Jan 14, 2009: Add One Good Habit to Your Life Today

We all know the right things to do. We all know we how to be healthy. It’s a choice, right? But how do we start making good choices, and even more important, how do we convince ourselves to stick with healthy choices long enough to feel the results?

My suggestion is to start by adding one healthy thing into your life. Adding a good habit is a lot easier than letting go of a bad one. Here’s an example. These chilly winter mornings, start your day with a glass of hot lemonade. I make mine in a mug, with water, a splash of lemon juice, and a dollop of honey. The lemon has fruit calcium that strengthens your bones and teeth, and calms the nervous system. It also contains phosphorus which will help you digest your breakfast.

And speaking of breakfast, adding a little protein early in the day pays off big-time. Sprinkle some parmesan on your grits. Toss an extra egg white into your omelet. Egg whites are almost pure protein. You’ll feel fuller all day if you start with a protein-aceous (it should be a word) breakfast.

One last morning trick: If you don’t already take a multi-vitamin, buy a bottle and take one every morning. What could be easier? Just this one little habit change will help you get all the vitamins and minerals you need to be healthy.

Have you ever said to yourself, I need to turn off the TV and get moving? Rather than restricting something you enjoy, how about adding something you will also enjoy. If you go for a brisk half hour walk, your metabolism will stay revved up for awhile, burning more calories even if you then sit down to watch that favorite show. You’ll also be benefiting your heart, lowering cholesterol, and reducing the risk of diabetes. Another little factoid, as long as you cover the same distance, walking is just as good for you as jogging. In other words, walk a mile or jog a mile, you get the same benefits.

So my challenge for this week is to add just one healthy habit to your life: hot lemonade, more protein, a multi-vitamin, a thirty minute walk. Add a healthy habit, feel better about yourself, and soon those less healthy habits will slip away all on their own.