Healthy Eating Redefined
Alan H. Wayler, PhD

New Year’s resolutions aside, most of us find making and
sticking to the resolve to eat healthier a bit of a challenge,
to say the least. And that’s even though study after study shows
that people who eat healthier have a greater chance of living
longer, better lives. For example, a study published last year
of over 42,000 women suggested that women who ate closest to the
recommended number of servings of fruits, vegetables, whole
grains, low-fat dairy and lean meats and poultry definitely
lived longer.

So what’s the problem with eating healthier? Many times, it’s
all in how we define it.

Positive or Negative?

When we say the words ‘healthy
eating,’ what’s the first thing that comes to your mind? Is
it a positive thought, such as “I feel better” or “It energizes
me”? Or is it something negative, such as “boring,”
“inconvenient” or “small portions”?

If you’re like the majority of women who come to Green Mountain,
the list of negative reactions is much longer than the list of
positive reactions. While we all recognize the positive benefits
of healthy eating, it’s our negative feelings about it that end
up creating obstacles to our doing it on a regular basis. We
often feel that healthy eating
recipes don’t taste good, and we have pictures of ourselves
spending hours in the kitchen chopping vegetables.

Certainly, if that’s your vision, it’s easy to see why healthy
eating doesn’t particularly appeal. But take a moment to think
about why you choose the foods you do when you make an attempt
to eat healthy. We frequently choose foods that are lowest in
fat, sugar, salt, calories…and therefore, taste and
convenience. Why? Because we’re not seeking to eat healthy as
much as we are trying to lose weight.

Changing the Definition

The trouble is, many of us have perceptions of healthy eating
that are defined by diets. The diets that have “educated” us
about healthy eating, or our own desire to take weight off fast,
have led us to equate healthy eating with consuming the minimum
number of calories we can get by with. And that often leaves us
unsatisfied, or facing a great deal of difficulty in feeding
ourselves when we’re not in our kitchens preparing our own
meals.

The solution? Embrace the notion that he
althy eating does include higher-fat, higher-sugar,
higher-calorie foods if you like them. Within the context of an
overall eating plan that features lower-fat, lower-sugar,
lower-calorie foods the majority of the time, a few chocolate
chip cookies or small bag of potato chips can be just the thing
you need to make healthy eating work for you, for both weight
loss and good health.

So start today. Resolve to eat healthy. But remember, it doesn’t
matter how healthy a food is — if it doesn’t taste good, you’re
not likely to continue eating it. Eat balanced meals and snacks
that include your favorite foods. And think broadly about what
your favorite foods are. Many of us love carrot sticks and
chocolate chip cookies. Maybe not at the same time, but over the
course of a day, it’s easy to fit both in.

Here’s to a long, healthy life…enjoying eating in a way that
truly feels great!

For 35 years, Green Mountain at Fox Run has developed and
refined a life-changing program exclusively for women seeking
permanent strategies for healthy weight
loss and health. Based on a combination of proven science
and what works in the real world, our innovative non-diet
lifestyle program offers an integrated curriculum of practical,
liveable techniques that helps women take charge of their
eating, their bodies and their health. Our approach is not
focused on just losing weight but on how to keep it off for a
lifetime. Our participants’ long-term weight loss results are
among the highest of any program, as documented in peer-reviewed
scientific literature. Learn more about our Healthy Weight Loss
Spa – Fitness and Weight Loss Retreat.

About the author:

Alan H. Wayler, PhD is executive director of Green Mountain at
Fox Run, a women’s weight loss
program and healthy eating program since 1973. The program
provides an integrative health lifestyle approach for achieving
long-term weight and health management for women. He is also
co-author of a healthy
weight loss blog.

Tags: Alan H. Wayler, Author, Calories, Chopping Vegetables, co-author, Convenience, Desire, Diets, director of Green Mountain, executive director, food;, Fruits Vegetables, Green Mountain, Healthy Diet, Healthy Eating Recipes, Healthy Recipes, Healthy Weight Loss Spa, Lean Meats, Negative Feelings, New Year, New Year's Day, Obstacles, Perceptions, Phd, Positive Thought, Potato Chips, Poultry, Resolutions, Resolve, Sugar Salt, Weight Loss Retreat, Whole Grains —

Health Plan: A ‘Healthy Business’ Plan
Marjorie Geiser

In business, owners create business plans and marketing plans
for the New Year to help set their course for success. This
becomes their template to make their dreams and business goals
come true. They can then track their progress and make
adjustments when necessary to keep themselves on track.

