SNAP Feb article
Keeping your health throughout the winter time is easy and achievable when it’s prioritized and maintained through forming good habits. Resolutions and diets don’t work because they are quick fixes for desired long term results-they set you up to fail! Instead, try lifestyle changes to get you to where you want to go whether it is to lose your holiday 10 pounds or run your first marathon. Change will bring on new habits. Here are some ideas of how to keep well and smiling through the winter time.
Tip #1 – Get more happy sunshine!
More and more studies show how the sun does indeed make us happy by giving us Vitamin D. The sun produces thousands of IU's of Vitamin D when our skin is exposed to it which is a good thing for most of us. Vitamin D is needed for our immune system, bones and proper mood and mental function. All of us should get at least 10-20 minutes of it a day. This is 100% free and natural so get happy!
Tip #2 – Mix it up and eat a variety of colorful foods
Bright colours in the grey winter time can make our senses sing. A diet rich in various colored fruits and vegetables keeps it lively and supplies the vitamins, minerals and phytonutrients we need-like calcium from broccoli or beta carotene from carrots. They can protect us from a whole host of ills and contribute to greater overall health.
Tip #3 - Drink plenty of pure water
We hear this all the time, right? It needs to be mentioned again-water cleanses and purifies the body. Make sure the water is free from fluoride, chlorine, toxins, and heavy minerals/metals. I drink reverse osmosis water with ionized minerals added back in and recommend one ounce per pound of body weight per day.
Tip #4 - Exercise for the fun of it…outdoors!
You can get plenty of good exercise by doing things you love outside. It helps to make the winter more bearable by getting outside (and gets more Vitamin D!) Whether that’s hitting the boardwalk for a jog, climbing uphill after tobogganing or snow shoeing with the dog in the snowy trails. Anything that gets your heart rate going and produces a little sweat will have health benefits. While you are at it, did you know that smiling produces extra endorphins in the body to make you feel good and help you burn even more fat?
Tip #5 – Keep a positive outlook and keep your emotions in check
Emotions play a huge role in our health and we should try and stay as positive as we can. Avoid excessive anger, hate, discontent, and worry. We all need to use self control when dealing with life. Practice letting go of the negative thoughts and emotions, and replacing them with positive, happy thoughts. The happier we are, the healthier we will be!
Cherilee Garofano, BA, Personal Trainer (PTS) and Holistic Nutritionist (CNP) is the owner of Envision Wellness, a corporate and in-home fitness and nutritional training company. She practices holistic nutritional counseling out of the Beaches Wellness Centre, 2276 Queen St. E. 416-698-7070. www.envisionwellness.ca