14 Healthy Lifestyle Tips For 2014!

1. Drink water. Just do it! A simple trick to get more water in each day is to take a juice, milk, soda, whatever and swap it for a glass of water. It will not only hydrate you, but aid in fat loss, speed up your metabolism, help you think more clearly, etc. 
2. Use mustard instead of mayo. Mustard has fewer calories, less fat, and great flavor. My personal favorite is Dijon.
3. READ FOOD LABELS! If the label has high fructose corn syrup, high fat, high sodium, high sugar, hydrogenated oils, or soybean oil, don’t buy it!
4. Get enough sleep! Adults need between 7-9 hours of quality sleep every night. Getting enough sleep will help you perform better and be happier throughout the day. Be sure to turn off all electronics and lights in the bedroom to ensure a better REM cycle.                                  
5. Look for healthier alternatives. For instance, eat Greek yogurt instead of regular yogurt, more protein and less sugar.
6. Exercise moderately for least 3 times a week. Weightlifting is something that has really benefiting my family. We not only feel better and have more energy, but weight bearing exercise helps build and maintain bones, aids in hand/eye coordination, and makes you stronger. Just be sure not to round your back when picking up heavy weights, lift with your knees, not your back, and don’t curl in the squat rack!
7. Have a pet. I can’t tell you how beneficial it is having our dogs. They soothe us, make us laugh, love us, protect us, etc. A definite man’s (and woman’s) best friend. My mutts help me to relax, lowering my cortisol levels (the stress hormone bad for your heart). Cats, hamsters, fish, what have you are great too, I am just biased. 😉
8. Have fresh plants in your home. Having plants help to detoxify the air, cheer up your home, and produce fresh oxygen.
9. Eat more fruits and vegetables. I’m sure everyone has heard this a billion times, but having a colorful plate really helps in ensuring you have a well balanced diet. By adding antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals to your diet, the risk of and heart disease, cancer, and other diseases are lowered.
10. Grab a smoothie instead of the juice. Juicing is a great way to receive nutrients, but smoothies are even better. Now I do not mean smoothies with added sugar and ice cream. I mean fresh fruits blended together with a little bit of low-fat milk or low sugar juice. This way, you get all of the health benefits of juicing, plus the fiber from the plants. Win-win.
11. Cut the sugar and artificial sweeteners they are only slowing you down! Instead curb your sweet tooth cravings with fruits and dark chocolate. A great dessert are frozen dark chocolate covered bananas with nuts. Yum! Dole now sells them for cheap if you do not want to make your own, and they taste like chocolate covered vanilla ice cream.  
12. Take a time out! You heard me, take 30 minutes of me time every day. I promise it will make you a better person. People get so stressed out in the busy day to day rut, they frequently forget to take care of themselves. It is the air mask theory. You can’t help someone on an airplane put on an air mask before you put your own on. Unless you can function and are well taken care of, you cannot help those around you. Take a bath, read a book, study the Bible, play outside with the dog, or take a nap. Just do something for YOU.
13. Eat breakfast! Eating a meal when you wake up literally breaks your body’s fast. Try something high in protein with some fat to maintain fullness for longer and help manage blood sugar levels. Eggs and peanut butter toast, a smoothie with a scoop of protein powder, or a handful of berries and walnuts in oatmeal (made with milk) are great options to get your body ready for the day.
14. The most important tip of all, give it up to God. The Bible says “Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life” Matthew 6:26-27. (My favorite verse). It’s the whole “Don’t worry, be happy mantra. De-stress, everything happens for a reason, and everything will work itself out. Just breathe, relax, and pray.