Wired for Wellness: December 2015

Resolve to Keep Your Resolution

Call them resolutions, goals or best intentions—the new year always feels like the perfect time to start fresh and aim big. However, according to a FranklinCovey survey, thirty-five percent of us who make New Year's resolutions break them by the end of January. And only 23 percent of everyone who makes a resolution will see it through to completion. So how do you...

1:06 PM
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Give the Gift of Health - Chocolate Avocado Fruit Dip

Better Nutrition

If you have a group of people that you're hoping to spread love to this holiday season, but you don't want to break the bank, and you want to offer a break from the traditional holiday sugar coma, give them the gift of guilt-free indulgence. My children go to the YMCA for child care, where classroom assistants are often jumping into different classrooms...

2:53 PM
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Healthy Fort Wayne - Save on Clean Food at Fresh Thyme

Better Nutrition

Did you know that Fresh Thyme, by Glenbrook, offers double ad days every Thursday? By shopping on this day, you get access to two weeks' worth of deals. So if you are searching for high quality, inexpensive produce, look no further. My experience with Fresh Thyme has been that while their packaged foods are more expensive, their produce prices, especially for their quality,...

11:10 AM
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Just Say "No" to Holiday Stress

Personal Knowledge

With all of the crowds, heavy to-do lists, high expectations, and little down time, it’s not hard to see why the holidays can become a stressful time. Here are some tips to enjoy the holidays and keep the blues at bay:

SOAK UP SOME RAYS—Getting some much needed vitamin D and fresh air can help to keep the winter blues away.

STOP AND SMELL THE LEMONS—Citrus has been shown to reduce stress levels. To take advantage, light a candle, inhale the scent through essential oils or go straight to the source by cutting a lemon, orange or grapefruit open.

MELT IT AWAY—Even low impact exercise releases endorphins, which naturally boost mood and melt away stress for up to 12 hours.

DON’T BITE OFF MORE THAN YOU CAN CHEW—During the holidays, between family gatherings, work parties and special events, it’s easy to fill your calendar. Be sure to prioritize your engagements and don’t be afraid to say no to the ones that fall to the bottom of the list.

KEEP IT REAL—The holidays can be a magical time, but the pressure to make them that way can induce stress. Keeping your expectations at a reasonable level gives you breathing room when things don’t go exactly according to plan.

DON’T BREAK THE BANK—let’s face it, the holidays can be expensive, and financial strain is a huge stressor. When your family looks back on this holiday season years from now, they’re more likely to remember the time they spent together than the gifts they received. Instead of breaking the bank on big gifts, give something that can lead to more quality time together, like board games. Additionally, don’t feel pressure to buy for everyone you know—the newspaper boy and your barista aren’t likely to feel excluded if you don’t give them a gift.

CHANGE YOUR PERSPECTIVE—Take some time to volunteer—helping someone in need can help to change the perspective you have on the stressors in your life. Studies have shown that people that volunteer tend to have lower rates of depression and a higher level of life satisfaction.

What do you do to keep the holiday stress away? Please share in the comments below, or by sharing a picture on Instagram with the hashtag #wiredforwellness.

4:28 PM
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Meet Your Coach

Lauren Almdale is my name, but you can call me Coach! I am employed by the YMCA of Greater Fort Wayne, as a Wellness Director, but I am on-site full time at Fort Wayne Metals, for all of your wellness needs. I graduated from Bowling Green State University with a Bachelor's of Science in Education, with a focus on Exercise Science.

My education, combined with my own, personal journey to be well, have led me on a holistic path, focusing on nutrition and exercise not only as a means of preventive health, but also as a means of restorative health.

My passion is working with people of all ages and abilities, to help them determine the best path for them, to get to the point that they are not only living healthfully, but also happily. I am a big believer in not only helping someone to extend the duration of their life, but to improve the quality of their life as well. I want to help you, wherever you are in your wellness journey, to make sustainable lifestyle changes.

I am available for one-on-one coaching and personal training, and to answer any wellness-related questions you have. You can find me at ext. 2137 or lauren_almdale@fwymca.org

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Resolve to Keep Your Resolution

Give the Gift of Health - Chocolate Avocado Fruit Dip

Healthy Fort Wayne - Save on Clean Food at Fresh Thyme

Just Say "No" to Holiday Stress

Meet Your Coach

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