Make a Change Monday - Fifth Week!

            With the start of a new week, we hope that you are refreshed and ready to take on life’s challenges. It’s Make a Change Monday and as always we’re giving you five tips for the five days until the weekend.

1)  Get your daily dose of sunshine, in moderation. With several health risks associated with overexposure, too much sunshine can be a bad thing. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t get a healthy amount of sunshine (5 to 20 minutes) without sunscreen.

            Sunlight not only helps stimulate your body’s production of vitamin D, but can help improve your mood and improve your sleep.

2)  Dance. Burn some calories with a low impact workout (about 340 calories per hour) and have fun doing it. You don’t have to dance in the club or at the studio, you can dance anywhere, especially from the comfort of your home.

            Our suggestion– turn on your favorite playlist and turn your house into a one person dance party.  

3)  Pack your lunch. This tip will keep you light and your pockets heavy. Save money by bringing your lunch to work, while eliminating the splurging that comes from making food decisions when you’re hungry.

            Packing a lunch allows you to create a meal with your health in mind. Count calories from the comfort of your home. Hit all the necessary food groups and skip the grease of a spur of the moment lunch break decision. 

4)  Substitute a smoothie for dessert. This is about as simple as it gets. You will be healthier if you switch out the cake and cookies for a fruit smoothie. Here’s where our tip gets a little challenging– grab an all-fruit smoothie. It’s a delicious way to get your daily fruit servings.

            Many smoothies from your local juice stop come with yogurt or even ice cream, which is deceptively unhealthy. You think you’re drinking a healthy fruit smoothie, when in actuality you’re drinking a milkshake with more fruit.

5)  Change your workout routine. There are very few things more detrimental to your fitness than a stale workout routine. It gets boring. Your workouts aren’t as effective. And lastly, it’s hard to get excited about hitting the gym, if you know you’re going to be doing the same old thing.

            Switch it up. Run outside. Find a new workout plan online. Take a class. But for your health’s sake, make a change today!