61 Days To Better Health

What does better health mean to you? Eating better? Losing weight? Getting more exercise? Reducing stress? Well, it's actually all of those things, and more. It's also something different for everyone. I'm going to be taking a holistic approach for the next 61 days, looking at all aspects of healthy living. Some things may seem like common sense, but it's funny how we often need a little nudge or reminder.

The truth is...Better health isn't hard, it's simply a choice. A mindset. A decision. It's not about making radical changes overnight that set you up for failure. It's about making gradual changes that you can adapt into your lifestyle and maintain.

So, each day for the next 61 days, I'll be giving you a little tip or suggestion that can help you achieve better health. Don't worry, it's not a pass or fail challenge, and success is measured only by you. Try to keep in mind that even the smallest healthy changes are better than no changes at all.

Since today is the day after Halloween, my first tip will be to do everything in your power to avoid eating Halloween candy. Do you already have a piece in your mouth? If so, just let it be your last piece. I know, that's easier said than done. I love frozen chocolate, so my kids are under strict instructions to put no candy in our freezer. For me, the days after Halloween are the hardest. It's so tempting to buy more candy when it's marked down 50% for a quick sale.

If saying "no" to the Halloween candy is impossible for you, at least limit yourself. Have one piece of candy, rather than one bag of candy. It doesn't have to be about deprivation, it can be about moderation. Give it a try and let me know how you make out.

Contributing Editor Catherine Morgan
at Catherine-Morgan.com, Capessa Health, PVOW

Submitted by Catherine Morgan (view blog

) on Sat, 11/01/2008 - 10:09am

Posted In

Comments (10)

Twitter

Facebook

StumbleUpon

Comments

Gradual Change

" It's about making gradual changes that you can adapt into your lifestyle and maintain."

Exactly! I'm looking forward to the next 60 days of tips.

Deborah Johnson

A Writer's Voice: http://litchick73.blogspot.com/

Submitted by deborah91473 on Sat, 11/01/2008 - 11:42

Thanks Deborah.

Thanks Deborah. :-)

Contributing Editor Catherine Morgan
at Catherine-Morgan.com, Capessa Health, PVOW

Submitted by Catherine Morgan on Sat, 11/01/2008 - 11:53

Heath

Ever woke up in the middle of a dream and realized you were dreaming? Realized you were safe in bed but the dream went on? Who were all these people running around in your dream? I mean, it was YOUR dream, but everyone in the dream "appeared" to be someone else. How could they be anything but you?

So your dreaming of good heath? That's funny in certain light. Because your just my dream? But I wonder, I just wonder, who's dreaming?

Lovey

Dream a beautiful dream, dream of butterflies, ranbows, sunsets and Angels, then...

Submitted by Angels on Sat, 11/01/2008 - 14:37

Had my last Tootsie Roll last night

...thanks to your post this morning!

I really needed to read this:

"Don't worry, it's not a pass or fail challenge, and success is measured only by you. Try to keep in mind that even the smallest healthy changes are better than no changes at all."

THAT'S what I need to remember. Because lifestyle change is so hard for me. Thanks Catherine, I'll be back and reading tomorrow...

Lisa Stone
BlogHer Co-founder
Surfette

BlogHer is non-partisan but our bloggers aren't! Follow our coverage of Politics & News.

Submitted by Lisa Stone on Sun, 11/02/2008 - 07:12

Thanks Lisa.

Thanks Lisa. I'm happy you found the post helpful. I just posted another one in the series, it's titled "You Are What You Eat"- hope you like it.

:-)

Contributing Editor Catherine Morgan
at Catherine-Morgan.com, Capessa Health, PVOW

Submitted by Catherine Morgan on Sun, 11/02/2008 - 10:17

Self-talk

Catherine, I had been doing better monitoring my own health, in particular I started trying to balance out my carb to protein ratio because I suspect I may be insulin resistant based on my weight gain pattern. And it was working and actually not hard to do, but then my mother went into the hospital and I started sitting with her and making poor food choices again (junk food).

So, this morning I got up and started right again, high protein oatmeal with lean, spicy chicken sausage on the side and the one cup of coffee I allow myself daily, a pecan blend I buy at PJ's. My mom's still in the hospital and so I may be sleeping there tonight, but I'm doing lots of self-talk to keep myself on track. Yay! for South Beach meal bars.

I'm reminding myself that I've felt better and had much more energy for the last six weeks of balancing my foods. I didn't get on the scale, but my clothes fit better and I'd stopped gaining weight. (It's terrifying to gain weight when you're eating less than 1600 calories per day and are more active than you were the year before, which is what I was doing before I started trying to balance the carbs and proteins, gaining weight while watching calories.) Funny how hard we have to work mentally sometimes to do the right thing for physical health.

Nordette is a Contributing Editor with BlogHer.com whose personal blog is hosted on another site. Try these links, McCain Funny on SNL and Canadian comics prank Palin.

Submitted by Nordette on Sun, 11/02/2008 - 08:13

Hi Nordette.

Hi Nordette. Thanks for commenting, I'm glad your getting yourself back on track with making healthy food choices. I think you'll like the post that I just put up...You Are What You Eat. Let me know what you think.

:-)

Contributing Editor Catherine Morgan
at Catherine-Morgan.com, Capessa Health, PVOW

Submitted by Catherine Morgan on Sun, 11/02/2008 - 10:20

Candy Alternatives

This year we gave bubbles instead of candy. They were mini bottles and weren't any more expensive than candy, and the kids seemed excited to get them. If there's Halloween candy in the house I'll eat it. So far, I've only had a couple of peices from my kids stash.
Sheryl

Submitted by paper napkin on Sun, 11/02/2008 - 16:17

That's a great idea Sheryl...

Hi Sheryl...I love bubbles as an alternative to candy. I've been good, haven't eaten any candy. I even past the big test today when I went shopping and walked right by the candy that was discounted 50%.

:-)

Contributing Editor Catherine Morgan
at Catherine-Morgan.com, Capessa Health, PVOW

Submitted by Catherine Morgan on Sun, 11/02/2008 - 16:22