It seems that in 2020 a lot of us ate and drank more than usual! But now is a good time to get back on track with ways to a healthier you. Lord knows I need it!
So this week, for my Sunday Five Faves I thought I would concentrate on simple, reasonable health tips…what works for me.
Cindy and Annie also have their five favorites and we have a guest. Adorable Sandra from Apart From My Art is also joining us this week with her fave things, too. Their links are at the end of the post.
1. Hot Lemon Water
An oldie but goodie…Hydrating with a cup of hot water with lemon first thing in the morning (before coffee sets the intention for the day) and after dinner is a nice ritual. Studies show it’s a good source of Vitamin C and aids in digestion.
2. Healthy Meal Planning
Cindy Hattersley and I are officially back on Weight Watchers! We both think it’s the best program. I use the basic digital plan. It’s not expensive and it makes you plan and record everything you eat. If you want more support, you can sign up for it.
Cindy and I are going to support each other…do it with us and we will encourage you, too! We can share recipes and progress with each other. Check out Weight Watchers Grocery Shopping List.
If you want, use this link to sign up and we can both get a free month!
3. 10K Steps A Day (With At Least 6K Before Noon)
An average person has a stride length of approximately 2.1 to 2.5 feet. That means that it takes over 2,000 steps to walk one mile and 10,000 steps would be almost 5 miles. A good daily goal is 10k steps.
I find that if I can get the majority of steps done in the morning (say 6k), it’s easier to accomplish 10k by the end of the day…even if it means a brief walk after dinner.
4. At Home Work-out Gear
These are my favorite things to aid with my work-out.
- Tracker: My husband uses a Fitbit to track his workout, heart rate, and sleep. I’ve been really happy with my Apple Watch Series 3 (it’s an older version so you can get it for less $). Tracks your steps and reminds you to stand up and breathe.
- Yoga mat and towel washable and non-slip.
- Hand weights I am just starting to do repetitions again! I have the five pounds weights… a lighter weight but more repetitions. Here is a video for beginners…
- Refillable Insulated Water Tumbler With Lid I keep mine refilled all day long.
- Air Pods for Music or books on tape while walking (I love these! And they are noise cancelling).
- Yoga/Pilates Program on YouTube. I follow The Balanced Life with Robin Long on YouTube.
5. Enjoy Sparkling Water Instead Of Alcoholic Cocktails
Howard and I traditionally start off January “dry” for two or three weeks. Then, I limit a glass or two of wine to the weekends, especially on Weight Watchers. It’s sort of a “detox.”
If you like the flavored sparkling water La Croix, then you will like Kirkland Signature Sparkling Water from Costco. It’s the same zero calories and cheaper. Feels like a treat. I add ice and fruit slices and use a wine goblet.
Those are my five ways to a healthier you! You may also like: 7 Healthy Habits To Feel Happier
Let’s see what Annie, Cindy, and Sandra recommend for us this week!
Cindy Hattersley Design
Most Lovely Things
Apart From My Art
And come back on Thursday when we will have fresh comfortable clothes for staying home and working out!
Mary Ann, Great suggestions. I too always like to reset at the beginning of the year. It feels good after all the indulging at the holiday and the sugar. Yikes we still have so much holiday candy I need to throw it out. I try to hit 10K steps a day too, but I like your idea of 6,000 before lunch. I find it’s hardest to make it when I have to sit at the computer for a long time. I try to drink only a glass or two of alcohol on the weekend and water the rest of the time. Honestly, this past year I have gotten so much heavier. I know we’ve indulged in a lot of comfort foods and baking and I have to try harder this year. Thanks for all the good ideas! Happy New Year. xo
I know about the sugar, Kim…purge time! You look great!
Happy New Year, Mary Ann. Perfect timing on this topic. I hope to drop a few lbs. while the momentum is present. There’s something about the new year that always provides such inspiration for improving one’s self.
I look forward to some ideas for workout gear.
xo,
Karen
What great inspiration from all those reply’s, just knowing I am in the majority with
Weight gain over the past year helps motivate me !
I lost 30 pounds in a year on weight watches I gave myself a year to do it before my
granddaughters wedding. I didn’t lose every week but I never gained, I learned
to focus on other successes not just the number on the scale .
I kept it off for two years until covid 19 , but time to get this 5’2 body back on track before
a 15 pound weight gain turns into 30 .
PS I looked great in the wedding pictures TeeHee
Thank you for the videos – I will for sure check those out.
A word of caution – the lemon water may not be so good for those with digestive issues such as GERD. etc. and it can be hard on your teeth enamel. I am currently trying to up my water intake!
I managed to keep up my cardio and walking almost every day over the holidays…had to combat the extra calories I was consuming! We also have been trying to get rid of stuff in the garage so my workouts did suffer some because of that as well. My husband was off for 2 weeks so once he goes back to work tomorrow I hope to get into the groove again. I’m back on dog duty too…two walks a day on top of my workouts.
Linda
My husband also gifted me a set of AirPods for Christmas, was not expecting that. :o)
Don’t you love them?
