“How can I stop snacking in the afternoon?” That’s a question I get asked quite often. If you feel tired, a little sugar or caffeine may seem like an easy way to get that extra oomph you need. But let’s put it this way: with over 2/3 of the adult population being sleep deprived in the US (and if you are in Australia, Canada, France or England, my bet is that your stats are very similar), and with ever-increasing obesity rates everywhere, most of us would benefit more from fitting in a few extra Zzzzs per 24-hour cycle than we would eating a few extra calories.
Napping will not only help boost your energy, but it will also slow down your production of cortisol, the stress hormone that drives you to want more high-sugar, high-fat foods. So what may seem like an over-the-top indulgence may actually keep you away from needless decadence! Ready to give it a try? Here are some basic rules to get the most out of a nap.
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In your future, you see holiday meals and potluck buffets. All that traditional, tempting holiday food! This year, you’ve resolved to eat reasonably, but when you face the delicious spread, you are afraid that your will-power will melt faster than the candles illuminating the table.
So what do you do? Here are 10 strategies for enjoying the holiday food in moderation.
Read moreIf you know me, you know that my thing is connecting sleep, food, mood and exercise. I love to discuss how these four groups of habits are connected and make each other easier. But improving one habit is already a challenge, never mind improving habits in 4 categories! Agreed, doing so can sound daunting and effortful (if you don’t know my full process, that is ;0), so today I’d like to share ways that will improve your health and simultaneously save your energy.
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For those of us living in the US, this Thursday will be Thanksgiving or National Turkey Day. According to the Department of Agriculture, 45 million turkeys will be cooked and eaten this week alone in the country. Assuming a conservative average of 15 pounds per turkey, I figure that there will be some leftovers from that 675 pounds of bird meat!
Here’s how to turn those leftovers into the healthiest and tastiest option: turn them into soup, starting by making your own homemade stock.
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“Happier people live longer” is old news for us positive psychology fans. That happier people tend to be healthier is also something we’re now well aware of. While it’s already helpful to identify that happiness can support good health habits, I’d like to provide more explanation on why that is – and how to manage that process intentionally.
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In theory, we all agree on eating more veggies. The challenge is often to get excited about doing it. If your veggie repertoire consists mainly of raw baby carrots, boiled broccoli and celery sticks, I can understand why you can’t get your portions each day. Here’s a tip to make the process a lot more compelling.
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Marie-Josée Salvas 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 Personal Trainer, and a Certified Nutrition and Wellness Consultant. Her work has led her to travel to many countries, including the US, Canada, France, England, and Australia.
