30 Tidbits to Better Your Health

Happy National Health Awareness month! 

To honor health awareness and support you along your journey to good health and wellness,  I will be posting tips, recipes, or healthy fun facts to my blog for every day of the month of November!  I'm calling it '30 Tidbits to Better Your Health'.

If you'd like to have these 30 bite-size health tidbits delivered to your email inbox each morning, subscribe by entering your email address under the 'Follow By Email' heading on the left hand side of the page.

I pass these tidbits of information along hoping that one or two might inspire you to take action towards improving your health and living an inspired life.  Regardless of where you are in your commitment to your health and wellbeing, let these tips serve as a good reminder that it's a culmination of all the small things that we do everyday that create long-lasting and vibrant health.

Let's kick off this month's 30 Tidbits with my #1 health tip for November:  Move Your Body!!!

We all know that we should be exercising regularly, but why is it so hard to get started and stick to it?  Read on to learn more about the benefits of exercise and my top 4 tips to helping you stick to it!

Health Tip #1: Move Your Body

It's official.  We, as human beings, are meant to move our bodies on a regular basis. 

In fact, sticking to a consistent exercise routine is probably the most effective way to improve or maintain our mental, emotional, and physical health.

 Studies show that physical activity improves quality of sleep, helps maintain a healthy body weight, contributes to weight loss, improves mood, protects the part of the brain responsible for memory, and controls insulin levels, therefore, decreasing one's risk of developing diabetes. 

For a more in depth discussion about benefits of physical activity, go to the Harvard School of Public Health's Nutrition Source website. 

BUT, many of us know most of this information - at least know enough to understand that exercising regularly is something we should be doing.  Yet many of us have a difficult time getting started and/or maintaining regular exercise.

Below, I've listed 4 tips that have always helped me get in my exercise groove and stick with it.

4 Tips for sticking to an exercise routine:

#1. Choose physical activity that you enjoy and brings you pleasure.

In other words, find ways to move your body that make you feel excited about the fact that you have a body!  This is so important for two main reasons: 

First, we are more likely to stick with something that is fun and makes us feel good. Makes sense, right?  To reap the benefits of exercise, it is necessary to do it on a regular and consistent basis.  If you derive pleasure from what you are doing, then you are more likely to continue doing it. 

Second, how we think and feel about something has real physiological consequences.   An exercise routine that brings up feelings of dread, punishment, or any other negative thoughts can trigger the release of certain stress-response hormones, like cortisol, that may possibly counter the beneficial effects of exercise, including preventing you from losing those excess lbs. 

There is no ONE right way to move your body, just like there is no ONE right way to eat.  Each of us has different bodies, needs, lifestyles, interests, and health concerns.  Let these aspects of your life be a guide in choosing what types of movement are best for you and be open to it changing in the future.

#2. Plan out the how, when, and where you are going to exercise at the beginning of each week and WRITE IT DOWN.

I find that one of the most effective ways for me to sticking to an exercise routine is to pencil it into my date book at the beginning of each week.  It only takes 15 minutes at the most each Sunday night and then I don't have to think about it for the rest of the week.  I just look at my planner and follow what's written.  Like my mother always says, "If it's written down, it gets done." 

 #3. Be clear on your reasons or motivation for exercising, write them down (or use representative images or quotes) and put them in a place you will see or read them everyday.

So, how many of you have gotten really excited about moving your body on a regular basis, committed yourself to doing it, meticulously written it into your schedule, joined all the appropriate clubs and organizations to facilitate regular exercise and found that a few days in, life takes over and all the voices in your head are telling you that going home, getting in your pajamas, and cuddling up with a book and a slice of pumpkin bread makes WAY more sense than throwing on your tennis shoes and going to Zumba class after a never-ending day of hard work and frustration?  Sound familiar?

When the voice of your highest self (the one that got you to go out and buy that unlimited month of yoga just four days ago) is being drowned out by the voice seeking immediate gratification or resisting change, it is important to clarify the reasons for wanting to exercise.

Writing down the reasons for the changes we are seeking within ourselves reminds us of the bigger picture and helps us overcome those cravings for comfort that take us off the path we have set for ourselves. 

I find that having little notes, images, or quotes representing the changes I want to see in my life scattered around the house really help to serve as reminders and motivators in keeping me on track towards my goals. 

 #4. Find ways to move your body throughout the day - aside from the time you specifically dedicate to exercise.

Choose the stairs over the elevator.  Walk or bike to work.  Park far away from the store entrance.  Take breaks at work and walk around the block.  Stretch your legs before bed.  Do leg lifts while you watch TV.

These small moments of movement contribute to raising overall energy levels as well as making us feel more connected to our bodies.  When we feel energized and connected to our bodies, we are more inclined to follow through with scheduled exercise time. The more we move our bodies, the  the more we WANT to move our bodies.

Remember, it's getting started that's the hardest part. Once we remind our bodies how good it feels to move regularly, we begin to crave it and can't imagine what life was like before we had the gift of joyful movement in our lives.

What kind of commitment have you made to moving your body this month?  Do you have helpful tips that you'd like to share for sticking with a consistent exercise routine? 

Please share in the comment section below.  I'd love to hear from you!