Hi guys, hope your day is off to a fantastic start! Today I have an awesome guest post for you from Tiffany Newenhouse, RD, CDN, a fellow dietitian whom I know from our internship days. She has some great tips to share for getting on track for the new year.
Cheers!
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As the New Year starts up, it’s time we take a break from deciding what to eat and take the time to count the things that truly matter when managing our health and fitness. Spoiler alert: they have nothing to do with counting calories, grams of sugar or points.
In 2016, join me and count the things that matter 🙂
- Count the steps you take:
Or the miles you run. Or the flights you take. Or simply the minutes you move each day. When you first start off, it’s alright to start small with just 15 minutes a day. As your fitness improves, can work your way up to 30-60 minutes of exercise a day or 10,000 steps! Note: That is a very high number but there are apps and wearables that can help you stay on track.
- Count the times you chew your food:
So often I see people shoving the next bite in when they still have food in their mouth. Yikes, relax. That food isn’t going anywhere. Become more mindful when you eat by counting the times your chew your food. Aim for about 20-25 times, it should be almost smoothie consistency. It may seem strange at first but trust me, it will help you slow down your eating. Heck you may even taste your food for once!
- Count the hours you sleep. I cannot stress enough the importance of sleep, period. You should aim to get at least 7 hours every night not once a week when you sleep past your alarm or on weekends, but every night. Lack of sleep can lead to hormone imbalances, digestion issues, memory loss and, what we’re really trying to avoid this season, weight gain.
- Count the glasses of water you drink. You are made of mostly water, so it would seem like the most obvious choice for hydration but so many people are reaching for other things – sport drinks, juice, coffee, coconut water etc – that can be loaded with extra sugars and calories. Why not stick to the most natural option, water? Aim to get at least 8 glasses a day!”
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Tiffany is a Registered Dietitian working full time to bring her passion for food to her practice, incorporating her mantra that all foods can fit into a healthy, active lifestyle.
Follow her on Instagram! @New_tritiousTIF