Tag Archives: health

Holiday Survival Guide

Holiday Survival Guide

Holiday Survival Guide

It’s the most wonderful time of year, but sometimes all the holiday cheer can take a toll on your health. Follow these five tips to avoid a case of the humbugs this holiday season.

1. Keep off the Santa belly

keepoffsantabelly

With time constraints during the holidays, it’s easy to break away from your normal exercise routine. However, maintaining a regular exercise routine is the best way to keep your body healthy after eating all the delicious holiday treats. If spare time is slim, try one of these 10-minute at home workouts.

2. Water, not eggnog

eggnog

It’s hard to say no to eggnog, but drinking plenty of water helps keep your joints flexible and pain-free. Also keep in mind drinking alcoholic beverages will dehydrate you, try to keep water close by at your holiday parties. *Remember: you should drink at least 6-8 glasses of water per day, so bring water with you wherever you go.

3. Sleep in peace

sleeping guy

Between shopping for the perfect gift, baking sweet treats and attending holiday parties, you’re going to run yourself ragged. Try to get at least eight hours of sleep each night. Sleep will reduce the stress on your bones.

4. Decorate with caution

decoratewithcaution

Each year, approximately 6,000 people will visit the emergency room due to a decorating-related fall. If you’re still adding the finishing touches to your holiday decorations, remember to use safety first.

5. Stock up the freezer

stock up the freezer

The holiday season is a busy time of year for everyone, which leaves little time to cook a healthy meal. Avoid the drive-thru with these healthy meals you can prepare ahead of time and enjoy later.

 

Amidst the excitement and the activity of the holiday season, don’t forget to take care of yourself. If you experience any pain, contact AOC. Call 251-410-3600 for more information or visit us at www.alortho.com and make an appointment.

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Healthier Eating

5 Tips for Eating Healthier

Healthier Eating

It seems like people are dieting more than ever these days. What many of them do not realize is eating healthy doesn’t mean sticking to strict dietary limitations or depriving themselves of the foods they love.  Eating healthy means eating a well balanced diet that can provide your body with the proper nutrition. With so many fad diets out there, it can be difficult to determine what a healthy diet consists of, that’s where we come in.  Here are 5 simple changes you can make on your journey to eating healthier:

 1. Start Slow:

Start Slow

Eating healthy doesn’t happen overnight. If you change your diet all at once, it can lead to cheating or giving up on your new eating plan. Look at changing your eating habits as a gradual process, after a while, you will have developed better eating habits. It is important to remember that you don’t have to completely eliminate the foods you enjoy; the goal is to gradually become healthier.

 2. Everything in Moderation:

Everything in Moderation

Stop over concerning yourself with counting calories and measuring portion sizes. Think of eating healthier in terms of moderation. What do we mean by moderation? Moderation simply means eating as much food as your body needs. The goal of moderation is to think in smaller portions, when you’re home, try using smaller plates to help you eat less. If you find at the end of meals you’re still hungry, try adding more leafy greens and fruits.  It’s important to remember, after a meal, you should feel full not stuffed.

 3. Pile on the Fruits and Veggies:

Veggies

The foundation of a healthy diet is fruits and vegetables. They are nutrient dense and naturally low in calories, which means they contain vitamins, minerals and antioxidants our bodies need. Unfortunately, people don’t eat the daily-recommended intake of fruits and vegetables (5-servings). You should try to eat fruits and vegetables with every meal. Try adding berries to your breakfast, snacking on vegetables at work, and swapping sweet deserts for fresh fruits.

 4. Switch to whole grain:

Switch to Whole Grain

Switching to 100% whole grain foods can improve your energy levels. Whole grains are found to be rich in phytochemicals, which can help reduce the risk of certain types of heart disease, cancer and diabetes. Add whole wheat, millet, quinoa and barley to your diet and avoid refined foods such as breads, pastas and cereals that aren’t made with whole grains. An important thing to note is to know the difference between good and bad carbohydrates:

  • Good carbs include whole grains, beans, fruits and vegetables.
  • Bad carbs include white flour, refined sugar, and white rice that have all been stripped of their natural bran, fiber, and nutrients

5. Limit Sugar intake:

Limit Sugar Intake

Many adults are not aware of the amount of sugar they take in on a daily basis. Sugar produces energy ups and downs that can lead to weight and health problems. The solution to this problem is simple, cut back on the desserts and sodas you consume. When you’re in the grocery store be mindful of hidden sugars in pasta sauces, canned soup and breads. Eat more naturally sweet foods to curb your sweet tooth.

Remember eating healthy means you should eat a well balanced diet. Now you can feel confident that getting healthier doesn’t have to be such a battle.

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Workout at Work

It seems like everyone is working longer hours these days and using the “I don’t have time to work out” excuse more than ever. If only there was a way you could work out at work… You can! There are several easy exercises you can do at your desk such as stretching, muscle-strengthening and even aerobics. No, you won’t become an Olympian, but any amount of exercise is beneficial to your health.

Here are ten easy exercises you can do at your desk:

1. Stairway to success:

Did you know Cary Grant stayed fit by taking the stairs? You can trade those cheeky elevator tunes for elevating your heart rate. As you walk up and down the stairs, accelerate your pace by taking two steps at a time for a real leg burn.

2. The Leg Raiser:

You can do this simple exercise while seated. Start by straightening both legs and hold this position for five seconds. Then lower your legs back down without touching letting your feet touch the floor. Repeat for 10 reps. If this isn’t enough, try placing your purse or brief case on top of your legs for added weight.

3.  New age curl:

Water bottle curls. You heard us, workout your biceps with a water bottle. This exercise can be done standing or sitting. Start by taking the stapler in one hand with palms facing upwards. Just like a normal dumbbell bicep curl, start at the thighs then bend the elbow and curl your arm up to your chest. Repeat for 12 reps, then alternate arms.

4.  The Seat Shimmy:

Love to twirl in your swivel chair? Use it to your advantage with this oblique abs fix. Sitting upright with your feet hovering over the floor, hold the edge of your desk. Next, use your core to swivel the chair from side to side. Swing back and forth for 20 rounds.

5.  The Polished Posture:

Momma was right, perfect posture is a must for back health. Adjust your chair height to insure that your feet, hips and arms are at a 90-degree angle to the floor. Don’t slouch. Engage your core to keep you sitting upright

6.  The Samurai:

Stand and clasp your hands together, resting them on the right shoulder as if holding a sword. Lightly swing the imaginary “sword” by straightening the elbows and moving the hands toward the left thigh. Next, bring the clasped hands to the left shoulder followed by a swing to right thigh. Repeat 10 times on each side, or until you feel like a real office ninja.

7.  The Jersey Shore:

Turns out the Jersey Shore cast taught us one good thing, fist pumping. Start by balling you hand into a fist. Then raise your fist in the air and begin to pump your arm over your head for 30 seconds. Repeat for 5 reps, then alternate arms.

8.  Twist and Shout:

Queue the music, sit up straight in your chair and place your right arm behind your right hip. Twist to the right and hold (shouting is optional). Then alternate sides.

9.  The Tapper:

No you don’t need any dancing skills for this exercise, all you have to do is speedily tap your toes on the floor under your desk.

10. The Web Slinger:

Is your spidey sense tingling or could it just be carpal tunnel? All you have to do for this exercise is tense and relax the muscles in your hands to form the iconic Spiderman bending your hand up and down. Another hand stretch technique is to make a fist, spread your fingers and bend your fingers.

Now stop reading this blog and get to exercising more than your brain!

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