Author Archives: ConnieSellecca

If you have diabetes, and you’re going out for Chinese food…

12 Wednesday Feb 2020

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…skip the white rice!

The Harvard School of Public Health found that the daily consumption of white rice makes people 1.5 times more likely to develop Type 2 diabetes. That’s why registered dietician Jill Weisenberger recommends brown rice. It contains fiber, so it digests more slowly. Plus, it has magnesium, which helps your body use insulin more efficiently.

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Here’s a quick way to snap out of a blue mood.

11 Tuesday Feb 2020

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Look at the last loving text you were sent and blow up the font like you’re majorly farsighted. According to German research, reading upbeat, positive messages can lift us out of a funk. But by blowing up the font to 28 points or larger, we can make those positive feelings last 20% longer! That’s because our brain interprets larger words as more important. So those loving text messages will have a more powerful effect.

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Grilling isn’t just for summer!

10 Monday Feb 2020

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29% of people surveyed say they grill outside even in winter. And registered dietician Melissa Joy Dobbs says, when the weather dips, we crave heartier meals – which you can make with fewer calories on the grill. Because you can get a lot of flavor from meat and vegetables without adding a lot of calories.

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A brisk walk is better than hitting the gym…

06 Thursday Feb 2020

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…for keeping the weight off! London School of Economics researchers found women of all ages who walked for over 30 minutes most days weighed less than those using treadmills or stationary bikes. Walking women also had lower BMIs and smaller waists than those who regularly played sports. The researchers speculate it’s because walking is free – and you can do it anywhere, anytime – which means people are more likely to do it, than making the effort to hit the gym or play a sport.

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Lift your mood by engaging in a calming leisure activity!

05 Wednesday Feb 2020

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Want to de-stress? Do something soothing and hands-on, like knitting. British researchers surveyed over 35-hundred knitters – and the more frequently they sat down with needles and yarn, the lower their stress. Don’t want to learn a new skill? Try jigsaw puzzles. University of California at Merced researchers found people engaged in calming leisure activities reported a‑third less stress than those without a relaxing hobby. But the best ones create a finished product, whether it’s a completed puzzle or a knit hat. Because the accomplishment lifts our mood and reduces stress.

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Are you thinking of trying high-intensity interval training?

04 Tuesday Feb 2020

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If you’re thinking of trying high-intensity interval training, like Cross Fit or Orange Theory, be sure to listen to pumped-up workout music. You’ll enjoy it more! The University of British Columbia had exercisers new to interval training work out either WITH music – or without. The result: Those exercising with music enjoyed it more and were more likely to try it again, than those working out in silence. That meshes with previous research showing music can make exercise feel easier. So if you’re trying interval training to shape up in the New Year, be sure to include a great playlist. You’ll be more likely to stick with it.

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If you want to ward off flu germs…

03 Monday Feb 2020

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…hug your loved ones more often! Psychology professor Dr. Thomas Joiner from Florida State University says, in studies, people who do the most hugging are less likely to get sick when exposed to a flu virus. It works because regular physical contact with other humans bolsters the immune system – by challenging it through exposure to other people’s microbes, which makes it stronger. Another reason hugs are a flu fighter? They reduce stress, which makes us more resistant to infections. So get hugging!

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Friends help you sleep better!

31 Friday Jan 2020

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People who spend quality time with friends sleep better at night. But those who feel lonely have trouble dozing off, and feel less energetic and less focused the next day. Research at the University of Rochester found that strong friendships reduce stress and anxiety, and make us feel more secure and relaxed. And that reduces activity in the brain area that stays vigilant at night. Basically, if we’re lonely, we feel vulnerable, insecure, and unprotected, even while we sleep, and part of our brain stays on alert for self-protection. So hanging with your friends during the day is your brand new sleeping pill.

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Will you choose to eat healthier food today?

30 Thursday Jan 2020

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Asking yourself that question – every day, several times a day – could make you more likely to stick with a healthier, lower-calorie diet.

So instead of making declarative statements like, “I WILL eat healthy” – frame your goals as positive questions, like “WILL I choose to eat healthier snacks?” A review of more than 100 studies in the Journal of Consumer Psychology found that people who asked themselves questions were more likely to change their behavior. They were also more likely to STICK with their new habits for 6 months. The researchers call it the “question-behavior effect.” And it works because asking questions is much less confrontational than TELLING yourself what to do. And it’s much less likely to trigger the foot-dragging and resentment that can push you to give up your goals.

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Are you adopting a healthier lifestyle?

29 Wednesday Jan 2020

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Make sure your goals aren’t too hard OR too easy. Psychologist Loretta Breuning says when a challenge is too hard, we feel less reason to try. Because it seems almost impossible. But if it’s too easy, we feel no sense of reward when we accomplish it. But if you can achieve a goal with just enough effort, like increasing exercise by walking around the block every morning, you’ll be more motivated to keep going. Because realistic objectives inspire us the most.

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