(1/2024) One year has just ended and another is just beginning. Sometimes years seem to keep blending into each other without making any changes. This is not a bad thing if we are doing everything we need to keep ourselves healthy and in the best shape possible. However, sometimes the new year starts out on the right, enthusiastic path and by the time the end of the year comes we have put all the things we started on the back burner. What I mean is we start out by watching what we eat, exercising three times a week and really thinking of ways to improve our health. All that is wonderful but if we try to do too much all at once sometimes we find it hard to keep up the routine. If you are one of the people that has to go full force all at once you will probably be able to commit to this kind of routine and stick with it. If you are someone who needs to start slowly and work up to eating healthy, then adding exercise a couple of days a week and eventually putting all the components of a full health routine together you will get there and hopefully keep it going.

Everybody knows which kind of person they are and how they need to incorporate the full routine into their daily lives. Whichever person you are the important thing is to get started. We all like to think about what and how we can eat better, exercise more and maybe lose a little weight and improve our blood pressure and cholesterol numbers. The thing is thinking about it doesn't get the job done. Take a little time for yourself and figure out what is going to work for you. Find something you enjoy and know you will be more likely to stick with.

Now that you know what you would like to do and how you are going to incorporate it into your busy schedule, get started! Either slowly or full force, it's time! You may want to start by adding some fruits and vegetables to your daily meals or snacks. Maybe limiting some of your favorite foods that are not exactly the healthiest for you is also a place to start. I'm not saying give them up completely, just have them as a treat once or twice a week. I bet if you add some snacks that are good for you maybe you will see that you really like them. I also think if you cut back on things like chips or soda you will not miss them as much as you thought you would. Just commit to giving it a fair try. Change can be a good thing if we just try it.

Exercise is also something we tend to put off as long as possible. Don't wait till you have an injury or find yourself not being able to do some things as well as you use to before you start to exercise. As we age we are not as flexible as we use to be. Sometimes we lose muscle mass and can't lift or work as much as we would like. Maintaining and keeping what we have is much easier than rehabing an injury or building back the strength we've lost and need to live our daily lives.

Remember to keep moving, even in the cold winter months. You'll be glad you did.