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FeedEasy Changes to Improve Health in 2012
Susan Willard, DO
Did you pledge to lose weight and get fit in 2012?
We’re a month into the new year and if your resolutions aren’t going as well as you would like, don’t worry.
Here are six easy things anyone can do to make 2012 a healthy and happy year.
1. Eat Breakfast
BREAK the FAST. Starting your day with a healthy and nutritious breakfast helps to jumpstart your day and prevents you from binge eating later. Just as you plan your dinners ahead for the week, plan your breakfasts to prevent early morning stress and poor choices.
Healthy breakfast ideas include no-fat yogurt, toast with peanut butter, oatmeal with fruit, or any whole grain cereal with skim milk.
2. Drink Water
Increasing your water consumption can improve the condition of your skin, act as an appetite suppressant and improve your energy. It is also an important part of keeping your digestive system working properly and is used to help flush out toxins and waste products.
If that’s not enough to convince you that water should become your beverage of choice, it has also been found to decrease your risks of cancer and heart disease.
You can add some zest to your water by adding fresh cucumber, lemon, orange or grapefruit.
3. See your physician regularly
Your health is the ultimate gift. Say happy birthday to yourself with a visit to your primary care physician for a yearly check-up.
It is important to get checked out once a year to ensure you are on target with your health. Your physician will also ensure that you are scheduled for any screening or diagnostic tests recommended for your gender and age group.
4. Have fun
“A happy heart does good like medicine” is accurate. Surrounding yourself with positive friends is one of the easiest things you can do to improve your health – both physically and mentally. Laughing with friends helps to reduce stress and improve your self-worth.
Make plans to meet a friend for lunch or go for a walk to the park with your kids. And, since everyone leads hectic lives full of must-dos, add this to your calendar and schedule around it.
5. Take a food vacation
Reserve one night a week for a vegetarian meal and eat fish at least once a week. By trying a more healthy meal option a few days a week, you and your family will discover new recipes and foods you enjoy. Need some ideas? Use the internet to find free, healthy meal recipes that your family will enjoy.
6. Incorporate movement into your day
Motion is your friend. Make exercise fun – try taking a dance class, walk the dog or play flag football with your kids while dinner is in the oven.
Susan Willard, DO, is a family medicine physician with Utica Park Clinic. With more than 35 locations and 200 providers, there is a Utica Park Clinic near you. To make an appointment with Dr. Willard, please call 918-392-5600. To learn more about Utica Park Clinic’s providers, services and clinics, please call 918-579-DOCS (3627) or visit www.UticaParkClinic.com.
For daily health information and tips, LIKE us at www.facebook.com/UticaPark.
