Talking to Your Doctor
Take Action to Live a Healthy Life
Tips for Eating Right and Staying Active
It’s important to be prepared for your doctor’s appointment and get the answers to your questions. But, your work doesn’t stop there. Eating right and getting (or staying) active are the first steps toward a healthier life and may keep you out of the doctor’s office. Here are a few easy tips that can help you get started in the right direction:
Eating Right
- Add fruits, vegetables and whole grains. These foods are not only good for you, but they taste great! Fruits and vegetables help you get vitamins and minerals you need and have many other health benefits. Eat a variety of fruits and vegetables and try whole-grain and whole-wheat products.
- Make small substitutions. Switch to low-fat versions of products like milk, cheese, mayonnaise and salad dressing. Also try ground turkey instead of ground beef. This will help you cut back on the fat, and you likely won’t notice a difference in taste.
- Write it down. If you take a moment to write down everything you eat, you’ll have to hold yourself responsible for all of your food choices. You don’t have to commit to doing this forever, but it’s easy to keep a food diary for one week to remind yourself about the handful of chocolates you had after lunch or that extra bag of chips.
- It’s all about balance. You don’t have to give up your favorite foods, but don’t eat too much of one thing. Your body needs a variety of vitamins and nutrients that you can get from eating grains, vegetables, fruits, dairy products and meats.
Getting (and Staying) Active
- Think outside the gym. When it comes to exercise, think about what you enjoy doing and start there. Chances are, if you pick a sport or activity you enjoy, you’ll be more likely to stick with it. So if you love playing tennis, find a partner and get out on the court more often. Play soccer or basketball, swim laps or go for a bike ride. And be sure to do a variety of activities so you don’t get bored. You don’t have to be in the gym to stay active and work up a sweat.
- Set goals. You’ll likely have more motivation if you set a goal and work toward it. Whether you want to participate in a 5K, or you just want to climb a long set of stairs more easily, keep a goal in mind that will help you stay focused.
- Find easy ways to add in exercise. If you live within walking distance of work or the grocery store, put the car keys down or skip the bus trip and make the outing on foot occasionally. Try taking the stairs more often, or spend more time running around with your kids. You can even burn calories cleaning your house, doing yard work or parking farther away from entrances to stores and work.
- Think positive. Exercise can help you sleep better, be more productive at work, and ease stress and worry. So when you’re losing motivation, think about the benefits of exercise for both your body and mind.
Consult your doctor before beginning a fitness or diet program.
