Tips for a Healthier and Happier You

I recently went to my obstetrician for a routine check-up and got onto the dreaded scale after the holidays (never a good thing to do, in my opinion). The nurse said, “You must have had a really good Christmas.” I cringed as she told me I gained 10 lbs. I packed on10 lbs. in a month! Even though I am seven and a half months pregnant, this is definitely not a good thing. This got me worried that I’ll have another huge baby (my first one was close to 9 lbs. which is large for someone my size). So the wheels started turning in my head for ideas on how to be healthier—physically, mentally, and emotionally.

Fitness and Nutrition

First things first – most people make it their goal each year to shed xx lbs. But what happens when you don’t like exercise and love fast food like me?

• Stock up on healthy foods. Cookies and baked goods were my downfall over the holidays as people (with good intentions) presented me with enough goodies for at least 6 months. I promptly gobbled these down. It’s much easier to eat healthy when you aren’t tempted by junk food, so replace your fatty chips for rice cakes and real popcorn (not the microwave variety), and your cookies for low-fat granola bars, yogurt and fruit. Next time a craving comes, you’ll have no choice but to reach for a healthier snack.
• Find an exercise you like and stick with it. I’ve never been a big fan of going to the gym, so I’ve had to find activities that are fun for me such as going for long walks and using a hula hoop (don’t make fun of it until you try it). I also try to sneak exercise into the day by taking the stairs instead of the elevator as much as possible.
• Sneak in more fruits and vegetables. An easy way to increase your servings of fruits and veggies is to make smoothies with fresh (or frozen) fruit and vegetables, skim milk, and just a dash of sugar or a dollop of honey.

Mental and Emotional Health

Once you’ve got your physical health taken care of, don’t forget about what’s inside – your mental and emotional health.

• Think positive. My New Year’s resolution this year was to be more positive which is working well so far. When you reduce the number of negative thoughts, you worry less and tend to let little things that would normally bother you slide.
• Surround yourself with positive and supportive people. I’ve noticed such a difference at work when some “toxic” co-workers with bad attitudes left the company. It was like a rain cloud had been lifted. You’ll also feel the difference in your personal life if you spend more time with optimistic people.
• Take time to yourself to nourish your soul. We often hear this idea of nourishing your soul, but what exactly does this entail? To me it means doing things you love and things that make life worth living. For some people this is reconnecting with nature and watching the sunset every night by a river; for others it means creating a beautiful painting, or meditating for 30 minutes before bedtime. For me, it means taking a little time to myself to read. I love novels and didn’t realize that reading was important to me until I failed to do it for many months when I got busy with my toddler. Nourishing your soul means taking a little time just for you.

Improving your lifestyle doesn’t have to be a drag or a chore. It often just involves a little bit of motivation, discipline, and creativity.