Jenny Craig - We Change Lives

Healthy living.

We see the term everywhere. But what does it actually mean? Bean sprouts for breakfast? Grueling, early morning jogs? Lettuce-leaf lunches? Hardly. Healthy living isn't about starving yourself or testing your limits; it's all about achieving balance between the physical, emotional, nutritional, and spiritual aspects of your life.

Take a quick ‘balance’ inventory.

Ask yourself: What foods do I eat or crave most? Fruits, vegetables, lean meats, along with plenty of water and a limited intake of alcohol and caffeine make a pretty good recipe for nutritional balance. Too much fat or too many carbs can easily affect it. Next, ask yourself: How much exercise am I getting? And remember, even a short walk has some physiological benefits. And what about rest? Unless you make a conscious effort, you probably don't get enough. These factors and many others can directly affect your weight, mood, attitude and general sense of wellbeing – which we call your ‘balance’.

Better balance.

Don’t worry if you’re feeling a little off-centre right now. Here are some simple tips to help you restore your body's balance:

Exercise:

If you're not getting any, you're missing out. Regular exercise – even for short periods – can help you feel more energised (yes, really!) and much more alert. Exercise has also been shown to help improve cardiovascular function and reduce your risk of certain health conditions. So now’s the time to kick-start that get-up-and-go of yours.

Nutrition:

A moderate approach is most effective for successful weight loss. With the proper nutrition, your body can function more efficiently, resulting in more stamina and more energy for the things you want to do.

Stress:

Everyone experiences a certain amount of stress. That's life. But prolonged periods of mid- to high-level stress can have detrimental effects on your body, including a reduced immune system. To help combat this, try to be aware of your stress triggers and work on developing strategies for managing these.

Rest:

Forty winks? Most people get twenty, and that’s if they're lucky. But we all know by now that a good night's sleep can make a real difference to how good you feel. Pick a bedtime that will allow you to wake up the next morning naturally, without an alarm. Avoid alcohol and caffeine for a few hours before bed. Turn in at the same time every night and, if possible, sneak a nap in on the weekends. If you don't snooze, you lose.

Attitude:

No one expects you to walk around beaming all the time, but your emotional responses can affect your physiological function. Aim to cultivate a positive outlook. You might find this is best achieved by spending time with fun, positive people or reading an inspirational book. Re-read the tips above. Even small changes can produce big improvements in your attitude. Start working on your positive mental attitude – it’s one of the best tools you can have.

You’ve just successfully completed your first week on the Jenny Craig Programme (see options). Or you’ve just reached your halfway mark. Or you just need an inexpensive indulgence for no specific reason other than to make you feel good.

Life’s too short not to reward ourselves. After all, one of the main success factors of Jenny Craig is maintaining a balanced approach to living – which includes pampering yourself and taking well-deserved time to nurture your mind, body and spirit.

If you had a reward wish list, a new car or home, jewellery and a fantastic holiday would most likely be at the top spot. But we forget it’s often the little things that can make the biggest difference. Not only do they lift your spirits and put a spring in your step, they do so without putting a big hole in your purse.

So many people put their own needs last on a daily basis – after the kids, our partners, our elderly parents, even neighbours and friends. A new mum who’s trying to lose her baby weight may find it hard to fit in the physical activity to reach her goal. A daughter may go into town to pick up a prescription for her ageing mother, but can't find the time to make a weekly trip to the supermarket to stock or restock her fridge with fresh fruit and vegetables for a nutritious diet. Sound familiar? These are tales of the classic self-sacrificer.

By focusing on others, you can end up neglecting your own self-care, resulting in feelings of stress and fatigue. Taking care of your needs – eating a healthy diet, making time for physical activity and creating balance in your life – will leave you with more energy to fulfil other roles. Whatever the role – put yourself first, and you’ll be more able to better serve yourself and others.

For the classic self-sacrificer, this is often easier said than done. So, here are some techniques to help you balance a healthy amount of ‘selfishness’ with your responsibilities to others:

1. Know Your Stress Symptoms: Notice how your body reacts to stress. Signs can be physical (increased heart rate, headaches, or an upset stomach) or mental (anxiety, confusion, anger or depression). When you notice these symptoms, try stress-busting techniques, such as breathing exercises, meditation, walking or stretching – whatever works for you.
2. Plan for Regular Self-Care: Schedule time into your day to relax, and fit in other obligations around this. Spend at least 15 minutes every day doing something that helps relieve stress. It can be as simple as taking a power nap, talking a walk round your back garden or even flipping through your favourite magazine.
3. Simplify Your Life: Learn to let go of the unimportant. When you sit down to make a list of things that need to get done, take a closer look. Are there items on that list that you can eliminate (are nice to do, but don't need to be done), delegate (need to be done, but someone else can handle it) or scale down (need to be done, but not on such a time-consuming level)? If so, make adjustments and create more ‘you time’ instead.

Your Jenny Craig Coach can help you make a plan that fits your needs – regardless of how hectic your daily schedule usually is.