10 Things to TRY: Disney Magic of Healthy Living
There’s a huge Halloween party on the Disney production lot today, and one of the things I picked up was a card with 10 healthy living tips. I think it’s fantastic that they had these in an atmosphere normally filled with candy and party foods. Here are Disney’s 10 tips. (Any additions/comments by me are italicized. I’m adding gifs to break up the text.)
1. TRY to rise and shine with light stretches. Have you noticed how dogs and cats stretch when they get up? They’re onto something! Even just 5 minutes of light stretching like touching your toes or reaching for the sky gets blood flowing, helping your body wake up and be ready for the day. This works wonders. If you wake up tired, a good stretch can really gear you up for the day!
2. TRY building a breakfast with a boost. Did you know the 8-12 hours between dinner and breakfast is like fasting all day? Breaking that fast helps boost your metabolism and keep you alert (fruit, yogurt, whole grain bread are great starts).
3. Try a “smart snack” - fruits and veggies contain a wide variety of nutrients that can protect cells, lower blood pressure and help brain function. Plus many of them (like apples, bananas, oranges) even come in their own convenient wrappers! That’s smart!
4. TRY to play your way for 60 minutes a day. Activities like walking, dancing, yoga, and biking all help to keep your heart strong. You can do 15 minutes at a time or 60 minutes all at once. It all counts! Play time is one of the best ways to get in extra movement. Who says burning calories can’t be fun?
5. TRY a better beverage. Switching one can of regular soda for H2O each day, can save you thousands of calories a year! Want more flavor? Adding lemons, oranges, or other fruit to your water is a great way to infuse flavor. Also try low-cal additives like Mio or Crystal Light. But beware of the synthetic sugars if you’re a diabetic, like me.
6. TRY a new meeting style - walk while you talk! It might even help get creative ideas flowing and it can count toward your 60 minutes of activity a day! Don’t forget your sunscreen!
7. TRY to read before you feed: Ingredients on packaged foods are listed in the order used - from highest to lowest. To get big nutritional bang for your buck TRY eating foods where wholesome ingredients top the list!
8. TRY desk moves you can use. Sitting at a desk for a long time can make your back slouch and muscles numb. Without ever leaving your seat, TRY ankle rotations, calf flexes, or torso twists to help you concentrate.
9. TRY simple switches and score! Switching out your candy dish on your desk or conference room table with a bowl of fruit or nuts is a great way to stay more energized throughout the day. I tried doing this in my office. They switched it back. :(
10. TRY a calming yoga move at the end of your day to help you digest, relax and get ready for good night’s sleep. Sleep can help your body maintain its metabolim and replenish its energy! Zzzzz.
