You’d think January 1^st would be the time when most people’s serious efforts to be “healthier” begin. The start of a new year is a fresh page so… dig in. But, according to Harry Balzer of NPD Group, a consumer marketing research firm headquartered in Port Washington, New York, March is the month when many folks really buckle down and actually make a more dogged effort to be healthy. 

 

I get that. I’m stuck in a snow bank nearly 6 months out of the year. It’s hard to get ramped up about eating healthfully and scooting out to exercise if a bulky sweater will cover “mistakes” and the risk of frostbite or falling make outside activity a tough sell.   

 

As the temperatures warm, the days lengthen and swimsuits sweep into department stores… one sees hope though. That’s March. Hope.

 

Yes, it's a few weeks away, but as March sits on the horizon, think about how you can get ready.  Re-ignite the goals you set in January; come up with some creative ways to make a difference, a positive difference for yourself. 

 

For every hour of exercise you do – you add two hours to your life, says Stephen Kopecky, M.D., a cardiologist with the Mayo Clinic. Add 5+ servings of fruits and vegetables to your daily plates and you significantly change your risk for heart disease, cancer, diabetes, blood pressure trouble, lung problems, digestive issues, and more. 

 

Experts say changing a habit is no easy task. A recent study found it can take anywhere from 18 to 245 days for us to fully grasp a new way of doing things.Habits are responses to needs. Identify why you have a habit, what the underlying reasons (needs) are for eating certain foods or parking it on the couch for hours on end, and you’ll begin to move in a better direction. 

 

It's 3 weeks and some change before March. Make a move.