Is being slim a crazy dream?
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| Tucking into a breakfast on holiday in Turkey |
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I'm back again! Back here, back with some new dollops of fat - which I thought I'd seen the back of - and it doesn't feel that great to be honest.
But I'd rather get thinner than fatter and there's no time like the present to get started. Here are some quick tips taken from Sparkpeople's site. I think they are quick and simple enough to get me moving in the right direction!
When it comes to losing weight or making healthy choices, you probably
think that it takes hours at a gym plus long nights preparing and
planning nutritious meals. What you may not realize is that quick and
easy changes can really improve your immediate health and wellness.
So just how quick is quick? One minute—that’s it! Try any one of these 60-second activities to easily reap the healthy benefits.
1. Drink a tall glass of water. We all know the many
health benefits of drinking water,
but did you also know that even mild dehydration can cause fatigue? So,
the next time you feel your energy waning, grab a glass of cold water
and guzzle it down!
2. Twist it out. So many of us spend every weekday seated in front of a computer. Not only can sitting all day wreak havoc on
your posture,
but it can also compress your spine and exaggerate its curvature. Not
fun. A simple twist can help undo this. As you sit in your desk chair,
simply twist your upper-body to one side, hold for 30 seconds, and then
repeat on the other side. If you have the space to sit on the floor, try
this
torso twist stretch. It’s guaranteed to make you feel better!
3. Take a deep breath. How often do you think about breathing? If
you are like most people, you probably don’t think about it often
enough. For a quick pick-me-up, simply take five deep breaths. Slowly
inhale for at least five seconds and exhale for 10 seconds each time.
Your body will thank you for the extra oxygen.
4. Do 20 jumping jacks. Research has shown that
long periods of sitting can be detrimental to the body
and our overall health. So get up out of that chair and jack it out!
Just one minute of jumping jacks is an easy way to get your heart
pumping and blood flowing.
5. Smile. Smiling can actually make you happier. So go ahead—smile!
6. Go outside. You’ve probably heard the health buzz about
vitamin D
lately. Preliminary research suggests that vitamin D helps regulate the
immune system, supports heart health, can help normalize blood pressure
and promotes healthy aging. Vitamin D has also been linked to improved
mood. If you have a minute to spare, step out into the sunshine!
7. Put on a favorite song. There’s nothing quite like your
favorite music to perk you up and get you feeling good. Listening to
music has been shown to improve immunity and release endorphins. Bonus
points if you dance along!
8. Sit up straighter. Did you know that bad posture can put
unnecessary stress on your low back? Take a minute to focus on sitting
up straight with your shoulders down and back. Don’t you feel better
already?
9. Be grateful. Write down five things you’re grateful for, no
matter how large or small (your hair, your family, your morning cup of
Joe—whatever). Do you feel more thankful, generous and overall happier
after? Funny how a little reminder of what we have can turn a frown into
a smile.
10. Tell a joke. Awake your inner child and tell a silly
joke—whether it’s a knock-knock joke or even a funny line from a movie.
Anything that gets you laughing is enough to get your happy endorphins
flowing!
11. Do 10 pushups.
Being strong is important, but having functional strength is even more
important because it makes everyday activities easier to accomplish. A
push-up is a great, quick exercise for building functional strength.
Drop down and give me 10—or as many as you can do in 1 minute.
12. Encourage someone. Isn’t it interesting how you always seem
to feel better after helping someone else feel better? Whether you post a
supportive comment on a SparkFriend’s page or write a few kind words in
a card or an email, taking a minute out to help someone can quickly
boost your mood.
13. Set a goal for the day. Fact: People who set goals have more
success than people who don’t. So why not take a few seconds and write
down what you want to do today? Then, just commit to making it happen!
14. Focus on one thing you love about yourself. At times, we put
so much effort in focusing on what we don’t like about ourselves that we
fail to see the good. Take 60 seconds to think about what you like
about you. Is it your eyes? Your strong legs? Your giving nature?
Thinking about how great you are will instantly increase
self-confidence.
15. Wash your hands. It seems like cold and flu season is always
in full force (or just around the corner). One of the simplest and
easiest ways to stay well year round is to wash your hands. All you need
is warm water, soap and 20 seconds of rubbing to rid your hands of
unwanted germs.
16. Compliment a stranger. What better way to make yourself feel
good than to unexpectedly brighten someone else’s day? The next time you
admire someone’s clothes, positive attitude or eyes—say so!
17. Try aromatherapy.
A number of different smells can have a positive effect on your mind
and body. For example, peppermint is known to calm the stomach while its
smell can energize you through a workout. And the scent of jasmine has
been shown to reduce anxiety. To benefit, grab some scented lotion and
either take a whiff from the bottle or rub some on your hands.
18. Salute the sun. Sun salutations
are a well-known set of yoga poses that are said to warm up the body
and increase blood flow and flexibility. So grab your mat and do one or
two sets—rain or shine!
19. Give yourself a mini-massage. Massage has a number of health benefits,
including reducing stress, lowering blood pressure and speeding muscle
repair. While you may not be able to spend the time or money getting one
at a spa, pampering yourself with just 1 minute of self-massage by
rubbing your own hands, feet or shoulders can do wonders.
20. Be absolutely present. When we are wrapped up with work,
to-do lists, and just getting by, sometimes we can forget to focus on
what we are doing in the here and now. Try spending a minute just
being.
Focus on sounds, smells and whatever else is going on around you;
instead of thinking ahead to what you'll do next, think about what
you're doing right now. You’ll be amazed at how peaceful you feel. Just
be!
See? In the quest to be healthier, you don't have to spend a lot of
time. Even if all you have is a few spare seconds here and there, you
can make a positive difference in your overall health!
