Balancing Act

“Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance you must keep moving”- Albert Einstein


We all strive to create balance in our lives. We try to balance time at work, with family, and with friends. We balance our finances, the time we spent outdoors versus indoors, our time for fun and our time to clean. Creating balance is also important for your health and fitness.

Eating a balanced diet is a way to ensure you are getting enough vitamins, nutrients, and not eating the same foods all of the time. Here are some tips to help you balance your daily intake:
1. Eat your colors. Your plate of food should be colorful. Some suggestions to add to your meals are red peppers, orange carrots, green beans, blueberries, purple grapes. Look for bright colorful foods.
2. If you have carbs for breakfast, have protein for lunch. Balance your last meal with your next meal. For example, if you have spaghetti for lunch, have chicken and vegetables for dinner.
3. Drink plenty of water. Caffeinated beverages and alcoholic beverages dehydrate our bodies. Replace those fluids with plenty of water. A good rule of thumb is to drink half of your weight in ounces. If you weight 140 pounds then try to drink 70 ounces of water per day.

Balance exercises can improve coordination, prevent falls and, reduce injuries. Here are some ways to include balance exercises in your routine:
1. While talking on the phone, standing in line, or waiting stand on one leg.
2. Stand on one leg while putting on your shoes.
3. Perform one legged squats: stand with feet hip width apart, lift your left foot off the floor, sit back like you are sitting in a chair and then stand up. Repeat 10 times and switch legs.