Make Health Your Resolution
Every January 1st, people all over the world make – or at least think about making - New Year's resolutions.
If there’s any resolution we should try to stick to in 2016, it’s a resolution to take better care of ourselves. Commitments at home and work can take a lot out of us. That’s why we have to take care of ourselves like we do others in our lives.
The New Mexico Department of Health would like to see more residents focus on their personal health. Remember, it's hard to keep up the enthusiasm months after New Year’s Day, but it's not impossible. Make Health your resolution for 2016!
Here’s some great tips for a healthy New Year.
Losing Weight
Have you found yourself getting a little “fluffier” this holiday season? Don’t lose sight of a few things as you start any new routine: Healthy weight loss isn't just about a "diet" or "program"; it's about an ongoing lifestyle that includes long-term changes in daily eating and exercise habits. So make a commitment but set realistic goals. To lose weight, you must use up more calories than you take in. Since one pound equals 3,500 calories, you need to reduce your caloric intake by 500—1000 calories per day to lose about 1 to 2 pounds per week.
Eating Healthy
Our food choices affect our health too, and there are so many ways to get started toward a healthy diet. Choose a realistic change that you can make for 2016, such as making at least half of your grains whole grains, or varying your veggies, eating more fruits, seeking out calcium rich foods like yogurt and cheeses, or eating lean proteins.
Managing Stress
Never forget: Not all stress is bad, but preventing and managing chronic (ongoing) stress can help lower your risk for serious health problems like heart disease, obesity, high blood pressure, and depression. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services says you can manage your stress noticing when you feel stressed, taking time to relax, and, as we mentioned above, getting active and eating healthy.
Quitting Smoking
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report 7 out of 10 smokers want to quit. Smoking is still the number one cause of preventable death and disease in the United States. Quitting now can cut your risk for diseases caused by smoking and leave you feeling stronger and healthier. To learn how to kick the habit for good, dial 1-800-QUIT-NOW or for Spanish 1-855-DEJELO-YA. These free quit lines offer a lot of resources, including free quit coaching, a free quit plan, free educational materials, and referrals to other resources.
Cutting Back on Alcohol
Another common resolution is one that can help make all of the above resolutions a reality: cutting back on alcohol. Some brands of beer, lager and cider contain more calories per bottle than some ice cream pints. Drinking is a really easy way to completely ruin any fitness plan. That’s because the way alcohol is absorbed by the body can reduce the amount of fat you're able to burn by exercising, and it can affect your stress by interfering with your sleeping patterns.
Media Contact
We would be happy to provide additional information about this press release. Simply contact David Morgan at 575-528-5197 (Office) or 575-649-0754 (Mobile) with your questions.
Versión en Español
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