But, why not do the same thing if your goal is improved health?
Just imagine setting up a real action plan to address what you
want to achieve and how you will go about making those goals
happen. Let’s look at some of the parts of a business plan and
see how they can be adjusted into a ‘health plan’.

Mission statement

According to Stephen Covey, all individuals should have a
personal mission statement. Do you have one? Ok, so you probably
don’t. But what about creating a personal health mission
statement? What would you want that statement to say? It should
include what your health would ideally look like and why you
would want it to look that way. You may want to include what
your primary goal is for creating a health statement, too.

An example may be, “I am committed to becoming a healthy example
for my family so that they learn healthy habits and never have
to suffer from disease caused by lifestyle. I will do this by
avoiding unfavorable health habits and eat a healthy, whole diet
most of the time and stay active on a regular basis.” So, here
are the questions to ask yourself in order to create your health
mission statement: 1. What do you want your health to look like?
2. Why do you want this health result? 3. How will you
accomplish this goal?

Vision statement

What do you want your health to look like in 10 years? What will
you feel and look like? How will you know if you have succeeded
in your goal?

Answer each of these questions to create your ultimate vision
for your health. Perhaps you have been struggling with great
amounts of weight for years. You have tried every diet known to
man, with limited success and then ultimate failure. So, your 10
year vision may be to weigh your ideal body weight, feel great,
look fantastic and be off all medications.

Do not allow doubts or limiting beliefs voice their opinion. If
you allow yourself to believe this can happen, you can make it
happen.

Goals

Now it’s time to break down that big vision; what will you have
accomplished in one year, three years and five years?

You have an ultimate 10-year vision, above. That is your
ultimate destination. Now is the time to create the rough plan
for how you will get there. Again, never mind what the limiting
thoughts say. What would you like to accomplish in these
milestone time frames? Examples may be that in one year you will
be walking every day, five to six days a week, for a total of at
least 60 minutes. Or maybe in a year you will be ready for a 5 K
walk/run race. Another example may be that in 1 year you will
have lost 10 pounds or are off your diabetic medication. Then
for three years and five years, allow yourself to open up and
dream.

Strategies and Tactics

What will your biggest challenges be? Determine these first,
then brainstorm how you can overcome these challenges. Then list
what it will take from you to make overcoming these challenges a
reality. What techniques will you use? List seven – these are
your strategies and the tactics you’ll use while using these
strategies.

Examples of challenges may be; not enough time in your day, too
tired, can’t find anything you like to do, hate vegetables or
cooking from scratch. But, as you consider your challenges,
there are always strategies you can use to determine how to
overcome these challenges. A few examples are to find
pre-packaged foods that are low in fat and sodium but healthy
and tasty and add a salad or vegetable to it, join a health club
such as Curves, where you can run in and run out and fit in a
workout in just 30 minutes. Find a buddy to walk with at
lunchtime. Buy a stationary bike and put it in front of the TV.
Set up a vegetable challenge at work, where everyone can keep
track of how many veggies they eat each day, with a prize at the
end of the month for the person who is eating the most. What
else can you think of?

Next you have to address what tactics you will use to make these
strategies actually a reality. Come up with at least five for
each strategy, because there will always be times that the
situation will call for a different tactic to overcome the
challenge. A few examples are to tell your friends and family
that you are now walking every day after work, set up a back-up
plan when you can’t walk, or each time you go food shopping you
buy a new fresh, frozen or canned vegetable to try, not limiting
yourself to just one form of the food. Or buy a new cookbook and
commit to yourself to prepare one new, healthy meal per week, or
spend some time on websites such as http://allrecipes.com/ to
research something new and healthy for the family. Again, I’m
sure you can come up with some tactics that sound good to you.

