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1. Move
More
Make it a daily challenge to
find ways to move your body.
Climb stairs if given a choice
between that and escalators or
elevators. Walk your dog; chase
your kids; toss balls with
friends, mow the lawn. Anything
that moves your limbs is not
only a fitness tool, it's a
stress buster. Think 'move' in
small increments of time. It
doesn't have to be an hour in
the gym or a 45-minute aerobic
dance class or tai chi or
kickboxing. But that's great
when you're up to it. Meanwhile,
move more. Thought for the day:
Cha, Cha, Cha…. Then do it!
2. Cut
Fat
Avoid the obvious such as fried
foods, burgers and other fatty
meats (i.e. pork, bacon, ham,
salami, ribs and sausage). Dairy
products such as cheese, cottage
cheese, milk and cream should be
eaten in low fat versions. Nuts
and sandwich meats, mayonnaise,
margarine, butter and sauces
should be eaten in limited
amounts. Most are available in
lower fat versions such as
substitute butter, fat free
cheeses and mayonnaise. Thought
for the day: Lean, mean,
fat-burning machine…. Then be
one!
3. Quit
Smoking
The jury is definitely in on
this verdict. Ever since 1960
when the Surgeon General
announced that smoking was
harmful to your health,
Americans have been reducing
their use of tobacco products
that kill. Just recently, we've
seen a surge in smoking in
adolescents and teens. Could it
be the Hollywood influence? It
seems the stars in every movie
of late smoke cigarettes.
Beware. Warn your children of
the false romance or 'tough guy'
stance of Hollywood smokers.
Thought for the day: Give up
just one cigarette…. the next
one.
4.
Reduce Stress
Easier said than done, stress
busters come in many forms. Some
techniques recommended by
experts are to think positive
thoughts. Spend 30 minutes a day
doing something you like. (i.e.,
Soak in a hot tub; walk on the
beach or in a park; read a good
book; visit a friend; play with
your dog; listen to soothing
music; watch a funny movie. Get
a massage, a facial or a
haircut. Meditate. Count to ten
before losing your temper or
getting aggravated. Avoid
difficult people when possible.
Thought for the day: When seeing
red, think pink clouds….then
float on them.
5.
Protect Yourself from Pollution
If you can't live in a smog-free
environment, at least avoid
smoke-filled rooms, high traffic
areas, breathing in highway
fumes and exercising near busy
thoroughfares. Exercise outside
when the smog rating is low.
Exercise indoors in air
conditioning when air quality is
good. Plant lots of shrubbery in
your yard. It's a good pollution
and dirt from the street
deterrent. Thought for the day:
'Smoke gets in your eyes'…and
your mouth, and your nose and
your lungs as do pollutants….hum
the tune daily.
6. Wear
Your Seat Belt
Statistics show that seat belts
add to longevity and help
alleviate potential injuries in
car crashes. Thought for the
day: Buckle down and buckle up.
7.
Floss Your Teeth
Recent studies make a direct
connection between longevity and
teeth flossing. Nobody knows
exactly why. Perhaps it's
because people who floss tend to
be more health conscious than
people who don't? Thought for
the day: Floss and be your
body's boss.
8.
Avoid Excessive Drinking
While recent studies show a
glass of wine or one drink a day
(two for men) can help protect
against heart disease, more than
that can cause other health
problems such as liver and
kidney disease and cancer.
Thought for the day: A jug of
wine should last a long time.
9. Keep
a Positive Mental Outlook
There's a definitive connection
between living well and
healthfully and having a
cheerful outlook on life.
Thought for the day: You can't
be unhappy when you're smiling
or singing.
10.
Choose Your Parents Well
The link between genetics and
health is a powerful one. But
just because one or both of your
parents died young in ill health
doesn't mean you cannot
counteract the genetic pool
handed you. Thought for the day:
Follow these basic tips for
healthy living and you can
better control your own destiny |