Healthy Habits to Try in 2014

Not really into the whole resolutions thing? Try picking up these small healthy habits and you'll see some good changes come about in 2014!


Incorporate sunscreen into your daily routine.
Even though it's winter and you're not outside as much or even if you're not outside intentionally sunning yourself, you should always have some amount of SPF on. Why? Whether you realize it or not, sunlight is constantly hitting your skin- especially your face. Think about the sun coming in while you're driving, or you're outside in the fall or spring watching your kid's soccer game. Your skin is always exposed to harmful rays even if it doesn't feel like it. Now days, so many products make it easy to get the SPF you need without feeling like you're wearing heavy, oily or goopy sunscreen. Most daily moisturizers and even most make ups these days include SPF. Make sure whatever you're using has at least 15 or higher. You'll thank yourself one day for this habit!


Go to bed and wake up at the same time every day.
According to most studies, getting on a consistent sleep schedule is the single best thing you can do to affect your overall sleep quality. Getting on a schedule helps your circadian rhythms allowing your brain to know when it's time to shut off and wake up, giving you a better night's sleep. A better night's sleep also helps to reduce the amount of stress hormones and helps to control your appetite-controlling hormones. Hint hint, it's good for helping you stave off unwanted pounds.


Stop reading on the elliptical or treadmill.
Let's be real ladies, if you're able to follow along the lines of a book or a magazine, you're not working out hard enough. Leaning on the handle bars or the arms of an elliptical to support your weight also means you're not working intensely enough. Doing these things can reduce your calorie burn by 25 percent. Good form is key. Save the reading for your cool down stretch!


Swap one can of soda for water each day.
To start, a can of soda has approximately 40 grams of sugar. Most healthy diets suggest you try to keep your sugar levels under at least 15 grams. And if you haven't noticed before, drinking lots of water will make you feel full- a can of soda won't, meaning you're more likely to snack while you drink it. You don't have to quit your soda intake completely but by switching one soda per day with some quality, fresh water, you can drop more than a pound a month. Not bad right? If you are too bored with just plain water- add in some fresh lemon slices, cucumbers, mint leaves or other fruits to add some flavor.


Soak up fifteen minutes of sunlight a day (at least!).
It's no wonder people feel more down and depressed in the winter. Getting a few minutes of sunlight each day helps to brighten your mood, relax your nerves and bring about good feelings. Not to mention, it helps to reset your body's internal clock for the day which means that at night, you'll rest better. If it is winter, just simply standing by a window while you have your morning coffee or sitting in the sun rays coming through the window while reading the paper is all it takes. Most importantly, your eyes needs to register the light- not necessarily your skin. So take a moment to soak it up and your days will be a little brighter and your nights more restful.


Limit drinking to only three days a week.
For most women (and even men) alcohol calories can be a major problem. By having a couple drinks a day, you can easily gain about a pound a week. Try to stick to only having a drink three days a week at most. Try just the weekends. If you need another reason, just think that an average glass of wine at a restaurant has around 250 calories and mixed drinks have even more calories plus generally lots of sugar. Having just one glass of wine four days a week can add up to 1,000 calories per week! Nixing all those calories (or at least half) can really save you some weight gain.