Healthy Habits Archives - Military Veterans Resource Center

December 6, 2017

Published by Krystle Proper at December 6, 2017

Healthy Habits

By: Kelley Koons A few weeks ago a friend of mine said something that really resonated with me, which leads me into the first edition of Healthy Habits. We were talking about our health, wellness, and fitness when my friend said, “I’m starting my health and fitness journey now, so I can be ahead of the game and go into 2018 feeling great!” I realized at that moment how many people use the holidays as a scapegoat to put off health and wellness. November and December are filled with giving, so many of us become consumed with that tradition, that we forget about self care- mentally, physically, and nutritionally. When January rolls around, the gyms are so crowded, people get frustrated or discouraged waiting on a piece of equipment to become available. They almost set themselves up for failure, and the January rush can make a health journey all the more intimidating for a beginner or someone who wants to get back into it. Often times you’ll see the gym crowd or the supplement isle at the grocery store die down late January or early February. Much of this is due to crash dieting, over-training, or in general, over doing it. This can lead to quick burn out, fatigue, low energy, high blood pressure, and injury. By starting off slow, retraining yourself on fundamentals and gradually moving in the right direction with nutrition and workouts you’ll be much more likely to be successful. If you have a goal of improving […]

December 27, 2017

Published by Krystle Proper at December 27, 2017

Healthy Habits – Just How Healthy is Your Salad?

By: Kelly Koons With the New Year approaching, many of us are re-evaluating our lifestyles and setting goals for a healthier year. One way you might go about this, is by your food choices. Many people opt for a salad when they are seeking a healthier option at a restaurant or drive-thru, but is that salad really that much healthier than the combo #5? Here are some tips for insuring you get the most nutrition out of your salad. Although a salad smothered in Caesar, Ranch, or Blue Cheese dressing may be delicious, they serve little to no purpose in the nutrition department- in fact they are filled with fat, calories, and are high in sodium. A great substitute for salad dressing is olive oil, balsamic vinaigrette, or an avocado. If all else fails, ask for it on the side, and only eat a little. One salad topping that tops the list for most is, meat. When ordering a salad it’s important to assure the meat is lean and not deep fried or breaded. Fried chicken and bacon are poor choices, even though it may taste good, they can be filled with bad carbohydrates, fat, grease, multiple calories, and high in sodium. Instead substitute with a grilled meat or turkey bacon that is smoked. Caesar and western salads are infamous for croutons and tortilla strips which carry no nutritional value and pack extra calories, sodium, and carbohydrates. Try substituting chopped almonds, pumpkin seeds, or walnuts instead (be sure the nuts […]

June 11, 2018

Published by Krystle Proper at June 11, 2018

Healthy Habits – Living Intentionally

Living Intentionally: 3 Easy Steps to Minimalism for the Military Veteran By: Dixie Bishop Minimalism is a lifestyle that helps to eliminate excess clutter and consumerism, while focusing on what’s truly important and what gives our lives meaning. The internet is full of people living in tiny houses or downsizing to 100 items. Those philosophies can be extreme and don’t apply to most minimalist. Living this lifestyle isn’t really that complicated. The concept is simply to gain more, with less. Its replacing material possession with experiences while simplifying your life. As military veterans, we are already trained to do this. When we deployed, we packed the essentials. One bag with uniforms and gear, and another with personal items. We knew not to pack five bags, because we would be hauling around those bags during our 24 hours of travel. We packed what we needed, and what was important to us. Minimalism uses the same concept in our everyday life. It’s intended to help you delete the unnecessary metaphorical baggage that you’re hauling. Today, I’m sharing three easy steps to help you remove clutter and teach you ways to start living intentionally. Step one: Take inventory and make goals. Write down what’s important to you and create objectives. This may be anything from spending more time with family, saving for vacation, fantasy football, or binge-watching Netflix. You don’t have to give up what you love to be a minimalist. Next you should create a list of things you want to remove […]