Resolve to strive for a healthy lifestyle

Whether you need to lose, gain, or maintain, make health––not appearance––your first priority for the new year. The American Dietetic Association (ADA) suggests resolving to strive for a healthy lifestyle for a lifetime.

ADA suggests focusing on internal rewards: better health, increased energy, self-esteem and feeling in control.

To help achieve this, focus on your current weight or lifestyle and not where you want to be five months from now.

Eating for good health can be easy by following the Food Guide Pyramid. To tip the energy balance in one direction or the other, or to keep it level, simply adjust your food choices and number of servings within each of the five major food groups.

The Food Guide Pyramid conveys three main messages about healthful eating: variety, balance and moderation.

For variety: Eat different foods from the Pyramid’s five food groups. No one food supplies all the nutrients the body needs. Eating a variety of foods – both within each food group and among the five food groups – ensures that you meet your nutritional requirements.

For balance: Eat appropriate amounts from each food group every day. A balanced diet supplies the nutrients and calories the body needs.

For moderation: Choose foods and beverages to meet your energy needs and to control calories, total fat, cholesterol, sodium, sugars and, if consumed, alcoholic beverages. A moderate diet helps you maintain a healthy weight and may help protect you from health problems such as heart disease and cancer later in life.

In addition to eating healthfully, regular physical activity is key in maintaining a healthy weight. You don’t need to be an exercise fanatic with strenuous daily workouts to get the benefits.

For significant health benefits aim toward an accumulation of at least 30 minutes or more of moderate activity everyday. If you haven’t been physically active, then build up gradually.

Remember, any increase in your physical activity can make a difference. You don’t need an "all-or-nothing mentality."