About two years ago I received an email from my health insurance company basically saying, “You’re fat, it’s not good for you, could lead to diabetes (one of those underlying conditions we keep hearing about with COVID-19), and we can help. My insurance provided for free access to a weight loss program. I could choose the one that worked best for me (WW was one of them). I chose a program which provided a free Fitbit and digital scale. I weigh myself every morning. I use both my Fitbit and my Apple Watch (it’s time to stand!) to monitor my activity. Mostly, I learned how to eat. I wasn’t eating enough protein. I didn’t know it was necessary to include protein with every meal. I learned how carbs and starchy vegetables are converted to sugar in the body and basically aren’t helpful. In learning how to eat I also had to learn how to cook and basically discovered that I like doing it. I don’t count calories but I do monitor what I eat (low carbs) and control portions. And protein is a part of every meal. I don’t feel like I’m on a diet because we eat like kings. I’ve learned how to read a recipe and adapt it to my needs. I substitute a non-starchy vegetable for a starchy one. I’ve learned that I prefer cauliflower rice and zucchini noodles instead of rice and pasta. I have to be very intentional about grocery shopping and cooking. I’ve lost 30 lbs, blood pressure is down, cholesterol is down, and I feel good.
I agree with you about sparkling water (it’s my drink of choice) and AirPods. Nothing like listening to a good book on my morning walks. Love my local library for providing so many choices for audiobooks.
Good luck to you and your new you for the New Year!
Brenda
Bravo Brenda!!!! I’m going to try everything you are doing. I get audiobooks from our library too! I’m so happy for you Brenda!
Thanks for your kind words. Now you could do What You’re Cooking posts and What You’re Reading posts. Healthy body, healthy mind!
OMG! Where do you do the 10,000 steps? Walking in the city? Five pound weights???? Jeez, I’d better get it together. I did not care for WW. I use my iPhone and the app Loseit. I keep track of what I eat. So that I only eat I think 1300 calories a day. Something like that. I need to get back on it. I find it hard with quarantine. I’m going to try dance classes online. I’ll let you know how that works out. If you drink the water before bed, don’t you have to get up to pee at night?
It’s always fun going you ladies. a real treat!
Yes…out walking my dog Chief. I am not saying that it’s easy but the sights are nice. We loved having you with us, Sandra…love you post!
PS. I try to drink the hot lemon water an hour before bed…but I have to get up to go to the bathroom even without it!
Hi MaryAnn, I could not agree with you more, all excellent tips! I walk 10,000 steps a day, do an hour of hot yoga and follow and intermittent fasting plan. I love all of your suggestions.
Wow, Elizabeth. I am such a slacker.
Yikes just reading your reader’s comments makes me feel like a total slacker. I need to drag out the weights and try that program. I have always gotten most of my exercise from gardening which is intermittent and much less in the winter. I think Sandra’s soup could be adapted to fit WW I am going to try that too. To the grocery store I go!!
Just today I got back with Chief and had only done 6K so I started dancing around while emptying the dishwasher with my AirPods on…Howard and Chief thought I was nuts but it was fun and I have another 700 steps!
Thanks for your tips and inspiration. I am 5’1″ and have packed on extra weight. Blob is a word I can relate to! Here’s to a healthy 2021!
I am 5’1″ too…it’s harder for us, Debby!
After a lot of research, My husband and I started eating whole food plant based almost three years ago to help fight his cancer. It is a learning curve to start, but easy once you get the hang of it. I had done WW several times, but could never sustain my weight loss for more than a year, and I was always hungry. Now I don’t count points, calories or anything else. We just eat starches (lots of potatoes, rice, beans, etc), fruit, grains, veggies of all kinds, with a few seeds and walnuts. I am never hungry and we enjoy eating a lot of food. My husband had 30 pounds melt off of him in several weeks, and I have lots over 20 pounds. One of the keys is we eat no oil or fat and very rarely eat out where everything is loaded with salt and oil or fat of some kind. We would never go back to eating the SAD diet (standard American diet). And as it invariably comes up, we get our protein from all the plant food we eat, and our overall cholesterol is in the 80’s. Our doctors are happy.
Oh my gosh, that is so great Pam! I hope the cancer is in remission. I am usually not hungry on Weight Watchers with the unlimited “free points.” It just takes a bit to withdraw from processed sugars. ie. Christmas cookies. You can’t even have olive or walnut oil? Good for you. I don’t think I could do it! But I applaud you. Happy New Year!
If you eat olives and walnuts you are getting the oil without it being processed into pure fat with no nutrition, just lots of calories. My husband has a blood cancer related to exposure to agent Orange in Viet Nam. It is incurable, but treatable, and after a stem cell transplant has been in remission for almost 4 years.
Oh, thank goodness for the remission. My sister’s husband was also exposed to Agent Orange and has had significant health issues.
GOOD LUCK WITH THE NEW DIET!
10K IS IMPRESSIVE TO ME AND YOU ARE DOING THIS ON THE HILLS OF San Francisco!
I THINK CHIEF WILL NEED MORE FOOD TO KEEP UP!
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
XXX
Thank you, Contessa, for recognizing the hilly factor. Sometimes I have to carry Chief…buy he’s only 12 lbs. And he HAS been getting extra food 🙂
Happy New Year!