Back to school is just around the corner and it signals the beginning of many things for families: the new school year, a new family arrangement, more free time to stay-at-home mom, and hopefully, the beginning of theof creating of healthy families . It is also necessary to include in our "beginning ", self-care and self-nurturing when getting ready for a change. By taking care of yourself you better take care of his family and a healthy family thrives and grows. To build a healthy foundation for your family, start with these key steps.
Step 1 - All foods fit!
As a family, eat balanced meals at regular times? This is a great opportunity to really get your family on track with healthy food. Remember the simple saying, "All foods fit. " Instead of using "diet thinking" good vs. bad food, the goal is to choose healthier foods you really enjoy. If you want, make room for a little treat in moderation and do not deprive yourself. Feeling deprived of what you enjoy leads to obsession, craving and binging.
Remember our body requires that all food groups: carbohydrates, proteins and fats. So why eat in an unnatural way and cut entire food groups? Hunger signals are intuitive, so let us return to our roots and reconnect with hunger. pleasurable, satisfying the basic experience of hunger can change our attitude towards food, if done correctly. Think about our stomach as a fuel gage and food as energy or "fuel" that fills the tank of gas. Our stomach tells us when it is empty, hungry, ½ full, full or over-stuffed if we are aware and listening. Help your family get more in tune with their bodies by providing a healthy economy. [See box for a healthy diet suggestions]
2 Step - Inspire Movement!
Does "not bothered at all" when it comes to exercise, because you believe that "all or nothing"? Have you moved the exercises for the back burner? Look, we're all busy and that life, it will never change. We all have a starting point. So, use this time of new beginnings start moving exercise for the front burner. Start with something as small as five minutes of training. This can be accomplished while waiting for dinner to warm in the microwave, while on the soccer field waiting for the game to start at the top of the hour when you're waiting for your favorite show to start. We can all find five minutes a day, so it would be a healthy five and the end of the week ... have achieved 35 minutes of exercise. [See box for a 5-minute workout suggestions] When your family sees that you are trying to get some exercise and will be surprised at how quickly join in.
Step 3 - Sleep
Are your best intentions for a healthy lifestyle is to sabotage your sleep habits? Rest is the best! Getting seven to nine hours of sleep each night does not require much, when we have twenty-four hours available. Finding time for adequate rest is like charging a dead battery. We all know the dead battery will not work. Think about your mp3 player, mobile phone or a car, they will not work if the battery is dead. Our body works the same way. If you do not get enough sleep, the battery is never fully re-charged. Find out what works best amount of sleep for each family member, and incorporated it into your schedule. That way you give your family a solid foundation to start their day.
Step 4 - Relax
Do "stressed" or "always in a bad mood" you describe? So many people are under stress. Stress flood your body with chemicals that prepares us for fight / flight response. This is great if Panther is chasing us, or if a real emergency has occurred. If there is a real emergency and the level of stress is left unchecked, it can lead to negative health consequences. If you learn to neutralize the stress with relaxation techniques, you can bring your system into balance. Make it through the techniques of deep breathing or meditation. Both methods of slow heart rate, lowers blood pressure and relax our muscles. relaxation response also increases energy and focus, fight against the disease, relieve pain and soreness, increases problem-solving skills, re-boots of motivation and improve productivity. [See box for relaxation and meditation techniques]
So, the take home message has to start somewhere today, making small changes towards health. Include everyone in your family. Make a "to be healthy, fun and exciting and to be patient with the process. Your body and your family will love you for it.
Healthy Eating Suggestions: Have less the real thing, not fake food
Breakfasts
about 1 serving of whole grain cereal, ½ cup low-fat milk, 1 hard boiled egg, water, ½ cup juice
about 1 slice whole grain toast, 2 tablespoons of nut butter 10 oz low-fat milk
the omelette - 2 eggs, mushrooms, onions, bell pepper, 1 oz cheese (to the pot and the eggs have breakfast for a few days, make the combination of vegetables that you and your family to enjoy), apples, water
parfait of yogurt, fruit and granola
the waffle with fruit and ricotta
Packages
A whole-grain bread, veggie cream cheese, cucumber slices
The Deli turkey, mozzarella, lettuce, whole wheat tortilla
o Quesadilla - whole wheat tortilla, veggies, low fat cheese
A whole grain rice or pasta with sauce and veggies
the soup
Snacks
About Apple sandwich with nut butter
A slicing vegetables and humus
A frozen banana smoothie, your choice of fruit, yogurt or milk (even think about adding fresh spinach, parsley or mint)
on celery sticks with nut butter and raisins or cranberries
About Fruit Kabobs - Alternate fruit of your choice with a low-fat cheese, and then dip them in yogurt
.
Exercise Proposals:
- 5 minutes of exercise: stretching 1 minute, 3 minutes of push-ups or wall push-ups, 1 minute extension
- 10 minutes of exercise: stretching 1 minute, 3 minutes walking lunges, jumping jacks for 5 minutes and 1 minute on stretching
- 15 minutes of exercise: stretching 1 minute, 5 minutes of walking speed, 3 minutes of abdominal work, 5 minute dance like nobody's watching, and 1 minute elongation
* Combine all 3 for a 30-minute workout, split them up during the week or day. Just be creative. We all have a starting point.
Entertainment breathing techniques:
"Breath of Joy":
For a hot body, energy, and create some joy! Clasp your hands together with flat hands. Inhale and swing your hands over your head. Exhale, swing your hands down on the release of the clasp arm. Allow your breath to get faster, smile and enjoy. Then return to normal breathing. Be aware that it does not breath too long to create dizziness. Just have fun with it!
Alternate nostril breathing:
This breathing technique has a balancing effect, energizing the body and mind. Find a comfortable place to sit or stand. Notification of your current "breath stream", to move in the same proportion of breathing (the same number as the van). Using the right thumb, close the right nostril. At the top of the inhale, close your left nostril with the right ring finger (finger release) and exhale through the right nostril. Inhale through the right nostril. Inhale at the top close the right nostril and exhale through the left nostril, alternating at the top of each breath. Repeat this pattern for 5-10 rounds. After your last round, unblock nostril and continue with 3 deep, even breaths through your nose.
Meditation Proposals:
Depending on the age of your child, you can make this 2-minute to 10-minute practice.
- 2 minutes: The practice of counting as you breathe ... 1 breathe, breathe 2, 3, breathe, etc.
- 5 minutes: Breathe for 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8, 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8 exhale. Let's think about those we value in our lives: family, friends, teachers, etc. Thinking good thoughts rests our mind and body and gives us energy.
10 minutes: Find a place in the house that is soft to lie down or pick up spot outside the lens. Begin by telling the story.
For example: Let's take some nice deep breaths and pretend like we were sleeping. Closing our eyes and relaxing your body, go to our mind and imagine it on the beach, feeling the sun beat down on our face, warming our bodies as we lay on the beach. We begin to look around and notice the different shades of sand, and we see the color of the water and hear the waves coming to shore. We begin to match our breath away with the waves. Breathe as the waves come ashore, and we can exhale as the waves return to the lake. Watching the waves, we match our breath with our break. Let's just relax a moment in our body with a calm smile on our face.
break for as long as you want then gradually deepen your breath and get back to the place you're in, wiggle your toes and fingers and slowly come to a sitting position, and feel your relaxation and restores energy.