Wellness Wednesday

Eat Right To Get the Most Out Of Your Day

Getting plenty of sleep is a step in the right direction for getting the most out of your day, however eating right will ultimately determine how well your day turns out!

1. Fuel Up Correctly:
• Eating foods such as whole grains, vegetables, fruit, protein and healthy fats will help you get through your day energized and come out lean. Ensuring that your portions are correct, however, will also allow you to come out on top in the long term. Not eating enough of these foods will keep your body from reaching peak performance, while eating too much will pack on the pounds.
2. Enjoy Your Lunch Break:
• Lunch breaks include the word break for a reason. Ensure that you are not checking emails or catching up on work so that you are not rushing through your meal. Eating your lunch slowly, will not only help you catch up on some rest but will leave you feeling more full too.
3. Ensure Your Work Environment Enforces Healthy Decisions:
• Keeping an abundance of sugary, unhealthy snacks in your work area will only lead to chronic snacking and sugar crashes. If you have a snack machine in your work environment, leave cash in the car to avoid the temptation. Creating healthy eating strategies will ultimately help you reach the end of the day without any excessive eating.
4. Hydrate, Hydrate, Hydrate:
• The easiest way to tell if your hydrated at the office is to complete the old fashioned urine test; if your urine is any form of yellow, you need to drink more. Dehydration is a major proponent of those hunger pangs you think you're getting throughout the day. Drinking water will not only ensure that you're full, but will also give you more energy and reduce headaches.
5. Move Around and Breathe:
• Breathing is your body's ultimate energy generator, providing the body with oxygen to create ATP through one of the body's various metabolic processes. Deep breathing also allows the body to relax, leading to the revitalization of your workday. Getting up out of your chair to move around also allows you to get oxygen to your extremities in a way not possible when sitting. It also forces increased breathing, which revitalizes your day as well!