I've commited, have you?

Commit to fit

I've just got my lovely yellow "Commit to Fit" t-shirt from the YMCA in New Canaan and done my first workout of 2014! "Commit to fit" is a great way to get motivated and accountable for your exercise routine for members of the YMCA. 

Winter challenges

January and February here in the North East is marked by short gloomy days, cold weather and as it seems this winter frequent snow, making it more challenging to exercise regularly! Add to that winter comfort eating and left over holiday goodies and it can be hard to get your diet back on track.

Benefits of exercise

I know it's a cliche but as a Health and Happiness Coach, I believe that the New Year is a great time to refocus on your health. Exercising regularly can help you improve your health in many ways:

• Improves blood flow to your brain and your whole body.
• It’s good for your brain
• Controls weight
• Reduces risk of illness: frequent exercisers have a decreased risk of most illnesses including dementia, alzheimers, heart disease, stroke, cancer, osteoporosis
• Improves outcome of illness
• Improves mood and alleviates depression, worry and anxiety
• Boosts energy
• Is good for your skin and makes you look younger and more attractive
• Promotes better sleep
• Improves sex life
• Can be fun
• Improves strength, co-ordination, agility, speed and flexibility

Facebook Community

Last year I set up a Facebook Community to help to people like me get fit and stay fit. The group was very successful and helped many people get exercising and eating more healthily. In the group we share a daily exercise log, healthy eating ideas, accountability and motivation. I have worked with several thousand people with health issues, as a physician in the UK and now as a Health and Happiness Coach and I am here to tell you improving your health doesn't have to be complicated. You can spend hundreds joining complicated programs but when it comes down to it health is about balancing health assets (things that are good for you) and health assets (things that are bad for you).

The community is called Positive Steps to Health (https://www.facebook.com/pages/Positive-Steps-To-Health/345174432246963?ref=hl)