Values and Beliefs

Although your health may not be what you would like, this does
not mean you do not value health. You may value other things
more, though, or feel other things in life have taken priority
over health, and, before you know it, your health has suffered
as a result. What is meant by health values? To clarify, what
value do you put on health; yours or the health of others? If
you are reading this article, you probably do value health as
something to attain or maintain. If you are concerned with
maintaining your health, chances are it has held a high priority
for you through your life. Everyone has a different value of
health; for some, it may be the absence of disease, for others
it may reflect an inner calm and serenity. Some people may
consider health as physical or mental capacity or the weight
they are at. The belief may come from what you believe a
particular health condition (good or bad) represents. For
instance, some people may consider an ideal body weight as
health and something that represents inner strength or the lack
of health a weakness. For others, a sign of good health is a
healthy attitude towards life and others and themselves. None of
these values or beliefs are right or wrong; they are just how
you feel and what you believe.

List at least five personal values you have around your health
and life and the beliefs that go along with each value. Spend
some time on this, because many times people who are struggling
with health issues don’t want to address the true beliefs or
values around their health, which can be the biggest reason they
are unable to overcome conditions that limit achievement of a
particular health goal, such as losing weight.

Then answer these questions to see what areas need attention:
How do these values relate to your health? How are these values
reflected in the way you live currently? Are your values and
beliefs in sync with your lifestyle? Spend some time with these
questions and write down what you come up with.

Branding and Imaging

When friends and family think of you, how would you like them to
describe you and your health?When you consider what you would
like others to say about you when talking about health, are you
currently living up to that vision you have? If not, what needs
to change to become that person? How will you feel when you are
that person you imagine them talking about? How will you feel if
you do not become that person? List five things you would like
people to say about you and your health and lifestyle.

Action Plan

Now it’s time to create a real plan to make all of this happen –
your action plan. For those of you in business reading this, you
already knew what was coming. Do you see the parallels? Look at
your goals, and then ask yourself how you will plan to
accomplish those goals. Use your strategies and tactics as the
templates for your action plan. I have business clients create a
calendar from their strategies and tactics, setting up a
specific plan from month to month. You can do the same thing for
health goals. Set small goals on your calendar; maybe a goal of
walking five minutes every day, or avoid that morning doughnut
at least three days a week. You may have a goal that by the end
of the first month you are eating four servings of fruits and
vegetables a day; you can start by setting a goal of two
servings per day the first week, three servings per day the
second and third week, and then four servings by the 4th week.
Look at where you would like to be in a year, but then break
that year into more manageable chunks by looking at just one
month at a time and what you would like to have accomplished by
the end of that month. The purpose of an action plan is to make
what you need to do more real; to put legs on the ideas and
intentions you came up with earlier in the process. In other
words, how can you change from just thinking about what you
want, in the abstract, and make it something that really happens?

Budget and financing

All business plans must have a budget plan. What is necessary to
fund your new health plan? Can you do this on a small budget or
will it take a big financial commitment? How will you cover the
expenses your health plan will require? For some people,
bypassing certain expenditures, such as eliminating the morning
muffin at work can pay for the extra fruits and vegetables at
the market. Or avoiding an afternoon snack can add up to enough
to buy a new pair of walking shoes. Everyone can decide where
they want to prioritize how they will make health a priority and
how to make it fit not only their lifestyle, but also their
budget.

Many people envision a healthier day, someday. For those who
create a plan, and then develop strategies to stick to their
plan, tend to see success. As an example, read from participants
in the National Weight Control Registry, a group of over 5,000
people who have lost at least 30 pounds and have successfully
kept that weight off for at least one year,
http://www.nwcr.ws/stories.htm. Reading some of these examples
proves that even if you have over 100 pounds to lose, it is
possible; you have to have the desire, the awareness that it
will take dedication and determination, and that you have to
create the strategies and plan to make it happen. Just as with
business, failure to plan results in planning for failure. Make
that plan and enjoy success this year!

About the author:

Marjorie Geiser is a nutritionist, registered dietitian,
certified personal trainer and life coach. Marjorie has been the
owner of a successful small business, MEG Fitness, since 1996,
and now helps other health professionals start up their own
private practice. To learn more about the coaching services
Margie offers, go to her website www.marjoriegeiser.com or email
her at margie@megfit.com.

