I tried as hard as I could to refrain from writing about
some of the “same ole, same ole” once again.
Many days went by with me staring at the computer, straining to come up
with something different – something fresh – something exciting. Didn’t happen. My conscience got the best of me. We are in the final stretch of 2011 and I am
not about to let another year go by where we didn’t achieve some successes in
the health and fitness realm. We are
going to get a great big jump on 2012 with some statistics and some good ways
to change any stinkin’ thinkin’ you may have let creep in this year.
I would like to invite you to join my campaign to get America healthy, one step at a time. By step I mean any kind of step in a positive direction you can take. A positive step would be changing a bad habit to a good one (giving up something that’s bad for your health and future and replacing it with something that will help you live longer, healthier and happier). Another step would be putting one foot in front of another and start walking (or jogging, or cycling, dancing, swimming, etc.) Let’s stop this frightening trend of laziness that is sweeping our country and consuming our young people and GET HEALTHY.
One out of three Americans is obese. Yikes. Did you know that more than 90 percent of people who are diagnosed with type 2 diabetes are overweight and obese? Obesity also increases your risk of developing more than a dozen types of cancer: kidney, colon, thyroid, prostate, breast, pancreatic, esophageal and more. Being overweight increases your risk of having acid reflux symptoms by 50 percent. Excess weight is also known to cause sleep apnea and high blood pressure. (75 percent of cases of high blood pressure in U.S. are attributed to obesity. The amount of overweight children has nearly doubled in the past twenty five years and the number of overweight adolescents has almost tripled. Your children will model your eating habits and food choices. It’s time to realize how serious this epidemic is and get serious about changing.
The choices you and I made last month, last year, last decade are affecting us today and the choices we make today will affect us for years to come. No way of getting around it. I used baby oil and laid out in the sun during prime sun exposure time on sheets of aluminum foil and you can bet I am feeling the effects of it now. My friends who wore sunscreen and stayed in the shade may have lost the “who has the darkest tan line” competition, but they have beautiful, almost wrinkle free skin now. Just like the choices we make about how we look, our food choices will affect us for years to come. While our food choices are often shaped by our environment and culture, the good news is – they can be changed.
You’ve heard it said that it takes anywhere from twenty-one to forty days to form a new habit, so recognize it’s going to take a decision, commitment, determination and patience. However, I assure you that you will thank me for the results later.
Here are some good new habits to create:
- Modify your food intake.
- Increase activity level. (Take those extra steps at least 4-6 days a week)
- Eat breakfast every day. (Very important to successful weight loss – don’t say you can’t do it)
- Monitor your weight regularly. (Daily is not recommended. Weekly is better)
- Stay consistent with your eating. (Eat at the same times each day)
- Control portion sizes and food environment. (Portion out to a plate. Don’t eat while at your computer, driving, or in front of TV)
- Be accountable. (Keep a food journal)
Let’s try to implement some of these positive behaviors back into our schedule and beat the rush on New Year’s resolutions. Take one positive change at a time and when you have conquered it, go to the next. You will look, feel and act so much better. Remember, you WILL thank me later.