So.. What would it take to make this year the best year ever? Well.. I got some great advice from an article by the wellness co.

 Rob Wildman, Ph. D. Vice President of Nutrition

 Around this time of year, millions of people vow to lose weight or start exercising. To get started they will buy the latest diet boo, promising rapid weight loss or exercise equipment that guarantees a new body in no time. What follows if often predictable. People get frustrated with overly restrictive or impractical eating rules and exercise that they don't enjoy, and they abandon their efforts.

 Make the CHANGE this year

 This doesn't have to be your story. You can make this year different. You can decide that wellness will be an important part of your life. But you have to convince yourself. (often the hardest sell) that you are going to make a change. Start by committing to a broader wellness lifestyle instead of focusing on just one thing.

Here's why: all too often a new diet plan or exercise program becomes more of an add-on to your already busy life. These efforts can seem disruptive because they just don't seem to fit into your current lifestyle. Soon resolve wanes despite some progress and you promise to make another go at it when you have more time or it fits better in your life. For many people this happens year after year. The truth of the matter is when it comes to making changes in how you eat and exercise the timing may never be right.

On the other hand, making the commitment to a wellness lifestyle is simpler, more practical and can last a lifetime. Don't misunderstand, this is not to say that you shouldn't set your sights on dropping a few pounds in 2006. But committing to a wellness lifestyle goes way beyond weight loss. It is also the best first step to achieving other health-related objectives like getting a handle on blood pressure, cholesterol, or sugar. The reason for this is that body weight and blood pressure, cholesterol and sugars are tied together.

 By eating healthier, becoming more calorie savvy and exercising regularly you are likely to experience positive changes in your weight, body composition and health measures simultaneously. Keep in mind that wellness is a lifelong journey and not a destination. So, even though the road can get a little bumpy at times, your mission is all about progress, not perfection! Expect lapse and have a plan in place to get back on track. It will be up to you to execute what works best for you to stay on course. Most of us know what we are and aren't capable of doing from past experiences. We also know where the pitfalls lie and where some strategy is needed. So, are you ready to begin? Once you've made the internal decision in favor of wellness, it's time to get to work.

Make Better Food Choices

 By simply choosing leaner meats and low-fat dairy foods you can shave off hundreds of calories and unwanted saturated fat daily. Include more fruits and/or veggies at most meals.

Exercise regularly

This doesn't necessarily mean to run down to the local health club, get an expensive membership and run 13 miles a day on the treadmill-esp if you aren't used to regular exercise. All you have to do is start walking.

Reduce Stress

 Do what ever you can to limit the stress in your life. For many people, doing things that afford better time management greatly reduces the stress in their life. The Little things can go a long way!

Leading a lifestyle of greater wellness will lead to improvement in how you look and feel, and how your body operates. That's great news for today and even better news for tomorrow. That's because diseases such as heart disease and osteoporosis develop over years to decades. It's not hard to see how slowing and even halting the progress of these diseases could lead to a healthier and longer life. For Your Health & Wellness Rep Philena Rush