Tags: 10 Years, Author, Business Goals, Business Owners, Business Plans, Dietitian, disease, food;, Geiser, Health Habits, Health Mission, Health Plan, Healthy Diet, Healthy Habits, Marjorie, Marjorie Geiser, Marketing Plans, National Weight Control Registry, New Year, New Year's Day, Nutritionist, Parts Of A Business Plan, Personal Health, Personal Mission Statement, personal trainer and life coach, Plan Health, Statement 1, Stephen Covey, Vision Statement, www.marjoriegeiser.com —

Advice for Healthy Living in 2006
Anna Fleet

With the New Year now upon us, it’s important to give pause and
consider making some positive changes regarding the state of
your health. As they say, there’s no time like the present.
People the world over often make resolutions to do something to
better themselves in the coming year. In 2006, consider doing
something that will benefit your overall health. The following
suggestions may just help to ensure that you’re able to make New
Year’s resolutions for many years to come.

Get a Check-up – An excellent place to start when
considering lifestyle changes is with an honest assessment of
your health. At this stage, it wouldn’t hurt to consult with
your physician. Why not make an appointment for your annual
physical exam? This way, you can begin the year with an accurate
assessment of your physical state. Your doctor will be able to
focus your attention on areas that are of immediate health
concern. This is especially important if you’re a smoker, if
you’re overweight, or if you have any significant health issues
that might prevent you from performing simple daily tasks.

Drink More Water – Make another profound difference to
your health by consuming more water. Many people make the
mistake of assuming that they’ve received enough water from the
various pop, coffee and other beverages they’ve consumed in a
day. This is not entirely accurate. Ideally, one should consume
upwards of eight, 8-ounce glasses of water per day. Water helps
the body metabolize stored fats. It can also help your body
cleanse itself of free radicals, which have been linked to
cancer and other such ailments.

Get Moving – Exercise is yet another effective way to
maintain optimal health. That’s not to say that one has to
become entirely committed to working out each and every day, but
it’s in every individual’s best interest to perform some form of
activity 3 times per week. Physical exercise can be performed in
a wide variety of ways to keep it fun and interesting. For
instance, the simple act of walking is a highly effective form
of exercise. It’s one that can be completed without supervision,
without props, and without any previous experience working out.
Joining a gym has a number of direct benefits as well. Not only
will you have access to some excellent equipment, but you will
also benefit greatly from the fitness knowledge that most
personal trainers possess.

Pay Attention to Nutrition – Diet also plays a
significant role is one’s overall health. Everyone should be
familiar with the dietary guidelines established by the leading
health agencies and authorities. The “food pyramid” is by far
the most popular set of published nutritional guidelines. The
food pyramid advises people to include all of the major food
groups – grains, vegetables, fruits, dairy and meat (or protein)
– in their diets. Keep in mind that the food pyramid is merely a
nutritional guideline. The dietary needs of each individual will
vary drastically, and what’s ideal for one person isn’t
necessarily ideal for the next.

By following these few simple suggestions, you can take control
of your health and your life in 2006. Good luck!

About the author:

Anna Fleet is a certified personal trainer. When she is not
working out or helping others achieve optimal health, she is the
face and voice behind www.fitnessgear101.com – an excellent
online resource for information about Fitness Gear
Information, Aerobics
Equipment, and Workout Routines.

Tags: Accurate Assessment, Ailments, Anna Fleet, Author, Best Interest, certified personal trainer, Day Water, excellent equipment, Fats, Food Groups, food pyramid;, Free Radicals, Glasses Of Water Per Day, Health Concern, Health Issues, Honest Assessment, Lifestyle Changes, New Year's Day, online resource, Optimal Health, Ounce Glasses, Physical Exam, Physical Exercise, physician, Positive Changes, Profound Difference, Resolutions, Significant Health, Smoker, www.fitnessgear101.com —

Your Health Resolutions for a Healthy Chinese New Year
Maricon Williams

Chinese New Year

The Chinese New Year does not fall on the same date each year, though it is always in January or February. This year, Chinese New Year will start on February 9th this is because it is a new moon day, first day of the first Chinese lunar month in the Chinese Lunar Calendar system.

How is it spent?

