Health Tip of the Month
Living a healthy life style
Do you want to live a healthy life, but find diets and exercise are just too hard to stick to. You may be working too hard at it. You do not have to exercise until you drop, or completely stop eating the foods you love, or make radical changes in order to improve your health. Instead, make small changes that you can live with. Remember, small permanent changes are better for you than making big changes that you find hard to stick to.
Follow these suggestions:
Make small changes over time
- Fad diets and quick fix exercise programs don't work. Good things come with time. One step at a time - It all adds up.
- You don't have to completely give up fatty food, just eat them less often and when you do eat them - eat smaller amounts.
- In the stores, choose products that say "Low" or "Reduced" Fat on the label.
- To reduce the fat in ground beef put the cooked ground beef in a strainer and rinse it briefly with hot water. Drain the meat well and continue cooking the meal.
Keep the big picture in mind. A healthy life is a balancing act. You are better off making small changes you can stick to than big ones that you can't maintain.
- Keep in mind that one day is not as important as what you do over time. So don't waste your energy worrying about each time you over eat or don't exercise. Eating is supposed to be fun - enjoy it. If you splurge one day, be careful for the next few days.
- It is O.K. to eat snacks and wonderful deserts,just eat them less often and in smaller portions.
Move
- Being physically active is a great way of burning calories and keeping your life in balance.
- Exercise is one of the best things you can do for your health. It is also good for the soul.
- Walking can be as good for you as running. Even doing it in ten minute chunks will help improve your overall health.
Elsa Weber, M.S., CHES.
© Copyright 1998
For reprint permission contact:
E-Mail: elsaw@hcom.org
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