I have always been an advocate on health, but there was a time when I started gaining weight and never realized how much I had really gained. I can’t say I was in the best of health by any means. It all started when we were trying to get pregnant 5 or so years ago. To make a long story short, I gained quite a bit of weight from it all. After I had my first child in 2006, I never really lost much weight. I got pregnant when she was 13 months and vowed to myself after I had my son that I would lose the weight. I was about 10 lbs. from my wedding weight and then we found out baby #3 was coming when #2 was 7 months old. I was concerned about gaining weight again, but it has all worked out. Now, I am in my healthy weight range thankfully and still losing. Making good food choices is just one way to lead to smart healthy decisions. Twittermoms has asked us to tell you 5 ways to make health benefits decisions in one hour or less from an article Power of Hour.
Make a healthy meal:
I have a secret. We have been eating out the past few days because we have just been so busy and I hadn’t been to the grocery yet. With nothing to eat in the house and no time at all, I hadn’t been able to cook a great dinner. That changed tonight though and we had a very healthy dinner at home. My 4 year old even said, “I’m eating with my family,” in a very sweet way. Even eating together as a family helps emotionally which leads to good health.
Visit the dentist for a cleaning:
I do this every 6 months. I can’t imagine not doing this. It is something that makes me feel so much better about myself and healthy teeth are so important to me. A smile is the first thing anybody notices, so make it a good one!
Get a massage:
I would love to advocate massages, but I admit that I am pretty tight to pay for one. With my husband heading to Afghanistan, he actually surprised me with a massage next week. Actually, it’s a spa day, but there will be an hour massage. Even if you can’t afford one, have your significant other give you one (or teach your kids like I am trying haha). It is amazing how much stress it can relieve!
Take a yoga class:
I have never tried yoga. My mind races a million miles per hour every second of the day. It takes me hours to fall asleep because of this. I can not imagine doing yoga because I can’t let my mind relax, but I bet it is so empowering.
Keep your health benefits in order:
We are so blessed. Since my husband is in the military, our health benefits are 100% covered. I honestly don’t see how everyone pays for health insurance! Having said that, though, we are constantly having to send new enrollment forms everytime my husband changes to and from active duty status, so we must always stay on top of our health coverage. By doing this, you will keep your finances and your peace of mind in order.
Make sure you can afford the premiums. Estimate last year’s medical costs. A flexible spending account will allow for great coverage for the following year. Check your work’s wellness incentives also. Take advantage of open enrollment. This lasts for 30 days somewhere between October and December. Lastly, choose the best health care plan that matches your needs. Compare, compare and compare! You wouldn’t choose to pay more for something you won’t use, right?
So, what are some tips that you can do in one hour to a healthier you and choose a great benefits plan?
“I wrote this blog post while participating in the TwitterMoms and Aetna blogging program, making me eligible to get a $30 Target gift card. For more information on how you can participate, click here.”