Fidgeting for your health

Do you know someone who fidgets? Maybe you’re a “fidgeter.” Oftentimes, fidgeting is associated with hyperactivity or lack of attention, but as it turns out, fidgeting might not be such a problem. According to a recent story in The New York Times by Gretchen Reynolds that examines a study published in the journal Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, fidgeting and other light body movements might contribute, although somewhat insignificantly, to an overall healthier lifestyle.

The study suggests that even light fidgeting – such as drumming fingers or tapping feet – is better than no movement at all. During the busy work week, take a break from holding down your desk chair by getting up and walking around – even if it’s only for a moment or two. Remaining relatively sedentary essentially has a negative impact on your overall health, as you’re not getting even the light movement that does a body good.

Begin your healthy lifestyle overhaul by making minor adjustments. Instead of driving around a crowded parking looking for the closest free spot to the building’s entrance, park a bit farther away and get extra steps in for the day. Add a little life to your garden by pulling weeds and planting new flowers. These small steps could help in a big way.
 

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Magic pills and silver bullets

If you’ve been thinking that it’s time for a healthy change, keep in mind that there’s no silver bullet or magic pill capable of remedying the things you seek to improve. The commercial diet industry is so successful because they sell magic and ideas – not truths and guides for lasting change. 

We buy diet books because we see people on the cover who look great in their new, slim-fit jeans. We think, “If those complete strangers can do it, so can we.” But that’s not necessarily true. The people who have found success with particular diets have lost weight because they worked diligently to make it happen – not because the diet was an easy “end all, cure all” solution. 

Perhaps the most discouraging thing about diets, however, is that we’re trained to blame ourselves when they just don’t work … when we don’t get the results we hoped for. Shifting blame is a psychological marketing tactic. When we blame ourselves, we’re not blaming the company that sold us the diet, even if that diet is at least partly to blame.

Don’t beat yourself up when you make unhealthy decisions – at times, we all eat things we shouldn’t or get too little exercise. Don’t spend energy blaming yourself. Instead, focus on taking steps that will lead you closer to your goal. If, for example, you ate a little more today than you should have, just get a little more exercise than you normally would. These healthier habits are the true magic pills. 

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Setting Goals for Successful Weight Loss

 

Set clear goals for lasting weight loss success

The first step to successfully losing weight is determining your goals. Is your goal to hit a target weight? Or a target clothing size? Maybe you want to look a certain way. Or are your goals about living a healthier life and enjoying lasting change?
 
No matter what the reason is for your weight-loss goal, shedding even a few pounds is never easy. If you aren’t leading a healthy lifestyle, changing habits and behaviors is tough. Those changes carried out over a consistent basis are what take you to your goal. It’s a matter of consistently making a series of simple choices over time. People successful at managing their weight never stop working toward their goals — there is no such thing as hitting your goals and then slowing the pace.
 
With MyGraphite, you decide your goals, the food you eat and the exercise you perform. You are the one making those choices each and every day, each and every minute. That sort of commitment isn’t possible without clear goals that really speak to you, not goals that someone else has for you. Losing weight is simple: burn more calories than you consume. The hard part is all the variables that interrupt that simple equation. Start with your goals.
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