Six tips to help you improve your health this year

January is typically a month of new beginnings and refreshed intentions for the coming year. For many of us, a new year means New Year’s resolutions—but how do you sustain those resolutions until they become consistent habits?

If you plan to improve your health this year, you might be interested in Healthy Weight Week on January 18-24. This week is a designated time to focus on achieving a natural weight that is supported through lifestyle that includes mindful, purposeful eating, enjoyable physical activity, effective stress management, plentiful sleep, rest and relaxation and more!

Try the following six tips and sensible habits that can lead to an improved lifestyle, a healthy weight and greater life satisfaction.

• Know your numbers. One of the first steps toward a healthy lifestyle include knowing what a healthy (natural) weight, BMI, body fat and waist and hip ratio are for you. Also, it's important to know what your blood work is telling you. Is your cholesterol too high? Talk to your doctor for more information.
• Set realistic goals. Do your New Year's resolutions include sustainable changes? Plan out how you'll reach your goal and break the journey into small, attainable steps. And ask yourself, "are they achievable?" And, don't forget to reward yourself for your success -- this could be money in a jar, a new pair of pants or a new item to cook healthy with in the kitchen.
• Make POSITIVE changes. Ask yourself, "is my lifestyle helping or hurting me in the long term?" The quick fix is often not the best approach!
• Begin healthy self-talk. Talking down to yourself is a recipe for defeat. Avoid labeling yourself with negative words and regularly focus on your positive attributes. Use words and phrases like, "I can", "I will", "I do" and "I am _______!" Because, YES! You are AWESOME!
• Enjoy your food. It is possible to watch your diet and still enjoy your food. Look into new recipes or food substitutions that you will enjoy, while altering your diet to be reasonable in calories and quality.
• Relax! Allowing your body rest time is essential for a healthy life. Rest is the building block for accomplishing change, and our body relies on it to rebuild and refuel. Without rest it's very difficult to successfully lose weight, exercise effectively or succeed at work.

And remember, don’t give up your resolution if you have a small failure—get back on track and keep going. It takes about two months to acquire a new habit and make it part of your life.

Make 2016 the year you take a more active role in your own healthcare with healthcheck+ lab tests and screenings. These are available Monday-Friday from 6-11 am at 1901 Energy Court, located behind Wendy's. Learn your cholesterol numbers, check your thyroid function and much more, at an affordable cost with results mailed directly to your home in just a few days. Walk-ins are welcome or request an appointment online at www.cchwyo.org/hcplus.

For more tips like these, be sure to see a CCH Health Coach who can help you accomplish your goals and live your healthiest life!

Have Questions?
Campbell County Health's Wellness Services works to reduce health risks and promote overall wellness among employee groups and individuals across the northeastern Wyoming region. To learn more about Wellness, please visit www.cchwyo.org/Wellness or call 307-688-8051.

This blog was written by Rachel Wilde CPT, MA, CCH Wellness Services Technician and Phlebotomist