Heather's Health Habits

09/11/2024

Nothing but water! So therapeutic...

09/11/2024

The voyage begins...

29/04/2024

I often hear "I know what I should be doing, I just don't do it."

SHOULD needs to be elminated from our thought process. SHOULD indicates an expected state. It does not lead to action.

We either DO or DO NOT.

Thoughts?

28/04/2024

Consistent action leads to tangible results: increased energy, improved mood, and physical changes.

This motivation stems from real progress, not fleeting inspiration.

I believe in the power of consistent effort to fuel inspiration—a lifestyle shift. In my health journey, it’s not just being healthy that motivates me; it’s the satisfaction of removing health obstacles from my life. This goal drives healthier choices—eating well, sleeping better, and overall wellness.

For you, it may be something else entirely.

Maybe your lifestyle goals are centered around family or travel stamina. You want to be more active in grandkids’ lives. You want to enjoy vacations or retirement travel!

Or, perhaps you want to move about your normal sphere of life without the discomfort of joint pain. Whatever it is, in most cases, doing is better than merely observing.

Playing with your grandkids is a richer experience than simply watching them. Hiking a renowned mountain is different from hearing about it or watching it. Actually feeling and moving well during these experiences inspire the desire to improve. And improvement fueled by doing the work actively paves the way for a healthier, more fulfilling life.

27/04/2024

It’s human to resist change.

We could argue that human nature is quite predictable when it comes to change. The fact of the matter is that we want the things in our lives to remain very familiar and stable. From this desire for predictability grows this resistance to change. This resistance can be quite vexing as it often stands in the way of our growth and success.

Here are four tips that can help the next time change comes knocking on your door.

1) Notice that you are in the midst of a change. Become aware of the change instead of subconsciously denying it.

2) Face your feelings about the change. Explore what your fears or worries are. You don’t have to be a victim even when you’re not in control of the change.

3) Adopt an attitude of anticipation. See change as an opportunity. Identify the benefit that will come with the change. There is always a benefit and an opportunity.

4_) Choose your thoughts and attitude about change. Negative thoughts block your creativity and problem-solving abilities. Positive thoughts build bridges to possibilities and opportunities.

It’s important to remember that from every change; even the most challenging ones, something good always comes. Change can actually become a familiar friend. Change doesn’t have to be something you dread having to handle. Instead, it could be something you look forward to and welcome, believing that each change you encounter and experience serves a purpose and will eventually lead to good.

26/04/2024

WHAT IF POSITIVE QUESTIONS:

WHAT IF I SUCCEED?

WHAT IF I EXPERIENCE UNEXPECTED SURPRISES?

WHAT IF I LEARN AND GROWN FROM THIS?

WHAT IF THINGS TURN OUT EVEN BETTER THAN I COULD IMAGINE?

WHAT IF THINGS GO IN MY FAVOR?

WHAT IF EVERYTHING WORKS OUT?

WHAT IF IT ALL WENT RIGHT?

25/04/2024

Making a positive change in your health requires patience, consistency, and balance.

The best way to do this is to take one step at a time.

Don’t try to go cold turkey, and stop the behavior you want to change immediately.

Drastic moves like these aren’t realistic or effective in the long run.

Instead, focus on one small goal.

For instance, replacing that afternoon donut with a walk once a week.

Once you’ve mastered that habit and feel comfortable with it, you can start focusing on expanding it to three times a week.

The cliche is true: slow and steady wins the race

24/04/2024

Practice mindful eating with this raisin experiment:

1. Take a raisin and notice its texture, shape, size, weight, color, and smell. Squeeze and notice the feeling between your fingers and their stickiness

2. Put the raisin on your tongue and let it sit while it slowly moistens. Notice how it feels in your mouth.

3. Move the raisin around in your mouth with your tongue and slowly chew it as you notice the sweetness and stringiness of its flesh.

4. Chew it enough times so that it completely dissolves into a liquid.

5. Swallow and take a moment to ask yourself how that made you feel.

23/04/2024

Go for a Walk

For some people, satisfying a food craving is part of their routine.

They enter the afternoon slump and are conditioned to grab that muffin to feel better.

However, you can break that cycle by substituting the food craving with a healthy activity. Of course, though, if you are truly hungry, then you may need to grab a snack as well.

A study showed that those who went for a 15-minute brisk walk had a reduced urgency to consume high-sugary snacks than those who didn’t go for a walk.

22/04/2024

Try a Glass of Water

Before grabbing that last cookie, ask yourself whether you’re actually hungry or thirsty.

It’s quite common for people to confuse signs of dehydration for hunger because the feelings of thirst are too subtle compared to those of hunger.

Therefore, before biting into that cookie, try drinking a tall glass of water and see if that settles your cravings.

21/04/2024