As I look to wrap up a New Year, New You – I want to outline how exercise, nutrition, and sleep are all necessary for good health. Too often we find we are deficient in one or more of these areas. So let us look at how all are important.

Exercise:

We all know that exercise is good for the body. You would be hard pressed to get through the month of January without reading something on exercise. Often the words will be uttered – I don’t like exercise or I don’t like the gym. Well, the good news is you don’t have to go to a gym (there is plenty you can do at home) and even walking can be exercise. There are any number of ways to exercise and one is not necessarily better than the next. The important thing is to move you body each and every day. Sitting just does not convey benefits for the body like activity and exercise. Get moving, the heart pumping, and start claiming the many benefits of exercise.

Nutrition:

Getting proper nutrition does not means you cannot eat foods you enjoy. It does not mean you must follow any specific diet. It is suggested we eat a relatively balanced diet. Fruits, vegetables, grains, meat, dairy – all good things and encouraged. Sweets are not outlawed, but consider moderation. One other suggestion is to reduce the amount of processed food we consume.

If weight loss is a goal, then we want to be thinking about calories in (food consumed) vs. calories burned (activity/exercise). Success is achieved long term, not short. This means crash dieting is not encouraged. Fast drops in weight are often not held; slow and steady often wins the race. There is more to the story but know this, a healthy diet is important for better health

Sleep:

Sleep is not something we think enough about for good health. It is actually very important to help our body heal, recover, and recharge. If we do not get enough sleep, we may just find ourselves feeling sluggish, lack mental clarity, and tend to get sick more easily.

Do not underestimate the power of a good night’s sleep. Not just one night, rather every night. Find the time to relax before bed and create good sleep habits. When we sleep better, we feel better.

There you have it. Exercise, Nutrition, and Sleep. All key components for being healthy this year. If you are looking for how to succeed this year, reach out and seek guidance. Sometimes a little help goes a long way.