By: Kelli Wilson
The perfect gift this Valentine’s Day is the gift of heart health. Along with Valentine’s Day, February marks American Heart Month, a great time to make a commit to a healthy lifestyle and to make changes that can lead to a lifetime of heart health.
Heart disease is the leading cause of death for men and women in the United States. Every year, 1 in 4 deaths are caused by heart disease.
Heart disease can often be prevented when people make healthy choices and manage their health conditions. Below are some things to help you continue on you journey to a healthier lifestyle.
- Add exercise to your daily routine.Start off the month by walking 15 minutes, 3 times each week. By mid-month, increase your time to 30 minutes, 3 times each week. Yoga and pilates are also great for stress relief and strength building.
- Going Back to Basics while on IP. Sometimes after we’ve been on Phase 1 for a while, we fall into a rut. The best way to keep moving forward is to go back to basics! Below are some questions you may need to ask yourself to get help get back on track:
- Are you following you Phase sheet 100%?
- Are you still measuring and/or weighing you veggies and proteins?
- Are you preparing meals and prepping food ahead of time?
- Are you being creative with you dinners and changing things up?
- Are you journaling?
- Are you making it to your weekly scheduled follow-ups?
If you answered no to any of these questions, it may be time to go back to how you were doing things on day one of the program. If you are continuing to do all of these things, talk to your coach; they may have ideas on how you can get things moving again!
- Take steps to quit smoking. If you currently smoke, quitting can cut your risk for heart disease and stroke.
- Take medication as prescribed.Talk with your doctor about the importance of high blood pressure and cholesterol medications. If you’re having trouble taking your medicines on time or if you’re having side effects, ask your doctor for help.