by Jeremy McCarthy, MAPP
When I moved to New York (over six years ago now) from Southern California, I experienced a significant cultural shift. I was moving from the laid back California beach culture to the hustle and bustle of New York city life. One of the first things that I noticed was that people here are far less likely to smile and make eye contact. This difference was even more noticeable because (more…)
As I was getting ready to write a pretty little post on how being grateful can improve your health (via reduced insomnia, improved immune function and even increased exercise), I came across some information that stopped me in my tracks. I am shocked, concerned and truthfully, angry. Hear this.
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“I want to be more creative,” I thought to myself last fall. “It’s time I develop my right brain a little more.” Since quite a few of my family members are pretty decent painters, I thought this was a great place for me to start. But because I know nothing about painting, I decided to start with something easy: Snoopy, using paint-by-number.
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The fall is officially here, and as the days get shorter and the TV lineup gets stronger, many of us will find ourselves “couch potato-ing” more than we’d like to. In the spirit of keeping us all on a healthy track, I thought I’d give you more mental ammunition to stay in action.
Here are the top 5 reasons why being a couch potato makes anyone more tired over the long run (and why you should stay as active as you can despite the pull of the couch!):
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I recently had an interesting conversation with a man who had just lost 30 pounds. Surprised to see him all thinned out and very curious about his strategy, I asked how he did it. In a very matter of fact tone, he said, “Simple. I stopped believing in all that small change nonsense. If all you take is small steps, all you’ll get is small results, and then you’ll get discouraged. To lose 30 pounds, you have to change your life in big ways.”
While his philosophy has merit, I’d like to differ for 2 main reasons.
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As everybody is busy getting ready for back-to school, I’d like to make sure that wellness is on your radar this school year. So let’s do a quick activity together. Think of your favorite piece of music. In fact, why don’t you play it in your head. If you have more than one, chose something upbeat. Got it?
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A growing body of research shows that our food, mood, and exercise habits are strongly influenced by the behavior of other people in our networks. I bet that our sleep habits are too, although as far as I know, there is little research on that subject. Our weight is thus strongly influenced by the habits of those around us. So we’re quite right to say we’re having an obesity epidemic: obesity indeed spreads from one person to the next, just as other diseases do. But what can we do about it?
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My first summer job was in a restaurant. Working in the public will teach you a lot about how different people think and act! One of the most memorable “lessons” I learned that summer came from a man whose family had thrown a surprise 25th wedding anniversary for him and his wife.
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My friend Christa Smedile, RD, LDN had been telling me for a long time how much she loves her morning green smoothie. The idea seemed intriguing. I mean, starting your day with 2 servings of fruits and 1 serving of greens sounded very appealing to the health nut in me. But come on! A green smoothie? It just didn’t sound sexy.
After hearing a few testimonials from her clients, who raved about increased energy, nicer skin, reduced need for caffeine, and fewer cravings throughout the day, I just had to give it a try. I guess that’s one of the bitter-sweet things about being a health coach. I feel driven to try every plausible strategy to really know how it feels. Also keeping in the best possible shape is part of the job description. So I have a little extra motivation to do things that I might otherwise find excuses not to do. 
I am now totally hooked! If you’d like to learn how to seriously crave the been goodness, here’s how to get started.
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Do your fitness goals propel you into action, or do they just make you feel guilty? If you have abandoned resolution after good intention, or if you have a hard time helping someone else with their desire to eat well, exercise or meditate regularly, get ready. This post, an excerpt from my interview at Be Healthy, Be Well, will help you set goals that are excuse-proof.
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Marie-Josée Shaar received her undergrad at McGill University in Organizational Behavior, followed by a Master of Applied Positive Psychology at University of Pennsylvania. She's certified as a Wellness Culture Coach, a Personal Trainer, and a Nutrition and Wellness Consultant. She has spent the last 13 years studying, testing, coaching and teaching smart health habits, both nationally and internationally.
