| Need a good summer project? Let's learn to eat | | | | quest to eat healthy. |
| healthy! The school year seemed like it might go | | | | Instead think, "I won't eat between meals this |
| on forever, but exams are finally finished, snow | | | | week," or "I'll add vegetables to my diet twice a |
| days are made up, classes are selected for next | | | | day." Record everything that you eat and every |
| year, and summer plans are being made. Along | | | | bit of activity you perform in your journal. |
| with all the plans for summer fun, think about | | | | Record the way you feel about the process, |
| making a commitment to your health! You're | | | | paying special attention to those times when |
| never too young to adopt good-health habits. | | | | you're tempted to eat "recreationally." What is |
| Even if weight loss isn't your main goal, getting | | | | driving that need? What else can you do in place |
| and staying healthy can be! | | | | of eating? The journal is a valuable tool for |
| Living a healthy lifestyle and learning to eat | | | | changing lifestyle habits. |
| healthy is easier than you might think! It doesn't | | | | The third step we'll discuss is to make it a point |
| cost extra money and it doesn't require | | | | to learn about the food pyramid. This information |
| expensive equipment. You can make a | | | | can easily be found online. Learn the major food |
| commitment today to spend the next two and a | | | | groups and the recommended daily servings for |
| half months becoming a healthier you! | | | | each. |
| You can return to school in September looking | | | | Learn how to read a nutrition fact label to help |
| and feeling better and knowing that you made a | | | | you make wise choices. Make notes in your |
| lasting change in your life that will continue to reap | | | | journal so that you won't forget this information. |
| rewards long after the season has faded. What | | | | Refer to it often. |
| better way to spend the next few months? | | | | The final step in our effort to eat healthy is to |
| There are numerous lifestyle changes that | | | | commit to one hour of daily activity. If you don't |
| encourage you to eat healthy. We're going to | | | | care for exercise, think of it at "play time." Do fun |
| discuss four of them now. | | | | things. |
| The first step isn't mandatory but it makes the | | | | It doesn't really matter what you do, as long as |
| project more fun. To begin this project, try | | | | you keep moving. Change it up. Walk or jog |
| recruiting a friend. Everything is more fun with a | | | | sometimes but don't forget to ride your bike and |
| support group. If there is no one available, make it | | | | swim laps too. Do push ups and crunches but |
| your own personal quest to eat healthy and | | | | don't forget that you can check out really great |
| surprise everyone when you go back to school! | | | | exercise DVDs from your local library or video |
| Next, start keeping a journal. It doesn't have to | | | | store. Add some Pilates or yoga. |
| be anything fancier than a few sheets of | | | | Do some strength training by using household |
| notebook paper. This step is especially important | | | | items such as canned goods. Earn extra money |
| if you're interested in losing weight. Record your | | | | by walking all the neighborhood dogs or cutting |
| weight and measurements if you have a scale | | | | the neighbor's yards. There's no reason why you |
| and tape measure handy. If not, try on a clothing | | | | can't "kill two birds with one stone." |
| item that you know is too small. | | | | Educate yourself this summer and enjoy lasting |
| Include this information in your journal along with | | | | benefits! Complete these four easy lifestyle |
| how you feel about the journey you're about to | | | | changes to help you eat healthy and be amazed |
| begin. Create some simple goals. Start small and | | | | at how well you feel and look when you return to |
| make them short-term. Don't think, "I'll lose 10 | | | | school in the fall. Enjoy the summer! |
| pounds this summer." That's too broad in your | | | | |