Have a HEALTHY New Year!

One of the most recognizable New Year’s Resolutions directly relates to one’s health: lose weight! A startling amount of Americans are overweight, including children, with the numbers constantly increasing. Obesity in the United States is at an all-time high and with this comes a plethora of health concerns that include: heart disease (which is also the top cause of death for Americans), type 2 diabetes, certain types of cancer, breathing difficulties during sleep, and osteoarthritis. Unfortunately, obesity can also lead to death and is one of the leading causes of death in the world, however, it is completely preventable. As a part of the New Year, whether you need to lose weight or not, a huge focus should be on eating a healthy diet, exercising, and getting enough sleep. Changing your lifestyle into a healthier one can not only improve your health but can also improve your mood and productivity level. The sooner you change unhealthy habits such as binge eating, the better. You may feel overwhelmed with all of the diet plans out there but stick to just eating healthy and eating well- balanced meals. Make an exercise plan; it is ok to take it easy at first, what’s important is that you steadily increase the amount you do and you get out there and move! Finally, make sure that you are getting at a MINIMUM eight hours of sleep. Sleep is when our body rests and heals itself, and real weight loss and a healthy lifestyle is impossible without it.

Here are some sites to reference in your efforts to get healthy:

http://www.nutrition.gov/nal_display/index.php?info_center=11&tax_level=1

This is the US Department of Agriculture’s Website on Health and Nutrition. It contains a ton of health information as well as weight loss plans and even recipes.

http://helpguide.org/life/healthy_eating_diet.htm

Helpguide.org is a nonprofit aimed at helping everyday people deal with life’s challenges. Their “Healthy Living” section includes information on healthy eating, exercising, and sleeping for all age groups.

http://www.webmd.com/balance/features/13-healthy-habits-to-improve-your-life

Here are some healthy habit tips from WebMD to get you started!