Want to live healthier? Take the path of MOST resistance!

June 13th, 2018

Nothing comes easy, but as we become more technologically advanced our health is taking a toll.  Here are some things where we could skip the conveniences and get healthier in the end.

• Take the stairs not the escalator or elevator.  The gym I go to is underground and there are escalators and stairs.  I’m always amazed when I see people who’ve been exercising at the gym on the treadmill or ironically, the stair master machine who end up choosing to take the escalator rather than the stairs!  Every bit of extra exercise adds up, make it tougher on yourself and you’ll feel better.
• Learn to cook!  When you cook your own food, you know exactly what is and is not in your food.  Many packaged and prepared foods use unhealthy oils, hidden unhealthy sugars such as corn syrup, and add exorbitant amounts of salt.  Food manufacturers and restaurants know that salt, fat, and sugar make food taste better.  Start simple with salads, like this tofu Caprese salad.
• Eat fresh fruit.  Avoid juices and dried fruit.  While these may seem like good alternatives, we often over eat these.  Yes, it may take more time to cut up and wash fruits such as apples and cherries, but the vitamins you get from fresh produce is always superior to processed versions.
• Stop circling around the parking lot for the space closest to the store or your work place.  Instead, pick a spot a little further away.  Walking even an extra 2-3 minutes adds up when you consider how often we do it.
• Carry your groceries in a basket not a cart.  When you have to hold a basket you realize how much you’ve bought.  This can help  remind you to avoid over-shopping.  Lifting that basket as you walk through the supermarket also helps to increase upper arm strength.
• Take those electronic devices away from your kids for an hour or more.  Go outside and play catch, tag, kickball, softball, frisbee, etc.  By playing together as a family, you will teach your kids the value of physical activity and social skills.  Sadly, these are being lost in our digital age.  It may take more effort to engage your kids, but well worth it!
• Turn waiting time into exercise time.  If you are like me, you hate being put on hold while you are on the phone.  I routinely put the phone on speaker and start doing squats or lunges until someone picks up the phone.  It makes the time go faster and you get a decent workout.