals. Ahh a beautiful moonlit night. Ok now picture you are in the gondola and it is sitting on a beach grounded stuck on the sand. No driver no music no canals. Water is your taxi. It shuttles things around your body and it cleanses the waste out. Your joints and the discs in your back need water and movement to keep them hydrated and moving. No water no go.
4. BE YOUR OWN BOSS
What I mean is Get in touch with your needs. Are you hungry/thirsty/cranky? When you’re not feeling right sit for a moment and see if you can translate what your body is telling you. The more in touch you get with yourself the better you can help yourself meet your own needs. Your body is always talking to you it is sending you messages all the time. Often we ignore them.
What happens next is that your body talks louder and eventually starts shouting to get your attention. Headaches are a good example of this. Menstrual irregularities are another good example too.
By taking a few moments you will be able to better love and care for yourself just like you do for all the people in your life who rely on you.
You deserve equal or better treatment than you give to others.
A wise woman once told me she gave from her saucer and not her cup. If you are someone who gives to others to the point that both your saucer and cup are empty. We have a problem.
5. PUT YOURSELF TO BED
How long are your days? 12,14,16 hours? Do your hard worked body and mind a favor and put them to bed already.
When I was a little girl I wanted to be Wonder Woman and maybe you did too. She had these killer boots and some really rad golden cuff links . And a really great pose. Harvard researchers have now determined that the Wonder Woman pose lowers cortisol and boosts testosterone. How awesome is that! If your interested you can watch the Amy Cuddy Ted talk on it. In her honor, I’m wearing my star earrings today. So be Wonder Woman during the day. Wonder Woman didn’t work 24/7 even she took time to sleep.
Your body is designed to repair and restore at night. The best rest falls under the early to bed and early to rise mantra. Or as I say down with the chickens and up with the chickens.
Good quality zzz’s boost your immune system and repair body damage they also help to balance brain chemistry. Science has proven that 4 hrs of sleep or less interferes with rationalization and decision making. You need to be able to make great decisions. The impact to you and society isn’t worth it so do everyone a favor and tuck yourself in before midnight and ideally by 10:30pm.
(This post was originally a Facebook Live video I did. You can watch that HERE)
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