10 Tips for Living Beyond the Scale

I love a new year. It’s an opportunity to wipe away the negative of the past and make positive changes for the future. My personal goal for 2016 is to live healthier. I don’t mean just losing weight (which is part of the plan too!) but living a healthier life in mind, body and spirit. The BIGGER picture, if you will. Even though we’re already in February, it’s still not too late! I’m sharing my 10 Tips for Living Beyond the Scale and why I think these simple changes will make a big impact on my health in 2016. If you’re looking to improve your overall health as well, these tips could help!

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One hour of exercise a day. I’m making an effort to get up and move my body! But I’m making sure to do something I enjoy. If you hate running? Simple. Don’t run. It’s not about being a perfect athlete; it’s about being blessed with a body that can move!

(sport bra found here, shoes (similar) found here, FitBit found here)

Two mental breaks or stretches every day. You can choose to do them separately or at the same time. Since I am a busy mom, I do tend to multitask and do them together. A few simple stretching exercises help to improve flexibility while mental breaks improve productivity and creativity. It’s really a win/win! 😉

Three compliments to someone. Do you love getting a compliment? Me too!! I’m making it a goal to give at least three compliments to people I interact with in my day. It could be my family or the lady at the grocery store. So do your health good and give someone a positive boost in their day. It will help their health too!

Four vegetables at every meal. I know…eating healthy can be hard to do. One change that’s helped me get a healthier is my rule of four vegetables at every meal.  Food  plays such a big role in living a healthier life. It’s one choice, one meal at a time.

Five things you are grateful for. Gratitude can do wonders for your health. I love this quote: “If all you did was look for things to appreciate you would live a joyous, spectacular life.” -Abraham-Hicks. Take some time everyday to say out loud what you are grateful for in your life. We are so blessed. 🙂

Six glasses of water a day. The benefits of water are huge! You know that right? But did you know how beneficial lemon water is? It can boost your immune system, freshen your breath, help with weight loss and even boost your energy. I add a few sliced lemons in my favorite aqua water bottle throughout the day. It’s the perfect drink for good health.

Seven positive things about you. A negative mind will never give you a positive, healthy life. I’m working hard to stop beating myself up with negative thoughts. I list seven things that I love about myself and try to pick something different every day. You should try it too because YOU are worth celebrating.

Eight hours of sleep a night. After many nights of little sleep (because of baby Britton) I was finally blessed with an eight hour slumber. I  woke up feeling like a new woman that was unstoppable! Sleep is so important yet I am so guilty of not making it a priority. I’m trying very hard to get as much sleep as I can. I just need to let the baby know of this new goal. 😉

Nine minutes of laughter. I love to laugh, but I don’t do it enough. So I have a favorite TV sitcom that always gets me laughing. I try to sneak a little of that show into every day. ‘Cause really, can’t we all use more laughter in our lives?

Ten pm bed time every night. In order to get the eight hours of sleep I mentioned above, I have to be in bed by 10pm, at least! I start making my way to bed at 9:30 and it’s been helping me. The more sleep I get, the healthier this mom is and the whole family wins! 😉

What are your tips for living healthy beyond the scale?