New Year Healthy Habits

Sometimes overdoing a healthy habit can have the opposite of the intended effect. Here are 5 ways to keep healthy in the New Year! Working out. U.S. Health and Human Services recommends that the average adult get at least 150 minutes/week of moderate aerobic activity or 75 minutes/week of vigorous aerobic activity. Generally, that’s 30 minutes of physical activity every day. Too much exercise can result in exhaustion, muscle fatigue and injury. Average adults should aim to break a sweat – if you’re completely exhausted after the gym, you might be going too hard. Walking. It’s great exercise but if you do it too much, you may end up with chronic foot pain. The repetitive motion can cause plantar fasciitis (also common in women who wear high heels). Your best bet is to get good orthotic inserts with sturdy arch support for your walks. Build up slowly and be consistent and you will see results. Walking really is the best form of exercise we can get. Walking daily is a great New Year’s resolution and one you can keep!                       Getting consistent sleep. Aim for 7-9 hours (for adults) per night. Oversleeping on weekends builds up carbon dioxide and doesn’t make up for lack of sleep during the week. Think daily, not weekly cumulative hours. Dieting. People who try different “fad” diets often gain back more weight than they’ve lost. If you want to lose weight, talk to a nutritionist or your doctor for a long-term diet that’s right for you. Taking supplements. Many adults take one or more vitamins or supplements every day. However, too many supplements (without your doctor’s approval) can interact with other medications and have serious side effects.