Whether 2016 was the best year yet, or you’re looking forward to new beginnings in 2017, planning for a better, healthier lifestyle is the perfect way to celebrate the New Year. As Kenai, AK’s trusted family medicine clinic, MediCenter offers their advice on how to make it happen. When you look back on the past 12 months, think about your nutrition choices and overall health. Everyone has room for improvement.

As the clock strikes 12 on the last day of the year, you can use these tips to live a healthier, happier lifestyle:

• Make Exercising Fun: Too many people dread the word “exercise.” It conjures feelings of exhaustion and sore muscles that overshadow weight loss and increased strength. Signing up for a gym membership isn’t enough if you want your New Year’s resolution to make it to February. The trick to continued exercise is finding something you enjoy doing. It doesn’t have to be all about crunches and running miles. You could swim, bike, ski, or even walk around town with your best friend.
• Eat The Right Food: If you’re serious about weight loss, you’ve tried dieting before. It might not have worked, but for 2017, don’t think about eating right as going on a diet. When you make positive nutrition choices, it’s not a diet; it’s a lifestyle. Start small by cutting out a few snacks, like chips and white bread. Ask your family medicine clinic which foods don’t deserve a spot on your grocery list.
• Recognize & Reduce Vices: Your vice is that thing you do when you’re stressed, bored, or overwhelmed. It could be smoking cigarettes, drinking alcohol, or binging on snack food. Whatever it is, it’s working against you. Fight the urge to give in to your particular vice by making realistic goals. Tell yourself you’re going to skip your lunchtime cigarette or limit yourself to one drink during dinner. Keep up with these small steps to reach your overall goal.

The New Year is your opportunity to make a life-altering change, and you have the support from your family doctor at MediCenter to make it possible. Start the New Year off right by scheduling a consultation. Call (907) 283-9118 or visit them on Facebook to learn more about this family medicine clinic.