August is National Wellness Month, a timely reminder that now more than ever, during the COVID-19 pandemic, one of the smartest things we can do is to get healthy … and stay that way.
Get with the Program
The experts at Sleepletics®, the online retailer of Celliant® Performance Sheets and Comforters, which are FDA-determined General Wellness Products, say first up, instead of fixating on how difficult it might be, and how much you need to do, start by making a specific plan for the upcoming month: your weight-loss goal, when and how you will exercise, what and when you will eat, when and how you will monitor your progress and when and how you will reward yourself. Yes! Rewards for achieving goals are as important as everything else.
To be clear, it’s not about a chocolate cake, rather, a book you want to read or a smaller-sized sweater to fit the progressively slimmer you. Ask a friend to join in your weight-loss effort or general wellness effort, using FaceTime to be “together,“ something you could try with all your friends. You’ll feel more connected, motivated and you’ll have more fun.
Eat and Drink Smart
Losing excess weight will not only make you look better, it will make you feel better, physically and emotionally. Even more importantly, taking off extra pounds can improve your overall health.
It’s easy enough to know which foods are fatty and should be avoided, and to remember that the richer and deeper a vegetable’s color — think spinach, beets and carrots – the better it is for you. Of course, cutting down portions to approximately the size of your fist will spin down the dial on your scale like nothing else.
But did you know that sugary soft drinks should be one of the first things banned from the fridge? Why? Because having no nutrients they fill you up with “empty” calories and make you less inclined to eat the nutritious items of the meal. Replace them with water or such juices as pomegranate, cranberry, tomato and apple, less fiber than the real thing, but still better than sugary sodas.
Freeze mealtime mainstays such as salmon and chicken in individual portions so a few are always available. Add some frozen side dishes, another staple to keep on hand, and there’s no excuse for not eating a delicious, nutritious meal.
Get Enough Sleep
Sufficient sleep is key to wellness. If you’re waking up in the middle of the night or can’t get to sleep in the first place:
- Ask your doctor if any medicines you’re taking might be hampering sleep.
- Create a dark, quiet, cool environment. Cover electrical devices’ blue lights. If need be, install soundproof windows, they’re worth the cost.
- Check your bed linens. Celliant sheets and comforters not only feel good but are good for you. They’re made with a blend of premium, long-staple cotton and super-charged with patented Celliant mineral-infused polyester yarns. Celliant minerals absorb body heat, convert it into infrared light, and reflect it back to the body’s muscle and tissue in a safe and natural way. This improves local circulation, making more oxygen available to your cells – a minimum of 8% as proven in clinical trials. The increase in local circulation and oxygen means you sleep better, recover faster and perform better during the day. Celliant sheets and comforters also help regulate body temperature.
De-Stress
Blamed for more diseases than perhaps anything else, stress is indeed something that should be lowered as much as possible.
There are many ways to deal with it; numerous types of meditation, deep-breathing exercises and journaling are three. You could also talk to a friend, watch some YouTube funny-animal videos guaranteed to make you laugh or totally disengage from whatever you’re doing and take a 10-minute walk.
And good news, don’t be discouraged if you’re not a fast walker. A new study published in the March 24/31, 2020 issue of JAMA (Journal of American Medical Association) suggests that it’s the number of steps – not how many steps you take per minute – that’s good to note. Easy too these days with dozens of step-counting and pedometer apps available.
Three more ways to de-stress are visualization, acupuncture and the age-old practice of punching a pillow. Last but not least, don’t forget the sense of calm that comes over you after just a few minutes in a hot bubble bath, surrounded by soft music and scented candles, sipping a soothing cup of chamomile tea. Sometimes the simplest method is the most effective.
Exercise
No matter your age or physical condition, any form of exercise is recommended to get and keep a healthy body, mind and spirit. Whether running in a park, doing ballet moves at home or digging out your Mom’s old Jane Fonda’s ‘“go for the burn” tape, there’s something for everyone.
If you haven’t a clue as to what kind of exercise you’d like to do or want to try something new, just Google “online fitness classes.” You’ll find a wealth of suggestions, many with free trial periods and videos you can watch to learn if the class is for you.
This August, get on the road to wellness. Start small, start big. The important thing is, start.
For more information and to purchase Celliant Performance Sheets and Comforters, visit the website here. Sheets start at $114.99 and comforters at $199.99. Follow Sleepletics on Instagram @sleepletics and like them on Facebook.
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