Here we are at the end of January and I’m writing a health and exercise blog. I know I am about 3 weeks too late. I did it on purpose! Did you know that 80% of the people who make a plan or resolution to lose weight or exercise, quit that plan by the end of January? That is why I am writing now…because if you made this a goal for 2017 then you are more than likely ready to give up on this goal. Ultimately, people quit things because they are not finding happiness or success in what they are doing. I hope that this blog post finds you at just the right time to inspire you to keep your goals for a healthier 2017 moving you forward past the 80% who have quit or are about to! Here are three thoughts to keep you on track:
Awareness of lifestyle habits
Awareness of what lifestyle habits you have is really the first key to sustainable weight loss. We all make choices every day and from those choices we start to form habits. Some habits drive weight loss and some drive weight gain. The goal is to recognize which habits are which and start to replace the weight gaining habits with those that promote weight loss. Sounds easy right, well guess what…this is the hardest step. We all have heard countless talks and studies about what we should and shouldn’t be eating, drinking, or doing to our bodies. The hard part is to begin to make the choice to pick the angel on the shoulder (broccoli), not the devil (cheeseburger). Over time it will get easier to recognize the difference but at the beginning make sure you put a strong support system (some friends, your spouse, someone else who has the same goal) around you that can encourage and hold you accountable. Awareness of what goes in your body and mental preparation is step one!
Stop comparing
Who hasn’t gotten on social media and saw the girl with the figure we would kill for or the guy with the perfect six pack abs?!? I mean do these people spend all day in the gym and only eat grilled chicken and plain rice 24/7? The answer is NO! People post pictures on social media for attention. When is the last time someone posted a picture showing off her post pregnancy body? For our guys out there…how many men do you see standing in front of the mirror flexing their “dad bod” muscles? These pics are not on social media although this is a much more accurate picture of the majority of the population. Mentally we have to stop the comparison game so that we grow comfortable in our own skin. Then we can start to appreciate the positive results of choosing to make healthy habits your norm and finding the right exercise.
Get up and do something
Exercise does not have to be a 45 minute, screaming, red-faced, out of breath powerlifting session. Exercise for you may start as a walk at the park. We too often complicate things and then they become more and more difficult for us to do. Find something you enjoy. Do you love nature? Go for a walk at the park or better yet go for a hike on one of Tennessee’s awesome hiking trails. Do you love to dance? Find a Zumba class or some other fun way to feel the beat. Do you love sports? Find a pickup game of basketball, join the adult soccer league, or walk your next 18 holes of golf. Do you love to eat? Well I am sorry…I can’t make up an exercise for that. You will never be able to out exercise a bad diet! Physical activity along with forming healthy habits are the core to all good weight loss programs. We are not trying to reinvent the wheel!
Do you have an accountability partner? Someone with similar goals that will help to keep you motivated? You need that person to encourage and commiserate with you each day of your new health journey. I am starting a 10 day shred on Monday Feb 6th, why don’t you join me? I will be your accountability partner, motivator and support system! For 10 days we will drink plant based protein shakes, eat healthy salads and lean meats and stay away from a few bad foods. Easy as pie, right? If you want to try it out, email me at DrBlair@healthyboneschiro.com
Dr. Blair’s Essential Oil Blend of the Month
This January has been such a weird month weather wise. Seriously, one morning it is 25 degrees and I am scraping ice off my car and the next afternoon I am thinking about putting on some shorts and my flip-flops. With weather like that how can you keep your family cold-free? Here is a blend that I have been using all month on my kids to fight off any bad germs and keep them healthy during this crazy January weather.
I use doTERRA essential oils in my blends but you can use your favorite pure, high quality EO’s(if you need more information about this, shoot me an email!).
10-15 drops Lemon
10-15 drops OnGuard
5-10 drops Melaleuca
5-10 drops Oregano
Fractionated Coconut Oil
Add the Essential oils to a 10 mL rollerball and fill the rest with Fractionated Coconut oil. Ad stopper and turn and roll to mix oils. You can use this 10-15 times per day when you are feeling under the weather or sluggish. Roll on bottoms of feet, under your collarbones, behind your ears or under clean underarms. Roll on feet nightly for regular immune support.
P.S. If you don’t have a roller ball but would like to reap the benefits of this amazing blend, add EO’s to a small mason jar with a tight fitting lid, melt 2 tablespoons of REGULAR coconut oil and add to your jar, swirl and swish to mix and then refrigerate. This will give you a little jar of solid oil that you can scoop a tiny drop and rub it in! This is one of my favorite methods for kids too! I rub this on their backs as they are heading to bed!
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