Make Healthy Choices Easy with the "Unwise, Better, Best" Jingle

For most of you, the phrase “unwise, better, best” is not new but if there is ever a time to apply it, it is during the holidays. For many, it is unrealistic to attempt to stay on an aggressive low calorie plan in the midst of travel and holiday parties. This is a time to give yourself a little more flexibility than usual. If you have a treat, make sure you eat it slowly and mindfully and savor every last bite. When out to dinner, at a cocktail party or looking over the choices available at the holiday buffet, categorize the options into “unwise, better or best.” The goal is make better choices than you may have made in the past; not necessarily the best, but consistently better. To help you remember the phrase, and apply it, Hilton Head Health has put it on refrigerator magnets and t-shirts. Now, we have one more way to help make this phrase stick in your mind.

Those of you who have had the pleasure of meeting and working with David Chesworth is also a musician and a song writer and has written a little ditty about the “unwise, better, best” dieting principle.

It is very catchy and in fact hard to get out of your head once you hear it. David is not only a song writer, but also a video director. So along with Greg Moore (video producer) they have produced H3’s very first music video, and here it is. Enjoy it and let us know what you think.

Have a very happy, healthy holiday season.

Unwise Better Best

 Written by - David Chesworth

Inspired by - Bob Wright

Verse:

When Life gets ya down

Because ya gained a few pounds

And ya ask yourself…

What should I do?...

You’ve tried all kinds

Of diets that worked for some time

But in the end…

ya don’t have a clue

Bridge:

If only there were somethin’ easy

Like a word, a mantra, or a phrase

to remind ya when you’re feelin’ lazy

You will succeed, when I say….

Chorus:

Unwiiiiise    betterrrrrr    best

Just make good choices

And life will take care of the rest

Unwise better best

Just make good choices

And life will take care of the rest

 

Managing Expectations Over the Holidays

It's that time of year again... Only about 6 weeks from Christmas and Thanksgiving is already upon us, life is about to move at jet speed.  With the ever so popular, fast-paced American lifestyle so many of us have adopted, the holiday season only exasperates our tendency to take on more than our days can hold.  And what gets pushed to the side?  The very habits we work so hard to develop throughout the rest of the year. 

It's difficult to adjust our expectations when it come to weight loss, especially when it never seems to come off as fast as we like.  But with holiday parties, holiday food gifts, tighter schedules and less time for exercise, managing our expectations with all these added variables becomes critical to our success.  Remember that weight maintenance can also be considered a success, especially if your track record is to gain 5+ pounds over this time of year.  Here are a few strategies to help manage your expectations this holiday season...

• Pledge to maintain 17 out of 21 weekly meals that follow your nutritional plan.


• Commit to a minimum of 15 minutes of activity at your regularly scheduled exercise time. You will be more likely to pick things back up after the holidays if you fit to at least a little exercise in your schedule.


• Set an allowance (as opposed to a limit) for wine and/or holiday treats at your holiday parties.


• Define a go-to stress reliever that lives outside the refrigerator. Close your eyes and take 10 deep breaths, complete 5 chair squats, smile and recite your holiday season mantra in your head...whatever will keep you out of the munchies!


• Remind yourself that each day is a new day. Prevent one "bad meal" from turning into a "bad week".

Gift us your holiday success tips today!

Give Thanks for a Healthy Holiday

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving.  A time to give thanks for everything in our lives – family, friends, your children, your job, your health – and most importantly the food.  The beginning of a holiday season focused on celebration in the form of sweet eats and comfort foods. 

Worried about overdoing yourself at Thanksgiving dinner?  Set a few goals and you will be sure to walk away from the table a success. 

 

~ Set a realistic weight loss goal for the holiday season: aim to maintain your weight rather than lose weight. 

~ Focus on the conversation and the company rather than the food.  Besides, laughter feels so much better than having to loosen your belt!

~ Skip the high-fat foods you can get any time (e.g., nuts, cheese, chips) so you can enjoy a small amount of the truly special foods that are only available once a year (like your mom’s homemade sweet potato casserole!)

~ Put some distance between yourself and the food table.  Also, when finished eating, remove yourself from lingering at the dinner table and/or kitchen.  Gather your family for a fun game or take a brisk walk outdoors, which will take your mind off of mind-less eating!

~ Make sure to eat breakfast!  Don’t try to ‘bank’ your calories by skipping the most important meal of the day.  Eat a balanced breakfast with whole grains, dairy and fruit.  A warm bowl of oatmeal topped with berries will definitely hold your appetite until the main event!

~ Limit your alcohol intake. Eat before you drink.  Enjoy a nice glass of red or white wine with your meal, not the whole bottle.

 

Lastly, and if you do end up feeling a little stuffed, keep it in perspective.  If you get right back on track at your next meal, you haven’t done much damage.  If you wait until Monday to start over, the extra calories may add up to a few pounds.  Plus – Friday make a date to walk off the calories at mall and snag all of the great Black Friday deals!  (Plus, don't miss out on ours!)