4 minute read
B.E. Healthy: My Top 10 Tips
from FC 2018
by Forsyth Mags
BY BROOKE EAGLE
My Top 10 Tips
Advertisement
Nearly two years ago, I started a column in our sister magazine, Forsyth Woman, called “B.E. Healthy.” It has been so exciting for me to share a tidbit of information with our readers each month. I have a passion for living a healthy lifestyle, and sharing that with others makes my heart happy. If you’ve read the column more than once or twice, you’ll know that B.E. Healthy is NOT all about physical health. It’s about a journey to a healthy lifestyle – this includes physical health, of course, but perhaps even more importantly it incorporates mental and emotional health. The idea behind this column is for readers to try out the tip or idea for a month and see how they feel; I’m sharing my top 10! No one can totally change the way they live in a month, but by taking small steps and creating new habits (even one a month), you can make signi cant changes to your life. #1 – Water. (April, 2016) I could go on for days about the importance of drinking water. I recommend drinking half your body weight in ounces each day. For example, a 150-pound person should aim to drink 75 ounces of water per day. Do your best to skip out on soda, tea and other calorie-laden beverages.
#2 – Sleep. (May, 2016) If you are like me, you may get a bit grumpy if you don’t get an adequate amount of sleep. Beyond that though, it can wreak havoc on your immune system! Aim to go to sleep and wake up at the same time each day (yes, even weekends) to ensure your body is on an optimal sleep schedule. Everybody is different, but nd the number of hours that “work” for you. You may need as few as six or as many as 10 a night!
#3 – Morning ME Time. (June, 2016) Ahh, my favorite time of day! Even if you aren’t a morning person, I encourage you to start your day off with meditation and relaxation. Rushing around, lots of TV and/ or social media use rst thing in the morning aren’t ideal ways to start your day.
#4 – Going Out To Eat. (July, 2016) We know eating at home is generally healthier, but eating at home for every single meal is unrealistic. Avoid the bread (or chip) basket, drink water (or if you indulge in an alcoholic beverage, consider choosing wine), and order a salad or protein entrée with double veggies. Most importantly, don’t stress about what you already ate. Enjoy your night out, and strive to make a better decision next time.
#5 – De-Clutter Your Life. (August, 2016) Have you ever gotten sick from being stressed? A cluttered home makes it challenging to be stress-free. I include several tips in the full article, but most importantly, make it a point to throw away a few things Every. Single. Day. Food that has gone bad, junk mail, paperwork that is no longer needed, etc.
#6 – Love How You Move. (September, 2016) Exercise is undoubtedly a vital part of a healthy lifestyle. Find a form of exercise that you LOVE and look forward to. An exercise you dread is one that I guarantee you won’t stick with. Think outside the box – the full article lists several “ways to move” that you may enjoy.
#7 – Gratitude Journaling. (November, 2016) Consistently writing down three things you are grateful for each day (different things each day) will have a huge impact on your life. I guarantee it. The inspiration for this article came from reading “The Happiness Advantage” by Shawn Achor. A fabulous read that I would highly recommend.
#8 – Wine. (December, 2016) I wrote about my relationship with wine. If you know me, you know I love my nightly (rather large) glass of wine. It may seem excessive to have a glass of wine most every night, but I rarely overindulge because of this practice with wine. I savor every sip and am satis ed with one to two glasses.
#9 – Love How You Eat. (October, 2017) It is common knowledge for most that when it comes to weight loss (or even weight maintenance), what you eat is far more important than how much you are exercising. If you have a weight loss goal, 75-90% is diet-related and the remaining 10-25% is exercise. In other words, you can’t out-train a bad diet. The answer? Eat in a way that does not cause you to feel super deprived but that also doesn’t make you feel miserable from overindulging too frequently. Find that middle ground and, most importantly, stay mindful.
#10 – RELAX! (November, 2017) Relaxation is beginning to get its reputation back. For a while, it seemed it was “bad” to relax and “good” to be as busy as possible. Now, it seems the tables have turned. Busy isn’t best. Being productive (not busy) and making time to relax is ideal for your health. Remember that relaxation is unique to each person. Think about things you enjoy and how those things make you feel. The activities that leave you feeling refreshed and rejuvenated – those are the ones you need to make time for! Take time daily for at least one method of relaxation.
PERSONALIZED CARE…
Summer Family Care
Leigh Summer, M.D. G. Michael Summer, M.D.
…AS UNIQUE AS YOU ARE
INDEPENDENT Family Practice | Same-day appointments available Reasonable fees | Ask about “Well-Woman” Wednesdays | X-Rays Serving adults and children | Most insurance accepted | Friendly Service
