Nutrition Corner
Spring Ahead with Healthy Habits
By Michelle Davis, RD, LDN, Bariatric Dietitian
Spring is here! What are you looking forward to the most? Longer and lighters days? After-dinner strolls with family and friends? Fresh and local produce from the farmers market? These are all things that I love about spring. But, with the blooming of flowers and birds chirping, spring also reminds us that summer is around the corner.
With summer coming, we have the need to reach in the back of our closet and pull out all of our summer clothes that have been hidden for the past six months. Maybe this is the year that you’ll fit into a bathing suit deep in the closet that you have been holding onto for years. Or maybe this is your time to reset and think about some healthy habits that can help you meet the goals you have been working towards. Whatever it is you feel as spring and summer rapidly approach, remember these simple and easy healthy habits that can help you spring ahead with your health:
Get enough sleep at night
Research has shown that a poor night’s sleep can activate the appetite control in our brain, thus making us hungrier and prone to consume more calories throughout the day. Make sure to hit that pillow and get the recommended seven hours of sleep each night.
Find an exercise routine that you enjoy
We all know the benefits of exercise — weight loss and maintenance, heart health, etc. But who thinks about exercise as extra “work” added on to their day? This makes it very difficult to continue with an exercise program, so find a routine that you ENJOY so you can stick with it! Maybe it’s the gym, Zumba class, swimming, playing Wii Fit with your children, or brisk walking with family and friends.
Follow the 90/10 rule for healthy eating
When it comes to healthy eating, nobody is perfect! Spring and summer can be a time filled with barbeques and parties, which can be challenging when working towards healthy eating. Using the 90/10 rule, stick to your healthy eating choices 90 percent of the time, and allow yourself to “splurge” on foods you enjoy the other 10 percent of the time — maybe at a party, on an anniversary or vacation with family and friends. When following this rule, you can enjoy things you love while staying on course with your nutrition goals.
No matter what your goals are for the upcoming seasons, enjoy life and use these tips to spring ahead to a happier, healthier life!
Above content provided by Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. For advice about your medical care, consult your doctor.
Posted April 2012
