Issue link: http://educator.cta.org/i/1400485
Black buys whole-food, plant-based groceries. • Find exercise that you enjoy. Whether it's lifting weights, tennis, swimming, surfing, walking, bike riding or going to the gym, find things you enjoy that will give you a good cardio workout. Don't be intimidated going to the gym or worrying about how your body looks. Try new things. • Set SMART goals. It stands for: Specific; Measurable (so you can accurately track your progress); Attainable (which means real- istic); Relevant (so it will have a direct benefit); and Timebound (by setting a timeline to keep you on track). • Think of good health as a lifestyle. Setting short- term goals is important, but the ultimate goal is to create a healthy lifestyle that will improve your mental health, sharpen your brain's abil- ity to respond to stimulus, boost your energy levels, provide an overall sense of well-being, and help you to live longer. There is never a better time to start than right now. Daniel Diaz-Romero INSTRUCTOR OF KINESIOLOGY AT SIERRA COLLEGE Sierra College Faculty Association Diaz-Romero practicing what he preaches at a Spartan Race. • Embrace a whole-food, plant-based diet. Eat less dairy (including cheese) and less meat (beef, chicken, pork, fish). Buy more vegetables — starchy and green leafy, fruits (not juice), beans, nuts, and seeds. Eat whole foods that are not processed or minimally pro- cessed. If your body craves junk food, it's because it's accustomed to a certain level of sugar, salt and fat and gets cranky when deprived. It can take up to a month for your taste buds to readjust to a healthier way of eating. • Choose whole instead of processed. Buy whole grains: brown rice, steel-cut oats, corn and quinoa, and reduce your intake of processed grains including bread and noodles. Whole grains have more fiber, which fills us up and is the only way cholesterol can leave our body. • Get lots of vitamin D. Before covering up with a hat, sunscreen and sunglasses when going outside, spend a few minutes in the sun. Let your body soak it up and in return make vitamin D. 21 A U G U S T / S E P T E M B E R 2 0 21