Brace yourself and Im going to take you to a wonderful 15 day adventureThe first day in the Chinese New Year season is said to be the welcoming of the gods of heavens and earth. Chinese fast from meat to ensure long and happy lives for them. On the second day, they pray to their ancestors as well as to all the gods. They are extra kind to dogs, because it is believed that the second day is the birthday of all the dogs. Third and fourth days are spent to pay respect to their parents-in-law. On Po Woo, the fifth day, people stay home to welcome the God of Wealth. No one visits families and friends because it is believed to cause bad luck. During sixth to tenth day of the season, they go visit their friends, relatives and temples to pray for good health and fortune. Farmers display their harvest on the seventh day. They also make a drink from seven types of vegetables to celebrate. This day is considered the birthday of human beings. Noodles and fish, as symbols of longevity and success, are eaten. Eighth day is spent for a family reunion dinner and at midnight, they pray to Tian Gong, the God of Heaven. Ninth day is for offerings to the Jade Emperor. On the tenth through twelfth days, friends and relatives are invited for dinner. On the thirteenth day, simple rice congee and choi sum (mustard greens) are served to cleanse the system. The fourteenth day is for preparations to celebrate the Lantern Festival. On the eve of the fifteenth day, the most exciting part of the event, anticipation creeps in. Midnight festivity makes me feisty, it makes me chant: Chinese lanterns hanging everywhere, swaying gracefully with the air, jaunty rhythm fills my brain, my hearts pounding wildly like the rain. Happy people glow with glee, my familys with me and where will you be? Dancing dragon invites you to dance, he keeps murmuring Dont miss this chance. Fortune cookie dont lie to me, give me a note of what my future will be.. From afar raging firecrackers emits a deafening holler, it made me sigh, it made me utter brand new year, brand new adventures for me!

Literal and symbolical
The festivity is both literal and symbolical. The annual reunion dinner is held on the New Year’s Eve. This is a vital part of the celebration. Families come together and eat together. They start the year complete and united. Ties are nurtured and bad experiences are left behind to start anew. Symbols are used to convey something. Use of fireworks is to drive away bad spirits. Cleaning of the entire house is said to take away bad luck. Nian gao, the New Year’s Cake is always served. It is believed that the higher the cake rises the better the year will be. Typically red meat is not served and one is careful not to serve or eat from a chipped or cracked plate. Fish is eaten to guarantee long life and good fortune. Red dates bring the hope for prosperity, melon seeds for abundance and lotus seeds for prosperity through time. Oranges and tangerines symbolize wealth and good fortune.
Resolutions to Keep

Every time we enter a fresh year, numbers of resolutions are forthcoming and we ponder on how to do it efficiently The need to change for the better is inevitable and we have to overcome it successfullyHealth and longevity are one of our topmost concern and we should start the ball rolling before it shun us down.

One thing about resolutions is that motivation should be present. It may mean physically, mentally and emotionally directed to your resolutions so that you will not fail or it will not fail you. Be a positivist. Sometimes we should remind ourselves how lucky we are so that we can see things in a positive perspective. Open yourself to new ideas and experiences. Eat a balanced diet. Drink tea rather than coffee. According to experts, many health problems, especially cancers, can be prevented or corrected with proper nutrition. Exercise regularly. Explore life and explore your surroundings. Pamper yourself and try to detoxify. If you want a relaxing moment, try yoga. It is a quiet and invigorating exercise to achieve peace of mind and tranquility. Peace starts from within. Try to forgivetry to give Dont suppress your feelings inside. Studies have confirmed that repressed emotions especially anger can negatively affect healthTell your loved one how you feel before its too late

Sound mind and sound body is the key to a balanced approached to life. Fountain of youth has not been found yet, so for the meantime the best solution is to take impeccable care of ourselves. Its been a long journey but before we part, celebrate with me soundly in this gaiety. Sip a cup of green tea Pickup those fancy chopsticks and eat with me jovially and healthily Kung Hei Fat Choi Everyone!

About the Author

For Inquiries about the articles visit http://www.onlinehomemedicalsupply.com

Tags: Author, Calendar System, cancers;, Chinese Lunar Calendar, Chinese New Year, Eighth Day, Emperor, Festivity, Fifteenth Day, Fifth Day, God Of Heaven, God Of Wealth, Good Health, Jade Emperor, Lantern Festival, Lunar Month, Mustard Greens, New Moon, New Year's Day, New Year's Eve, Ninth Day, Reunion Dinner, Rice Congee, the Lantern Festival, Twelfth Days, Types Of Vegetables —