Tuesday, December 29, 2015

52 of the Easiest Health Resolutions a Person Can Make and Keep http://ift.tt/1RQrKDH

Every year losing weight, eating healthy, and getting fit compete for the top spot on Americans' lists of New Year's Resolutions. And by mid-January the majority of those high-minded health goals have been abandonned, leaving many soured to idea of positive change in the process. But it doesn't have to be this way. The problem is many healthy resolutions are too big and too vague to actually accomplish - so aim smaller and go specific. And aim for easy. Like, really easy - seriously.

Here's a list of 52 extremely easy health resolutions, and we are sure you can master at least one of them. If you don't like the idea of making resolutions, think of this as a personal health experiment. You're not really committing yourself to sweeping changes, just dabbling. And when you check one of these resolutions off your list, you'll feel so much better about yourself. And isn't that the ulitmate goal anyway?

  1. Drink a glass of water upon waking in the morning - aim for 8 ounces.
  2. When taking an escalator, don't just ride but walk up those moving steps.
  3. Eat more high-quality dark chocolate (aim for 70% cacoa) - it's loaded with antioxidants.
  4. Read the nutritional labels of the packaged foods you eat for an entire day. Check out the portion sizes, while you're at it.
  5. Make a motivational playlist stacked with all the songs that make you want to move.
  6. Get outside for 10 minutes daily.
  7. Food journal for a day (or a week) and track what you're really eating. Those 3 p.m. M&Ms might just be making you crash.
  8. Floss before bed. Your dentist will love you for it. Not to mention your own gums will love you for it.
  9. Focus on your breath when you feel the stress coming on. Yep, it's a mini meditation session.
  10. Stretch while watching TV.
  11. Drink your coffee or tea without sweetener. Just try it once or twice and see. You might like it.
  12. Focus on chewing all the food in your mouth before taking another bite.
  13. Turn off all electronics 20 minutes before lights out at bedtime.
  14. Measure out your food portions before eating. Yep. You will have to read that pesky nutritional label.
  15. Walk for 10 minutes three times a week.
  16. Stay off of social media for 24 hours and see how you feel not being "connected."
  17. Plan a vacation - little or big - since the planning makes you feel almost as good as actually getting away.
  18. Time how long you are brushing your teeth . . . the ADA recommends two minutes, twice a day.
  19. Order your sandwich on whole wheat bread.
  20. Write down everything you're grateful for at the end of the day.
  21. Eat some protein at breakfast - or at least eat some breakfast.
  22. Order brown rice instead of white.
  23. When you wear heels, take 30 seconds to stretch your calves at the end of the day. How? Down dog it.
  24. Eat a serving of fruit daily, for a week.
  25. Find a mantra that works for you for hard times and then remember to use it.
  26. Go vegan for a day. Here's a high-protein vegan meal plan to give you some ideas.
  27. Ditch soda for a day (or a week).
  28. Give someone you don't know a compliment.
  29. Try green tea. It's really good for you!
  30. Take lunch to work two times in one week. Too challenging? Then try to brown-bag it once, your choice. We just ask that you set yourself up for success and make good good choices.
  31. Skip alcohol, wine and beer included, for a week.
  32. Read a book - it's good for your brain.
  33. Plan a fitness date with a friend.
  34. Take a compliment by just saying, "Thank you." And not explaining why you don't deserve it.
  35. Start your day with lemon water.
  36. Make your own salad dressing - it costs less money, saves calories, and tastes better. Here are our favorite salad dressing recipes.
  37. Reconnect with an old friend - off of Facebook. Yes, it is possible.
  38. Do squats while brushing your teeth - make use of theose 2 minutes!
  39. Sing the ABCs everytime you wash your hands to ensure they're really getting your paws clean.
  40. Make overnight oats so you have breakfast waiting for you in the morning.
  41. Give yourself an at-home spa day - a long bath can make you feel so good.
  42. Schedule an at-home workout. Serioulsy. Put it in your calendar and do it.
  43. Get your vision checked - those tension headaches could be about your eyes.
  44. Get rid of old, unsupportive sports bras and take time to find one that really works for you.
  45. Sleep 8 hours a night for a week.
  46. Take healthy snacks to work; trail mix is easy and requires no cooking.
  47. Carry a reusable water bottle with you and stay hydrated all day long.
  48. Buy, and more importantly use, a set of medium-weight dumbbells.
  49. When you are cold, don't turn up the heat - do 10 push-ups (doing them on your knees is cool with us.)
  50. Skip the fries and order a salad with your burger.
  51. Eat carb free for a day - do you feel better or just super cranky?
  52. Stop eating when you are 3/4 full instead of stuffed.

You might notice that 52 resolutions match up with the number of weeks in a year. You could go crazy and tackle one these goals weekly for all of 2016. You can do it!



from POPSUGAR Fitness http://ift.tt/1JI43FL

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