April 2009

Inventory your Stress

A stress journal can help prevent emotional eating.

Stress is an unfortunate reality of our busy lives. Sometimes stress can feel overwhelming, leaving us powerless to do anything, and a common reaction to this stress is to treat it with food. Stop that cycle! The key to stress management is realizing that you’re in control of your life and you don’t have to let stress ruin you. Remembering this simple fact will help you overcome any obstacle big or small, and prevent stress from pushing you off the healthy lifestyle track you’re on.

How to Exercise at your Desk

Many of us find ourselves tied to a desk all day, and sitting in the same spot for eight hours at a time is hardly good for us (or our butts). Although it’s best to get up and move around multiple times during the day, when it’s crunch time that isn’t always possible.

Foods that Combat Stress

After a long day and a frustrating commute home, the last thing many of us want to do is tackle cooking dinner, much less figuring out a meal that’s nutritionally balanced. But being time starved and making poor meal choices doesn’t just add to our weight—it can actually add to our stress, too.

The Importance of Taking Breaks

With life getting busier every day, it seems like various tasks pop up on our to-do lists faster than we can cross them off. As you jump from one thing to the next, remember that taking some time to breathe will ensure you don’t burn out.

Rewarding ourselves for hard work can be as simple as enjoying a hot cup of tea or going for a pedicure after a hard week. If you’re at work, try not to eat lunch at your desk. Instead, get away for a quick walk in the sunshine. Consider taking the kids to the park for an hour and sit on a nearby bench.

Sleep

Sleep—we all need it and it accounts for a third of our entire lives. But how much sleep is ideal, and how, with work, kids, and everything else going on in our lives, can we reach the goal? The short answer is that there is no magic number of hours of sleep that is optimal for everyone. Most studies say that between eight and nine hours of sleep is considered the optimal amount for us to wake up feeling completely restored and rejuvenated, but many people can function on three to five hours, and some people need at least 10.

Stress and New Baby

The moment is finally here, you’ve brought your newborn home for the first time after months of anticipation and planning. Being a new mom comes chock-full of joy and elation—but something that your pregnancy doesn’t prepare you for is coping with late-night feedings and a severely altered sleeping schedule.

Home Spa Ideas

Let’s face it—dieting can be stressful, but a relaxing trip to the spa is the perfect remedy for a hectic work week. Unfortunately, our schedules (and wallets) prohibit us from visiting the spa as much as we’d like. But, with just a little creativity, you can transform your bathroom into your very own personal spa and give yourself just a little bit of time to let your worries melt away.

Your Love Life Could Hold the Key to a New Thinner You

It’s a very familiar story—the beginning of a good relationship is packed with romance, where both of you are willing to do anything and everything to attract and keep the attention of the significant other. But as we get more secure in our relationships, contentment and comfort can also lead to a lull in passion.